Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 10:21:30 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Build Your Own Van Fridge Kit
In-Reply-To: <20051112224130.86675.qmail@web30213.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
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Malcolm, I like the concept of building a custom fitting DC only top
loader for the cabinet where the water tank now lives. Unfortunately the
cost of the parts is pretty high, or at least they are at the only US
source I have found so far. The insulated panel kit you linked to is
$200 and not quite enough for a fridge even the size of our Dometics so
double it, $400. The Isotherm build it yourself cooling units are about
$700. Add shipping and taxes and we are looking at $1200 plus any other
parts and labor to build the thing. It better turn out pretty nice for
that. I'd be tempted to look for a suitably dimensioned ice chest for
the enclosure instead of paying $400 for some foam panels that need to
be cut and fit and hopefully done right the first shot. I am also
concerned about possible leakage from the fridge down under the floor.
Sealing a homemade unit very well would be critical.
Mark
Malcolm Stebbins wrote:
>The fridge thread is perhaps the 2nd most popular thread on this list. My fridge works just fine,
>but I'd like to have a top loader (more efficient) and the solid state units have come along way
>in the past 20-ish years since our vans were built, in that they can now run days off of a 2nd,
>deep-cycle battery (longer if one uses a solar panel). The problem for ME is how to get a new
>fridge that nicely fits into a Westy withOUT altering the appearance of the Westy interior.
>
>Karl Mullendore has done a nice job with his new fridge:
>http://www.members.shaw.ca/McTavishPAC/fridge/fridge.html
>
>But I want a larger fridge and a more economical top-loader. Many of the top loading fridges are
>too wide/long/deep to fit nicely in the westy. Also my plan would be to replace the whole sink
>water reservoir & elect cabinet (between the stove & hanging closet) with a top-loading fridge,
>and use the existing fridge area for storage, and use an under-van tank for fresh water
>( See http://secure.mycart.net//catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=1652235&showprevnext=1 ).
>
>mmmmmmmmm So,.....I was looking at this page:
>http://www.isotherm.com/toploaded.htm (note the power consumption).
>
>and clicking around, I then found this page:
>http://www.indelmarineusa.com/products/facts/builtInBox.htm
>(from the home page it's Products => Facts => Build your box)
>
>This is a DIY fridge kit!!!! This can be fabricated to un-even (non-rectangular) dimensions and
>could be used to replace the existing Westy fridge in the same cabinet, or, as I envision, to turn
>the water reservoir cabinet into a top loading fridge. One could build it so that the one or both
>of the horizontal cabinet doors would be the access doors for the fridge. One could put one or 2
>cooling units in.
>
>I put this out on the list so as to invite reasons why this would not work and to get it the
>archives. I may be wrong, but I think this DIY fridge has potential! Do you? Malcolm
>
>
>
>
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