Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 22:40:15 -0400
Reply-To: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vitrifrigo Who to contact for purchase?
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The contact info is on Karl Mullendores's website- here's the link, and also the number: http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html pictures http://westyventures.com/vitrofrigo_group_purchase.htm order and install info. It's Commercial Products, but they also do business as www.truckfridge.com. 941-756-7225 I mentioned to them that I wanted the one that Karl had set up for the Westfalia owners. The dc only unit is cheaper than the ac/dc. Whichever you order, it comes ready to go. Note that there are a few styles of door closure. Some people get one with a pin-type lock instead of the one that Karl has. As Karl pointed out to me, the function is the same. I just like the sliding latch style so the hanging pin on the chain doesn't get in the way when you don't need it. But one advantage of the pin is that when you are not using the fridge, the pin can be set in a second position to keep the door open just enough for ventilation, but closed enough to keep the light off if you still have power connected with the t-stat off. The truckfridge brand is functionally and almost cosmetically identical to the Vitrifrigo brand. They are the same dimensions, and both use the Danfoss compressor and controller. Andrew at Commercial Products said that the company was considering not dealing with Vitrifrigo anymore, but they didn't know yet. I would not hesitate to get either brand they sell- they are basically the same. The warranty is the same (Two years. Andrew said Vitrifrigo offers one year, but the Italian warranty card from Vitrifrigo said two.) The have it at a great price. Whether you get the truckfridge brand or a Vitrifrigo, it's a good price.
There are several other companies that sell almost identical fridges with the Danfoss compressor and controller. Waeco, boatfridge, and Isotherm. Same looks, same components. Isotherm also has a variation that has a cold plate that helps keep things cool when your van is running, then draws from that before drawing off the battery to save power. Although these models are all similar, I think Karl has secured a price for us that is lower than the same fridge elsewhere, and less than any of these other similar freiges anywhere. If you don't think you'll ever have ac power available, save $70 and get the dc only model. But I think it's worth the extra money to run off ac power when you have it. One installation hint that someone mentioned to me recently- You may have to use a 90 degree connector on the city water connection to keep it out of the way of the back of the fridge. I'm also going to make my own front to secure the friege to, since I want to save the original trim in case I sell the old Dometic- I want to leave everything intact. I'm hopefully going to do my install tomorrow, and be ready to camp in Ontario next weekend.
Here are some similar models:
Waeco:
http://www.waecousa.com/page.aspx?p=RPD-50
Isotherm:
http://www.isotherm.com/en/index.html?fixframe=1&
European: http://www.boatfridge.com/index.asp?Col_Category=Fridges+Small&Col_SubCategory=&Col_SubCategory2=&display=main&productID=22
Ed Duntz
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