Site Search
Print Page Setup Profile Login
You have 4 items in your shopping cart
Section Image

Best small 3-way fridge?

Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 13:51

Member - Drew T (Melbourne)

I'm doing up an old caravan & was going to replace the existing antique fridge (RM-4601?) with a new 3-way one. I was all set to buy the Dometic RM-2453 120 litre (which is the smallest T-rated one they make), but have discovered it is too wide to get in the caravan doorway which is only 573mm wide (RM-2453 needs 632mm).

Any suggestions for what is a good smaller 3-way fridge (must be able to run on gas as van is solar/bty system & not geared for the power demands of a 12v fridge)

Click Image to Enlarge
Prado120 GXL V6 Auto
Wonangatta Valley
Advertisement
ThreadID: 58292 Replies: 2
Views: 623 FollowUps: 2
This Thread has been Archived
Thread Summary
Thread Watch Back To Forum Alert Moderator FAQ
AnswerID: 307330   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:25

Motherhen replied:

Drew, when we bought an old wind-up van, the 3 way fridge was beyond repair. We purchased an upright Engel 12/240 - but not sure of sizing now - it was a fairly standard caravan fridge, and we just got it in the small doorway. It fitted right in where the old one was, with very little adaptation needed to make it look neat and to seal the dust out (which the rest of the van didn't anyway) We also bought one 80 w solar panel, battery and digital monitor. Just putting the panel out when we stopped, and facing east ready for the dawn, it kept the fridge going as well as a couple of lights. Efficient and so easy to use with the solar panel.

Motherhen
Near the Stuart Highway NT
Click Image to Enlarge
Home to reality - The dream trip is over
Lifetime Member: My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
Reply 1 of 2
FollowupID: 573196   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:50

Member - Drew T (Melbourne) posted:

thanks Motherhen but I really do need to be able to run on gas as the van will not be connected to the car & i don't have 240v available either. I'm actually leaning towards a dometic RM-2350 which is small enough to fit in the doorway (but isn't t-rated unfortunately)

Click Image to Enlarge
Prado120 GXL V6 Auto
Wonangatta Valley
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 573204   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:57

Motherhen posted:

Hi Drew

We did have trickle feed from the vehicle - but it didn't make much difference - then we'd stop and put the solar panel out late in the afternoon and the charge came right up. If stopping for a whole day, we'd just put the panel up on theroof of the van and it would fully charge the battery. The same old panel is now on the roof of the F250, and it keeps the deep cycle battery fully charged running an Engel and reading lights, even in dull weather. May not suit your arrangement, but i love solar.

Mh
Near the Stuart Highway NT
Click Image to Enlarge
Home to reality - The dream trip is over
Lifetime Member: My Profile  My Blog  Send Message
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 307342   Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 15:47

disco driver replied:

Drew,
That's lesson 1 in rebuilding caravans, all the internal fittings are fitted before the framing is completed.
It may be possible to either unscrew screws or drill out pop rivets and remove the door frame to get yourself a bit more room to move. Having done it for a mate who had the same problem (stuffed frig), it is not hard but is bloody fiddlly and decidedly messy when re sealing round the door frame.

Hope this helps.

Disco.

Reply 2 of 2