Another homemade storage system
Submitted: Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 23:08
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AdrianLR (VIC)
Just had to brag :)
I've made various storage systems for previous vehicles ranging from a wooden shelf to more elaborate draws. With a new MIG to find uses for, I made up the frame below. The fridge slide is part of the structure, 4 plastic
bins go into the top, the narrow gap between the
bins takes the disposable gas cylinders and a box of paper towels, tent & sleeping mat go on top (held down by 2" webbing with velcro) and the gaps in the bottom allow recovery gear etc to be got at from the
well where the 3rd row
seat normally go in the Paj. Two 10l
water containers go on the floor between the frame and the seats. Mounts to the child restraint holes and the 3rd row seatbelt points - 10 minutes in or out. Total cost around $150, a couple of weekends cutting & welding and a few weeks of stacking the gear up in the family room to get the best fit (this could of taken longer but I got evicted :))
Feel free to copy.
Adrian
!MPG:4!
!MPG:5!
Reply By: Bilbo - Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 23:17
Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 23:17
Adrian,
You done good there mate.
However, a word of advice. that looks like an Autofridge that you have in the back there. I hope you don't travel with stuff up against the side of the fridge, the way it is in the pic.
That's a "no-no" with Autofridges.
Still a cracking good fridge though.
Bilbo
AnswerID:
199496
Follow Up By: AdrianLR (VIC) - Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 23:29
Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 23:29
Thanks Bilbo
The photos don't show the 5cm gap all round that I very specifically designed in so that the fridge would get adequate ventilation on the sides in particular. I took the pic as an afterthough when we arrived home and had already started pulling stuff out. The side bars keep everything away from the walls. I agree - fantastic fridge (but it's not an Engel/Waeco.... :))
Adrian
FollowupID:
458368
Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 at 01:04
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 at 01:04
Adrian,
. Looks superb; obviously the work of a Tradesman, cf a professional. Your "to brag" heading worried me at first: "--- got hold of a new mig --", reminded me of a lad (name supressed), who lay down beautiful welds in medium plate. (to 35mm)
Stress test, welds failed. (Have a similar , embarrassing tale: no!! f'off!) JH.
AnswerID:
199505
Reply By: Member - Craig D (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 at 08:22
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 at 08:22
Adrian you have every right to brag...you have done an extremely good job of your storage system and it looks very professional.
AnswerID:
199529
Reply By: joc45 - Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 at 18:35
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 at 18:35
Adrian,
Excellent job, very professional!
Re the Autofridge, I have done similar, but also added a couple of 100mm 12 computer fans at the front of the fridge (behind the
seat), which push air down the sides of the fridge. The control box for the Danfoss compressor in the fridge has a connection for an external 12v fan which starts when the fridge starts. The computer fans draw about 0.1A each, so the extra power consumption is negligible, but the removal of heat from the fridge is
well worth it.
Gerry
AnswerID:
199581
Follow Up By: Blaze - Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 00:19
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 00:19
Ditto Gerry,
I have a fan on my Aoto Fridge and it has improved what was already a top fridge.
FollowupID:
458558
Follow Up By: AdrianLR (VIC) - Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 07:52
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 07:52
Mine has a fan inside the cabinet above the compressor. I've noticed that older versions don't have this (
mine's about 5 years old). It comes on with the motor and the air tends to circulate around the fridge a bit.
Adrian
FollowupID:
458575
Follow Up By: Blaze - Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 08:43
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 08:43
Adrian as far as I can find out, any units made or used in the northern (tropical) area had the fan fitted. I borrowed a unit from a mate when going fishing up north to freeze fish in. On the way up, both were setup as fridges and his ran at least 50% better than
mine in the same vehicle. On the return we set his up as a freezer and it only came on for a very short period each day.
FollowupID:
458580
Follow Up By: joc45 - Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 12:03
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 12:03
Adrian,
The fan inside (
mine hasn't got it- over 10yrs old now) would help keep the compressor cool, but I find that when the fridge is enclosed, even with the prescribed air gap around it, some forced cooling down the sides really helps.
I have a short cable with a small automotive 2-pin connector hanging out the back of the fridge, which allows me to connect the fans when the fridge is installed. The fans I got from wrecked computers and have the cable to the fans arranged so that the fridge can be rolled in and out without tangling the cable.
Gerry
FollowupID:
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