Camper trailers

Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:04

ThreadID: 39852 Views:2957 Replies:5 FollowUps:3

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Gronk

Friends have just bought a CT ( pioneer argyle se ) with a gull wing box which they have put a waeco fridge in.
The box comes with an opening vent that hasn't got a filter on it .
On a dusty road the vent would have to be closed ( of course ) but the question is, will the fridge work ok in a "sealed" enclosure ??
Or does it need to be "vented" ??
In other words, does this "vent" need to be thrown and a vent fitted that can take a filter ??

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Reply By: Patrol22 - Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:14

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:14

Gronk

It should work fine provided there is sufficient air space around the fridge. From memory my Waeco handbook says to have at least a 2 inch air gap around the fridge to ensure there is sufficient air circulation to keep the compressor cool enough.

AnswerID: 207301

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:25

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:25

fridges reject heat...if sealed where does this heat go
a sealed box would also absorb heat meaning the fridge would be working in higher than normal ambient temp (albeit being artifically created)

it should be vented and dont forget to include the airgap as pat says...engel only needs gap one end...the condenser end and keep top free of junk to allow air to circulate over condenser......hot air rises etc

FollowupID: 467225

Reply By: Member - Teabag (Queanbeyan) - Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:32

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 12:32

Gronk,

I have a Kimberley Kamper with the Gullwing Box and Fridge fitted. When purchasing we where told to go the upgrade ventilation fan and filters for the Gullwing box to assist the operation of the fridge. Thus far this has worked very well and funnily enough the fridge does use less power when the fan is running. The only issue is after every day on really dudty roads you need to clean the filter. So from my observations I would say yes, it should be vented.....

AnswerID: 207304

Follow Up By: Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) - Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 19:09

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 19:09

Teabag & Gronk,

I too have a KK with the ventilated gullwing box - the filters are easy to find Briggs and Stratton for memory. I can have a look if you need to know model numbers etc.

I'd try any type of filter that was easily found in more remote places. The other option which I haven't got around to yet is to cut a piece of rubber to fit so if the filter gets damaged in the middle of nowhere, then the filter 'hole' can be blocked off.

Tim - Stratford.

FollowupID: 467298

Follow Up By: Member - Teabag (Queanbeyan) - Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 19:36

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 19:36

Tim,

Thanks, but I have heaps of spares. It is a pain to get to the bottom one in the fridge area....Location sux's.....

Thanks anyway.....

FollowupID: 467304

Reply By: Member - Alastair D (NSW) - Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 13:36

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 13:36

Gronk,
Some years ago I had something similar and decided to put vents in. I had noticed that after a trip on dirt roads the dust was not uniformly over all the trailer and some bits behind the box I had on the drawbar were relatively clean.

I washed down the area and then wiped the toolbox with car wax and then went for a drive on a dirt road. When I came back there were clearly some areas that did not have much dust sticking on. That is where I put the 2 filters. Seemed to work ok - the fridge was fairly happy and not much dust got in.

alastair

AnswerID: 207313

Reply By: Member - Kiwi B - Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 14:43

Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 at 14:43

Have an Onyx with same setup. Gullwing and 40ltr Engel.
8000kms and never a worry about fridge function. Close everything when towing and let gullwing breath when stopped. Only dust in box after 6 month trip was from a willie-willie or2 passing through camp. Checked fridge fan and coils for dust recently and they were clean.
Good choice of trailer, me a happy camper.

AnswerID: 207327