Keepin' it Kool

So it's been a while since I've been able to update the blog mainly because we've been rushing to get everything ready, but I hoped in the week leading up to our departure I'd try and post some of the sequences we've recorded in photo format.

The First is an installation of a more modern "thermoelectric" fridge which uses much less power.  We'd like to run the fridge 24/7 and given the owners manual for the stock fridge says it can only be run for 4 hours before the aux battery is drained, I think this one will last a little longer (and on our first test it did great - 24 hours!)

Here's some shots of taking out the old ammonia absorbsion fridge that came stock with the campmobile model:

So here's What the stock fridge looked like.  Nice fake wood paneling and the entire left area was used for the ammonia piping and things.

So here's me removing first the city power distribution boxes.  The bus has a cool switch that will automatically switch the fridge power over to the 12v coming from a transformer if you are on city power.  Given the only accessory the bus is meant to run on the aux battery is the fridge, it might be cool to use the 12v transformer to power all the other 12v items we'll have if we are on city power.  Much rewiring to do I think.

So here's the bucket seat totally removed.  Was nice to vacuum up all the junk that had accumulated under the wood.

Here's the fridge and cooling compartment with lids removed.  I later found I didn't need to do this, and instead should have focused on removing the entire black metal frame (see later).

Believe it or not the fridge cabinet removes pretty easily with a few hold down bolts, all comes out as one unit.  Found an old joint holder on the floor underneath!  Just our luck when going into canada the dogs come after our van!

Here's the fridge cabinet with the upper frame removed and the fridge taken out.

Here's the fridge.  You can see how small it is, how much space is taken up by the cooling fin, and how much space is lost in the cabinet next to.  I ended up selling this on ebay for $70 + crate shipping :)

We sawed out the bottom of the cabinet, discovered all the mouse pee, and fumigated this thing.

Here we are doing some more rustoleum spray painting.  I also improved some of the insulation.

Had to cut off the top hinge to send away with the old fridge.  Also to make room for the new one.

Best of all I found a way to put the transformer in the cabinet which will give a lot more room in the bench seat storage.  I think the ventilation is equal more or less.

To get the bench seat back in, we had to shave a little off the edge (here's Joe).  This is because the new fridge protruded a bit from the wall unlike the old one.  No problem!

New Fridge is in, and bench seat back.  Fridge opens towards you (a little awkward but OK).

More room, less power, cooler drinks!

Ari insisted we panel the cover with faux wood vinyl from china - Great.

Here's a link to the fridge we bought: