Alternative to a Waeco in a Westy?

[irishkeet]

With the van away getting work done I have been thinking about the interior for sometime. Its a Caravelle that will be converted to a Westy. I have a mid 80's cream Westy interior. I don't want to put any cuts in the side of the van so I think a 2-way fridge is the way forward.

Good stuff has been done with the Waeco fridges (thread here - https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=131527) and they blend in well with the later grey interiors but not so well with the earlier interiors, also I don't like the fact that they sit proud of the rest of the interior.

At first I thought I would keep the original fridge (its working well) and do Dutchdudes mod - (images here - https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 7&start=15), I really like this option and I may still use it.

I then came across the 'propex under fridge' thread on the Samba - (thread here - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... ll&start=0) I would prefer a Webasto but the Propex is half the price and I will have an under-slung gas tank so its a no brainer really! Also I can connect the propex to the gas take-off for the old fridge. The fridge used in this thread is a Truckfridge TF49 which is only 521mm high.

So this could work really well with the right fridge, the Westy cupboard depth is about 430mm. I have been scouring the net for fridges.....
Waeco is 500mm deep x 534mm high - http://www.obrienscamping.co.uk/Fridges/waeco_cr-50.htm
Dometic RM122 is 440mm deep x 585mm high - http://www.obrienscamping.co.uk/camping ... /RM122.htm
Vitrifrigo C42L is 335mm deep x 529mm high - http://www.penguinfrigo.co.uk/shop/product/377/

If anyone can find a 2-way compressor fridge less than 335mm deep please pop up a link.

There are 2 models of the Vitrifrigo C42L, the older model (380 W 529 H 328 D (370 D flush) and you can remove the front fridge panel which may be helpful - (Link here - http://www.jacksons-camping.co.uk/vitrifrigo/c42l.htm)

The newer 2015 model - (Link here - http://www.vitrifrigo.com/eng/page94.html)

I found a video of the Vitrifigo being installed in a T3 Westy (with a cream interior)- (Link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp5_K34Sauo) While I don't like the finished job I think the propex could be installed under it and the old door and/or frame could reused to disguise the fridge.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on this, have others tried a similar idea, does it look feasible to you?


cheers
irishkeet

[Thefamegame]

Interesting- I've been thinking similar, I'll read it all and report back

[tforturton]

Vitrifigo looks interesting, but I can't see anything about being able to choose which side the door is hinged. Not sure if this applies to all units, but if this was going in my space, the door would need to be hinged on the left. I think with the Waeco, this is swappable ie. you can have the hinge on whatever side you like - it's easily changeable. I may be wrong, but I think most Westfalia unit fridge doors are hinged on the left.

[tforturton]

Actually, one of the Vitrifigo diagrams does say 'left or right sided hinge', but it's not clear whether you have to order a fridge with the hinge you want, or that they're changeable.

[garyd]

If your main issue with fridge size is the depth (front to back) what restricts this?

Does the Westy kit-chen cabinet have a full back wall/board in it? If so, do you need to retain it if you're standing a fridge in front of it?

I had the same depth issue with my kit-chen design and decided not to put either a back wall in the fridge space or a trim panel on the wall behind. This allowed the fridge (a Waeco top opening model mounted on drawer slides) to extend beyond the back of the unit into the van's wall thickness. see http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0

[tforturton]

When I got my unit from Shaun and Fiona, I took the back off because the ply was starting to come apart - de-laminating. Without it, the structure didn't seem that sturdy, so I put a new back panel on it. Now I might have to look at cutting that down - when I get round to fitting a fridge....
What are the dimensions of a westy unit anyway?

[irishkeet]

If your main issue with fridge size is the depth (front to back) what restricts this?

Does the Westy kit-chen cabinet have a full back wall/board in it? If so, do you need to retain it if you're standing a fridge in front of it?

I had the same depth issue with my kit-chen design and decided not to put either a back wall in the fridge space or a trim panel on the wall behind. This allowed the fridge (a Waeco top opening model mounted on drawer slides) to extend beyond the back of the unit into the van's wall thickness. see http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... sc&start=0

nice unit

The fridge part of the westy unit does not have a back as per this samba image, the restriction is the dept of the unit about 430mm, im hoping when offered up to the van you can gain a bit more depth, with the westy 3-way fridge the flue stops you going back any further, so Im sure there is a bit more space to be gained.

My units are all stacked in the donor van im using as storage, garage is full of the westy poptop, as soon as I get the van back and off to Ady I can get the units out and measure up