The dreaded fridge removal!!

Post by **Dartmoor** » 22 Sep 2008, 17:39

Interesting replies. My fridge on on recently acquired 81 Westy seems pretty dead. Can't hear a fan go or anything on 12v or mains, and no joy with the pilot light. I was thinking of spending money/time fixing it up. But maybe for £120 I should get a three way coolbox and be done with it. The old fridge can then just be used as a food store.

What does anyone reckon?

Post by **The Reverend Pimp Daddy** » 22 Sep 2008, 18:21

Having sorted out the same problem in my ex-devon conversion (now a home brew camper), I take my fridge and stick it in the awning...just for long weekends or hoildays, eleccy ice box for the shorter days or weekends

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 467#307467

Post by **HarryMann** » 06 Oct 2008, 20:53

Even without a fridge its an area prone to rust along seams.

True! even on me dear of Doka that's the one that'd started to go...

But with a fridge (and a cooker)...

...what about insulating that panel well and and venting the hot gases properly?

Aren't any of these campers built properly???

Post by **Mocki** » 06 Oct 2008, 21:12

how the hell you lot can contemplate not having a fridge is beyond me......

it means you are dependant on visiting a shop at the very least every other day, and not being able to carry normal food...... pot noodles and
cool boxes are for the beach, or mondanoman , campers have proper fridges, for keeping proper food in...... install it correctly and it wont damage the van.

Post by **kevtherev** » 07 Oct 2008, 15:08

Dartmoor wrote:Interesting replies. My fridge on on recently acquired 81 Westy seems pretty dead. Can't hear a fan go or anything on 12v or mains, and no joy with the pilot light. I was thinking of spending money/time fixing it up. But maybe for £120 I should get a three way coolbox and be done with it. The old fridge can then just be used as a food store.

What does anyone reckon?

I reckon you need to read some information regarding electrolux fridges.

firstly they are silent

secondly there is an ignition sequence to follow for gas
if you know your model number there are various instuctions in the download section

you have a device that is designed to do a brilliant job.... even providing ice in the summer.... I reckon you should find out about using it

Post by **chippieshaun** » 07 Oct 2008, 16:03

...what about insulating that panel well and and venting the hot gases properly?

Aren't any of these campers built properly???

It amazes me that the panel behind the fridge was neither lined or insulated , which must have helped to create tonnes of condensation , right?
I am pretty sure that that fridge had never been removed and everything was in it's original state when i found the rust holes from hell!
This leads me to think that Autohomes aren't quite the 'quality' conversion that people seem to think they are! I plugged the fridge in at home to see how hot it gets at the back ..... and it got well hot! For anyone 'in the know' (camper conversion company) surely it is a 'no brainer' that hot metal/cold air will lead to puddles of water!!
So i will line and insulate that panel when everything is reinstated (as you suggest Mr Harryman) but I would imagine that there would still be some condensation??
Maybe it is a case of pulling the fridge out at regulare intervals and checking all is ok before it gets too bad??

As far as 'not having a fridge' is concerned......well , one of the things we love about the van is that it is five star camping!! We eat like royalty in tha t van and you need a fridge to cook proper food! (In my opinion!)

Post by **raider** » 07 Oct 2008, 16:03

Newbie here,
first post.
Just, 2 hours ago, been quoted £250 for the whole nearside sill and partial panel replacement which is totally rotten, too much for my meagre welding skills and I need it back on the road pronto. Painting the new panel will be a bit extra, I'll see how much before I agree coz I quite like doing a bit of painting myself . What do you think of the price? I'm an ex-land rover rust fighter so I've had a bit of pain with that area before but I think it's quite reasonable. I viewed the chaps current work and it seems spot on so I've no worries about his skills.

Anyway, great site, learning loads

Degz
T25

Post by **chippieshaun** » 07 Oct 2008, 16:09

raider wrote:Newbie here,
first post.
Just, 2 hours ago, been quoted £250 for the whole nearside sill and partial panel replacement which is totally rotten, too much for my meagre welding skills and I need it back on the road pronto. Painting the new panel will be a bit extra, I'll see how much before I agree coz I quite like doing a bit of painting myself . What do you think of the price? I'm an ex-land rover rust fighter so I've had a bit of pain with that area before but I think it's quite reasonable. I viewed the chaps current work and it seems spot on so I've no worries about his skills.

Anyway, great site, learning loads

Degz
T25

Sounds ok to me.
I payed £32 plus postage to Schoffields for the panel and the guy i am using quoted me £250 on top of that to do all the welding and fill ,prepare and prime the affected area outside. THis bloke comes highly recommended but i s'pose i could be paying slightly over the odds because of where i live........still , seems reasonable to me (better than a cheap , crap job)

Post by **Cruz** » 07 Oct 2008, 16:21

Was yours as bad as this?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103 ... floor2.jpg

The red line is where the new outer sill will be welded in. This is a genuine wv panel that incorporates the outer sill plus the missing piece of floor that I have outlined in red. Then the guy who is doing it is going to fabricate a piece to replace the side panel from the sill seam up to the first crease just above the hook up socket.

The inner sill will also need patching up as VW no longer sell this.

Need the sliding door side outer sill doing too and a new inner sill as that is shot to pieces.

Post by **raider** » 07 Oct 2008, 16:23

Thanks for the swift reply Shaun,
Just viewed your van, mmm looks nice, same year, mileage and roof as mine but just looks a tad better especially with the rear side windows, mine has portholes at the rear and the glass has blown, next job. I've not got round to searching for info on that little gem yet. The van has even got its' own bank account now!
Cheers
Degz

Post by **Mr Bean** » 07 Oct 2008, 16:47

HarryMann wrote:
Even without a fridge its an area prone to rust along seams.
...what about insulating that panel well and and venting the hot gases properly?
Aren't any of these campers built properly???

I agree it ain't exactly rocket science! Plus if you buy what by many individuals standards could be classified as an old banger you aught at least take a few items out and check out the secret places for rust etc. First thing SWMBO and I do with our "new" motors is have the seats and carpets out. And regarding our hightop I won't mention the proffesional convertors name as it all happened many years ago but frankly the standard of design did leave a lot to be desired. And yes I did have to rebuild the area around the fridge vents.
Cheers
Smiffy

Post by **chippieshaun** » 07 Oct 2008, 17:10

Cruz wrote:Was yours as bad as this?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103 ... floor2.jpg

The red line is where the new outer sill will be welded in. This is a genuine wv panel that incorporates the outer sill plus the missing piece of floor that I have outlined in red. Then the guy who is doing it is going to fabricate a piece to replace the side panel from the sill seam up to the first crease just above the hook up socket.

The inner sill will also need patching up as VW no longer sell this.

Need the sliding door side outer sill doing too and a new inner sill as that is shot to pieces.

Similair stuff......but if it is a competition , I reckon i win!!

[IMG]http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm3/ ... CF3197.jpg[/img]

Post by **raider** » 07 Oct 2008, 17:20

Cruz/Smiffy,
Yes it is pretty much like yours Cruz and has obviously rusted through the outer panel, someone has then filled it, badly, and then done a nice paint job over it, lumps and all! Not even tried to sand it down!!

Smiffy, it was all pretty evident stuff and the price equated to that and being ex landy I pulled up everything which was pretty mint and even shiney under the rubbers! Breath of fresh air after landies!!!

Cheers
Degz

Post by **Cruz** » 07 Oct 2008, 17:33

chippieshaun wrote:
Cruz wrote:Was yours as bad as this?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103 ... floor2.jpg

The red line is where the new outer sill will be welded in. This is a genuine wv panel that incorporates the outer sill plus the missing piece of floor that I have outlined in red. Then the guy who is doing it is going to fabricate a piece to replace the side panel from the sill seam up to the first crease just above the hook up socket.

The inner sill will also need patching up as VW no longer sell this.

Need the sliding door side outer sill doing too and a new inner sill as that is shot to pieces.

Similair stuff......but if it is a competition , I reckon i win!!

Bah mere chickenfeed. Your floor is still there rusted to hell but still there all the same. Mine has collapsed into the inner sill and needed me to get my hand in to clear it out. It was like emptying a bedding box

Shaun have you considered buying the sill piece I got from VW? A bit pricey at £90 but at least you know it will fit. part no 251-809-294

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103 ... _sill1.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103 ... _sill2.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w103 ... _sill3.jpg

Post by **chippieshaun** » 07 Oct 2008, 17:45

Ok ..... I admitt thatt your van is definately more rusty than mine....... I was so proud of my rust aswell!!!
Yes , bit late for the vw part now because i am already in possesion of the Schoffield one. It is the outer sill and bottom section of side panel in one piece with the 'fake' seam. The guy is going to fabricate the floor section.
I have offered it up and looks pretty good and also heard positive things about the schofiels panels on here.

Will remember the vw tip for next time though!!

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