What compressor fridge? (3 Viewers)

[june]

We are having a new bespoke panel van conversion so can choose our appliances. Think we will choose compressor fridge as will have lithium batteries. Thought I read somewhere that a certain compressor fridge had trouble with the catch breaking? Not sure which to go for Vitrifrigo, Waeco, Thetford? is there really a difference do you think?
Can also choose our means of cooking anyone gone all electric? or diesel hob? Thanks in anticipation

 

[chaser]

Ours says isotherm on it, cant fault it

 

[Mikeco]

If you go for cooking with electric you will be restricted to having hook up so not a good idea.
Get them to fit an underslung gas tank and go all gas including the fridge.

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[SpeedyDux]

If it was me I would choose a top loading compressor fridge. Top loading fridges that slide out of side kitchen units are becoming more common in PVCs. Side opening doors must be the ones that have a problem with catches. Not sure which manufacturer makes the top loaders but it could be Waeco.

Our current Vitrifrigo 90 litre compressor fridge has a strong door catch and hasn't fallen open while driving, so far. But it does seem a bit noisy when in operation. There is no low power "night" setting so I switch it off when we go to bed.

We still use a gas hob. If cooking that is all you use gas for, one bottle will last ages. We have a diesel Truma so generally need EHU.

 

[chaser]

Ours says isotherm on it, cant fault it

Might add this is switched on all the time without any hook up just a 100w solar and two 100a batterys

 

[CazPaul]

If it was me I would choose a top loading compressor fridge. Top loading fridges that slide out of side kitchen units are becoming more common in PVCs. Side opening doors must be the ones that have a problem with catches. Not sure which manufacturer makes the top loaders but it could be Waeco.

Our current Vitrifrigo 90 litre compressor fridge has a strong door catch and hasn't fallen open while driving, so far. But it does seem a bit noisy when in operation. There is no low power "night" setting so I switch it off when we go to bed.

We still use a gas hob. If cooking that is all you use gas for, one bottle will last ages. We have a diesel Truma so generally need EHU.

Yes I love the Westfalia Columbus with the pull out fridge.

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[CazPaul]

Sounds great your own bespoke conversion, we were on the brink of it and I had designed everything, but in the end went with an A class.
It was the re-sale costs that was the sticking point and I didn't want the Fiat, Peugeot or Citroen base.
Have you got it winterised, that was one of my main criteria, its the things you can't see in a conversion that are the important ones. Insulation is a big one, what are you going for, we were going for the spray foam.
Water tanks, are they inside, underslung, heated?
Its great designing one but finally taking the plunge is a different matter.

 

[ericroy]

Vitrifrigo is probably the best compressor fridge and is used widely in marine circles as well as on Motorhomes. Advantages of compressor fridges are -

• No holes needed for flues/ventilation
• No need to get van level for it to work correctly
• Gets down to temperature really fast
• They just work!

Downsides are -

• Initially more expensive
• Make more noise (but I sleep fine with my head 200mm from ours)

 

[CazPaul]

Vitrifrigo is probably the best compressor fridge and is used widely in marine circles as well as on Motorhomes. Advantages of compressor fridges are -

• No holes needed for flues/ventilation
• No need to get van level for it to work correctly
• Gets down to temperature really fast
• They just work!

Downsides are -

• Initially more expensive
• Make more noise (but I sleep fine with my head 200mm from ours)

Use more 12v power too.

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[chaser]

This is ours

 

[DBK]

I haven't heard anything good about diesel hobs. Murvi offer it as an option but if you enquire about it, as I did, they will talk you out of it.

Make sure you have plenty of solar. How much also depends on your heating system. If it is a Webasto Dualtop like we have that is another big energy user and with the fridge you will need 200W - and more if you can find room on the roof.

 

[CazPaul]

I haven't heard anything good about diesel hobs. Murvi offer it as an option but if you enquire about it, as I did, they will talk you out of it.

Make sure you have plenty of solar. How much also depends on your heating system. If it is a Webasto Dualtop like we have that is another big energy user and with the fridge you will need 200W - and more if you can find room on the roof.

Rex seems to talk you out of a lot of things, I know someone who wanted a 4x4 Murvi and was talked out of it

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[Minxy]

We have a Thetford T1090 fridge freezer, it's got some good features but we are still getting used to it having had a 3-way one previously:



One thing that has surprised us is that the freezer door has NO insulation at all ... it even has a gap at the bottom! We've put a piece of thermal material against it and it's improved the freezing meaning that stuff at the very front of it doesn't partially defrost as it did before. We've not noticed any problems with the fridge part by us doing this so when we get home I'm going to experiment by cutting a piece of closed cell foam (better than polystyrene) to fit it properly and see if that helps even more.

 

[chaser]

Ours freezes better and quicker than our fridge in the house

 

[Neckender]

We’re really pleased with our Thetford compressor fridge, we have the same as @Minxy Girl and it’s the Mk1 version, Thetford have redesigned the freezer compartment on the recent models.
The other good thing is the night setting as this makes it very quiet indeed.

John.

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[DBK]

Rex seems to talk you out of a lot of things, I know someone who wanted a 4x4 Murvi and was talked out of it

He doesn't like one offs!

 

[Nasher]

For the fridge: Waeco CRX 50 or 80, I have the 50 & it's a brillant bit of kit.
I have a single 110ah battery & with careful planning can manage 3 days without hookup (no solar) It has 3 modes: fridge, fridge/freezer & freezer.

For cooking AND heating, I have a Wallas XC Duo. A combined DIESEL heater & HOB
It runs off diesel from the vehicle tank and is really easy to use. The upsides/downsides are:

Upsides:

• No gas
• No gas bottle
• No gas alarms
• No gas pipes
• No naked flame in the van, meaning I can cook in and heat the van with a motorcycle it.
• No fear of running out of gas
• Easy to clean the ceramic hob
• Compact as it’s a hob and heater - more space for beer & wine!
• Runs on diesel, available anywhere & draws it from the vehicle tank (cheap to run, even in France!)
• No condensation
• You can get a toast rack for it!

Potential Downsides:

• It takes about 6 minutes to warm up – not a problem for me, but may be for some
• It requires an intake & exhaust – my van was designed around it, so no problem for me
• Draws an initial 4 amps on start up, so needs a bit of battery power, once running it’s fine and draws very little current
• Expensive, but not too much more than using separate components
• Needs flat bottomed cookware.

Brilliant bit of kit, I will never go back to gas. I am surprised that a lot more people aren't using them

 

[CazPaul]

For the fridge: Waeco CRX 50 or 80, I have the 50 & it's a brillant bit of kit.
I have a single 110ah battery & can manage 3 days with careful planning. It has 3 modes: fridge, fridge/freezer & freezer.

For cooking AND heating, I have a Wallas XC Duo. A combined DIESEL heater & HOB
It runs off diesel from the vehicle tank and is really easy to use. The upsides/downsides are:

Upsides:

• No gas
• No gas bottle
• No gas alarms
• No gas pipes
• No naked flame in the van, meaning I can cook in and heat the van with a motorcycle it.
• No fear of running out of gas
• Easy to clean the ceramic hob
• Compact as it’s a hob and heater - more space for beer & wine!
• Runs on diesel, available anywhere & draws it from the vehicle tank (cheap to run, even in France!)
• No condensation
• You can get a toast rack for it!

Potential Downsides:

• It takes about 6 minutes to warm up – not a problem for me, but may be for some
• It requires an intake & exhaust – my van was designed around it, so no problem for me
• Draws an initial 4 amps on start up, so needs a bit of battery power, once running it’s fine and draws very little current
• Expensive, but not too much more than using separate components
• Needs flat bottomed cookware.

Brilliant bit of kit, I will never go back to gas. I am surprised that a lot more people aren't using them

View attachment 257506 View attachment 257507

Great stuff, what van do you have, a bespoke one, did you convert yourself.

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[DavidG58]

Great stuff, what van do you have, a bespoke one, did you convert yourself.

don't try and tell us you really care, you only wanted an extra post

 

[CazPaul]

don't try and tell us you really care, you only wanted an extra post

View attachment 257510

Bugger, rumbled.

 

[Nasher]

Great stuff, what van do you have, a bespoke one, did you convert yourself.

Bought a van (MWB Puegeot Boxer), designed a conversion to fit my requirements & had a local company do the conversion.

If you are interested, pm me your email & I can give you the full story - but here's a few pics

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[Aubs]

Nice looking van you have there. Can I ask Is that a Wallas Xc you have fitted if is so how do you find it as thinking going that route on my Relay L3H2 when it arrives.

 

[Nasher]

Yes, I have a Wallas XC Duo. A combined DIESEL heater & HOB
It runs off diesel from the vehicle tank and is really easy to use. The upsides/downsides are:

Upsides:

• No gas
• No gas bottle
• No gas alarms
• No gas pipes
• No naked flame in the van, meaning I can cook in and heat the van with a motorcycle it.
• No fear of running out of gas
• Easy to clean the ceramic hob
• Compact as it’s a hob and heater - more space for beer & wine!
• Runs on diesel, available anywhere & draws it from the vehicle tank (cheap to run, even in France!)
• No condensation
• You can get a toast rack for it!

Potential Downsides:

• It takes about 6 minutes to warm up – not a problem for me, but may be for some
• It requires an intake & exhaust – my van was designed around it, so no problem for me
• Draws an initial 4 amps on start up, so needs a bit of battery power, once running it’s fine and draws very little current
• Expensive, but not too much more than using separate components
• Needs flat bottomed cookware.

Brilliant bit of kit, I will never go back to gas. I am surprised that a lot more people aren't using them

I had my van converted by a local company, who fitted it.
That said, fitting is straightforward two pipes (one inlet, one exhaust) need go to the outside plus a fuel pipe that can either go to the vehicle tank (mine does) or a seperate tank if you prefer.

Electrical connection directly to the leisure battery (fused obvioulsy)

Manual attached

 

[mitzimad]

ok in a small van but only rated 1.9 kw so wouldnt heat a larger van also no heating while your cooking

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