Hello & Operation Day Van

[WillC]

Hello all! After ages reading threads on here the time has come to join. Just bought a Kombi and converting into some kind of day van.
Getting a FortyWinks bed and front swivels (single passenger). It’s a single bench in the second row, which I’m mulling over whether to keep, or, attempt to get a 1+1+1 setup in order to remove the middle to locate a fridge. The fridge is proving troublesome as (a) there’s no room for it between front and rear seats, (b) a FW slider doesn’t have enough height (415mm and my Dometic is 430mm) and (c) pulling the fridge out/raising the FW rear section every time I need milk will be a pain.
Are there low fridges? Will the 1+1+1 arrangement give enough width for a fridge with the middle seat removed? It’s a lot of money for milk!
Anyway, I’ll read up on leisure batteries next, I seem to remember a man called Deaky on here who’s covered it in some detail
Cheers
Will

 

[Deaky]

You might fit a fridge on a slide out drawer under your bed

 

[Mrshabbs]

Hello all! After ages reading threads on here the time has come to join. Just bought a Kombi and converting into some kind of day van.
Getting a FortyWinks bed and front swivels (single passenger). It’s a single bench in the second row, which I’m mulling over whether to keep, or, attempt to get a 1+1+1 setup in order to remove the middle to locate a fridge. The fridge is proving troublesome as (a) there’s no room for it between front and rear seats, (b) a FW slider doesn’t have enough height (415mm and my Dometic is 430mm) and (c) pulling the fridge out/raising the FW rear section every time I need milk will be a pain.
Are there low fridges? Will the 1+1+1 arrangement give enough width for a fridge with the middle seat removed? It’s a lot of money for milk!
Anyway, I’ll read up on leisure batteries next, I seem to remember a man called Deaky on here who’s covered it in some detail
Cheers
Will

Hi Will, I have a Fortywinks bed for sale if you are interested. Excellent condition, slept on once.

 

[WillC]

Thanks both. Just ordered the bed - sorry Mrsshabbs or I’d have had yours.
My current Dometic fridge is just too high for the FW slider, but now found Alpicool have loads of options that look like they’ll fit.
Wondering now about sliders and wiring for the fridge, as in how to manage the length/spare cable when extending/retracting. Any bright ideas?

 

[T6VanLife]

Simple solution is to use a PowerStation on the shelf next to the fridge, probably one of the most useful things I have ever bought, Ecoflow & Bluetti are the most popular brands I have 2 Bluetti's an EB55 & AC70.

 

[WillC]

Yes I thought about that, but then you'll still need a cable from a 12v socket to the battery - unless you reckon on charging this at home beforehand and then it lasting for the entirety of your trip. I did this in my previous van (Caddy) and it worked OK, but am thinking now I'd like to install a leisure battery under the passenger seat and wire up a 12v socket in the rear of the van for the fridge, which means some way of managing cable length if I go with a slider...

 

[T6VanLife]

As soon as you introduce a drawer or sliding mechanism cable & pipe requirements become a series of increasingly complex compromises.
You don't even want to know how much sleep & hair I lost getting my set up to work reliably which takes the above idea and puts it on horse steroids ! Vanlife Module

 

[roadtripper]

In my Caravelle there is a factory fit 12v socket in the rear, so it is done in some models.

If you are lining the van there should be some route to get power to the back, either following the factory wiring (which I think is generally up the B pillar form the underseat area and along the roof) or there is a grommet under the seat to take wiring outside the body and along to the back (suitable protection needed)

If the intent is to run a fridge I'd not use the "standard" 12v socket as these are not very reliable at high current and can wobble, use one of the Anderson type connectors - either the grey 50A or the red/black Power pole

Compressor fridges are sensitive to voltage drop as they have a peak surge draw as the motor in the compressor starts so if putting wiring in be generous with the size of cable.

 

[WillC]

As soon as you introduce a drawer or sliding mechanism cable & pipe requirements become a series of increasingly complex compromises.
You don't even want to know how much sleep & hair I lost getting my set up to work reliably which takes the above idea and puts it on horse steroids ! Vanlife Module

Wow, that module looks a piece of work! Really neat.

 

[WillC]

In my Caravelle there is a factory fit 12v socket in the rear, so it is done in some models.

If you are lining the van there should be some route to get power to the back, either following the factory wiring (which I think is generally up the B pillar form the underseat area and along the roof) or there is a grommet under the seat to take wiring outside the body and along to the back (suitable protection needed)

If the intent is to run a fridge I'd not use the "standard" 12v socket as these are not very reliable at high current and can wobble, use one of the Anderson type connectors - either the grey 50A or the red/black Power pole

Compressor fridges are sensitive to voltage drop as they have a peak surge draw as the motor in the compressor starts so if putting wiring in be generous with the size of cable.

Massively useful info, thanks.

 

[Mrshabbs]

Thanks both. Just ordered the bed - sorry Mrsshabbs or I’d have had yours.
My current Dometic fridge is just too high for the FW slider, but now found Alpicool have loads of options that look like they’ll fit.
Wondering now about sliders and wiring for the fridge, as in how to manage the length/spare cable when extending/retracting. Any bright ideas?

No worries good luck with the conversion lots of good people and info on the forum…