MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: RobG on December 19, 2013, 06:59:30 AM
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Do I need to vent my camper trailer's tool box with a fridge in it?
My thoughts are yes, but I would like to know what other people think or have experienced . It's a large tool box on the Outback Sturt. My obvious concerns are venting to help the fridge, but also ingress of dust when traveling in places like Flinders Ranges etc..
Any suggestions, recommendations on type of vent, location, etc would be appreciated.
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The fridge works by moving heat, ie it takes the heat from inside the fridge and moves it
to the outside air.
If the box is metal and the heat can transfer, hot air from fridge is cooled by the cool
metal box and there is sufficient metal to dissipate the heat then no.
Problem is if you park with the box in the sun, then fridge is not going to be happy so,
bottom line is you will probably need some sort of forced ventilation for summer
ie vent and fan for flow through cooling.
Leigh
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Not that I store my fridge in the fridge box on the CT (keep mine in the car) but you would need to ventilate as Leigh has suggested.
I have seen some boxes fitted with vents (available from Bunnings I think) that can be riveted in once you cut a hole in the toolbox or others that have like a bonnet scoop fitted to direct ram air. This also has an air filter fitted to stop dust coming in. My BIL has this setup.
Another style is to fit computer cooling fans (12v) to recycle the air. Make sure you get the polarity correct so it sucks out hot air.
Hope this gives you a few options.
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my limited knowledge is
..if fitting a fan to a box with a vent ...this creates air pressure ..which reduces or limits ..dust ingress to the box = fridge
if that makes sense
aussieswag use this method on their campers ..
cheers mick
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I know on our Australian Offroad Camper (AOR) it has vents and I think all of AOR's models that have a fridge in the front tool box have vents. The below picture is not our camper (we have a Evakool 60 litre fridge), but it has the same type vent as shown, plus a vent on the top. So I guess if they fit them one would think that the vents are needed. We have never had an issue with overheating or too much dust in our front box and we have travelled over 6 months and on lots of dusty and hot roads. But I am no expert, just speaking from my experience. ;D Kevin
(http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp93232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv84%3A4%3Dot%3E5%3B%3A%3B%3D689%3D33%3B%3DXROQDF%3E27479876%3B%3B24%3Aot1lsi)
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The cooler the air around your fridge, the less work it has to do to maintain the temperature inside your fridge, so any extra ventilation will help your fridge run less and use less power and I guess in theory, last longer.
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I am wondering how convenient you find the fridge in the tool box. Have you tried using it that way before you go the effort of setting up fans? If your tool box is like mine, it is a long reach down the bottom of the toolbox. If any of your family are vertically challenged that might get a bit interesting.
I put the fridge in the vehicle, and if we are staying a couple of nights take it out and sit it handily between the kitchen and the door.
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When I bought my MDC CT I looked at this as they do a conversion. In the end I decided to continue to carry it I the back if the car so I have it with me for day trips when I leave the CT behind. Here is a link just for an idea.
http://www.marketdirectcampertrailers.com.au/products/optional-extras/camper-trailer-optional-extras/item/128-fridge-box-conversion
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
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We went from having just the one in the cruiser to now having a second in our camper and having the two works brilliantly, especially when on long trips, the last being 6 months. Just makes life a bit easier and able to stock up if away from shops for a while. Kevin
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Even if it didn't overheat in a sealed toolbox, it wouldn't be a good idea.
Aaron
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Thanks for the feed back guys, I have one fridge already in the back of the cruiser and this one typically sits next to the kitchen, I was hoping to move it to the tool box. Ive tried it out reach isnt an issue for me, and I like the idea of it being just a little more secure rather than chained to the wheel of the camper next to the kitchen. THis is going to need a bit more thought, I wonder if anyone has photos of the computer fan installations?
I do like the chrome filter Kevin , very flash.
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Interesting discussion on venting the box...
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Yes. ;D
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Australian offroad campers run fridges national luna I think in their tool boxes up front across the range....my mate owns one and its quite cool inside...I think he has a van/vent but I'm uncertain how this works?
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(http://bbsimg.ngfiles.com/1/15938000/ngbbs47f36b9973093.gif)
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Also looking at venting my fridge box after our shake down trip the other day found the poor old fridge was struggling to keep anything cool. Have ordered a large computer fan and will be lining the box with air cell insulation.
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Also looking at venting my fridge box after our shake down trip the other day found the poor old fridge was struggling to keep anything cool. Have ordered a large computer fan and will be lining the box with air cell insulation.
Lowflyer,
You'll want to vent on the side up against the trailer body.
And you'll need a flat air filter on the inside and mounted low.
by flat I mean a filter from a commode or similar that fits onto a flat surface.
Some folded flat bits to hold it, and computer fan would go on the outlet which is high on the side of the box on the same panel.
You can get louvre vented panels from a caravan spares place, or just a pattern of holes in the box wall.
Then your gunna hafta remember it, when you take the trailer swimming.
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Thanks Cruiser I was thinking along those lines. With the inlet was thinking of some sort of snorkel arrangement to limit any water ingress something like the u bend in the sink drain.
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Lowflyer,
Don't know whether an S bend would work well enough.
You might be better off with a flap you can fit over the openings, that seals them when needed.
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Just thinking out loud here without knowing your setup but could you use something like this;
http://www.comhardware.com.au/Product/Coupling-DWV-Threaded-100mm.aspx?cat=136140 (http://www.comhardware.com.au/Product/Coupling-DWV-Threaded-100mm.aspx?cat=136140)
Threaded end to the outside, filter and fan to the inside. Screw the cap on for water crossings.
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Good idea but knowing me I will either lose the cap or just not put it on. Maybe a rubber scupper valve like this?https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?cat=156&item=32797&intAbsolutePage=1
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Yes a vent fan and filter is what Kimberley use in their gullying box. If I close the box up with the fridge on I make sure I turn the fan on to keep the box cooler. Not only for the fridge but we also keep all our other food in that area so the cooler the better.
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The Tvan fridge box has 2 commodore filters, one on the door the other against the body
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I like the idea of solar powered fans, no need to remember to turn them on, sure they don't work at night etc then the metal should do a good enough job at dissipating the heat.
A few options with varying costs and varying modifications needed to make them work.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/solar-power-Fridge-Fan-Caravan-4x4-4WD-Trailer-Boat-Motorhome-/152071734163?hash=item23682e8393:g:qG0AAOSwtO5XIri4 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/solar-power-Fridge-Fan-Caravan-4x4-4WD-Trailer-Boat-Motorhome-/152071734163?hash=item23682e8393:g:qG0AAOSwtO5XIri4)
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Solar-Vent-Exhaust-Intake-Caravan-Boat-Stainless-Exterior-New-/252269449653?hash=item3abc6e51b5:g:FsoAAOSwExJXot3e (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Solar-Vent-Exhaust-Intake-Caravan-Boat-Stainless-Exterior-New-/252269449653?hash=item3abc6e51b5:g:FsoAAOSwExJXot3e)
or this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-Solar-Panel-Module-DIY-for-Charger-Cellphone-5V-200MA-1W-/172475165180?hash=item28285229fc:g:MREAAOSw3xJXpD6u (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-Solar-Panel-Module-DIY-for-Charger-Cellphone-5V-200MA-1W-/172475165180?hash=item28285229fc:g:MREAAOSw3xJXpD6u)
plus this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80mm-8cm-5V-2Pin-80x10mm-DC-Brushless-Cooling-Case-Fan-For-PC-Computer-Cooling-/152140767169?hash=item236c4bdfc1:g:O1YAAOSwcUBYGZUU (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80mm-8cm-5V-2Pin-80x10mm-DC-Brushless-Cooling-Case-Fan-For-PC-Computer-Cooling-/152140767169?hash=item236c4bdfc1:g:O1YAAOSwcUBYGZUU)
plus this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-Size-Circle-Air-Vent-Grille-Door-Ventilation-Cover-Wall-Grilles-Duct-Louvre-/291936048850?var=&hash=item43f8be96d2:m:mo9dM4WOgS30F1CI5wSxicw (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-Size-Circle-Air-Vent-Grille-Door-Ventilation-Cover-Wall-Grilles-Duct-Louvre-/291936048850?var=&hash=item43f8be96d2:m:mo9dM4WOgS30F1CI5wSxicw)
with some of this cut to size
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Foam-Air-Filter-For-HONDA-GX240-GX270-GX340-GX390-REPLACEMENT-OEM-17211-899-000-/132046800190?hash=item1ebe9a453e:g:WFsAAOSw-0xYYy75 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Foam-Air-Filter-For-HONDA-GX240-GX270-GX340-GX390-REPLACEMENT-OEM-17211-899-000-/132046800190?hash=item1ebe9a453e:g:WFsAAOSw-0xYYy75)
Would cost the grand total of about $12, if you did two with one pulling new air in and one extracting it would work best and give you some redundancy in case one stops working. Sealing for water crossings would be an additional challenge but if you put them towards the top of the box it would still give a pretty good wading height.