Many thanks John for your honest feedback and being our test pilot for this type of stuff. I've adopted a new mantre of just waiting for 6 months before following your early revalations😉. Don't mean that in any way negative, but just a realisation that you are our Capitan Test Pilot👍
Hey John another good review of your experience living in a van full time. Certainly helps others make informed decisions around which concepts may work better than others. Great that you are making some money from the other product reviews to help fund your travels. A lot of work going into making all of the content. Keep up the good work.
Looks very similar to our Dometic compressor fridge. Love it, we’ve not had any issues with it so far… in fact I’ve often said it’s the one thing I wouldn’t change in our van. 😊
Hi John. Sorry to hear of all the grief you had with your original fridge set up. Looks like you've sorted things out now, & i think your new setup looks very nice..
Thank you for another super useful video John! As someone who is in the process of planning their van layout, and who had been leaning towards the top loading type as they're supposedly better, this has given me real food for thought and is making me think that going back to my original idea of a little fridge like this, is probably the better option. It'd give me more space in the van too, as with the top loading type there has always been the question of where to put it in a van that's slightly smaller than a VW and that also needs to accommodate mobility equipment! I think you've just solved one of my problems. ❤
Hi John. We have the 55 litre total cool in our Vw t5 campervan and it’s been awesome. The large section is the freezer and smaller section the fridge. Mines been on since may using the solar and renogy lithium battery but I agree it’s a little noisy when it kicks in.
Great vid John; love that you explain your thought processes whenever you change stuff - we're benefitting by learning from your mistakes, so to speak. Thanks and atb
A great update John. I had noticed the fridge, and I really like it. It looks really classy, and out does some of the gear you see in some of the top of the range motorhomes out there. Here's another great video for folk to consider for their vans. Explaining the logic behind the process, showing the downsides of the original plan, the limitations with the first units and then the second choice and install, builds a complete picture and makes for an interesting video. Cheers.👋
Thanks for this video, I have crx50 45L need something with a bigger freezer box,was thinking to keep fridge and just get a freezer box like the ones you got rid off, but having second thoughts now,what size is the freezer compartment? please John.
I did wonder how the double chest fridge/freezer would work out, as it seemed a little bit clunky especially after you got the condensation issues. I originally went for a Dometic upright 80litre intending to put it high up to save bending down, but the nature of a Sprinter narrowing in wouldn’t allow that, so its come down to 6ins above the main worktop with additional worktop over it and still mitigates the bending at an angle issue. When you went for your “double” I wondered if I’d done the wrong thing😮 I’m glad to say that you have now vindicated my original design, Phew😊 Thanks John for a great update, always good to see what you’re schemeing, whenever the vids come through😊
How frustrating. My top loading fridge has been fine, much quieter than yours thankfully, I thought it might be noisy as its in effectively a wooden box, but it is on a fixed shelf. I hardly hear it at night and my bed head is by the other end of the Kitchen unit. My fridge has a small separate section, the app used to let me set that to a different temperature, but that seems to have disappeared on one of the updates. I looked at a fridge similar to your new one, but would also have had to install it with the door facing forward like you have. As its generally a lot warmer year round here, I decided that wouldn't be a good option with the door in the sun when the slider is open. We've had an issue with a domestic fridge door getting sun on it and everything in the door going off - eg milk, butter, eggs - all the things you normally store in the specially made door sections! Hope the new set up works well - quite like the black door - makes Cooper stand out 😊🐶
I did wonder why you picked the top-loaders with runners as it looked complicated and less convenient. Did you autopsy one of them to find out just how bad their insulation was?
The separate units were so easy to setup & use and I think when you watch what I’ve gone through with all those options to try and make them work then you’d see that I really hoped they’d work out. I sold them to someone who used them differently than me, outdoor camping over a weekend, so I wasn’t going to destroy them as they still had value.
Hi John hope you and Mandy are both well, I have a quick question if you wouldn't mind I have also purchased the same fridge as you I am very impressed with it but when its on It can be a bit loud is yours a bit noisy or is it quite. mine has a little damage on the back of it so I'm wondering if that my have something do with. Thanks in advance Luke.
Hari OM I did notice you had changed the fridge in that last video... so am glad to have this update with the pros and cons. I did take the Alpicool T50 and am quite happy with it - though the con for me is the need to have space above it for opening the lid (no sliders for me... but that may change!) Must admit, the look and use of the upright holds appeal... YAM xx
Glad the fridge isue is solved for now But one thing that suprised me was when we were parked up for a couple of weeks while we spent some time in a hotel our 6 kg lpg cylinder still had about two kg of lpg left in it the temp was 30c + outside as for cooking its amazing how long a gas cylinder lasts . living full time in a house for 11 months and only using lpg for cooking we used 3 11 kg cylinders at the time the cost of all that gas was about £40 for almost a year of cooking . Dont get me wrong i love the idea of solar power but found its best use was for heating water and not photo voltaic conversion . How about solar water heating for your van . Could start a whole new trend . I know lpg takes a little finding in the uk but in europe most filling stations have at least one pump.
Thanks for the waffles video, Dang, Now I want some with fruit n cream. Knock, Knock. Mandy...... Amazed about new fridge. The fridge disperses heat in the rear only and needs 5cm gap at rear as well as 5cm gap in the top of the fridge (or 5cm gap in rear of cupboard) to let heat out. Water drain outlet on the bottom, will that cause a problem in the future? Nights with no fridge noise's is one step closer to a good night. Take care and good luck.
Hi John very good video. I just unplugged my fridge due to it using all my battery 180ah lithium overnight . It was 12v and 240v and could switch between the two. I’m looking to buy a new fridge and I’m wondering how much of your battery would your new fridge use up over 24hrs?
@@GadgetJohn I’ve gone back and listened a second time and there’s no numbers or percentages for the new fridge. I did look at the spec for the fridge in the link but it seems it’s the same as the one I have 12v/24 v . AC 1.2A-0.5A, DC 5.0A/2.5A. Not sure how you’re powering yours but my 180ah lithium battery with 220 solar dies overnight with my fridge .
If yours was 12v or 240v then it’s an entirely different type of fridge than this. The 12v compressor fridge is very efficient and uses 5 amps at 12v while it’s running, but as I said in my video the overall daily running power depends on how you stock it and what the internal temperature is in your vehicle.
@@GadgetJohn there’s a switch at the back of mine so I can change it from 240v to 12v. I can use the 12v while driving and the 240 when hooked up at campsite but that fridge is no good for wild camping.
I found that very interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing. I know this is not a request channel BUT (lol) , could you at some time do a short on how much diesel a 2kw Autoterm/Planar diesel heater uses? Or is this asking how long is a piece of string?
I don’t have either of those products, so I’d suggest find a video of someone installing one and ask them. My 2kw Chinese heater is piped into my vehicle diesel tank, I recently stayed parked in the same place for 6 days and used the heater for roughly 4 hours a day, and the fuel gauge didn’t change from when I parked up to driving away 6 days later.
@@GadgetJohn Thank you John for your reply. I thought of asking elsewhere, however you are my go-to person for honesty. Mine too is piped into the vehicle's tank and I will take your example as a rough guide.
I find this videos very informative and will save me money when I come to convert a van, I like the look of this one as well, thank you for these reviews🤙
Hi John really enjoyed your video great idea with the new fridge hopefully in the long run you will not have the problem really looking forward to seeing your next video keep safe 😊👍🏻
Hi John, sorry to hear of your fridge/freezer woes, I’d definitely agree that those units must have had very poor insulation properties hence them working overtime always and the condensation issue. In my van I nicked your slide out fridge idea but bought the biggest Alpicool fridge Which fit in the available space Quite honestly it’s been super efficient, very quite and no condensation but agree with you downside comment about things getting buried, although in the Alpicool you do get a wire basket for each side so you can pull the whole lot out. Freezer stayed at -18 in 40 degree heat in Clermont Fernand in August 🥵 Glad the new fridge has worked out for the best 👍👍
Surprised you had problems with the Vevor’s. I’ve had one for about 18 months now. It’s my freezer. I tend to buy meat from supermarkets, in packs of 4 or 5 chicken breast or pork chops, Eat one and freeze the rest. Potato products as well, chips mash and jackets, all in there. Noise . Not sure it’s a problem.Nic says that I’ve got selective hearing, so that might help 😬.I’ve also fitted a fan. It sits on what was the rear passenger seats above the water tank. I’d have thought that would act as a echo chamber. P’raps not. I do agree with the condensation though. I think it’s the one downside. If you remember, and why should you, I’ve an Adria Twin, so not a self build. So the fridge is the Dometic 3 way. Running on lpg. I had thought of changing it to a compressor, but it works, best left alone. In short. I’m a happy bunny. For now!
Well you certainly persevered with those domestics 👍 the single fridge makes sense and less "natty" lol - you didn't say how much/less power it draws compared to the 2 single units? Xx
Hi John you just saved me a bunch of cash was going to buy one to use in me caravan a very good vlog from you again Best Regards to you and Mandy Martin King
Just a comment John. I think the black fridge looks very classy. If you made it green. I think it would be too much sameness
Many thanks John for your honest feedback and being our test pilot for this type of stuff. I've adopted a new mantre of just waiting for 6 months before following your early revalations😉. Don't mean that in any way negative, but just a realisation that you are our Capitan Test Pilot👍
Hey John another good review of your experience living in a van full time. Certainly helps others make informed decisions around which concepts may work better than others. Great that you are making some money from the other product reviews to help fund your travels. A lot of work going into making all of the content. Keep up the good work.
Looks very similar to our Dometic compressor fridge. Love it, we’ve not had any issues with it so far… in fact I’ve often said it’s the one thing I wouldn’t change in our van. 😊
Hi John. Sorry to hear of all the grief you had with your original fridge set up. Looks like you've sorted things out now, & i think your new setup looks very nice..
And there we have it. Thank you, I enjoyed the detailed discussion about the changeover.
New fridge looks great and good size. Dometic fridges certainly have always been very efficient, power efficient, relatively quiet and well-designed
Thank you for another super useful video John! As someone who is in the process of planning their van layout, and who had been leaning towards the top loading type as they're supposedly better, this has given me real food for thought and is making me think that going back to my original idea of a little fridge like this, is probably the better option. It'd give me more space in the van too, as with the top loading type there has always been the question of where to put it in a van that's slightly smaller than a VW and that also needs to accommodate mobility equipment! I think you've just solved one of my problems. ❤
Hi John. We have the 55 litre total cool in our Vw t5 campervan and it’s been awesome. The large section is the freezer and smaller section the fridge. Mines been on since may using the solar and renogy lithium battery but I agree it’s a little noisy when it kicks in.
Great vid John; love that you explain your thought processes whenever you change stuff - we're benefitting by learning from your mistakes, so to speak. Thanks and atb
A great update John. I had noticed the fridge, and I really like it. It looks really classy, and out does some of the gear you see in some of the top of the range motorhomes out there. Here's another great video for folk to consider for their vans. Explaining the logic behind the process, showing the downsides of the original plan, the limitations with the first units and then the second choice and install, builds a complete picture and makes for an interesting video. Cheers.👋
Thanks for this video, I have crx50 45L need something with a bigger freezer box,was thinking to keep fridge and just get a freezer box like the ones you got rid off, but having second thoughts now,what size is the freezer compartment? please John.
I did wonder how the double chest fridge/freezer would work out, as it seemed a little bit clunky especially after you got the condensation issues. I originally went for a Dometic upright 80litre intending to put it high up to save bending down, but the nature of a Sprinter narrowing in wouldn’t allow that, so its come down to 6ins above the main worktop with additional worktop over it and still mitigates the bending at an angle issue. When you went for your “double” I wondered if I’d done the wrong thing😮 I’m glad to say that you have now vindicated my original design, Phew😊 Thanks John for a great update, always good to see what you’re schemeing, whenever the vids come through😊
How frustrating. My top loading fridge has been fine, much quieter than yours thankfully, I thought it might be noisy as its in effectively a wooden box, but it is on a fixed shelf. I hardly hear it at night and my bed head is by the other end of the Kitchen unit. My fridge has a small separate section, the app used to let me set that to a different temperature, but that seems to have disappeared on one of the updates. I looked at a fridge similar to your new one, but would also have had to install it with the door facing forward like you have. As its generally a lot warmer year round here, I decided that wouldn't be a good option with the door in the sun when the slider is open. We've had an issue with a domestic fridge door getting sun on it and everything in the door going off - eg milk, butter, eggs - all the things you normally store in the specially made door sections! Hope the new set up works well - quite like the black door - makes Cooper stand out 😊🐶
I did wonder why you picked the top-loaders with runners as it looked complicated and less convenient. Did you autopsy one of them to find out just how bad their insulation was?
The separate units were so easy to setup & use and I think when you watch what I’ve gone through with all those options to try and make them work then you’d see that I really hoped they’d work out.
I sold them to someone who used them differently than me, outdoor camping over a weekend, so I wasn’t going to destroy them as they still had value.
Hi John hope you and Mandy are both well, I have a quick question if you wouldn't mind I have also purchased the same fridge as you I am very impressed with it but when its on It can be a bit loud is yours a bit noisy or is it quite. mine has a little damage on the back of it so I'm wondering if that my have something do with. Thanks in advance Luke.
My is really quiet, it doesn’t make me up at night unlike my old fridge which was really loud.
Hari OM
I did notice you had changed the fridge in that last video... so am glad to have this update with the pros and cons. I did take the Alpicool T50 and am quite happy with it - though the con for me is the need to have space above it for opening the lid (no sliders for me... but that may change!) Must admit, the look and use of the upright holds appeal... YAM xx
Glad the fridge isue is solved for now But one thing that suprised me was when we were parked up for a couple of weeks while we spent some time in a hotel our 6 kg lpg cylinder still had about two kg of lpg left in it the temp was 30c + outside as for cooking its amazing how long a gas cylinder lasts . living full time in a house for 11 months and only using lpg for cooking we used 3 11 kg cylinders at the time the cost of all that gas was about £40 for almost a year of cooking . Dont get me wrong i love the idea of solar power but found its best use was for heating water and not photo voltaic conversion . How about solar water heating for your van . Could start a whole new trend . I know lpg takes a little finding in the uk but in europe most filling stations have at least one pump.
With the demise of LPG and the free energy from the sun I've gone down the solar electrical systems to give me free energy.
Thanks for the waffles video, Dang, Now I want some with fruit n cream. Knock, Knock. Mandy......
Amazed about new fridge. The fridge disperses heat in the rear only and needs 5cm gap at rear as well as 5cm gap in the top of the fridge (or 5cm gap in rear of cupboard) to let heat out.
Water drain outlet on the bottom, will that cause a problem in the future?
Nights with no fridge noise's is one step closer to a good night.
Take care and good luck.
Hi John very good video. I just unplugged my fridge due to it using all my battery 180ah lithium overnight . It was 12v and 240v and could switch between the two. I’m looking to buy a new fridge and I’m wondering how much of your battery would your new fridge use up over 24hrs?
All that info is in this video, there’s also a link in the video description to the fridge with the full tech spec.
@@GadgetJohn I’ve gone back and listened a second time and there’s no numbers or percentages for the new fridge. I did look at the spec for the fridge in the link but it seems it’s the same as the one I have 12v/24 v . AC 1.2A-0.5A, DC 5.0A/2.5A. Not sure how you’re powering yours but my 180ah lithium battery with 220 solar dies overnight with my fridge .
If yours was 12v or 240v then it’s an entirely different type of fridge than this.
The 12v compressor fridge is very efficient and uses 5 amps at 12v while it’s running, but as I said in my video the overall daily running power depends on how you stock it and what the internal temperature is in your vehicle.
@@GadgetJohn there’s a switch at the back of mine so I can change it from 240v to 12v. I can use the 12v while driving and the 240 when hooked up at campsite but that fridge is no good for wild camping.
Love your ‘waffly’ update, thanks John.
Thanks John for another honest and informative video.
Hi John, just wondering what make were your original fridge and freezer and where did you get them from? Thanks
They are unbranded, though identical do alpicool and other brands selling them.
I found that very interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing. I know this is not a request channel BUT (lol) , could you at some time do a short on how much diesel a 2kw Autoterm/Planar diesel heater uses? Or is this asking how long is a piece of string?
I don’t have either of those products, so I’d suggest find a video of someone installing one and ask them.
My 2kw Chinese heater is piped into my vehicle diesel tank, I recently stayed parked in the same place for 6 days and used the heater for roughly 4 hours a day, and the fuel gauge didn’t change from when I parked up to driving away 6 days later.
@@GadgetJohn Thank you John for your reply. I thought of asking elsewhere, however you are my go-to person for honesty. Mine too is piped into the vehicle's tank and I will take your example as a rough guide.
I find this videos very informative and will save me money when I come to convert a van, I like the look of this one as well, thank you for these reviews🤙
Brilliant video pal 😊
Hi John
Have you got a link to the fridge you bought.
I cannot seem to find it on eBay.
Cheers Rich
It’s been a long time since I bought it so the link might no longer be active.
Hi John really enjoyed your video great idea with the new fridge hopefully in the long run you will not have the problem really looking forward to seeing your next video keep safe 😊👍🏻
Thanks John, fridge looks much better.
Hi John, sorry to hear of your fridge/freezer woes, I’d definitely agree that those units must have had very poor insulation properties hence them working overtime always and the condensation issue. In my van I nicked your slide out fridge idea but bought the biggest Alpicool fridge Which fit in the available space
Quite honestly it’s been super efficient, very quite and no condensation but agree with you downside comment about things getting buried, although in the Alpicool you do get a wire basket for each side so you can pull the whole lot out. Freezer stayed at -18 in 40 degree heat in Clermont Fernand in August 🥵
Glad the new fridge has worked out for the best 👍👍
Surprised you had problems with the Vevor’s.
I’ve had one for about 18 months now. It’s my freezer. I tend to buy meat from supermarkets, in packs of 4 or 5 chicken breast or pork chops, Eat one and freeze the rest.
Potato products as well, chips mash and jackets, all in there.
Noise
. Not sure it’s a problem.Nic says that I’ve got selective hearing, so that might help 😬.I’ve also fitted a fan. It sits on what was the rear passenger seats above the water tank. I’d have thought that would act as a echo chamber. P’raps not.
I do agree with the condensation though. I think it’s the one downside.
If you remember, and why should you, I’ve an Adria Twin, so not a self build. So the fridge is the Dometic 3 way. Running on lpg. I had thought of changing it to a compressor, but it works, best left alone.
In short. I’m a happy bunny.
For now!
A very chilled out vid John 😂
Well you certainly persevered with those domestics 👍 the single fridge makes sense and less "natty" lol - you didn't say how much/less power it draws compared to the 2 single units? Xx
The new fridge uses roughly 8ah per day the other 2 used over 40ah a day.
Great vlog John 👍
Is it more efficient?
Yes, as I said in the video it uses much less power as it doesn’t leak the cold
@@GadgetJohnI’m just used to you having figures, like 20% or something.
I’d love to hear some figures on your new fridge too John if you wouldn’t mind letting us know how much of your battery is used up over 24 hours
Hi John you just saved me a bunch of cash was going to buy one to use in me caravan
a very good vlog from you again
Best Regards to you and Mandy
Martin King
Reat to hear the reality of how products are working in everyday life
Brilliant one John 👍
😊
❤❤
👍👍🚐🚐😎
1st