Thread: Defender Fridge Installation Idea

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

We only use ours as fridges and don't need a freezer.

That all depends on how long you are intending to be away for and how comfortable you want to be I would think as buying fresh meat in remote areas is a bit hit and miss and it is usually much more expensive as well. The same applies to bait.
When we travel for more than a week or so I always carry an extra 40l fridge running at -15c as a freezer that can carry a months supply of meat for 2 people and a good amount of bait as well.
The advantages of carrying the extra fridge as a freezer are that not only is your meat and bait cheaper it is always available as well AND you can also make ice for the "Sundowners" which is an important consideration for us as without it the Missuses Vodka, lime and soda and my Makers Mark and dry is pretty ordinary
With carrying the 80L and 40L fridges we can be nowhere near a town/shop for a month or more and still have everything we need/want and to munch on an icy pole in the middle of nowhere is a rather "Special" treat

A couple of 100AH batteries and a couple of solar panels will run these fridges for as long as you like with ease So when you set up camp it is pretty much set and forget except for spinning the solar panels around twice a day.
We have tried using just one fridge on an extended trip But at the end of the day we have plenty of load space between two trucks and the extra little 40L freezer just makes everything so much more comfortable and the experience of being in the wild So much nicer

All good suggestion and Yup, everybody has there own needs and sadly there is not one setup that suits all....

I had exactly the same idea and yes it is possible. (please contact me directly if you are interested in the idea:0431 822432)

In the end I choose to go an other way as it was more space efficient.

I have build a drawer slide system that fits 4 wolfpacks from Front Runner in the cargo bay. On top of that system I have build a fridge drawer slide that tilts down as it comes out so my pint size wife can access the fridge as well. On the slide behind the fridge is i have 3 cubpack boxes (from front runner) for storage of dry food etc.
with this set up i can still access the space over the wheel arches either through the back door or through the sliding window/gullwings.
however, I only have a 40liter fridge (recently downgraded from a 50liter). The Waeco units are so efficient that my family of 4 doesn't need a larger one.

I can foresee one problem with the larger fridge that you want to slide and tilt and that is de sheer size and weight on the runners. Even the 227kg rated sliders can only accommodate just over a 100kg when extended. You would be pushing the system to its max.

Hope this helps some

cheers
Jan

Originally Posted by Marty90

I've been looking at various fridge/freezers for a while. Unless you're carrying iceblocks and ice cream why do you need to freeze anything? If you cryovac meat, can't you get by with just a fridge?

Bait is the main thing. Even vac-sealing pilchards/mullet/bonito will only give them a couple of days with ice before they go soggy (in my experience).

Originally Posted by flying robot

I had exactly the same idea and yes it is possible. (please contact me directly if you are interested in the idea:0431 822432)

In the end I choose to go an other way as it was more space efficient.

I have build a drawer slide system that fits 4 wolfpacks from Front Runner in the cargo bay. On top of that system I have build a fridge drawer slide that tilts down as it comes out so my pint size wife can access the fridge as well. On the slide behind the fridge is i have 3 cubpack boxes (from front runner) for storage of dry food etc.
with this set up i can still access the space over the wheel arches either through the back door or through the sliding window/gullwings.
however, I only have a 40liter fridge (recently downgraded from a 50liter). The Waeco units are so efficient that my family of 4 doesn't need a larger one.

I can foresee one problem with the larger fridge that you want to slide and tilt and that is de sheer size and weight on the runners. Even the 227kg rated sliders can only accommodate just over a 100kg when extended. You would be pushing the system to its max.

Hope this helps some

cheers
Jan

I already had a really well done drawer system so didn't want to rebuild the whole thing. Be great to see pictures of what you have done though.

Like you, I have (for the moment at least) chosen not to go for the original solution I designed for two reasons. The first is because i'm yet to see similar working system, and secondly I think it will be VERY expensive to do correctly (space efficiently).

I have (slightly reluctantly) compromised with an MSA DS60 drop slide that will sit slightly off-centre to the left. My gullwing storage shelves will take up all the left side and be very effective when finished, and the right hand side of the fridge is useable to a certain extent (the xmas trip will certainly test it!)....but may end up putting in another gullwing for easy access at some stage.

The MSA DS60 should be able to handle the SnoMaster Expedition 85L I went for....but how the rear drawer system will handle after a few months is anyones guess!!!

Give me a couple of days to get the photos posted. I am filming at the moment and need to get this done asap.

as for the large fridge/freezer.
I think it is a great ideate to go large if you use it for bait. Took one of my mates on a trip and he is an avid fisherman. My fridge started smelling up ones the dam bait started to defrost. It did not matter how well we tried to pack and seal it.

keep eyes out for photos soon.

BTW:
Am looking for a salisbury rear locker. Anyone?

Hi everyone,

Please see the photos of my set up..
My motivation was triggered initially by getting frustrated by storage boxes that continually broke.
When I found the wolf pack (Frontrunner), I decided to build around that design.
I find these units ideal. I can use 3 cub boxes behind the fridge for food storage. The drawer can take up to 4 wolf packs and a hand winch. I currently use 3 wolf packs and have my compressor in the location of the 4th.

I decided against a lateral sliding fridge ( from over the wheel well to in front of the opening) as i became aware that that I needed the space over the wheel well and in front of the door opening available to make this happen. By permanently fixing the fridge in front of the opening, i was able to use the space over (in my case over the Left wheel well)for additional storage. I don't use a water tank but a quality 110L bladder which fits right in that spot. With a removable floor build over it, i can store personal belongings on top of it.





The next problem I ran into was the rear door.
It just doesn't open wide enough to allow for slides that cover the entire with of the opening. I decided to remove the door bracket and replace it with a gas strut. I have included photos of this as well ( this is still a mockup and will replace this with a nice steel or aluminium bracket). I do recommend you initially use the 90deg brackets from Bunnings as you can easily change and fine tune the position of the gas struts. However, the brackets are not strong enough for long term use.



Storage over the wheel wells

I like to keep the view through the left rear sliding windows un obstructed. I live in Melbourne and it makes merging into traffic so much easier.
The right side window is of no use for vision so I build a tall separation wall. Creating a convenient anchor point for a table, chairs, etc.
On the other side I store my dirties (only accessible through the window).

• recovery gear
• jacks (bottle, high lift, air)
• oil
• coolant
• tyre repair kit
• starter cables
• etc.

The left side storage I keep clean and is for luggage and water.


Enjoy the holidays and keep the rubber side down
Jan

Hi everyone,

Please see the photos of my set up..
My motivation was triggered initially by getting frustrated by storage boxes that continually broke.
When I found the wolf pack (Frontrunner), I decided to build around that design.
I find these units ideal. I can use 3 cub boxes behind the fridge for food storage. The drawer can take up to 4 wolf packs and a hand winch. I currently use 3 wolf packs and have my compressor in the location of the 4th.

I decided against a lateral sliding fridge ( from over the wheel well to in front of the opening) as i became aware that that I needed the space over the wheel well and in front of the door opening available to make this happen. By permanently fixing the fridge in front of the opening, i was able to use the space over (in my case over the Left wheel well)for additional storage. I don't use a water tank but a quality 110L bladder which fits right in that spot. With a removable floor build over it, i can store personal belongings on top of it.






The next problem I ran into was the rear door.
It just doesn't open wide enough to allow for slides that cover the entire with of the opening. I decided to remove the door bracket and replace it with a gas strut. I have included photos of this as well ( this is still a mockup and will replace this with a nice steel or aluminium bracket). I do recommend you initially use the 90deg brackets from Bunnings as you can easily change and fine tune the position of the gas struts. However, the brackets are not strong enough for long term use.



Storage over the wheel wells

I like to keep the view through the left rear sliding windows un obstructed. I live in Melbourne and it makes merging into traffic so much easier.
The right side window is of no use for vision so I build a tall separation wall. Creating a convenient anchor point for a table, chairs, etc.
On the other side I store my dirties (only accessible through the window).

• recovery gear
• jacks (bottle, high lift, air)
• oil
• coolant
• tyre repair kit
• starter cables
• etc.

The left side storage I keep clean and is for luggage and water.


Enjoy the holidays and keep the rubber side down
Jan

What images?