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Fridge - should I replace my Gas/12/220 with a bigger 220v fridge
Hello all
I have the original Gypsey fridge in my Royale - but it looks tatty and has broken inside panels.
Other than not having the fridge working while towing to electrified camps, is there any other downfall to changing to a 220v bigger new fridge?
BTW, on the side, my caravan which I have just bought, does not have a battery or cables to attach a battery. Comments on limitations there are also welcome. Like where I would need 12v if I replace fridge with 220v, and van has 220v lighting.
No...most on-road caravans these days come out with only a 220v fridge as majority of resorts with only on-road caravan access has got electricity
WAARSKUWING:
Kampeer is aansteeklik en verslawend ðŸËÂ

With very few caravan parks not having 220 hook ups, it makes sense to have a 220V only 'fridge. They are lighter in mass, cheaper, more effective coolwise and lighter on power consumption than threeways. If you however, frequent real rural camping, this will perhaps not work for you. We often drive for up to eight hours a day on our way to the destination, often in the heat of summer, and have not yet suffered loses due to defrosting. Just do not carry ice cream if you do this- you might end up with milk shake.
Should you go bigger? A bigger refrigerator is heavier and takes more food making it even more so. Remember your caravan has a limited load capacity. Most parks are in town or have shops where you can replenish your stores, so it does no make sense to my mind, to carry a massive amount of perishables with you.
But eventually it is your choice and whichever way you decide to go, you will be in good company.
Het is beter rijk te leven dan rijk te sterven
Fred and Relaxed Camper - thanks, great input.
Is there a market for a working 3 way fridge that will come out?
Enquire from caravan dealers with work shops, but I very much doubt it.
Het is beter rijk te leven dan rijk te sterven
Ek siendie mense verkoop daai klein 3-ways vir so R1500 as hy nog mooi lyk. Andersins sit hom in die lapa of braai area
WAARSKUWING:
Kampeer is aansteeklik en verslawend ðŸËÂ

Hi Malcolm
I replaced the 3-way fridge in my Sprite with a 220v Fridge/freezer.
The replacement was much lighter, smaller but gave more volume than the old unit, so I don't think you will have a weight issue unless you pack it to the brim with heavy goods while travelling.
As for lighting, I would install a few LED strips connected to a 12vDC gate motor battery with a battery charger in case there is load-shedding where you are camping.
Been there--done it. ( Talking about the bathroom )
Great input thanks guys.

Hi Malcolm
I replaced the 3-way fridge in my Sprite with a 220v Fridge/freezer.
The replacement was much lighter, smaller but gave more volume than the old unit, so I don't think you will have a weight issue unless you pack it to the brim with heavy goods while travelling.
As for lighting, I would install a few LED strips connected to a 12vDC gate motor battery with a battery charger in case there is load-shedding where you are camping.

Due to the situation of the eishkom power supply here in SA I would stay with the 3 way as far as possible. But there are other ways to get by that issue.
The same size fridge measurements wise in a normal 220v fridge will all ready give more space inside than a 3 way fridge. So its possible that you would not need a larger one. Just do a bit of measuring and home work.
The I would change all the lighting inside the caravan to 12v using the existing wiring. You can go the way Douglas suggested with a small trickle charger from Midas to keep the battery charged.
Enjoy the project.
GOD IS ALTYD TEENWOORDIG
Sonder Jesus is ek niks! ! ! !

Thanks Leon
Starting to see lots of options opening up, and creating more questions than direct answers, but I understand the reasoning, and learning lots and brain is wheelspinning.
I appreciate all the input.
One step at a time
Die ou yskaste sukkel jy met parte hulle groot en bulk vandag se yskaste meer kompak lekke spasie en gebruik minder energie Maxp sterkte met jou besluit
Haak daai wa kamp bly koning
Thank you all for the input, fridge is out - would have been lekker if somebody told me the fridge does not fit through the door - so took the window out and with some bush engineering took it out of the van ;-)
Now finding a replacement to fit more or less is the challenge, I see Dixon have, Hisense also have but very expensive.
One step at a time
Something else to consider is fridges with reversible doors. For the Classique we fitted a Hisense and reversed the door to open right to left. Access to the fridge was much easier.
Not sure about the layout of your caravan.
The Happy Campers.
Conventional fridges are not designed like caravan fridges in that their doors do not lock positively. You will have to get a way to adapt yours otherwise you will find your food on the floor at the first stop. This is a certainty and not a maybe. If you happen to get hold of a reversible door unit, it is easily done. Just configure a bracket similar to the one holding the door at the top at the open side and lock the door with a pin pushed in through this new bracket into the existing hole in the door. If yours have a fixed door, there are other ways to do this and I am sure if you ask, members will advise you. You can also do a search on this Forum as the subject has bee discussed before.
Het is beter rijk te leven dan rijk te sterven

Thank you all for the input, fridge is out - would have been lekker if somebody told me the fridge does not fit through the door - so took the window out and with some bush engineering took it out of the van ;-)
Now finding a replacement to fit more or less is the challenge, I see Dixon have, Hisense also have but very expensive.

Many years back I bought a chest deepfreez an I had to open the door then it went trough the door opening.
Oppad na die volgende kamp.

You buy a very simple pvc device from any caravan store which you stick to the fridge which locks the doors. Works 100%
Thanks guys, advice and guidance is much appreciated.
Bought a KIC 170l fridge today, going to start fitting when I have a gap.
The old one did not seem to start on gas, but that might be that the light is faulty, or that the igniter might be broken. So I want to try and sort that out before I try to sell it.
The latching/locking mechanism I will tackle once the simple thing like making it fit are all done ;-)
One step at a time
Maxp - I reckon it is the same size KIC double door fridge which replaced my original 3-way fridge I had in my 1993 Caravette 6B.
Cara-camp in Somerset West advised me to replace the old e-way fridge with a 220V fridge as they experience too many come backs on the re-gassing of the 3-way fridges.
I bought the KIC and it was delivered by the dealer to Cara-camp who did a very neat job.
I have not managed to find suitable locking mechanisms for the doors yet as the fridge is built into a surrounding cabinet, making it difficult to attach such latches. When we travel with the van I use duct tape to ensure the doors not opening - and it works perfectly.

A simple solution sold by most caravan places
Sorry. Photo not attached. Having dificulty with that
Fienie, send us the webpage of the image or product so we can see.
I imagine it is a rubber band that sticks on the side and loops around another sticky bulb on the door.
Will check at the caravan shops.
One step at a time