Fridge Location

[StandUpGuy]

I have a pop top trailer build mid stream. I am now into framing the interior and am considering a layout change. Below is the layout as I have planned to do it. It has a narrow walkway between a bathroom wall and a fridge cabinet. It is uncomfortably narrow. Here is that layout:

By justoneman at 2011-06-06

[StandUpGuy]

What I am considering is moving the cube fridge (dorm fridge) to under the dinette seat. This causes the seat to be raised in height. I mocked up the seating height and it is doable but not perfect. My head is very close to the ceiling. I am mostly wondering about putting a refrigerator under the sleeping platform. Will this be a ventilation issue? Will it be a noise issue. Will it be a heat issue for the fridge and for those sleeping over it?

Here is the new layout:

By justoneman at 2011-06-06

[StandUpGuy]

I must ask everyone to limit their responses to just 5 as I cannot sort through all of the info. Your patience is appreciated. Thanks.

[aggie79]

The biggest challenge will be providing adequate ventilation / air circulation to the coils.

Many dorm fridges are fairly loud and have quite a lot of vibration but I can't see the change in location would create differences in either of these.

I think you are correct in considering comfort. Is it possible to fit the refrigerator in the "vee" at the front (elevating it above table height)?

[glenpinpat]

I use a koolatron 12v cooler. that sits in the galley in the back. when we are sleeping we can barely here it running. It uses 37 watts about 4 amps in a 12v system. My battery will run it for about 28hrs without recharging. my generator will recharge the battery in about 2hrs. If I use a land line then it does not matter as I have an inverter in the TD. as for venting it will need to vent. if you keep it enclosed the fan on the back will need to vent otherwise it will not cool properly. You could vent it towards the back with a small amp computer fan bought at any surplus store.

[StandUpGuy]

The biggest challenge will be providing adequate ventilation / air circulation to the coils.

Many dorm fridges are fairly loud and have quite a lot of vibration but I can't see the change in location would create differences in either of these.

I think you are correct in considering comfort. Is it possible to fit the refrigerator in the "vee" at the front (elevating it above table height)?

That was a consideration and I checked it out. The vee tapers downward and the only to place it there is low and that would interfere with the sleeping platform. I am simply trying to get an aweful lot into a small space.

[StandUpGuy]

No fridge on my teardrop draws to much battery juice.

no power when camping in wyoming and no room under my galley countertop.

I have found that for my weekend warror style of camping which my teardrop is easily suited to.

that plain old ice in a ice chest works wonders on saving on battery juice.

just cut up a gallon milk jug in half and freeze a block of ice. add food around block of ice. add ice cubes and it works great to keep thing froze for a few days.



this summers project. cooler is getting built in under the galley counter top to become built in ice chest.

extra walled in walls and 1 inch foam insulation will keep things longer.

and coolers drain plug is routed to a city rv frest water plug so I can just open the cap on the outside of the teardrop and drain out the melted ice water.

pure and simple and no need for pessususe battery power!

Slow

So where should I place my fridge?

[StandUpGuy]

I use a koolatron 12v cooler. that sits in the galley in the back. when we are sleeping we can barely here it running. It uses 37 watts about 4 amps in a 12v system. My battery will run it for about 28hrs without recharging. my generator will recharge the battery in about 2hrs. If I use a land line then it does not matter as I have an inverter in the TD. as for venting it will need to vent. if you keep it enclosed the fan on the back will need to vent otherwise it will not cool properly. You could vent it towards the back with a small amp computer fan bought at any surplus store.

I am not using a DC powered fridge, just a cube AC unit.

[StandUpGuy]

The biggest challenge will be providing adequate ventilation / air circulation to the coils.

Many dorm fridges are fairly loud and have quite a lot of vibration but I can't see the change in location would create differences in either of these.

I think you are correct in considering comfort. Is it possible to fit the refrigerator in the "vee" at the front (elevating it above table height)?

By the way, I appreciate you addressing my question Aggie.

[pete42]

By justoneman at 2011-06-06

can you leave it in the same position but rotate it toward the aisle maybe moving it toward the rear a little?

Replacing the bathroom door with a curtain would eliminate the door from hitting the fridge.

I'm sure you will figure it out looks like a nice design.

Pete

[StandUpGuy]

By justoneman at 2011-06-06

can you leave it in the same position but rotate it toward the aisle maybe moving it toward the rear a little?

Replacing the bathroom door with a curtain would eliminate the door from hitting the fridge.

I'm sure you will figure it out looks like a nice design.

Pete

The bathroom door does not hit the fridge cabinet in the first design. The real problem is one of "Feelings". It just feels too tight. It is only about 16" of clearance from the bathroom wall to the fridge cabinet. If it was 16" between two countertops it would feel OK. But 16" between a high wall and a countertop feels confining. And thank you for addressing my question. Much appreciated.

[Trackstriper]

That was a consideration and I checked it out. The vee tapers downward and the only to place it there is low and that would interfere with the sleeping platform. I am simply trying to get an aweful lot into a small space.

The nose of the trailer might still make sense...would you consider using a less aggressive slope on the top panel of the nose? Let form follow function. You could possibly then make room for the fridge above the mattress.

This would create more "space" without any bad side effects that I can think of unless you don't like the new aesthetics.

Uhh....just saw you photo gallery, I see you're pretty well framed-in on the nose. Never mind my suggestion.

[StandUpGuy]

That was a consideration and I checked it out. The vee tapers downward and the only to place it there is low and that would interfere with the sleeping platform. I am simply trying to get an aweful lot into a small space.

The nose of the trailer might still make sense...would you consider using a less aggressive slope on the top panel of the nose? Let form follow function. You could possibly then make room for the fridge above the mattress.

This would create more "space" without any bad side effects that I can think of unless you don't like the new aesthetics.

My shell is already completed. I must work within these confines. In addition to that I have already "blocked" for a TV to be located in that position, if I add one later. Still I do not seem to have very many options.

[StandUpGuy]

I wonder if they make any very shallow of depth fridges or any very short minis. Are there some options of size in the beverage coolr fridges that I should look into?

[StandUpGuy]

I did some searches on wine coolers and there are some very small ones. Ones that hold 6 bottles of wine size 17" high 22 deep and 11 wide! This would give me lots of options to place it. It could go under the dinette seat as it is only 17" high as opposed to 19.5" It is only 11" wide so it would be perfect in my original location opposite of the bathroom door.


Is there something I am not thinking of with these wine coolers? No freezer but I can live with that. Little capacity but that would work fine. Actually they are pretty cool looking to boot! Here is a link to one of them.


http://www.a14electronics.com/product-p/dandwc620.htm