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Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 28, 2008 16:48:37 GMT 10
Hmmm...avoiding setting your van on fire...ease of access to content of fridge in emergencies...
Sounds like a couple of good reasons to me Reddo! ;D ;D ;D
Don Ricardo
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Post by Surf Tragic on Jan 15, 2009 21:51:35 GMT 10
G'day Reddo That van & the work you have done is brilliant I've goota keep looking at stuff like this to keep inspired ;D ;D ;D No doubt somewhere in the future I will need some advice from your way Its all good fun ron.
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Post by sportsman 1 on Jan 16, 2009 7:18:49 GMT 10
Reddo,
just a thought, did you consider mounting the fridge in the cupboard, taking the door off the fridge and using the cupboard door as the fridge door? I am thinking along those lines, as long as the inside of the cupboard door seals onto the fridge seal properly.
This solves the problem of having to open 2 doors and also keeps the fridge hidden.
Any advice from the Guru would be appreciated.
cheers, Leigh.
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Post by JBJ on Jan 16, 2009 8:38:19 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2009 9:06:44 GMT 10
Hi Leigh.. Mate, i did consider what you are proposing.. i think i might have mentioned somewhere back in the blow by blow description of installation .. That the fridge was only about 20mm off the outside wall if i set it up so that the existing wardrobe door would close over the front of the fridge door. Now I aint no fridge installation expert, but i have seen behind enough caravan fridges to realise that 20mm between the heat exchanger and the timber wall is not enough air gap to prevent heat build up and possible source of a fire. I first considered slipping a bit of fibro sheet down in that area to shield the timber form the heat...but being the OHS type i am i figured that "isolation" is a better means of managing the hazard than "putting on the armour" to shield the wall from the hazard... hmmm maybe a mix of both ideas would have been the way to go So... The decision was made to poke the original fridge door through the front of the wardrobe door and give the back of the fridge a gap of around 40mm away from the wall. End result is a fridge door that sticks out 20mm though the wardrobe panel. Yeah maybe i could have made the fridge door out of the wardrobe door but the insulating qualitys of a 3 ply door is no where near as good as the original fridge door. I could always give the door a coat of red paint to make it less noticable Since posting the photos of the finished job i have fitted a small cupboard door lock and key on the fridge door.... Not only stops thieves pilfering my cold beer ..but also ensures that nothing can fall out of the fridge due to the door swinging open when travelling. Have fitted two small tin louvred vents in the outside wall of the van to help with venting out the heat and circulating cooler air behind the fridge. . They are painted same colour as the van and you can hardly notice them. When the door of the van is open and latched back you dont see them at all. Can hear the "purists" gasping..who in thier right mind would hack holes in the side of a van and fit fridge vents in the side of a van that is from the era when fridges werent an option Answer.. "someone who likes a cold beer form a cold fridge". 'ope this reply has answered your question Leigh. Reddooronfridge
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Post by sportsman 1 on Jan 16, 2009 10:54:54 GMT 10
Thanks Reddo, I am thinking that when the fridge door is removed, the fridge can then be moved out so the seal face of the fridge is in line with the inside of the door. (It looks from the photos like this is just about where yours is mounted.) This would allow more room behind for ventilation. Perhaps painting it would help conceal it a little better, it just does not "look" quite right to me. (my personal opinion of course, everyone will have their own view on it.) I have a large meat safe in the Clipper which has a flywire door on it (not good to seal the fridge but gives the cupboard plenty of ventilation) as well as vents in the sides. I can fit a small fridge behind the door, or alternatively I have a 1940's President fridge which I can take the door off and use to replace the meat safe door. This will not require any major surgery and the hinges, locks etc match the existing cupboard hardware, it would look like a correct period fridge. I think I will try to leave the meat safe door on at this stage just for its uniqueness but may do the other thing later. (this would then allow me to fit a larger 2 or 3 way fridge behind the President door.) Insulating the cupboard door is a possibility, as well as lining the area behind the fridge. If at all possible I personally would rather do this than cut a hole in a cupboard door. I want to use my vans as well as preserving their character and charm. If I can fit equipment of the era to enhance their usability or fit modern stuff hidden away cleverly without spoiling the overall look and feel then so be it. Anything that I do will be reversible so if the next "temporary custodian" wishes to change it back they can. JBJ, since when does ladies clothing rate higher than cold liquid refreshments? I am sure I can find room somewhere for her clothes to go, perhaps a plastic bag hidden inside the spare wheel! cheers, Leigh.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2009 11:41:57 GMT 10
Hi Leigh.. Yeah mate all of what you say was considered. I could make and insulate a plywood door that would be flush with the wardrobe door .. but it would need to be at least 15 to 20mm thick to be effective and i would still have to move the fridge back close to the outside wall to make it fit flush with the wardrobe door.. no advantage gained by duplicating the existing metal and plastic insulated door with an insulated timber door Its not hard to hide new gizzmos behind old doors, in cupboards etc, but finding somewhere to fit a fridge in a van that has a front kitchen.. with an ice chest taking up the allocated space for cooling/refridgerating items is a bit more of a challenge. Especially when you consider the front of the van is "rounded" and therefore you have less space the closer you get to the floor. Much easier task with a kitchen that runs along a wall that meets the floor at a right angle. In the end the decision to go with the wardrobe idea was my best option. Other thing that influenced the decision to bash it through the wardrobe door was that it wouldnt be seen when you look in the door of the van. . If you look in the door of a van with a "standard" caravan interior layout you are usually looking across at the kitchen and directly at the fridge/ice chest. To the left ( front) of the van you have a lounge or a table set up.. To the right ( rear) is the bed(s).. Soooooooooooo.. to see the fridge in "Rosie " you have to either be totally inside the van looking towards the door .. or... perving in through a right hand side window.. Reddo
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Post by minicamper on Jan 16, 2009 12:15:57 GMT 10
Hey Reddo, Was that chrome flush mounted light switch always in Rosie, or did you source it from your supply shed? It looks just like the ones in Alby. I wouldn't mind getting hold of some if you know the whereabouts of any.. Cheers Chris
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2009 12:26:14 GMT 10
FJ Holden Interior light - Pillar switches. Common on a lot of things back in the 50s I salvaged about 10 of them when i demolshed the old furness van. Not sure how many i have left. Rosie van had no 12 volt fittings when i got her . just 3 X 240V lights and 2 double power points. Matilda also had them as standard fitment. Have a browse through here.. they might sell em.. www.authenticlightingandhardware.com/havent had a scratch around in that link for a while now. I remember seeing 240V stuff.. you'll have to check for 12V Reddo
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Post by sportsman 1 on Jan 16, 2009 13:00:27 GMT 10
Reddo,
I have the same problem and solution as you, the Clipper has a front kitchen and you look through the door at the wardrobe.
The meat safe is on the left hand side next to the door (around the corner) so is hidden from general view.
I know I have been thinking about this for a while now, one thing that really stuck out to me at the Cora Lynn display was the number of vans that looked really nice outside but had a modern looking fridge mounted in a visible position, it got really annoying after a while.
The ones with period fridges were just so much nicer.
cheers, Leigh.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 13:56:08 GMT 10
Hi Dudes.... Found a few hours of sunshine the other arvo... So i figured it was about time i got around to another little job that's been niggling me to be done on Rosie.... After dragging her along to a few car shows and watching the kids swing on the chain across the doorway with the sign "Look , appreciate .. but do not touch"... While the ignorant parents simply unhooked the chain off the 2 eyelet hooks and just marched right on in for a look around without asking me.... I decided enough is enough. and........came up with a solution..... No... not electrify the door catches and knobs I kept thinking back to the old TV show..." MR ED"... Geez i'm showing my age now aye folks.... Old Ed the talkin' horse use to stick his long face out over the top of his stable door at the start of the show and say.."Hello .. I'm Mr Ed"..... So... I thought why not create the same sorta door so i can stick my head out through the streamers and say.. "Hello .... I'm Mr RED" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D So.. with set square, pencil, tape measure and jig saw in hand i set to work..... Didn't get it all finished the first arvo.. ran out of light and i needed a fourth hinge to swing the two halves seperately.... Got it all the carpentry , hinges , locks and retainer latches done the next day.. and on the third arvo after work it all got a coat of paint .. Here ya go..... Hardly notice the lap mould hiding the cut across halfway down the door.... All is revealed. vertical slide bolt holds the two halves together so it can be swung open as one door. I have a brass pin arrangement that is fitted on the door jam just above bench height to hold the bottom half closed .... 'ere ya go... can fart as much as i like now .. plenty of fresh air circulating while we are snoozin' or cookin'..... ;D ;D ;D ;D... But best of all i wont have to beat the "Lookers" out with a stick when next they decide to invite 'em selves in for a look around. \ Reddo....oooooh - Wilbur.. oooooh ED !!!.. My apologys to those too young to remember" Mr Ed" the talking Horse... Ya dunno what ya missin'.. I am gunna try googling him right now.
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Post by yellowuki on May 30, 2009 13:58:09 GMT 10
;DIf only we were all as clever as reddo ;D ;D Yellowuki ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 14:39:23 GMT 10
Hi Yellowuki I wish i was as clever as MR Ed.... How cool would it be to have a talking horse. I could teach him to Lie..... then........... I could ride him home from the pub and he could explain to the missus why we got home late.... ;D Reddo
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Post by Roehm3108 on May 30, 2009 14:56:53 GMT 10
Hey Reddo! Great job ya done there. Personally I would have hinged the top section from the top, that way you could have a sun/rain shade while still having some venterrlaishon!!! ;D ;D By the way, when ARE you gonna run out of the cream and green paint Didya by it by the 44 gal drum or sumpfin? ?? Ray
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Post by cobber on May 30, 2009 16:10:13 GMT 10
Reddo ! Copy cat ..... but I tell you what.... it doesn't work, unless you electrify the catch that holds the bottom half closed. I have left the bottom half closed on ol' 36 while I went to the little boys room only to return to the 'van and find a whole family of Asians roaming around inside...... well, it was only a small family... and they didn't have far to roam.... but they were in there Cobber. Just thought of something else ..did you see the arrangement of the doors on the 'vans Greg posted t'other day.. top half hinged on the opposite side to the bottom half....means you can close the top half and leave the bottom half open... not sure why you would want to do that.... but you could . Same with Ray's suggestion Cobber.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 20:45:46 GMT 10
Hi Ray.. Paint... Cheaper by the 44 gallons i have found. ... I'm set for life now... Cobber..... I just done it because the old van has been modified so many times now i figured that no - one would blow the whistle on me nowadays,.. Its a far cry from what old Mr Walsh use to hire out of his yard at Mayfield back in the 60s. ........ But i think he would approve of the updates ... and my attempt to keep unwanted guests out on show days;) Had about 10 of your aforementioned tourists in "Matilda" one day when i got back from a "Jam and scones event" at motorfest a few years back... funny how they cant speak a word of English ... but can detect when they are about to have thier heads ripped off by an irate Vint Van owner Meanwhile ... there is a blue going on down the backyard between the two vans as to who is getting hitched up for Katoomba. Haven't told either of them that they might be spending a weekend up to their brake drums in snow.... Reddo.
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Post by Don Ricardo on May 31, 2009 0:03:34 GMT 10
G'day Reddo,
I really like your barn door modification. I think it quite suits Mildred, and very nicely finished as well (as is the rest of the van of course).
Maybe you'll start a trend...
Don Ricardo
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