[LC2013]

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

Thanks for the suggestions. I never thought about a standard mini fridge. I thought the automotive compressor fridges were built to retain the interior temperature when car is switched off? Are all compressor fridges the same or automotive fridges different somehow?



Can't touch the storage platform because of Mr. Fussball here.

[m85476585]

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

Thanks for the suggestions. I never thought about a standard mini fridge. I thought the automotive compressor fridges were built to retain the interior temperature when car is switched off? Are all compressor fridges the same or automotive fridges different somehow?

Yes, an automotive fridge will probably retain temperatures better than a mini fridge, but depending on what you need it for it might not matter?

Automotive fridges are probably designed to run on 12V. You would need an inverter or a generator for a standard mini fridge.

I think I remember reading that standard fridges need time for the refrigerant to settle down after moving them, so they might not work well on the move. I think they get bubbles in the system that make it work less efficiently or not at all. TEC fridges are solid-state, but a friend in college had one and it basically didn't work at all, so I can't recommend one.

Automotive fridges may be designed to work in a wider range of temperatures. A fridge can only maintain a certain temperature difference between the inside and outside, depending on the amount of insulation, amount of heat dissipation area, strength of the compressor, etc. If it gets too hot in the car, a standard fridge might only get down to 50-60 degrees.

It might be worth a try if you can get a mini-fridge for cheap. It probably won't work as well as an automotive fridge, but if it did, no one would be paying $500 for them. It might be better than no fridge, especially if you can run the generator a lot, have a place to plug in, or only keep stuff that doesn't matter if it gets warm, like drinks. Or you could use it like a cooler that needs less ice when it's plugged in, if there's enough insulation.

[eviele]

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

Can't touch the storage platform because of Mr. Fussball here.

That's a good looking dog sir.
Does he travel there in the back? It looks like it would be quite a leap to get up there. Ours is a little too short for that kind of jump.

[xxaarraa]

Originally Posted by eviele

That's a good looking dog sir.
Does he travel there in the back? It looks like it would be quite a leap to get up there. Ours is a little too short for that kind of jump.

Thanks. He does travel there. He spends hours back there, as I take him on errands etc. and he hangs out in the back of the truck a lot.

Quite right, it is a multi-step process to get him up there. I have a pet step and have to boost him up from pet step to back bumper and from back bumper to top of platform. He was trained to jump in by himself before the storage platform, but now the training is worthless!

[xxaarraa]

Originally Posted by m85476585

Yes, an automotive fridge will probably retain temperatures better than a mini fridge, but depending on what you need it for it might not matter?

Automotive fridges are probably designed to run on 12V. You would need an inverter or a generator for a standard mini fridge.

I think I remember reading that standard fridges need time for the refrigerant to settle down after moving them, so they might not work well on the move. I think they get bubbles in the system that make it work less efficiently or not at all. TEC fridges are solid-state, but a friend in college had one and it basically didn't work at all, so I can't recommend one.

Automotive fridges may be designed to work in a wider range of temperatures. A fridge can only maintain a certain temperature difference between the inside and outside, depending on the amount of insulation, amount of heat dissipation area, strength of the compressor, etc. If it gets too hot in the car, a standard fridge might only get down to 50-60 degrees.

It might be worth a try if you can get a mini-fridge for cheap. It probably won't work as well as an automotive fridge, but if it did, no one would be paying $500 for them. It might be better than no fridge, especially if you can run the generator a lot, have a place to plug in, or only keep stuff that doesn't matter if it gets warm, like drinks. Or you could use it like a cooler that needs less ice when it's plugged in, if there's enough insulation.

Yeah, you are right. For this kind of compromise, I might as well just use my cooler. If I put ice in it, it holds it for up to 24 hours before ice melts, so I usually just refill the ice everyday and we are good. One day, I may get an automotive fridge, but to be honest, hot coffee in morning and being able to warm up frozen food is always more important to me while camping than freezing the food itself. Especially while winter camping up here in the north east, I just sit the cooler outside overnight and it refreezes any ice that has melted.

Here's a couple of pics from a most recent trip up to Maine.

This will no longer be necessary due to addition of Keurig!


This should no longer be necessary due to addition of microwave!

[Pathfinder5243]

So is this for the dog to sleep?

[xxaarraa]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder5243

So is this for the dog to sleep?

It is for storage, as well as one dog + up to two humans to sleep on.

[YetiX]

Looking good so far!

[MikeMH]

Where can I find that hitch mounted table?

[xxaarraa]

Originally Posted by MikeMH

Where can I find that hitch mounted table?

It's a pet step. Pricey, but worth it.

[YetiX]

Originally Posted by MikeMH

Where can I find that hitch mounted table?

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

It's a pet step. Pricey, but worth it.

I need one of those for our two Ridgebacks. I found two kinds, the kind like the OP has which rotates out of the way and average about $250 LINK or cheaper ones that you just slide in and out of the trailer hitch when you use them which are about $75 LINK. I think I'll be getting one of the cheap ones, but the twist ones seem really nice.

[xxaarraa]

Fabbed up a sleeping platform - see post # 2!

[xxaarraa]

Added microwave and Keurig - see Post # 5.

[06blackedoutrunner]

How tall in length is this about 1 foot? And around how much did this cost you?

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

02-06-15 Update:

Fabbed up the front sleeping platform today.

• My rear storage platform is 38" long, and I wanted to maximize the length of the sleeping platform, which meant I could go as long as 71" since that's the maximum "rear seat bottom to hatch" length available in the 4R.
• However, if I just add a 23" sleeping platform AND I wanted it to fold on top of the storage platform, it wouldn't clear the ceiling height while folding.
• So I had to devise a bi-fold design, with each fold being 15.75" and I used 180 degree hinges to make this work.
• I also decided to use some trailer jack stands to support the fold out leaves of the sleeping platform. These are cast aluminum and pretty awesome in how light they are, as well as being infinitely height adjustable.

First, as usual, I started with very advanced and sophisticated auto-cad schematics.



It's still not done, I plan on adding another couple of hinges to reinforce, finish painting, adding some pull tabs to make fold and unfold easier, as well as add turnbuckles to bolt the storage platform down onto the truck floor.













What's next:

• Buy a thermarest self-inflating foam pad for sleeping on.
• Mount a Keurig mini and a 0.5 cu ft mini microwave on one of the wheel wells
• Mount a small cabinet/storage cubby on the other wheel well to hold coffee mugs, keurig cups, paperware, towels etc.

[Xrider237]

nice setup OP- i do a bit of car camping as well- have you considered getting a plug in cooler?? i know many of them just dont last or work well but there are decent ones out there- koolatron makes a low profile 'slim' electric cooler that would be easier to fit into your setup and cost <$100..its made to sit between seats in a van or whatever

im looking to pick one of these up in addition to my ice coolers, plus you can move it to another vehicle if you need- it would be nice to not have to always need to run to get ice (or cant)...be good for sandwiches and other food items that you dont want to get wet.....or keep cold a bunch of beers : ))