Hi all. I have Been asking questions about keeping fridge cool in the tropics and many have mentioned shades. My solution. I traded my Holden Ute for a Hilux and removed the rear window retractable sun shade. I then installed it under the fridge top vent. When pulled out it shades the whole fridge wall. I pull it out on an angle for good ventilation and fix with occy strap and tent peg. Very neat and only a couple of seconds to pull out. Col
Possum3 said
10:15 AM Aug 18, 2018
I forsee two possibles;
1. Tent peg launched into someone by öccy strap".
2. Coming back to Hilux to find fridge and any thing else in the tub missing, if window left open. Security of goods should be paramount.
Hi. Not much tension needed to hold shade in place. No problem at all. Dont know where you are coming from in regards to security ?? I generally free camp so all my stuff is secured to keep the opportunist at bay. Touch wood I have had no problems in ten years of Caravanning. Col
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:14 PM Aug 23, 2018
Hi Colin,
I live in the tropics.
When I had the Eagle Outback camper, I added a couple of sections of sail track to the pop-up roof, then slid in two pieces of shade cloth held in place with some 5mm dowel. The whole lot was pegged out to the ground at an angle. Together with fitting a couple of computer fans (one at the top to suck & one at the bottom to blow), we had no more issues with the fridge.
Our current van has minimal space to add the fans & I haven't had to add the shade cloth yet.
From what I have discovered, a "T" rated 3way fridge just has one fan fitted to the air gap behind the fridge. Even vans sold in Townsville & Cairns are all "S" rated!!
denmonkey said
02:41 PM Sep 14, 2018
I prefer to look at the positives in a situation, so am curious if you've noticed any improvements with the fridge or is it too early to tell ?
My 3 way is rubbish on a hot day, but most of the time I have my awning out which provides shade.
Always looking for ways to improve it though.
Do you have any pics of the install ?
cheers Brett
Delta18 said
03:41 PM Sep 14, 2018
When we had a 3 way fridge in the van I fitted a sail rope track also just below the top vent. I had a piece of shade cloth made up to shade that section of wall below the vent.
I also had a fan to circulate air up through the condenser & also packed insulation material all around the fridge to prevent dead air gaps.
I fitted a cardboard shield on the top of the fridge to direct air out the top vent so it couldn't wash over the fridge.
These are things that all van manufacturers should have already done instead of just slapping vans together.
The Travelling Dillberries said
07:29 PM Sep 14, 2018
This was posted by Jimricho ................about Fridge fans Denmonkey.
(You can also get some good ideas for fans by searching "3 way Fridge Fans")
An interesting comparison.....
Yesterday my 3way's cabinet temperature rose to 7 degrees in an ambient temp of 33 degrees with the exhaust fan off (240v, thermo set to 3 1/2 ). I switched the fan on and checked an hour and a half later and the temp had dropped to 3.8 degrees. The fan is a single 120mm cable tied to the top vent. Ambient temp and thermo setting were unchanged and the fridge was not opened at any time and the temp of the contents had stabilised.
The exhaust fan is not hooked up via a thermostat, just a simple "manually operated" switch. I have found that it's best to anticipate a hot day and switch the fan on early. I can switch it to operate off the tug's 12v system when on the road.
Obviously a compressor type fridge is a better option if 240v/12v (including solar) always available and noise level inside the van is not an issue.
Aus-Kiwi said
08:13 PM Sep 14, 2018
Have no actual temp numbers . I fitted a house type solar vent to top fridge vent on roof and two vans with cowling ( tube) to direct air in one direction to cooling tubes Went from chilli bin to
Proper fridge . But still took some time .,tried fitting shade cloth on outside . In this case made little difference over the fans .
Warren-Pat_01 said
12:40 AM Oct 1, 2018
Chris & Sharyn,
I had a 10w solar panel connected to my two fans on the Eagle - both worked well. The wires came out of the lower fridge vent & I used clip leads.
Brett, no I didn't take pictures of the setup - there wasn't much to see other than the shade.
patrol03 said
07:41 PM Oct 8, 2018
It must be remembered that the pipework at the back of the fridge must exceed 70c to be effective.Too much cooling can be detrimental to the fridge operation. Make sure the unit has insulation on two sides and the top and the vents are adequate to provide a good flow through. If your fridge is tropical rated all the better.
tilly013 said
10:04 PM Dec 11, 2018
Thanks for that, hubby and I had a discussion on were to place the sunshade. He said under the top vent I told him he didn't know what he's talking about so I eat crow again he won.
JayDee said
12:47 PM Dec 28, 2018
WE installed a 5m x 2m sun shade on the off side of the van where the 3 way fridge is. Then I also added a smaller shade on a track above the fridge vent under the large sail shade.
Any support for the fridge efficiency is a good idea.
Jay&Dee
Baz421 said
10:08 PM Feb 1, 2019
If it's hot enough to need to shade fridge maybe you need a sail track and shade cloth across whole side of van,,, works for us, track across top of van and pegged to ground.
Hi all. I have Been asking questions about keeping fridge cool in the tropics and many have mentioned shades. My solution. I traded my Holden Ute for a Hilux and removed the rear window retractable sun shade. I then installed it under the fridge top vent. When pulled out it shades the whole fridge wall. I pull it out on an angle for good ventilation and fix with occy strap and tent peg. Very neat and only a couple of seconds to pull out. Col
1. Tent peg launched into someone by öccy strap".
2. Coming back to Hilux to find fridge and any thing else in the tub missing, if window left open. Security of goods should be paramount.
Consider a window fan operated by solar www.amazon.com/AUTOLOVER-Powered-Exhaust-Radiator-Ventilation/dp/B075STK4WG/ref=sr_1_3
Hi. Not much tension needed to hold shade in place. No problem at all. Dont know where you are coming from in regards to security ?? I generally free camp so all my stuff is secured to keep the opportunist at bay. Touch wood I have had no problems in ten years of Caravanning. Col
I live in the tropics.
When I had the Eagle Outback camper, I added a couple of sections of sail track to the pop-up roof, then slid in two pieces of shade cloth held in place with some 5mm dowel. The whole lot was pegged out to the ground at an angle. Together with fitting a couple of computer fans (one at the top to suck & one at the bottom to blow), we had no more issues with the fridge.
Our current van has minimal space to add the fans & I haven't had to add the shade cloth yet.
From what I have discovered, a "T" rated 3way fridge just has one fan fitted to the air gap behind the fridge. Even vans sold in Townsville & Cairns are all "S" rated!!
My 3 way is rubbish on a hot day, but most of the time I have my awning out which provides shade.
Always looking for ways to improve it though.
Do you have any pics of the install ?
cheers Brett
When we had a 3 way fridge in the van I fitted a sail rope track also just below the top vent. I had a piece of shade cloth made up to shade that section of wall below the vent.
I also had a fan to circulate air up through the condenser & also packed insulation material all around the fridge to prevent dead air gaps.
I fitted a cardboard shield on the top of the fridge to direct air out the top vent so it couldn't wash over the fridge.
These are things that all van manufacturers should have already done instead of just slapping vans together.
This was posted by Jimricho ................about Fridge fans Denmonkey.
(You can also get some good ideas for fans by searching "3 way Fridge Fans")
An interesting comparison.....
Yesterday my 3way's cabinet temperature rose to 7 degrees in an ambient temp of 33 degrees with the exhaust fan off (240v, thermo set to 3 1/2 ). I switched the fan on and checked an hour and a half later and the temp had dropped to 3.8 degrees. The fan is a single 120mm cable tied to the top vent. Ambient temp and thermo setting were unchanged and the fridge was not opened at any time and the temp of the contents had stabilised.
The exhaust fan is not hooked up via a thermostat, just a simple "manually operated" switch. I have found that it's best to anticipate a hot day and switch the fan on early. I can switch it to operate off the tug's 12v system when on the road.
Obviously a compressor type fridge is a better option if 240v/12v (including solar) always available and noise level inside the van is not an issue.
I had a 10w solar panel connected to my two fans on the Eagle - both worked well. The wires came out of the lower fridge vent & I used clip leads.
Brett, no I didn't take pictures of the setup - there wasn't much to see other than the shade.
Thanks for that, hubby and I had a discussion on were to place the sunshade. He said under the top vent I told him he didn't know what he's talking about so I eat crow again he won.
WE installed a 5m x 2m sun shade on the off side of the van where the 3 way fridge is. Then I also added a smaller shade on a track above the fridge vent under the large sail shade.
Any support for the fridge efficiency is a good idea.
Jay&Dee
If it's hot enough to need to shade fridge maybe you need a sail track and shade cloth across whole side of van,,, works for us, track across top of van and pegged to ground.
I can walk between van and shade cloth.