Thistle - Ex Ambulance to...... well hopefully something else

[Duckato]

I am toying with the idea of buying a Thetford T1090
Unfortunately the Thetford web site for some obscure reason does not have a contact page as I am confused by part numbers.

I know there was a Mk1 and Mk2 T1090 but I can't fathom out why every retailer lists part number 691668SP yet Thetford themselves use 691751SP for the eye level version and 691750SP for the floor level however they then contradict themselves by also using 691668SP on the same pages

If I do decide on the T1090 I want to ensure I am buying the later revised eye level version.
Does anyone have any idea who I can contact to clarify this?

see
https://www.thetford-europe.com/gb/products/refrigerators/compressor/t1090-eye-level-0
and
https://www.thetford-europe.com/es/products/refrigerators/compressor/t1090-floor-level

 

[Millie Master]

Does anyone have any idea who I can contact to clarify this?

I bought a few items from Jackson Leisure and found them to be quite helpful and they are agents for Thetford https://www.thetfordfridges.co.uk/index.htm

Also Magnum Motorhomes sell them as well and their sales staff always seem to know what they are talking about https://magnummotorhomes.co.uk/product-category/fridges-vents/12v-compressor-fridges/

But, and I hope you don't mind me saying so............................ bloody hell you must have deep pockets as spending over £700 on a fridge can only mean you like cold beer and white wine

Phil

 

[Duckato]

@Millie Master

To be honest I have been quite appalled at prices for some motor home specific items Fridges, Awnings and Remus cab blinds to name just three.
Even relatively titchy fridges seem to be around £600+ i.e very similar to the T1090 price wise.

Swmbo wants something off the ground preferably eye level however on looking at the Waeco/Dometic range I notice a lot have sloping backs so perhaps we have more to choose from than I thought

We are going to the NEC show in February so will have a good look then.

 

[trevskoda]

Buy a 230v fridge and use a inverter of about 600w,a heck lot less money.
D o remember to have a good battery bank and solar to charge them up.

 

[Duckato]

Happy bunny today
Numbers one and three sons helped put up the corrugated sheeting today (not a job one can do alone) on my carport so hopefully by tomorrow/Monday I will have it all finished and then I can move the van into it new home for the next 2-3 months

Thinks,,,,, having ripped out quite a lot of wiring excluding the wiring to a relay with the word 'ignition' on it I hope it starts............

 

[Duckato]

@trevskoda

Is a domestic mains fridge a remotely practical proposition in a van?

I watched this with interest a while ago he was focusing on 12v v 240v in a narrow boat i.e something that typically isn't being shaken to bits on our wonderful roads!

 

[wildebus]

@trevskoda

Is a domestic mains fridge a remotely practical proposition in a van?

I watched this with interest a while ago he was focusing on 12v v 240v in a narrow boat i.e something that typically isn't being shaken to bits on our wonderful roads!

It is remotely possible, yes.

https://www.wildebus.com/blog/products/a-home-fridge-in-a-campervan/

or you could read this thread for the whole boring story .... https://motorhomebuilder.com/threads/ac-fridge-in-campervan-power-consumption-test.62416/

 

[Millie Master]

It is remotely possible, yes.

https://www.wildebus.com/blog/products/a-home-fridge-in-a-campervan/

or you could read this thread for the whole boring story .... https://motorhomebuilder.com/threads/ac-fridge-in-campervan-power-consumption-test.62416/

Dave; I found your totally reasoned appraisal of fridges to be a very valued read. I have a WAECO CRX 50 fitted and whereas it is OK, but certainly not great, the cost of it alone would result in me never ever even thinking of buying another one!!

Phil

 

[wildebus]

Dave; I found your totally reasoned appraisal of fridges to be a very valued read. I have a WAECO CRX 50 fitted and whereas it is OK, but certainly not great, the cost of it alone would result in me never ever even thinking of buying another one!!

Phil

Thanks Phil,
I am reworking my electrics currently as it happens, and once done will be posting an update - but this is for reasons unrelated to my Fridge Choice. There are two things (well actually more than two really but these are key) I would automatically without hesitation repeat if starting my conversion again - one is the MaxxAir Fan, and the other is fitting my 240V Fridge.
The only annoyance I have is too easy to knock the temp dial to max - I need to make some kind of shield for that before the "new season".

 

[Millie Master]

Thanks Phil,
The only annoyance I have is too easy to knock the temp dial to max - I need to make some kind of shield for that before the "new season".

Désolé mais je ne comprends pas...................

 

[wildebus]

Désolé mais je ne comprends pas...................

shield? season? temp dial?
I have a rotary dial inside to set the temperature somewhere between OFF and MAX. it is very free-moving and as you pull say a bottle that is pushed up against it, it turns the dial so I need to get something in place to stop that happening really before start to use the van again a lot in the summer.

 

[trevskoda]

A touch of mastic at edge will stop it moving once set,easy to remove if required.

 

[wildebus]

A touch of mastic at edge will stop it moving once set,easy to remove if required.

That sounds like a good idea. I have used a sharpie to mark where I want to reset it to for speed already.
Cheers Trev

 

[Debs]

That sounds like a good idea. I have used a sharpie to mark where I want to reset it to for speed already.
Cheers Trev

Using a Sharpie to mark where the dial sits! why did I not think of that, when I attach my van to electricity, I usually put the fridge (Waeco CR 50) on full to get it as cold as possible, then move it back to where I think I like it, sometimes my head hurts overthinking things.

 

[Duckato]

@wildebus
Thanks for the time & effort you put into your testing.

A few days ago there was a 93L Inventor on Ebay which is now sitting in my conservatory
It has a few dents in it but was advertised as new and only cost me£44 which I think is worth it for the purposes of the experiment.

My initial concerns are noise and longevity
You do not mention in your thread if the thing keeps you awake at night but I assume to date it has not gone boom whilst on and you are driving?

I am going to run mine in our bedroom for a few days to see how intrusive it is
My Inverter (which came with the Van) is a Sterling Power Quasi Sine wave 1800W job but the ECO mode of the Victron looks a really sensible idea.

Re the Inventor manual did you read the measurement for space around the fridge methinks they got MM and CM mixed up!

 

[Duckato]

And the good news is the Carport (apart from rewiring the lights and an outside socket) is now complete.
I had a minor set back some of the Corrugated panels I had delivered were broken so had to wait for replacements.

My plan to shift the stretcher lift into storage in my field shelter failed miserably!
I was able to lift it by sliding it into my transport box attached to the thee point linkage on my compact tractor but the combined weight of the lift and the box meant I had virtually zero steering!

However one thing for certain, over the weekend the Van will be moved in to its build location and I can make a proper start.

I took the day off today and went for a 200 miles round trip to pick up a Minibus seat to use occasionally when needed (the original ambulance seats are no good) and a Pine Wardrobe that I will be cannibalising into the Shower room, plus I made an exploratory trip to Bolton but more on that next week if things work out perhaps...

 

[Duckato]

And when I say make a start I mean on the Van Body and running gear plus remainder of the strip out is first on my list

I mentioned previously I had noticed a bit of water ingress from the trim but watching this was a bit of an eye opener
The quality of the video is crap but stay with it

 

[wildebus]

That's a lot of water coming out!
Could have dropped a pump in and called it on-board water storage

I don't know if she is talking about this or not (the camera showing what she is actually poking would have been useful!) but there are a series of rubber bungs along the sill which can be removed to clear out stuff and retrieve things that have fallen through.

 

[trevskoda]

Glass fibre line any shower box,two coats and then gel goat in a colour.

 

[Duckato]

Well after removing the lockers and the last of the plastic cladding (which revealed that I have steel trays welded in the roof the entire length of the van which the lockers were bolted into) I tackled the floor, we removed about 4 billion bolts and now the Unwins tracks are all removed!

I was then able to remove the ply floor to inspect the metalwork there is only one significant area of surface rust on the floor just in front of the off side rear wheel arch which and indicates water was getting through some of the bolt holes.

I have added a few more videos to YouTube.

I basically now have a bare canvass to start with.