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Subject Topic: 3 way fridge ok on car backseat Post Reply Post New Topic
Personshaunwilliams
20/7/2017 at 5:54pm
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Just bought a really nice 3 way fridge only to find that it will fit in the boot space but I can't get it in there as the opening to the boot is too narrow :-(

Has anyone had any success of running one on the back seats of a car. Are there any tips on what to use underneath to get it to be level (which I believe is a requirement for it to work properly)?

Thanks


PersonTimCESmith
20/7/2017 at 6:06pm
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If you have split rear seats, drop one side and it should sit nicely on the back. We always use ours like that and it's always been fine, plus it means you can have cold drinks and snacks on the journey.


PersonFrancais
20/7/2017 at 9:14pm
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In the VW Golf, we remove the rear bench seat, when going of for our 3 weeks in France, removing the rear bench allows the seat uprights to drop down more flat.

This makes the rear of the car much better for carrying stuff, of course only the two of us so we don't need the rear seating.

Although I can't say our Son agreed, when we went to pick him up from Nice airport!


Personlidds0
21/7/2017 at 7:12am
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The keeping-it-level thing relates to when you're running it on gas. It'll be fine on 12 volt or 240, just chill it down overnight before packing and putting it in the car and stock it with pre-chilled foods (and a bottle of frozen milk or water helps, too).


Personblueexpo97
21/7/2017 at 7:16am
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Strange, ours wouldn't work whilst sitting at a jaunty angle on the back seat when connected to the mains, had to prop up with some rolled up t-shirts.

Post last edited on 21/07/2017 08:38:24

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PersonTroon
21/7/2017 at 8:12am
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Probably best not to run it on gas in the car.


Personphathamster
21/7/2017 at 9:10am
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plug it in overnight before you set off, they dont get that cold over 12v car supply.

i wouldn't have thought they need to be that level if they are the absorbtion type as opposed to the compressor type?


is it posssible to fold the seat up and flip forward? might make more space that is level.


Personshaunwilliams
21/7/2017 at 9:28am
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Thanks for all the replies. I think i will have to do the t-shirt trick on the back seat and the fridge on top to level it up. Unfortunately the seats do not move at all in my car so I am a bit stuck. I always put my tent and other gear on the back seats but ill have to have a juggle about and put the tent in the boots now (if it fits in there, fingers crossed).


Personsaxo1
21/7/2017 at 9:38am
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It would be advisable to secure it,in the event of an accident just imagine the injury it could cause.
saxo1


PersonHighSlayer
21/7/2017 at 10:54am
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Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 21/7/2017
The keeping-it-level thing relates to when you're running it on gas. It'll be fine on 12 volt or 240, just chill it down overnight before packing and putting it in the car and stock it with pre-chilled foods (and a bottle of frozen milk or water helps, too).


According to Dometic they need to be flat at all times in order to work properly, regardless of power source. It's to do with the liquid coolant inside, apparently. Even a slight tilt can stop them working (which I think is poor design for a portable camping fridge!).

Mine stopped working when on 12v and then didnt work at all. Dometic told me that I should turn it upside down, leave it for 12 hours (obviously the food had all gone off by then) and then turn it back up, level it and switch it on. Though I was very sceptical of this advice it did actually work and the fridge has been fine ever since. Obviously a bad design fault on this type of fridge.

In terms of carriage - I wanted to put it on one of the folded rear seats (the 40 of the 40/60 split) but unfortunately it is actually too large to fit through the back door of my Ford Focus Estate.

This means it would have to be put in from the back then dragged up the car and of course that means the rest of the car would need to be emptied out so instead mine now goes in right at the back of the car and I have a 10amp extension lead to get to the 12v power socket as the supplied lead isnt long enough.

When using my van I just sit it next to the bulkhead and have drilled a hole large enough for the 12v plug to go through so it can be plugged into the dashboard.

-------------
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PersonJacko Manchester
02/9/2018 at 3:16pm
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I made a couple of skids and used 4 pedestals from an office raised floor to make an adjustable platform to stand our fridge on. Great in the tent but not much help in the car. I've fitted a couple of cigar lighter sockets in the boot, wired individually to a vsr under the bonnet at front and straight to the battery through a fuse. One is for the fridge and the other to charge the tent battery.
I think the rocking about whilst moving makes the fridge not work as well. Not the power supply.

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PersonST1100
04/9/2018 at 7:37am
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From the OP first post and his confirmation later they have a saloon car and the seats don't fold down.

Mine came with instructions that it needed to be level and at most around 2 degree out ... maybe able to pack it level with a pillow or similar and use seatbelt to keep it from moving.

I am lucky in that mine fits in the boot right next to a power socket (three in car) with the Studland tent beside it ... keeps it level and secure from moving .. especially when everything else is loaded in.


Personpnefan
04/9/2018 at 10:55am
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Pack it up till it's level. Absorption fridges dont work if they aren't level. Also make sure the vents are not covered. We always put ours in with the back facing towards the front of car so vents on the back arent covered. Some else has already mentioned running on the electric at home for twenty four hours as the fridge will only maintain the cold temperature on 12 volt.


Personchrisn7
04/9/2018 at 1:41pm
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Use the seat belt to secure it - you really don't want that on the loose in an accident


PersonNdBuk
05/9/2018 at 9:28am
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Yeah - they do need to be level(ish) to allow the relevant liquids to flow into / out of the fridge. I know from experience on my last trip that more than a slight tilt (over 5 degrees) backwards stops my Dometic from working, although my friend's fridge, sat on the same sloping floor, seemed a tiny bet more resilient. (same brand, slightly different model.). I generally take something to level it up but we were on more of a slope than I had planned for...


This is due to the ammonia/hydrogen/water moving about through the various components of the fridge though and has nothing to do with the heating method (electric / gas) used to separate the ammonia and hydrogen..

As others have said, just prop it up with cushions, secure it with the seatbelt and keep the vents clear, although I do have to question the relevance somewhat unless you're planning a route that doesn't involve driving up or down hills


PersonJacko Manchester
05/9/2018 at 6:14pm
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Our driveway is on a good slope so as soon as I take our fridge out of the house, it's going to start warming up, and then if we start adding more foods to it when it's in the car, opening the lid.... I did fit a couple of LEDs to the top of it after finding that I hadn't plugged it in properly. A red one to show the 240v is on and a green one to show the 12v is on.

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Can't run through a campsite. You can only ran. Because it's always past tents!



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