As many of you know, we have carried a 500mm cube, 240v freezer with us for many years. It goes in the back of the car between stops.

However, it would be nice to install it into the Eriba so that we don't need to worry about setting it up outside, particularly in bad weather. At one stop in N.Ireland we had it on the floor in the front of the van so it got us thinking.

Without ruining the exisiting standard layout of the van for the future, I am thinking of raising the seating height of the front dinette where the freezer would go and building a lightweight fixed bed framework over the top of the freezer. Dimensionally it's a sound proposition and if we redistributed the weighty items in the front lockers, we should be able to retain a decent nose weight.

My only concern is whether the freezer will withstand the bumpy ride in the van. Will it be more bumpy than it is in the extreme back of the car? As far as ventilation is concerned, there will be plenty of room around it for air flow (far mare than in a kitchen environment.)

Randa

I've been thinking about this, Roger, hence the delay in replying. I'm a little confused about your intentions though. Are you saying that you intend to remove your front dinette to accommodate the freezer and build a fixed bed to replace the dinette?

If so, I think this would be a retrograde step that you would regret as the front dinette makes the van more practical and desirable.

Why would the freezer be more susceptible to travel vibration than the fridge that is already installed. I can't imagine it being a problem.

Anyway, you know what I think about lugging a bloody freezer across continents. Leave it at home. That way you'll be able to get your washing machine in the back of the car instead.

Sorted.

Yes but I would ensure that the modification could be easily removed and the front dinette reinstated if we ever needed to do so. The fixed bed would have to be 500mm high to go over the freezer but it's a good height for a childrens top and tail bed (for the grandchildren) and without the freezer travelling in the car we can take the grandkids away as we would not take the rear seats out.

We have the double dinette at the back and we never leave that bed up.

The freezer is a huge benefit if you're travelling for long periods as not only does it half the number of occassions you have to do a food shop but by buying larger quantities of meat and frozen veg you also save money.

My concern with travel vibration is because the manufacturers of all domestic appliances don't recommend they be moved frequently and there's often much chat about the bad ride in a caravan compared with a car. I can't see that there would be that much difference however as we intend carrying it in the front and therefore near to the tow hitch.

The main reason for doing it is that we intend to do a long distance drive to far away locations in the future and only stop over for one nighters en route, so it makes sense not to erect the canopy and sort out the splitter wiring for these stop overs.

Randa

No good Andy. They sold out to Iceland years ago.

Randa

I must admit I am another guilty party who takes a freezer if away in France for a few weeks or longer. It is party cost driven, but also lead by a convenience factor.
I enjoy my food and cooking and will take away sausages, bacon and prepared chicken pieces. Home made items include pork burgers and lamb paties, ratatouie, curry, vegetable samosas, relishes, chili, bolognesse sauce, mozerella/aubergine bake, coriander, etc.
When away I can quickly chill down a nice crisp white wine or rose. I can also have a sorbet and ice cream ready whenever I want.

Colin

Words fail me. (Not really but for once I'm being diplomatic.)

Zitat

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Quote SDA:- we limit packing to what will fit and is totally necessary.

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Exactly.

There is no point debating this issue because the tow car is, more often than not, the dictating factor as is the length of time spent away from home.

We thought long and hard when purchasing our tow car, exactly what we needed and contrary to it being a pantechnicon as Mr C calls it, it's rather a small car by comparison with most, but it does have a large carrying capacity. It's all relative . Mr Motters was of the same opinion and at the time, drove the same model car.

As the three very heavy rear seats can be taken out in a matter of minutes, there is no point in lugging them around Europe for three months. Therefore that frees up a lot of weight and space which allows us to carry a few more luxuries.

I doubt any of us would choose to do without a freezer for three months while at home so, if space isn't an issue, I can't understand why some people are so against it.

Randa

But your van comes with a microwave and oven Mike? Also many folk insist on a hot water system but see that as reasonable even though it's impossible to shower in an Eriba. As I said earlier, it's pointless arguing about it as different people have a different opinion on what is important to take and my question was more about the logistics of carrying the freezer in the van as opposed to carrying it in the car. We have a basic van with no factory built editions so I see no harm in making an easy modification to make it work for us.

There's nothing wrong with food shopping abroad and we do plenty of it. It's just that we would rather not spend every third day in a French Supermarket checkout queue. Shopping every couple of days may work for some but it doesn't work for us.

I get the impression from Islay's comments that we don't buy anything that is foreign to us? We don't live off Cumberland sausage and chips when away. Our diets are more varied than most.

Randa