ARB Fridge would be cooler if it opened like this.

[Montana Cruiser]

Originally Posted by LEXUSBEN

I did it quite similar to his except I used nut zerts for the hinge screws instead of just going into the case. I ended up using the old hinge screws and put some washers under them for strength, they also don't look too bad, I'd rather have the strength personally.

Attachment 83197

Are the nut zerts easy to install, special tools needed? Do you need to dismantle the casing to get those in?

Another cleanly done mod.

[LEXUSBEN]

You don't have to dismantle anything. Just be careful drilling the holes. It's mostly insulation behind the metal.

You do need a special to install the nutzerts. You can probably get one from mcmaster for pretty cheap though.

I think about this mod about every other time I open my fridge and I really like it when I have the baby in one hand and can get something without the lid falling off and the lid stays open

good luck

[kevinmrowland]

Great to hear it is still working. I on the other hand never think about this mod, that is just the way I like it

On a side/update note, hinge setup is working great and I have since had to dismantle the entire fridge (leaky condenser, all fixed, great customer service) Even if you slip disastrously and drill right through the fridge, you wont hurt anything.
The body is just foam insulation all the way to the inner plastic of the cooler, then there is the 1/4" gap, then the metal cooling tube surround. To damage the fridge you would somehow have to drill through the outer skin, through the foam, through the inner plastic skin, past the gap and into the metal cooling tube housing, and even then you would have to be lucky enough to actually hit one of the few coolant tubes.
if that makes you feel any better.
Happy drilling

[REZARF]

I am going to do this to my ARB freezer, anything you'd do different now that you've had it modded for a while?

Thanks, I can't stand my fridge lid (love the fridge ) and I have to do something about it!

[kevinmrowland]

Still love it enough to try and make it easier on other folks!

[REZARF]

Nice kit bud. Thanks!

[NorCalDoug]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Still love it enough to try and make it easier on other folks!

I need a couple latches... do you have a good source for them? they're for a 60 qt norcold that's currently latchless...
do you have a good source? would you be willing to share your source or sell just a couple latches?

[TomH]

Originally Posted by NorCalDoug

I need a couple latches... do you have a good source for them? ...

Check McMaster-Carr. They seem to have a few choices.

[kevinmrowland]

Yup, Mcmaster-Carr.
I also posted the source info and part numbers back on the first page. The stuff in the kit is a bit different to make it easier, and I have made a template for hole layout, but all the info is there in case anyone wants to put their own stuff together.

[Corey]

Will be ordering a kit from you later Kevin.
Thanks for gathering up the parts.

[kevinmrowland]

Cool, they're here if you want one.

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Still love it enough to try and make it easier on other folks!

Nice kit Kevin, I'll have to keep that in mind when customers ask.

[sundaypunch]

Anyone do this to an Engel? I don't see why you couldn't although the lip profile looks to be different.

[Corey]

Kevin, I just moved my fridge from the rear where it was to the rear left seat area.
I can raise the lid up much higher now and see what is inside, but the lid still hits the ceiling.

When it was on the cargobox though, I could not see inside at all, and I could not raise it up very much.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj-cruiser/1...ml#post3362802

Fridge is much easier to get to now though.
With the addition of your kit you put together, I should be able to raise the lid all the way up now.
I will have to test it by taking the lid off and flipping it up from the side as if the new hinges were in place.

Old location



New location

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by sundaypunch

Anyone do this to an Engel? I don't see why you couldn't although the lip profile looks to be different.

The hard parts should be the same between the two, and the part/construction diagrams between the two are the same. There wont be anything in the way as long as the hinge fits over the Engel edge trim.

Originally Posted by Corey

Kevin, I just moved my fridge from the rear where it was to the rear left seat area.
I can raise the lid up much higher now and see what is inside, but the lid still hits the ceiling.

When it was on the cargobox though, I could not see inside at all, and I could not raise it up very much.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj-cruiser/1...ml#post3362802

Fridge is much easier to get to now though.
With the addition of your kit you put together, I should be able to raise the lid all the way up now.
I will have to test it by taking the lid off and flipping it up from the side as if the new hinges were in place.

Yup, that is exactly the kind of situation that got me thinking along these lines, flipping the way your lid hinges will make fridge access much better, and the good thing is that this is a reversible mod if you find you want to change it in the future, just save the old hardware.

[kevinmrowland]

Just got word from a "genuine" Engel install that the fit is the same as with the ARB.

[moglite]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Just got word from a "genuine" Engel install that the fit is the same as with the ARB.

and here it is



Okays its not a cruiser, but the concept is the same

The full story here LoadBay V2

Andy

[kevinmrowland]

That looks great Andy!
Same situation I was in, much more space with it tucked into the corner.
I'm wondering if Engel is gona catch on and start making the new ones hinge like this.

[kevinmrowland]

Haha!
Looky what I found today.
(photo courtesy of expeditionexchange.com)

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Haha!
Looky what I found today.
(photo courtesy of expeditionexchange.com)

Yup, the new Engel MR040 opens from the side.