Cool Box retrofit

[Oman4x4]

I'm looking at picking up a base-model Land Cruiser next year in Dubai... where we get considerably lower option levels (and therefore cheaper prices) than the rest of the world.


I want a manual transmission 6-cylinder, gas or diesel (not decided yet) and as cheap as possible really. The money will then go into things from the ARB catalog & a Webasto Canvas Sunroof, perhaps beadlock wheels eventually and diff locks etc. etc.

I have an extensively modified Jeep Wrangler as the weekend toy and want a Land Cruiser for the daily driver... but something that can also do the weekend duties if the Jeep is mid-mods or if I need more than 2 people in the vehicle.

The goal is to take the cheapest land cruiser possible and build it up into the most amazing

We have one trim level here which doesn't have the center cool box... I'm wondering if the cool box is a relatively self-contained unit that just connects to power and uses thermo-electric plates to cool it down, or if it's part of the air conditioning system?

Ultimately - how hard would it be to retrofit one from a totalled vehicle??

 

[Crazy888888s]

I'm looking at picking up a base-model Land Cruiser next year in Dubai... where we get considerably lower option levels (and therefore cheaper prices) than the rest of the world.


I want a manual transmission 6-cylinder, gas or diesel (not decided yet) and as cheap as possible really. The money will then go into things from the ARB catalog & a Webasto Canvas Sunroof, perhaps beadlock wheels eventually and diff locks etc. etc.

I have an extensively modified Jeep Wrangler as the weekend toy and want a Land Cruiser for the daily driver... but something that can also do the weekend duties if the Jeep is mid-mods or if I need more than 2 people in the vehicle.

The goal is to take the cheapest land cruiser possible and build it up into the most amazing

We have one trim level here which doesn't have the center cool box... I'm wondering if the cool box is a relatively self-contained unit that just connects to power and uses thermo-electric plates to cool it down, or if it's part of the air conditioning system?

Ultimately - how hard would it be to retrofit one from a totalled vehicle??

It works off the A/C compressor. In fact, it will not function unless the A/C Compressor is in the "on" position in the main cliamate control.

 

[JBHorne]

It routes air from the A/C. Personally, forget about it. It's a nice touch, but I would rather have the space.

I actually ran into a few problems this weekend with it out in Glamis. In the sand dunes, LOTS of dust and sand gets sucked into the vehicle. When I got back I had to replace both my air filter and cabin air filter (total about $70). They were both cloged with dust and sand. In fact, the lower half of my air box was a sandbox -- no joke.

I ran the A/C the whole weekend on recirculate, but it didn't help. The center console had sand in it.

Personally, just add a mini-fridge in the rear and avoid the hassle of the A/C system.

 

[Oman4x4]

Ah - so without Cooler has a larger storage capacity in there?

It would be bloody nice to have though... One of the primary roles of this vehicle will be 450 km road trips to Oman.

The Jeep will probably still be used for short journeys - easier to park in town

I'll ask the dealership what the cheapest spec WITH a coolbox is.

 

[Oman4x4]

Also... if the cool box depends on the AC... is it just tapping in to the ducts going to the rear seats? If that's the case, a retrofit might not be too difficult?

 

[100 TD]

The coolbox on a 100 uses refrigerant from the main A/C system, I would expect the 200 to do as well. (It doesn't just blow cold air around the coolbox).
The big problem with the coolbox is the following.
It only works when the engine is running, so when you stop you are turning the fridge off and no more cold beers.
It is too small.
If you don't have the coolbox you can remove the original console/junkbox and replace it with an electric compressor driven fridge/freezer from Waeco or others and if you do a second battery install it will run all day long for you.
Do not even think about retrofitting a coolbox, what a waste of time, you cane get a lot more real refrigerating capacity from a 12 volt compressor driven fridge/freezer which will work 24 hours of the day

IH8MUD™ Forums - View Single Post - fridge cooler retro fitting

 

[Oman4x4]

Nice... I've thought about that particular WAECO... but wow it looks pretty big in your pictures? I was hoping there was a chance I could squeeze it in to the TJ Wrangler but looking at your photos - no way!

To be honest the stock size is more than enough for me... all I want is it to be able to keep a bottle of water and some chocolate snacks cold for the longer distance road trips with the sunroof open.

If I'm camping, then definitely I'll use a Waeco in the trunk.

 

[100 TD]

This is the 25 litre, they also make an 18 litre which is wider (not sure if it will fit) but it is lower and shorter. Mine is a few inches higher than the normal box but still fine, I also mounted it forwards for greater room in the back (3 kids), we use the whole fridge on a trip with sandwiches, drinks, fruit and goodies shoved in there for the 5 of us. I am so glad I didn't buy a vehicle with the coolbox. Lots of companies are now copying Waeco and other brands are coming onto the market so I expect a bigger range of sizes to be available.

 

[Oman4x4]

I think that's the key difference... most of the times that I'm on long journeys, it's me alone or maybe just one passenger. Yeah for 3 kids as well the stock box wouldn't be enough.