Engel/ARB 45 qt fridge/freezer: fitting?

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FZJFillmore said:
...

One of my fellow club members did this as a solution:

Drawer1-1.JPG


Drawer2-1.JPG


...
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This is EXACTLY what I want to do. The issue I have at this time is accessing the fridge when I have gear loaded. This would resolve that issue.
 
NorCalDoug said:
This is EXACTLY what I want to do. The issue I have at this time is accessing the fridge when I have gear loaded. This would resolve that issue.
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I don't know if you can see the back of the box the fridge sits in, it's open about 4" for ventilation. If I go this route I was planning on cutting several breather holes in the wood at the back around the fridge.
 
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Cruiserdrew said:
Dang Ali-You engineers think way too much about stuff. At least your thoughts are logical. I hope we see you, your wife and the new addition in Moab.
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Andy,

You should see my baby bottle holding contraption:D

The family won't make it to Moab this year, but we'll be catching up to y'all in June when I have to return to the Bay area for work.
 
FZJFillmore said:
I just did get my 45q. ARB installed in my truck. I went with the slide lock, $60 vs. $250 for the rollout sealed that deal. I've got no issues with the quality of the slide lock, it holds the fridge securely. I haven't used it long term, so I can't comment on it's durability.

I've been battling with where to position it in the cargo area. Right now I've got a piece of 5/8" ply over the entire area that will be the base for future drawers. I've got the fridge in the PS corner, closest to the tailgate. As is sits you can lift the lid up (45q. is tall) without hitting the roof and pull the basket out. If I put it on top of a drawer, I would only be able to open the lip part ways and would have to slide the fridge out to remove the basket.

One of my fellow club members did this as a solution:

Drawer1-1.JPG


Drawer2-1.JPG


He used heavy duty drawer slides laying flat for the fridge slide. As I think about that, the cost of the slide lock, drawer slides, etc. probably about equal the more expensive metal rollout. It's a good idea that lets you pile items on and around the fridge, but one concern is heat dissapation from the fridge.

Your CFO will have no regrets if you guys buy the fridge. I lent mine out to a friend and it quickly moved up on the list of things to get.
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Just drill some holes in the sides of the compartment using a 3" holesaw. That should provide plenty of ventilation. In fact, it's probably better than piling gear directly on the fridge, which allows almost no room for the appliance to breath.
 
I really like the setup too Cory. I'm partially started on my rear drawers. I thought about enclosing the fridge too. What I was thinking was to put 2 fans in there one pushing one pulling the air out to keep it cool. For the time being I drilled some holes in the plywood base and used longer screws to come up and secure the rubber feet. It stays in place really well but it's not very portable. For me that's ok because I don't use it for really anything else but wheelin now.

I'd love to get the slide christo has.
 
Jack is the man... I had no clue he was such an artist. :cool:

...still looking for the ultimate mounting solution for my Engel, I have the Engel slider, but it doesn't work out real well in the back seat of my Tacoma... It may stay in the trail trailer?
 
Heres A Few Questions

Is anyone here running the Slee (or engel METAL) Fridge Slider with the Transit Bag?

I had a nice setup using 5/16" turnbuckles (with the fridge handle flipped upside down) and it worked great. The handle needs to be installed upright in order to fit through the Transit bag holes and the turnbuckles are now too short and they are already the maximum length offered. The slee slider appears to use 5/16" turnbuckles with its slider (can anyone confirm?) and i am not sure it will work with the transit bag.

So, anyone running a transit bag have a good mounting setup for a flat surface or use it with one of the metal sliders?

Thanks

More Questions, that size is that frige in the blue bag? Where did you get that bag, it looks very nice! What is the max length of those turnbuckles? That looks like a nice fit. Is it a smaller fridge?
 
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The Engel fridge sliders are made in SA by African Outback. The ones we sell are the same as the Engel ones. They come with turn buckles and little stainless pieces that screw on between the handle and the Fridge. This way you are not pulling down on the handle.

The catch is that you might have to cut the transit bag a little to get the little tabs in the correct spot. The Blue bag is the ARB version of the transit bag.

You can see the little stainless tabs in the photo posted in post #16.
 
Boston Mangler said:
Heres A Few Questions

...More Questions, that size is that frige in the blue bag? Where did you get that bag, it looks very nice! What is the max length of those turnbuckles? That looks like a nice fit. Is it a smaller fridge?
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I assume your talking about Jacks setup that Trunk Monkey posted?

His cooler is the ARB/Engel 35, and uses the ARB cover... I might have one or two still in stock, if not ARB still has some for the 35 & 42 quart units. The ARB ones are a bit more expensive then the Engel ones, the design is a bit different too... Hope that helps :D

EDIT: Read to the end of the thread.. Slee answered the question already :D
 
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sleeoffroad said:
The catch is that you might have to cut the transit bag a little to get the little tabs in the correct spot. The Blue bag is the ARB version of the transit bag.
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Thats not going to happen! :D
 
I have the same transit bag and yes, the slot stiches are there. If you want the slots, then you'll have to open them up with a sharp knife. I was using the handles to tie down the fridge, but I've since made up four bracket things that go through the Transit bag slots for securing. They're just a simple 1/8" thick metal bent with two holes, similar to others.

Ali
 
alia176 said:
I have the same transit bag and yes, the slot stiches are there. If you want the slots, then you'll have to open them up with a sharp knife. I was using the handles to tie down the fridge, but I've since made up four bracket things that go through the Transit bag slots for securing. They're just a simple 1/8" thick metal bent with two holes, similar to others.

Ali
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VERY COOL! Thanks for the info! I didnt even know that! I just checked my bag and sure enough, they are there, however they are only in the front, i found this kind of odd.

EDIT: I just sliced into the stitched area and installed my handle upside down. This now gives me the ability to run the 5/16" turnbuckles that i got at home depot for $3 and attached it to the eyelets on my wood shelf i made for it

Pasquale, what did you do for the REAR of the bag?

Here is a pic:
fridgehandles.jpg


Mounting to this:

(at some point, i will probably put a metal slider on the top of this wood shelf instead of just the eyelets):
box4.jpg
 
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To make your own tabs you can also use corner braces or mending plates and bend them from 90* to get the angle you want and use the smaller turn buckles. I just did this to mine. No bag to worry about yet.
 
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