Frig Access Question (1 Viewer)

[bicycleagent003]

Hey Guys,
I'm going to buy a Dometic frig soon, and I'm trying to decide how to access it. I plan to install it on the driver's side of the rear cargo area.
The options I'm considering are either, A) get a frig slide and build a wood box around it (with lots of ventilation), which would allow me to use the space above it for storage, or B) no box, no slide, and put a LC Phil gullwing window on that side. Then I'd access the frig primarily through the window.
Let me know your thoughts, particularly if you've used one or both access methods with your frig.
Thanks.

 

[Dr Gil]

I have a wood drawer system with a wood fridge slide. I have a 63qt ARB and it opens lengthwise front to back. It slides out to clear the cage.
If you use a gullwing to access the fridge you won't be able to store anything on top. That cage will hold about 100 lbs on top.

 

[retrofive]

@Outsane simple solution;

Fridge tilt slide

This is version 1 of my Tilt slide. Goal is to keep everything very simple. There is a spring in the rear pushing the fridge forward to keep it locked in place. The rails are slim enough that I can put the mattress on top of it.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Box Rocket]

I would get a fridge slide no matter what. Typically when you're in your fridge you're at the rear of the truck and using the tailgate as part of a prep surface. If you have the tailgate down and no slide, it makes it very difficult to reach into the fridge. A gull wing can be a good way to access it but you don't always want to have to go to the side of the truck to get into the fridge. I like the gullwing access but I wouldn't have it be the only way to access.

Building an enclosed box can be good too if you need to pack things on top and it will also keep things from falling behind the fridge if it's on a slide. A simple slide is easy to make if you're mounting it at floor level. You would really only need a tilt slide or drop slide if you have your fridge mounted on top of drawers.

I ran my ARB fridge on a DIY slide for years before I added drawers. worked great. I now have a tilt slide since I have a new fridge on top of my new drawers.

 

[Cruzerman]

For me, the tilt slides are too pricey. I like Dr Gil's solution. That's what I'm going to build.

 

[greentruck]

I agree with Adam that the gullwing makes a nice option, but you really want a slide unless you like being aggravated by the reach. I see you're on 33s. That's what we run, I'm tall, and I still can't reach the bottom og our fridge. Taller tires would make this even more out of reach.

I home built a slide and it works well with the rest of the sleeper conversion I built along with it. We slide the fridge back to gain extra room inside to sleep, something else to consider as an option that the slide in whatever form makes possible.