With the bedframe fully installed and wall paneling in place, it was time to move on to the rest of the appliances and interior features. As with the bedframe, the largest appliance goes first, and that is the BougeRV Fridge. You can read about the fridge choosing process here – https://dodgevanconversion.com/keeping-things-cold/
I decided that I would box the fridge in (leaving the rear open and vent holes drilled for ventilation) so that I could use the lid as a seat. Essentially, it’s just a box with a lid, and when you lift the lid, there’s the fridge. Like a really poor game of hide and seek.
Like much of the previous build sections, you always have to think about the foundational stuff first. You can’t pull up the floor afterward when you realize you forgot to run power. During the installation of the van’s power supply components, I ran 14 AWG wires from the 12v switch panel, under the bedframe to the driver’s side of the van where I had planned the fridge to go.
Two power options were supplied with the fridge. A 110v plug-in adaptor, and a cigarette lighter plug-in for 12v. I cut the cigarette lighter plug off, leaving just the fridge-side plug, and connected this with crimp terminals to the aforementioned wire from the switch panel.
I should point out that the cigarette lighter connector wasn’t wasted. With the van sitting idle for long periods, I wanted to protect the main battery from draining so I bought a battery tender and used the cigarette lighter plug with the tender to keep the main battery topped up. The battery tender is plugged into the 110v output from the inverter which is, in turn, supplied from the solar panels. So basically I’m keeping my battery topped up for free. Actually, since we’re on the subject, I powered some of my outdoor Christmas lights this way too….yay for free power.
Then it was simply a case of measuring the fridge, building a box in which to put it, and plugging it in.
You can see the two battens attached to the underside of the ‘lid’. These provide structural support for the seat and help to keep the fridge from moving when the van is in motion since there are gaps at the side in case I need to remove the fridge. I will be painting the inside of the van in a white semi-gloss paint and then I’ll either buy (if I can find a suitably sized one) or make, a cushion to sit on top of the lid and Velcro it in place.
