DIY Westfalia Fridge REMOVAL + ARB Zero Fridge Freezer INSTALL

☼ Travel Advice & Adventure: SUBSCRIBE & CLICK the 🔔☞ bit.ly/hey-nadine
Removing our Dometic fridge and DIY transforming the space into extra storage! We also install a much more efficient ARB Zero fridge/freezer to replace our old broken fridge.
Thank you to ARB for sending us this awesome fridge! geni.us/VzICw
Super Secret Project : bit.ly/SShhProject
❤ Let's be FRIENDS! ❤
www.heynadine.com
Instagram : / heynadine
Facebook : / heynadine
Twitter : / heynadine
❤ Support this channel on Patreon! ❤ / heynadine
- TOP supporters -
John Arellano
🎥 SHOP my GEAR on Amazon! 🎥
My NEW VLOG Camera: geni.us/nTVwq
My VLOGGING lens: geni.us/8od03sc
The MAIN camera I use: geni.us/S1Zwcr
My GO-TO lens: geni.us/IB3MKjW
AMAZING wide angle lens: geni.us/jJOu5
Best VALUE portrait lens: geni.us/5wwY
My microphone: geni.us/DKZPD0m
The handheld GIMBAL I use: geni.us/45phJ
The TRIPOD I take EVERYWHERE: geni.us/2g4AB0
My FAVOURITE action cam: geni.us/kamJXvp
Buttery SMOOTH footage for GoPros: geni.us/WH5p
The DRONE I use: geni.us/kfH5
🎥 The BEST camera store : bit.ly/HeyNadineBHShop 🎥
♬ Where I get my MUSIC : share.epidemicsound.com/p9DhG
📷 Matt 📷
/ mattofstie
📧 CONTACT - [e-mail]

[@KenyattaDavisPhotography]

Oh kara and nate should have watched this video before nate damn near set his arm on fire trying to fix their propane stove.

[@don-dspid2404]

Matt’s got his mechanic mustache going on there. Nice fridge.

[@mattofstie9298]

The mustache makes sure I'm doing things properly

[@don-dspid2404]

Matt Ofstie well looks like it anyway

[@pauldee1577]

No garage is complete without an old coffee can full of random screws! My garage growing up had one too.

[@heynadine]

And it comes in handy so often! 👌

[@briangentle5515]

We had a similar problem with our Westfalia Joker. I managed to get the fridge out, by trial and error, and had it repaired by Electrolux, who had manufactured it. It then carried on for the rest of the 12 years we had it. The gas was by far the most efficient way of running it. I wouldn't have had space to put a new fridge where you have. We had a tiny chemical toilet there, which we generally only used if "caught short" at night, but then it was a great relief to have it (pun intended)!

[@MsTeekaennchen]

Interesting project, although everything you need to renew the old fridge still exist and is more easy than you might think. I just did it for our fridge by my own with the help of videos and german manuals and at the end I paid 200EUR and all 3 functions works very well 3 ...so very sustainable, no new plastic stuff and still original from 1989

[@Dayonemediacanada]

Could you share some links on fixing that old Dometic fridge?

[@rufusqristofer]

Great video! Love how you show and explain how you’re doing what you’re doing step by step. Keep it up and we’ll keep watching!

[@monicaharris-green2400]

Love seeing you guys together and working on this. Thanks for sharing. 😁

[@mattofstie9298]

Glad you liked it! It was a fun little project :)

[@vclamp]

Now you just have to figure out what to do with all that extra shelf space! Thank you for sharing the installation of your new fridge. May it serve you well. Happy travels!

[@mattofstie9298]

We devoted the lower shelf to storing all of our pots, pans, cooking utensils, and other kitchen stuff. And the upper shelf is for food 👍

[@OneTentInCalifornia]

Yes, love a good van upgrade video! Excited to see more

[@charlesmaroon8819]

This fella seems to actually know what he is doing mechanically. Very good!

[@slimpickins3425]

I would never give up 25% of my floor space for that monster, but thats just one mans opinion....

[@Myyt6908]

great DIY ARB Fridge install video!

[@bwalton81]

Now that is a mighty moustache! Think you should have be giving Kara and Nate some gas leak advice :-) 🔥

[@mattofstie9298]

Ya, the timing of our videos was kind of a funny coincidence

[@akula4669]

Honestly, looks like an awesome project!

[@LtNduati]

4:522 Kara and Nate could've used that advice a few weeks ago lol. I love seeing how my favorite travel KZbinrs are adapting to 2020. So much good content even if it's a little different from what we're used to 😊

[@keithdevereaux9322]

Excellent job and great video !

[@seanfallon4580]

Very good informative video 😊, you make it look so simple 👍 Love your videos 👌

[@thecaffineman]

Matt is such a hunk! Is there anything this guy can't do lol!

Nice project!

[@van_mod1]

Love this vid!

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Rockin that 80s San Francisco look...nice 👍

[@hmfem3656]

Great TEAM !!!! work. U 2 Rock 🥂

[@ScenicSpotter]

Awesome 👍😊

[@WanderwithAwe]

It must be so nice when one or both people in the couple knows how to fix and install things and know how to use tools and understand about wiring and piping… 👍

[@katfran492]

Matt has skills! Impressive 😁

[@Capozzi3]

This channel is awesomw!!! why i didnt discover it earlier!

[@bnzimusa]

Ohhh Matt that moustache... nooo lol

[@mattofstie9298]

😂

[@vagabondsoundwest7883]

When you take off the ground wire you also protect your alternator diodes

[@mirandaalexis]

thats cool i want more van remodeling lol

[@mattofstie9298]

It's coming!

[@Floridaorange3]

Very cool! I very much enjoyed and want to see more. What’s the next project???

[@ebutuoy451]

Check out the renogy dcdc charger for your aux battery. Charges better than an alternator, and acts as a solar charge controller for when you get solar batteries. Looking good.

[@iangrimshaw1]

Not too hard to service and/or renovate the old Dometic. I did it on our old T25 1985 and it then worked perfectly on gas, 240v & 12v so great when we are off grid.

[@rish1132]

Watching this travel vlogging channel showing fridge installation tutorial. Let's see what fun stuff u guys come up next with!😀

[@jakediehl7215]

Aw man I just gotta say thanks for the guide and everything! I’ve gotta ask, how is the fridge now that you’ve used it? Would you recommend to someone? Thanks you two! Keep it up.

[@TalkingWithBob]

Oh man I would love more van upgrade videos about to build out a minivan

[@mattofstie9298]

Awesome! Well i'm sure we'll have lots more coming out eventually. There's a few more things we want to do

[@TalkingWithBob]

@@mattofstie9298 awesome man gonna go hit your channel want to support both of you ♥️

[@fatehhamza5997]

It's beautiful. I want to have one like it

[@JaaS0on]

Not sure why people keep getting rid of the propane fridges. It's well documented that the fridge can run easily for a month with 24/7 use. Cool van nonetheless

[@Ratherbejaded]

Oh i totally thought you guys were taking out the old fridge and just going to put that one in the same place. Did it just not fit in that space? Also, loving these videos! My friend just did a van build (albeit one without a stove/sink and i don’t think it has a fridge either) but I’m seriously loving seeing everyone buying vans and converting/updating them! I’ve been throwing around this idea for a while, but this is definitely making me want to do it more! Only problem is, I know literally nothing about construction, mechanics, electrical. I am Nadine in this situation, only without a partner to do all it for me ;) lol

[@s.a.stewart2743]

Wow, Nate from Kara and Nate improperly tested for a propane leak in their last video. He burned off half his arm hair. Are you trolling them?

[@heynadine]

No we love them! No trolling, propane is common in all vans :) this was filmed before then, I’m glad they are okay

[@mitchweber7868]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@toobydude41]

Coming along great guys ! Didn't see any flames either! Lol unlike what I saw last night in Kara and Nates camper! Poor Nate almost burned the thing down! C'mon admit...i bet you're trolling them 😁😁

[@mattofstie9298]

lol, it's just a funny coincidence actually 😅

[@krisgeusens162]

The problem is that your fridge wasn't broken at all :) Parts are available and not even so expensive. But the solution with the door is neat, better than most people do by putting an ungly 'new' fridge in that place.

[@alvenhchanne]

Suggestions for a microwave oven in a van? Would you recommend using a conventional household microwave powered by a sine wave inverter? (I have a 12 VDC to 120 VAC inverter from an emergency vehicle that I was going to use to power up an old stereo tube amp on camping trips)

[@mattofstie9298]

You would have to look at how many watts the microwave uses and what your inverter is rated for. Household microwaves can be like 600-1000+ watts so you'd need a good sized inverter and it would be a pretty big power draw. There may be lower wattage RV specific microwaves, but then your food will cook more slowly. It would be good to talk to someone who knows more about this stuff. Good luck! 👍

[@PikoCases]

Hey Nadine😉

[@Fitforacting]

3 things 1. My wife’s name is Nadine 2. I LOVE the 87-91 Vw Vanagon. My dream car 😍 3. I just subscribed to you

[@maxplanck9055]

Matt moustache is looking heroic. A suggestion of fighter pilot winning a battle effortlessly! Does Nadine like it?

[@mattofstie9298]

Haha, thanks. Nadine likes it more than I thought she would, but it wont be staying for too much longer ✂️

[@lukaoblak5668]

Don't know how it is there in Canada. Here in Europe, you can easy fix that old fridge and it should work. You just needed to clean the vent, and 110V heater.

[@2Uahoj]

You are likely right about it. However, the new fridges are still far superior in terms of the speed of cooling and temperature selections. Also, the newer "drop down" fridges keep the cold air in, whereas the older "door" models let it escape when opened.

[@oldspiced]

love your camera personality. PS You totally can refurbish those fridges for free to work off propane again(how to guides online), but its nice to not have to worry about your propane levels, and if someone is sending you a free fridge.... why not :D

[@RossHowardJones]

What vacuum are you guys using there?

[@dannywildmon3712]

Is your auxiliary battery 50 watt? If yes, how long can you power the fridge with it? Do you have solar hooked up? If yes, how many watts? Thanks! Looks great!

[@joymae]

Wow that fridge is so old!

[@mattofstie9298]

Ya, haha. That's why we replaced it 😅

[@blackpool321]

The propane fridge would have worked better if you had cleaned to gas jet ,then "burped" the fridge by turning it upside down for 24 hrs to circulate the fluid in the cooling pipes.

[@maxplanck9055]

I liked the marriage proposal on mount Kilimanjaro, nicely planned so Nadine couldn't runaway,she was trapped up a mountain, perfect for a proposal "ambush", I thought it was a man idea of a "tactical" proposal 🤭❤️🇬🇧👍😀 nice to see you together all the same

[@JohnWCR]

Do you have a video on removing your your westfalia fridge? Mine is 1982 so it does not work very good.

[@NaczelnikPolski]

nice :)

[@brownsrvlifecampground9322]

I know it was not a easy job removing that refrigerator also you made a nice video

[@Pexzee]

For some reason this video reminded me of 1987 Lancia Delta HF Integrale or actually its most succesful driver

[@mattofstie9298]

Had to do some googling about this one... lol 😂

[@2Uahoj]

The only problem is that the new fridge takes up a lot of space in the van. I opted for a Dometic fridge (CoolFreeze), which sits perfectly between the driver and passenger seats. Granted, the food space is much less, but it only means you need to stop more often for groceries - not a big deal. Anyway, thanks for the nice video.

[@piplup10203854]

The Zero fridge looks a bit larger than I expected but I like it, I need one.

[@mattofstie9298]

It's a super nice fridge, and i think it's the perfect size in our space. They're really efficient with power usage too which makes them great for this application

[@piplup10203854]

@@mattofstie9298 I think it is the perfect size for the application indeed :) Ooh I'll have to add it to my cart because I was looking to build something like this. I want to make a log cabin in the bed of a truck :D

[@mattofstie9298]

@@piplup10203854 That sounds awesome!

[@piplup10203854]

@@mattofstie9298 Thank you! We will see how it goes! Big plans for the coming year

[@Dean-hg3ry]

Start travelling in it ASAP. please

[@heynadine]

Coming up next!

[@TheMrMarkSmith]

Thanks for the video. I'm about to do the same job. Can you tell me the make/model of the 12V power outlet you installed there? And how do you like the ARB fridge?

[@mattofstie9298]

We love the ARB fridge. It's surprisingly efficient on battery power and it's so nice never having wet/soggy food or having to worry about ice for our cooler. The 12V power outlet is an ARB accessory for the fridge

[@TheMrMarkSmith]

@@mattofstie9298 thanks for the reply! Glad to hear you’re happy with the fridge. I’m curious about how quietly it runs. How do you find it in that regard?

[@mattofstie9298]

@@TheMrMarkSmith It's not silent, but it's really quiet. You can definitely hear the compressor when it's running, but it's quiet enough to not be distracting. Even in our small van it doesn't get in the way of a conversation or anything. Honestly just really happy with fridge overall. They're not cheap and you have to justify the cost, but they're really nice. Hope this helps

[@681Group]

Thought it would fit as a console between the two front seats?

[@mattofstie9298]

It's actually quite narrow in that spot due to the parking brake handle. We also took our first trip since installing the fridge and it works really well in that spot! Easy to grab snacks/drinks when standing inside and outside the van and doubles as an extra seat while cooking/cleaning. Super happy with the size, spot, and functionality of the fridge 👌

[@annekieffer1167]

I wast ready for the moustache

[@mitchweber7868]

One does not simply own a westfalia without a mustache.

[@UrbanReviews]

I didn't see a step for plugging up the floor pan from where you pulled the propane line out. Did you miss a step or just not do it?

[@heynadine]

We did it, added a plug just didn’t film it.

[@maxplanck9055]

Put a solar panel on the roof for some free electricity

[@heynadine]

That's the plan!!

[@pobalex]

i have no money whatsoever, but now i want a van to travel lol

[@maccoolmac5191]

Warning, when installing a new circuit off the battery, a inline fuse must be installed on the positive side closest to the battery. If that positive cable insulation wears and touches the body of the van. You now have a fuse for a fire. Buy a small fuse panel, which you mount close to the battery, then you have room for many new circuits.

[@admiringwonderer]

Guess movember came early

[@AbdulDelati]

feel like it too big and can get in the wayyy...

[@johnmendoza5907]

John Wickfalia would be a great name. If you're still looking for a name.

[@heynadine]

We’ve got one :) announcement in next vid

[@johnmendoza5907]

@@heynadine cool beans! Can't wait to hear it!

[@rosacanisalba]

It's a shame it wouldn't fit between the two seats.

[@dannydanny9875]

Be careful around the Propane Tank! See Kara and Nate's newest video to see why. :-O

[@mattofstie9298]

Ya i saw that! Scary stuff, thanks for the heads up 👍

[@suziclark4244]

I was thinking of that too, thinking how Matt really seems to know what he's doing! (sorry Nate)

[@dannydanny9875]

@@suziclark4244 "I didn't think that was going to happen" - Nathan Buchannan 2020

[@saskatoongirl3163]

A male version of mom, it kind of made me miss her.

[@Pupila.de.aguila]

heeeeeeeeeeey

[@JohnWCR]

Sorry spoke to early

[@sallysheltonnnn]

lol of course he chose the IPA for himself

[@mattofstie9298]

to be fair, Nadine doesn't really like IPAs 😏

[@sallysheltonnnn]

hahahaha okay fair enough i woulda chose the lager too 🙃

[@maxplanck9055]

Have you considered an electric conversion in place of the engine? You would save 1000's of dollars on fuel each year, you could plug in at a campsite instead of re fuelling ❤️🇬🇧👍

[@7duke77]

That 'stache...dunno, might consider shaving it, just doesn't look right, lol

[@dflf]

That’s one pricey fridge. If not THE priciest fridge.