How To: TruckFridge TF65 Install into a Vanagon Westfalia Cabinet

[@rextilian]

Nate what a tidy job especially considering you “aren’t a woodworker”. Inspiring.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Appreciate that. We are happy with the way it all turned out Nate

[@thereandbackagain9599]

I'm doing this exact project on my Syncro in a few months. This is a god sent. thank you !

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Glad we could help! It is a lot of work but we are very happy with our TF65. Good luck with your project! Nate

[@paulbaldwin9906]

Great job Son, looks like it came that way. You got skills! Love y'all.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks Dad, it turned out pretty good. Looks like I inherited some of your carpentry skills :)

[@davidhelms4421]

Nice work, I really enjoyed your project. The new drawer with the stock look is perfect.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks Dave, we are pretty happy in how it looks. And that drawer can hold so much stuff! nate

[@milesjulihn2772]

Wonderful work, Nate! If we ever need this conversion, you definitely convinced me to go with the TF49!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

It’s really not that hard just time consuming. And we think the extra space is well worth it but I totally understand not wanting to tackle it. Nate

[@XiTart-ns7tj]

Amazing workmanship!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

thanks! nate

[@mmichaelc]

Nate you did an amazing job on this. It really looks factory.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks! We are pretty happy with how it turned out. Nate

[@DanTheManIOM]

I love how he put the front panel in the fridge door, perfect

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Really adds to the factory look for sure nate

[@westyfreedom9284]

Nicely Done! The timing of your video is great as we also decided to get a TF65 for the extra space. I am really impressed with your foresight to use the entire space under the fridge and the faux face drawer. Luckily I have a spare cabinet from a donor van which I have started to modify. ✌😁👍 Ken

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

The drawer adds much needed storage space and we are glad that we made it is big as we could. Good luck with your install! nate

[@cheryllamb8831]

Well I'm definitely impressed. You did a great job! 👏👏👏Little scary for me to even attempt - if you're not a woodworker, I'm sure not one. Hahaha. Looks great though Nate. Happy travels. Merry Christmas to you and Nancy. 🎄☃️🛷🧣❄

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks Cheryl! If you do want a TruckFridge, the TF49 version doesn't require any work on the cabinet and Rocky Mountain Westy has a great install kit for them. Merry Christmas to you as well!! nate

[@DanTheManIOM]

FYI,,, vabcafe has an installation kit and they post the instructions...definitely more straight forward, perfect for when I put my best man on the job !

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Yeah the TF49 is easier to install for sure but we wouldn’t give up the extra space for anything. Allows us to stay out away from everything for longer periods of time. Nate

[@unklsteve]

Dude! You kicked it's ass! Great job!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Haha thanks! 😁 Nate

[@Andrethebum]

What an amazing video. Gave me an idea what to do with my combi

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Glad you liked it! It was one of the best upgrades we have done to our Westy. nate

[@garyp.7501]

Looks amazing, not sure I am up to doing this job though.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Not as hard as it looks, just lot's of steps. The TF49 doesn't require any cutting if that is more up your alley. You just lose a bit of fridge space. Thanks for watching!!! nate

[@johncrisp6683]

Good for you! Fridge is on my list.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

It is a worthwhile upgrade! nate

[@johncrisp6683]

Glad I watched again. Installing the TF49 now.

[@jamesmoore9511]

If you've got a router and a straight piece of lumber and a couple of clamps - presto, beautiful data. Your lookin good though.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Great idea! I didn't even think of that. I did borrow a router to trim the laminate so it was sitting right there. nate

[@DanTheManIOM]

@@ThatBaldwinLife another idea, find a local cabinet / kitchen / woodworker and let them cut it, I did that in Rochester NY and the shop did a job far better than I could have, I mean you could see my saw wobble in and out, and then in Pittsburgh, I had a guy trim down a bi-fold door, can't even tell, nice when you have a 10K dollar saw !!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

That would defeat my "do it all yourself" mantra. But yeah if you are not comfortable doing this work, I am sure you could find someone to do it. nate

[@roberthill9278]

Really impressive - dang.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks Robert, we really liked how it turned out. nate

[@markschuyler3768]

Amazing job!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thank you! We have still been loving the TF65 and the drawer we built. nate

[@Vangriff]

Lot of work but great job Nate, my original fridge still works good and for more food and beer I have a Yeti, ice last a week or so. Did you do a install video on your heater? Thanks

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Our original fridge barely worked so we got the ARB. We just got back from our first night out with the new fridge and are happy to have the floor space back! No video on the heater install. We did not have a channel when I did that. nate

[@mep1624]

How much better is the new fridge compared to the original fridge?

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Our stock fridge never worked well so we used the ARB fridge for years. The stock fridge is so tiny and did not hold enough for us to be out for long enough. The TF49 is an easier upgrade and still is lightyears ahead of the Dometic fridge if you don't want to go to the TF65. nate

[@mep1624]

@@ThatBaldwinLife Thanks Nate. Your channel and knowledge are so valuable. My 87 Westfalia has benefited a lot from what I have learned

[@Italjohn]

Nicely done

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks! nate

[@facelesssman]

Well done Sir!!!!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks!! Nate

[@raymondsoler5245]

Amazing work!!!

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks Raymond nate

[@mep1624]

Looks amazing!

[@watervolf962]

Hi Nate, you did a real great job, congrats ! Since the TF65 seems to be sold out, could you recommend another equivalent fridge with about the same storage capacity ?

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks. I don’t have a lot of experience with other brands. There are some threads on TheSamba going over this. That’s where I would start Nate

[@watervolf962]

@@ThatBaldwinLife Thanks that’s a very good idea ! 👍🏻

[@mikelenart]

I really enjoyed the video! I wanted to ask how the truck fridge is powered , do you have any solar or is it powered off the alternator and batteries?

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thanks! The fridge is powered from our 100AH AGM battery that is charged from the alternator. We do not have solar on the van but do have a 100W Renogy suitcase kit we use when we are in one place for a few days (which is very rare for us). We usually only bring that when we go to Descend or Syncrofest. nate

[@mikelenart]

Thanks for getting back to me, I’m in the early stages of planning a new electric fridge such as a TF-49. I am looking for a few more resources to help me get the right parts. I was wondering if you upgraded the alternator? What kind of inverter you use to charge the lithium battery? Basically a how to on your electrical setup for the fridge.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Our electrical system is pretty simple. Stock 90 amp alternator feeds a 100 AH AGM battery (not lithium) which feeds the fridge. We have a Automatic Charge Relay that combines the AGM battery with the starting battery when the van is running and disconnects them when it is off. No inverters, no solar, all simple. nate

[@VanaConn]

Honestly with the correct router bits I think it would be easier to make a new cabinet. Maybe something I should make and offer for sale after I retire in 2025 from UPS. I would sell it flat packed

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Maybe, but then you wouldn't have the original cabinet! It is really not that much work. Without filming you could have this done in a day easy. The new cabinet sounds interesting though! nate

[@planetmarrs5239]

Wow, there is a lot more to putting in a T 65 than the T 49 that I put in. No comparison. Instead of the draw under my 49 I put the propex and IOTA battery charger.

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Yes it sure was. We almost went with the TF49 but couldn't resist the larger fridge for more beers and food. Our Espar heater is under our bench seat and we were surprised on how much storage we were able to get from that drawer. Need to get out your way and stop by to say hi! nate

[@planetmarrs5239]

@@ThatBaldwinLife It was a fun day plowing the snow around up here today, got about 20" over the last week........

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

wow

[@hfranke07]

Awesome video

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Thank you! Nate

[@Eaton332]

Why did you put the drawer on the bottom rather than the top?

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

We mocked it up both ways and we thought it looked better this way as the two drawers were not on the same level and it was easier to access the fridge with it up higher. Nate

[@DanTheManIOM]

damn it,I thought people did TF49 ?? my cabinet it out and the tf65 are sold out... ok t49 might be easier...thanks

[@ThatBaldwinLife]

Yeah most people do the TF49 as it is easier to fit but we wanted the larger fridge for more space. Bummer they are sold out! Nate

[@DanTheManIOM]

@@ThatBaldwinLife it's will be ok, the TF49 is in my hallway !! It's here. Maybe it was in implusive since that too had been out of stock. it will all work out, my friend roasted me on the cost to "just have cold beer". Ha !

[@DanTheManIOM]

update, yea a year later, the tf49 is going in -- today ! finally