Where do you keep your fridge?

[Neilos]

Hi folks, just sitting here musing over how we use the van and how we improve organising it when we can get camping again.

We have only had our van for 1 season of camping and we got better at being organised for set ups and pack ups but it still seems to take an age. Partly I put it down to having small children and the stuff that goes with them but just wondering if there are tips we could pick up for a speedy set up and pack away.

Currently I put the fridge strapped to the floor in the cabin area. This allows easy picnics, lets the fridge breath too. Downside is when you get to the camp site I have to empty the boot and move it in there.

Same for bedding, we vac-pack our duvets and put it in the boot. This is my most hated part of the pack up and I feel there must be an easier way. However, you can’t argue with the space efficiency of the vac-pack. It reduces the volume of two duvets and a couple of pillows by 50-60% at a guess. And no matter how large the boot we still fill it!

Our top tip we borrowed from others is a decathlon pop up tent. Superbly easy, and allows a quick decant of the child seats and other bulky things you need then. I often chuck the vac packed bedding in there too. Then it acts as a pitch reserver too.

Thanks, I’m sure there are some good tips out there!


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[Amarillo]

Hi folks, just sitting here musing over how we use the van and how we improve organising it when we can get camping again.

We have only had our van for 1 season of camping and we got better at being organised for set ups and pack ups but it still seems to take an age. Partly I put it down to having small children and the stuff that goes with them but just wondering if there are tips we could pick up for a speedy set up and pack away.

Currently I put the fridge strapped to the floor in the cabin area. This allows easy picnics, lets the fridge breath too. Downside is when you get to the camp site I have to empty the boot and move it in there.

Same for bedding, we vac-pack our duvets and put it in the boot. This is my most hated part of the pack up and I feel there must be an easier way. However, you can’t argue with the space efficiency of the vac-pack. It reduces the volume of two duvets and a couple of pillows by 50-60% at a guess. And no matter how large the boot we still fill it!

Our top tip we borrowed from others is a decathlon pop up tent. Superbly easy, and allows a quick decant of the child seats and other bulky things you need then. I often chuck the vac packed bedding in there too. Then it acts as a pitch reserver too.

Thanks, I’m sure there are some good tips out there!


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I reckon we’ve got packing and unpacking our T6 Beach just about perfect.

Two adults, two boys aged 5 & 6. One dog.

Fridge straps behind the front passenger seat - and there it can remain while camped, or it can go in the drive away awning.

The bench seat is pushed forward to the position on the rails for making the bed.

We have window bags for clothing - a whole bag (two compartments) for Mrs Amarillo, a whole compartment for me, and the boys share a compartment.

In the boot:
Behind the bench seat go two custom built plywood crates and a double 907 gas box. 1 crate contains swimming costumes, wetsuits, beach towels, etc, the other crate contains outdoor games.

On top of the gas and crates, level with the top of the multiflex sit two custom built plywood trays. They contain shoes, wellies, etc, and can slide under the van.

Under the multiflex go four Muji drawers and the double hob. The Muji drawers fit perfectly and contain food, cooking utensils and dining gear.

The mattress and bedding, plus two additional picnic chairs go above the multiflex.

To make the bed, all that need come out of the boot are the two plywood trays.

We can also make a kitchen work table in a drive away awning from the trays and Muji drawers.

 

[Borris]

Hello Neilos,
What ever works for you is best. We are all different with different priorities.

We use our seven seat Beach in five seat format with the two swivels removed most of the time. When we started with a Beach we only put the fridge/freezer on board when actually required. On those occasions it was strapped to the floor rails behind the two front seats. After a while we rationalised our stowage and moved it to the boot where it now lives permanently. Our Beach is fully loaded with our essentials and ready to go all of the time. If we were to go off on a trip now we'd just need to fit the window bags and toss in the bedding.

It took several goes at getting things just how we want them and just as important what we actually needed to take. Every thing else has been thrown over board.

Here is our boot stowage solution. It works for us. You may reach a completely different conclusion and that's fine. What ever suits you is best.

 

[Jason Just Chilling]

Nice set up there guys, we have just gone from the SE to Beach, usual reasons, practicality and space. Today in great anticipation of making it beyond our county lines, who would of thought? I have moved the fridge to the rear right, bench in position for setting up the bed with ease, so you both have mentioned the window bags and here is a slide out set up to. Are window bags worth their time?

 

[Neilos]

That’s really interesting thanks @Amarillo and @Borris.

I think for us my plan is to avoid us having to move the bench seat, fridge or tons of other gear when setting up the bed. It’s useful to see how others do it. Thanks. That pull out drawer looks great.


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[Borris]

Nice set up there guys, we have just gone from the SE to Beach, usual reasons, practicality and space. Today in great anticipation of making it beyond our county lines, who would of thought? I have moved the fridge to the rear right, bench in position for setting up the bed with ease, so you both have mentioned the window bags and here is a slide out set up to. Are window bags worth their time?

Window bags are brilliant. We have a pair of Van Essa window bags which contain our clothes, wash bags, head torches, phone etc. They are like bed side tables but better in that you can find your smalls or watch etc etc whilst still tucked up in bed. If you decide to spend a night in a hotel or B and B then you just remove them and carry them in using the handles. They are just like suitcases. IMO they are one of the top accessories to have with a Beach.

 

[Borris]

That’s really interesting thanks @Amarillo and @Borris.

I think for us my plan is to avoid us having to move the bench seat, fridge or tons of other gear when setting up the bed. It’s useful to see how others do it. Thanks. That pull out drawer looks great.


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Having the fridge etc in the boot doesn't require moving everything when setting up the bed. It's all below the multiflex so dead easy.
That pull out draw has been very useful indeed. You can get at everything without burrowing to the back of the boot whilst kneeling on wet grass.

 

[willwander]

I keep mine here, pretty handy...just sayin lol

 

[Stuart]

I've got mine in the same location as Borris has, minus the sliding drawer. Plus I can access it from inside the van if the bed isn't made up, which is handy in the morning if the weather is miserable outside.

 

[Stuart]

For bedding, we've got a big fabric bag which we stuff all the sleeping bags and pillows in to and then it goes behind the bench seat.

 

[Borris]

I keep mine here, pretty handy...just sayin lol

View attachment 59285

Ah yes, I used to have one of those. I used to keep fresh air in it most of the time.............

 

[Amarillo]

Crates, trays, drawers, 907 gas box and stove.


All packed below the multiflex with a plywood top on the trays


Camping kitchen using the trays, drawers and plywood top
Fridge located in the awning


Lockdown essentials showing the 28 bottle capacity of a crate
You can also see the design of the crate will allow limited access to contents without removing it from the boot, e.g. you could easily slip wetsuits and beach towels between the dowel handle and reduced height back panel.


If you have sufficiently small children, they can sleep latitudinally on the multiflex and plywood top without the need to unpack at all.
We did this on a trip to Blanes, stopping overnight in a French motorway aire.

 

[TripleBee]

I keep mine here, pretty handy...just sayin lol

View attachment 59285

 

[Jason Just Chilling]

[Some great photos and ideas there, I like the fact you can move the kitchen out of the camper and set up a mini kitchen with draws too. Not sure about the fitted fridge photo, must be another SE driver thats got lost again, just saying lol

 

[OGII]

I keep mine here, pretty handy...just sayin lol

View attachment 59285

Great idea. So neat. Is it hard to move though? Quite like the idea of freeing up some space when on a campsite or having fridge to hand when cooking outside. Does it have quick release fixings or something ?

 

[TripleBee]

Great idea. So neat. Is it hard to move though? Quite like the idea of freeing up some space when on a campsite or having fridge to hand when cooking outside. Does it have quick release fixings or something ?

6 screws for the fridge, 1 for the hinge.
You just have to get yourself a stand and an extension cable for the electricity.

 

[OGII]

6 screws for the fridge, 1 for the hinge.
You just have to get yourself a stand and an extension cable for the electricity.

And, added bonus you could line the space in the van and use it as a baby bath or something. Why did I buy a Beach? Just wasn't thinking.

 

[Karlos]

Love this thread, it's just confirmed to me the Ocean was the right way to go!!!! Lol

 

[Borris]

Great idea. So neat. Is it hard to move though? Quite like the idea of freeing up some space when on a campsite or having fridge to hand when cooking outside. Does it have quick release fixings or something ?

I believe the fridge and sink, cooker, wardrobe etc can all be easily removed................by any VW accident repair specialist or you can do it yourself with one of these cheap orange tools as seen in this video.

 

[OGII]

I believe the fridge and sink, cooker, wardrobe etc can all be easily removed -you can do it yourself with one of these cheap orange tools as seen in this video.

Now I understand why people have roof boxes and tow Eribas. Somewhere to keep the fridge and wardrobe removal tools.

 

[timrobinson229]

Borris: what size is you fridge? Looking to see what dometic cfx3 will fit under the multi-flex board and be big enough for a family of 5.
Also what plastic boxes are they and do you know the size?

thanks

 

[timrobinson229]

I believe the fridge and sink, cooker, wardrobe etc can all be easily removed................by any VW accident repair specialist or you can do it yourself with one of these cheap orange tools as seen in this video.

tagging you borris sorry so you see my question: new to the forum!

 

[Amarillo]

tagging you borris sorry so you see my question: new to the forum!

@Borris

 

[Borris]

Borris: what size is you fridge? Looking to see what dometic cfx3 will fit under the multi-flex board and be big enough for a family of 5.
Also what plastic boxes are they and do you know the size?

thanks

Hello Tim,
It's a Waeco Dometic CFX 35 fridge/freezer. It's an excellent piece of kit and has a capacity of 32.5 litres. Very quiet, uses next to no power and does what it says on the box. It should hold more than enough for five persons and as you will see it fits perfectly beneath the multiflex on the three seat bench version of the Beach. We had it rammed full of ice creams during our grand kids summer holidays last year. It was set at -22 degees for several weeks. Here's a video explaining it better than I can.

As for the boxes they are Euro boxes. If you type PULL OUT BOOT SHELF (CALICAP) into the search function, top right, and read from post #19 you will find the full details of our setup with the sizes of all if the boxes. I would have posted a link but I've forgotten how to do that.

Best wishes
Paul

 

[timrobinson229]

Hi @Borris

Thats really helpful. Im interested to know the opinion of the forum on what we should do. Picking up a 3 seat beach in 2 weeks time and want it ready to do trips etc (looks like UK trips this year). This will be our only car and Borris my wife saw your pics and now has her head turned by the slide out tray.

I anticipate the van will spend 99% of the time with the bench as far forward as possible with a huge boot area for days out etc. Kids bikes/trailer/buggy can be put in the back. I would like the tent we are going to purchase and a fridge to live permanently under the mulitflex - saves me having to lug them around and also means they are dry etc. Tent pack size is 96 x 42 x 42. Fridge we are debating larger dual compartment or the CFX35 - we like to go somewhere and then not drive as much as possible. Happy to pick up little bits but really only want to be going to supermarket every few days tops.

When we go on holiday as a family of 5 bench will stay forward and the tent furniture, bags etc will go in the boot. We are going to get Cabbunk twins for the front seats, 2 year old up top and me and the wife sleep downstairs. Van has a tow bar for 4 bikes and the 5th child bike (when shes big enough) will come inside too. Will get some Van Essa bags, seat back storage but really we are thinking about the best box solution that I can just grab out the garage and put in the back of the van with kitchen stuff etc. The pull out tray looks great but Im not sure how much it adds etc and, as the van will be used as a large estate (plus mountain bike days out for me etc) Im worried it will get it in the way and get damaged. There will also be the odd occasion where my wife and go just the two of us (he says) where we will probably try and live out the van - sleep upstairs and have the bench forward downstairs a bit round the table etc.

The potential fridge is the CFX3 65DZ so think it will fit under the multiflex and then stick out a bit. Its also hard to know the dimensions of the boot with the seat pushed forward! We do have seats 6/7 but these will live out the van - occasionally we use them to take cousins etc on holiday to cottages etc to camping stuff can then come out the car. I was going to get the Zonesleep ultra as a top mattress as it can just stay in and was thinking the same for the bottom but would like a solution thats both really comfortable and doesnt take up much space. The alternative is something like the Reimo blow up mattress.

Sorry long post with lots of questions - any help appreciated!

Tim