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Roy Bertalotto, N Dartmouth, Massachusetts
120 Volt Mini Fridge Install
2021 RAM 2500
1980s Maine Camper
I was using a chest-type ICECO 12 Volt refrigerator on my recent 11,000 mile, three-month cross-country trip and found it worked great at keeping food cold. On the other hand, it was very inconvenient to use.
For my 1980s Maine Camper, I mounted it on the floor on the slide rails. It was a total PITA to use. I had to be sure it was always secured for travel. Every time I wanted to access it, I had to slide it out where it contacted the bed platform which made unlatching the cover very tight. Salads and fruits got crushed. Liquids spilled. I hated it!
I wasn’t home but a couple of hours after my 11,000-mile trip when the entire left side of the camper was disassembled. I had built the entire interior with no glue and only screws so I could perform this type of modification if needed.
I went on a trip to Lowes to buy a 3.3 cubic foot, 120 Volt residential mini refrigerator. This 3.3 cubic foot Hisense refrigerator cost under $200 in March of 2024.
It easily runs on a 1,000-watt pure sine wave inverter and uses about 2Ah to operate once cold. It takes about 15 minutes to get cold, unlike a propane refrigerator which can take hours. It does not need to be level like a propane refrigerator. This is great when boondocking or parked at a rest stop. No outside ventilation is needed. So, all plusses.
Should it fail on the road, a quick trip to Lowes or Home Depot means I’m back in business for a couple hundred dollars.
The sink was relocated to the center of the countertop and the refrigerator was located up toward the cab to keep the weight centered on the truck. Brackets were fabricated and attached to existing threaded holes under the refrigerator. It was the same on the rear.
The space where the cooler was located was reconfigured with a door. The refrigerator runs off a 1,000-watt Pure Sine Wave inverter. With 200Ah of Lithium batteries, I can run it for three days if there is no sun for the 400-watt solar panels. With the sun, it will run indefinitely.
Above: You can use AcuRite monitors in your refrigerator and freezer to monitor the temperature inside
This has worked out fantastic, but it wasn’t my first rodeo. I did the same thing in my toy hauler travel trailer; removing the propane refrigerator and replacing it with a 4.4 cubic foot 120-volt refrigerator.
On my latest trip to South Carolina, the temperatures touched the 80s and food stayed nice and cold at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
The only thing I bought for this conversion was the refrigerator. It took me eight hours to complete this modification and cost me $300.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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