Fridge Replacement in a T@B 320 Clam Shell. What Model Fits?

georgianwinds

I am seriously interested in replacing the factory installed fridge in my 2019 T@B 320 CS with a more efficient fridge. I camp mostly without electrical hookup and depend on battery and sometimes solar being able to recharge the battery partially depending on solar gain. The current draw on the installed T@B fridge is far, far too great, even at the lowest settings. I precool the fridge and use a cooler for beverages. I am thinking of replacing the fridge with a top loading, 12 Volt efficient model that would fit into the existing space but sitting on a sliding shelf. Problem is the space. Question is "what model of Dometic or ARB or other brand fits this small space?".

Anyone done this? Thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions.

Verna

@Sharon_is_SAM special ordered their CS with an ARB. You would need to make modifications to the countertop, but the ARB is a miser on your battery power making the mods worth it. . 

Hopefully Sharon will chime in. It’s a weekend, so she might be slow getting back to you. 

Sharon_is_SAM

@georgianwinds - we have the 50 qt ARB and it sips power.  As Verna noted, we had it installed as part of the build.  We sourced a really nice aluminum slide from Southern California Teardrops.  The problem with the size of the top loaders is that the depth of the galley is too shallow, so you need to turn it which takes away cabinet and drawer space.  Over on the TaG forum, some owners are replacing the supplied Yeti with an ICECO or Massimo.  Here is our arrangement:

georgianwinds

Thanks you two. I'll check out the T@G forum and the yeti replacements.

Sharon_is_SAM

@georgianwinds - check out the Alpicool.  https://teardrop-trailers.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/1268/no-more-yeti-hello-aplicool#latest

Marceline

georgianwinds said:

Thanks you two. I'll check out the T@G forum and the yeti replacements.

Just a heads up - the T@B CS galley is unfortunately configured differently from the T@G (a mistake in my opinion) so this is not a straight swap. You would have to remove the center cabinet with the drawer on top.

I think that NuCamp should build the T@B CS like the custom job that @Sharon_is_SAM had built. 

Sharon_is_SAM

@Marceline - My bet is that most customers want a front loading frig which is too bad because the compressor chests are so efficient.  Are they using an Isotherm in the 2021 CSS?

Mouseketab

Sharon_is_SAM said:

@Marceline - My bet is that most customers want a front loading frig which is too bad because the compressor chests are so efficient.  Are they using an Isotherm in the 2021 CSS?

I don't think they are due to the space requirements.

rfuss928

The early clamshells were built with a cooler drawer and flat counter top much like Sharon_is_SAM had built.  The Norcold fridge became an option ~2007 and the cabinetry was altered to accommodate the front loading fridge.