Using the Vanagon Westfalia refrigerator can be easy if you understand HOW it's supposed to be used. This video describes a typical trip and how the refrigerator is used at different times.
Thanks for the indepth explanation John. I have a 1978 Westfalia left to me by my late father, which he used to maintain and use regularly. I have kept it in running condition (as much as possible), but haven't used it for camping, yet. Now I'm looking to get all the accessories working again (fridge, stove, heater). This video has definitely helped me understand the basics.
That was a GREAT explanation! Thank you so much for taking the time to make such a fun informative and funny video. I loved the second class comparison and the squeezing tires. That got a laugh out of me. You may want to consider getting that rig up to beautiful BC, if you haven’t already, and see the gulf islands. 😌
Have a nephew who lives in awesome Vancouver and I've visited many times from down south. He has a nice bay window. Drove my "Trudy" to Alaska a few years ago and it didn't break down even once! A miracle! I realize that's hard to believe, but true.
I wish that in Puerto Rico there was a connoisseur like you, in this matter of the refrigerator. Years ago my Westfalia fridge stopped cooling :( Thank you for your videos!
In my 1980 westy 12v is not much of an option, even with the refrigerator in a pre-chill state, after an hour or so it starts to loose the cold and to get warmer. So i just use gas while driving as well
Thank you! My 1987’s dials are a bit different than yours. I don’t have a 120 choice to the left of the click switch, the dial options are Min to Max with a flame/gas image near Min and electric image at a Zero. My question is, do I need to twist that dial also/along with moving the click button when switching from the house to driving?? Thank you, Lisa
Yes, they changed the words and graphics on the control panel every year, but the insides remained pretty much the same same until the last few years when they added electric start and automatic re-light of the pilot flame when it blew out. Can you send me a photo of the control panel of your unit?
Hey John, I'm also a new Westy owner. I have a 1984 with an 85 fridge. I've hooked everything up with new copper lines feeding the fridge. It's getting gas with no problem and wants to light. I can see the flame "popping" (through the viewing hole) but it just won't stay lit. At least I can't see that it is. What do you think is the problem? By the way, it works no problem plugged into 12v.
You wrote that you can SEE the flame popping in the sight glass. Can you HEAR the "Popping?" If so, do the pops seem to pop on through the exhaust to outside the van, rather than remain confined to the combustion box? Does it sometimes pop enough to sound like a very small backfire? Do you get a pop at the exact same time you press the igniter when the gas has been on? If so, the answer is not enough oxygen. If this is what's happening to you, stick the small plastic cone-shaped nozzle tip of one of those 12 volt cigarette lighter tire inflators into the small combustion chamber drain tube which protrudes at the bottom, left of the unit. Turn on the gas for five or six seconds. Then, turn on the tire inflator and press the igniter button. Keep pressing the igniter until it stays lit and stops popping. See if that works. After it stays lit without popping for say, ten seconds, turn the tire inflator pump off. If it stays lit without popping for about ten seconds but the flame slowly goes out, you might have too much oxygen. Until you can rebuild the hand operated air pump so it can supply enough air for combustion, the tire inflator trick works just as good. Great to hear that it works okay on 12 volts. Just remember it can run down a set of batteries in hours. Use 12 volts for when you're going down the road and you know the engine's generator is keeping your battery charged. They are great little refrigerators once you figure them out.
I am always hesitant to put it on 12 V... I'm hesitant, because, say we stop for lunch or gas station... or tourist info center... so breaks of 5 to 20 minutes... ish, I'm concerned the fridge is not producing 'cold' during these periods...
