coloradoan
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1959 Shasta Airflyte 16
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Post by coloradoan on Jun 16, 2014 10:10:38 GMT -8
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Jun 16, 2014 14:32:13 GMT -8
Looks great, Coloradoan. There are no cabinet walls in the Compact. The fridge is basically the cabinet wall. I do have room for one more thickness of insulation on each side. I may go for it.
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Post by bigbill on Jun 16, 2014 16:32:15 GMT -8
More is better.
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mobiltec
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I make mistakes so you don't have to...
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jun 16, 2014 16:53:38 GMT -8
Mine out of my 59 Airflyte is all packaged up and ready to ship but no one seems to want it LOL...
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Post by Teachndad on Jan 1, 2015 21:23:09 GMT -8
Hi Susie,
Since its's been 6 months, how did your insulation mod work out. Are you still glad you decided to keep the ice box?
cheers,
Rod
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Jan 1, 2015 23:16:51 GMT -8
I built a NEW ice box for my 1953 Aljoa out of new galvanized sheet metal. I used as much Styrofoam as I had space (1 1/2" to 2 1/4"). Made sure the door latch and the door seal were in good sealing condition.
My conclusion of ice boxes after about a year and a half of camping with my NEW BOX, it was a waste of time.
I had to rebuild it because the floor pan was rusted out and leaked.
I went to the 99 cent store and bought six to seven bags of ice and stuffed the top tray as full as possible with ice "still in the bags". Make sure you "Precool" everything you want to take in your home refrigerator before you pack the ice box. The basic problem is that heat rises, and cold drops. So......every time the ice box door is opened, all of the cold air tumbles out of the enclosed space, and is replaced with warm air, which melts the ice.
We ended up using "the ice box for food only", limited the number of times it was opened each day, and by using a large Coleman ice chest "for drinks only". The common "top lid" ice chests are a better ice saving design because the cold air stays in the box when the lid is raised.
A vintage trailer ice box is not a very good replacement for a propane refrigerator. Ice is not cheap, and it's not always convenient to obtain.
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Post by Teachndad on Jan 2, 2015 5:53:52 GMT -8
At some point, I will have to decide what to do. Andy has no appliances. Even though it's far down the restoration road, I try to find a consensus on this issue to help make the final decision. But then there is the cost issue...
Cheers
Rod
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 6, 2016 6:23:44 GMT -8
Update on the efficiency of my icebox. Well, it surprised me. I LOVE it. Block ice is not available and I don't always remember to freeze my own in time. I can get four 10lb bags of ice in it. I will last me 4 days or more depending upon the outside temp and how often I use my oven. I just got back from camping and I used my oven twice. The oven really doesn't seem to make it melt faster, but we were a little damp and cold and I purposely let it warm the trailer up a little the last night and I think that did make it melt a little faster. And I still have ice in it, four days later.
I leave the ice in the bags, the water still seeps out and drains a little. I had one bag that my husband had opened and the trapped water in the bag leaked over the top of the ice shelf and on my floor on one trip. As long as the ice bag doesn't hang over the shelf, it works well. I had previously tried putting loose ice in a plastic dishpan, and that worked. I actually put my stuff down in the ice, but it doesn't cool the bottom as well.
Bottom line... I really like my icebox. I didn't even take a cooler on this last trip. My friend took a small cooler and she ran out of ice.
Be sure to wipe out your icebox and leave the door open until it is completely dry after using it to preven mold and mildew.
Happy Camping.
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mel
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1964 Shasta Airflyte
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Post by mel on Aug 6, 2016 8:13:54 GMT -8
Good to know, too bad I just bought a mini fridge and cut the opening to fit it lol. I was on the edge of keeping it or not. Finally just picked the mini fridge for the convince at power campgrounds. Hope I didn't make a mistake...
Reading through this thread my ice box had 8 or 10 screws and was not nailed in at all , crazy how Shasta loved to do every camper different. Mine was pretty easy to get out
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girlandcoconut
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1975 Skyline Layton
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Post by girlandcoconut on Aug 6, 2016 9:02:03 GMT -8
I have been considering all the options for replacing my elec/propane fridge. Something I'll need to decide at least before I open it up and start working on framing, etc. I was curious about an icebox and it's good to hear how they actually work and what your experience has been SusieQ!
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Aug 6, 2016 12:01:06 GMT -8
girlandcoconut if you decide to keep your icebox, replace the cardboard/fiberglass insulation with foam. I used 1" foam board with the aluminum foil on it. I still haven't rebuilt my door. I think I will have even better results when I re-insulate it.
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