Why I am replacing the three way fridge with a two way fridge in my Hymer B514

In this video I describe why I am replacing the three way fridge in my RV to a two way fridge. However, and I need to make this very clear, if you are a light sleeper, then you need a three way fridge!
I live in a motorhome full time and travel around Europe in it. I spend most of my time in Poland, Germany and Italy. Vanlife is my life.
In my TH-cam channel, I present reviews of recreational vehicles. Here you will find campervans and motorhomes from the cheapest camper vans to the most expensive luxury liners, from various companies including Hobby, Hymer, Carthago, Westfalia, Wingamm, La Strada, Frankia, Wavecamper, Maurer, Dreamer, Itineo, Rapido, Clever Vans, Pössl, Bürstner, Niesmann Bischoff, Action Mobil, Reisemobil Manufaktur, Robeta, Trigano, Challenger, EuraMobil, Karmann Mobil, Laika, Forster, Mobilvetta Design, Affinity, Globe Traveller, Benimar, Roller Team, Adria, Bocklet, Woelcke,Tourne, Megamobil, VW, Mercedes, CS, Renault, Ford, Fiat, Carado, Sunlight, Baileys, Chausson, Balcamp, Knaus, Weinsberg, Murvi, Bliss, Mitsubishi, Woelcke, Reisemobile Bürow, Holzmobil, Giotti Line, Florium, Fleurette, Ahorn, Westfalia, Space Camper, Orange Work, Concorde, Womondo, Protec, Auto Sleeper, Dethleffs, Ilusion, Gehocab, Malibu, Pilote, Wild Ax, Vantage, Bresler, Tom's Fahrzeugtechnik, Morelo, Swift, Carado and others.
I do this by regularly attending trade events such as CMT Stuttgart, Abenteuer und Allrad, Caravan Salon Dusseldorf, Warsaw Caravan and Camping Show and sometimes others.
I cover equipment, including 12v electrical equipment and talk a lot about lithium batteries.
I also show some of the places I have visited in Europe in my own motorhome, as well as the places you can stay at! I try to give as much coverage as I can to official campsites and free places which I use for overnighting. Therefore you can find here the aire or stellplatz that you are possibly looking for.
Please consider supporting me on Patreon : / alanheath

[@TomShields-t2w]

An outstanding van makes an outstanding video love to see more of it

[@kend4023]

Great video as usual!

[@VanlifewithAlan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mohork]

Hi Alan how are you. That's what I got, a 2 way fridge, 12v and 240 volt Brassmonkey. Ones a 10 can console fridge and the other is a flat 15 litre Brassmonkey fridge.

[@lozisung]

I have a 12v compressor fridge which can also be a freezer so the insulation is very good. I only use it as a fridge and the compressor rarely comes on and when it does, it’s barely noticeable anyway.
Way better than the 3 way I had!

[@VanlifewithAlan]

You must have a new one Jason - the technology today is really good.

[@williamhurley8407]

I won’t comment on what is best, it depends really on how you use your van.
But if you do a lot of wild camping you have to consider power usage of the two way fridge, particularly in winter with little solar.
12v fridges work better in warmer conditions than three way. You can however put a fan into the top vent of your three way to improve airflow. I have used my 3 way at 36c with the fan on, no problems. But there is more to go wrong with 3 way fridges, two way are much more reliable. If you want a large fridge I would go for a three way, the larger the two way fridge the more power you use. If you only go to campsites and always use EHU two way is better.
And finally to answer you question Alan, if connected to mains the older three way fridges will only work from mains.

[@VanlifewithAlan]

Good points, and rather than respond, I am going to do a follow up video!

[@williamhurley8407]

@@VanlifewithAlan I look forward to watching it, thanks.

[@gogomas]

Both campervans I owned had three way fridges with a fan for hot weather. 12v only worked when you were driving so not to deplete the starter battery.

[@VanlifewithAlan]

I should have mentioned that - the fridge uses the starter battery on 12v, not the habitation battery.

[@chesthairascot3743]

Fridges can have threeways? My fridge's the one that put the kibosh on the three way.

[@WoollyWanderers]

Each to their own, but I disagree. Despite having a lot (665w) of solar and 460Ah Lithium I would never have a compressor fridge. I don't think it's a good idea having something as critical as a fridge being reliant on the weather. A week or two of dull conditions and you would really struggle. With less solar, you might run into trouble after a few days. I can think of two or three occasions on the current 4 month trip where I would have struggled to power a fridge on top of everything else. Meanwhile my 160 litre 3 way fridge freezer can run 24/7 for a solid month in the pitch black if need be on one full tank of gas. Something it might need to do if I pay a return trip to Norway to see the Northern lights in winter. Try that with a compressor fridge

[@VanlifewithAlan]

Good points, and rather than respond, I am going to do a follow up video!

[@recruitmenttips]

I guess the heating is gas too rather than diesel? If so, are you tempted to fit a diesel heating system to save on gas, and use the vehicles fuel instead, leaving the gas just for cooking / fridge if power is short?

[@VanlifewithAlan]

I have a diesel heater lying around which I could install but I won't do so. I have only just changed the gas bottle (there is still a spare inside) which I had been using since the end of January so I am not using too much. I reckon I could take temperatures of up to minus 20 without any problems with the vehicle as it is at present - although of course a back up could be useful in extreme circumstances! The fridge inside is now my own which is two way electric - of course if it got really cold, then I might not need it!

[@recruitmenttips]

Wow! 15kg of gas since Jan! And you have two of them. No need for diesel heater then! @@VanlifewithAlan

[@VanlifewithAlan]

@@recruitmenttips I need to put something in perspective. 20 years ago, a doctor suggested a way of not catching colds in winter was to take cold showers so since then I have washed in cold water - so I am not heating the water up. Tonight for example, I have put the heating on but on minimum, just in case inside it gets cold but I doubt it will come on at all!

[@recruitmenttips]

Ahhhh, the opposite of my ex wife, boiling was just right. ;) @@VanlifewithAlan

[@johnferguson5875]

Are you going to the NEC Show starting tomorrow (Tues 21/2/23)?

[@VanlifewithAlan]

I did not go John. I am still cheesed off with how I was treated in 2016 when they told me I had to spend GBP35 per day to park.

[@andrewstevenson6540]

Having had a motorhome(gas fridge)and a campervan (compressor fridge) I found the latter to be better and you soon get used to noises anyway.

[@VanlifewithAlan]

When I was a student, I was living in Paris and a friend came to stay with me. However he could not sleep, so I had to find another place for him. I did not notice the noise but for him it was too much! At the end of the day Andrew, we are all different! I just hope that now the fridges have been changed in this motorhome, that I get no complaints from the second occupant!