Caravel refrigerator - curious

[MandK]

I am presently looking at the Airstream website: specifically the Gallery of interior images for the Caravel trailers. Some of the refrigerators that are shown stick out beyond their cabinet. I recently walked through a 2024 Caravel 20FB, and its refrigerator was different. It was pretty close to flush mounted.

Anyone notice this refrigerator change that has purchased a Caravel. It's a big change.

By going to a near flush mounted refrigerator like the one I recently saw in a 2024 Caravel 20FB, you lose shelf depth in the door of the refrigerator. Shelf depth is a major contributor to storage capability. Losing shelf depth removes any chance of storing wider cartons and larger items on the door.

[BikeCamper]

What you might be seeing is the difference between the previous 2- and 3-way fridges, and the current straight 12V compressor fridges.

The previous fridges used on Airstreams were bulkier due to the complicated multi-fuel approach to cooling. They could run on propane, 110V a/c, and in some cases 12V DC.

The latest fridges used are12V DC compressor fridges. The cooling system is less complicated and far less bulky. They both save overall space and offer more internal volume inside the fridge.

The fridge may look smaller, but may actually have more internal volume, with no less shelf space in the door.

[BikeCamper]

That said, the old-style fridges did have the advantage of operating on propane fuel. This is very handy when “boondocking” or camping without any amenities, as they can run for a LONG time without draining the batteries.

With the new 12V DC compressor system, you need a steady supply of electricity to avoid depleting the batteries.

So, pros and cons.

[MandK]

The fridge may look smaller, but may actually have more internal volume, with no less shelf space in the door.

I was thinking that must be the case as well. However, I don't think that is the case.

I went to the Nova Kool website to see their line-up of single door refrigerators. I could not find the fridge that is presently in the 2024 Caravel FB20. It is not on their website.

There is a 4.3 cu. ft. model R4500 that looks identical. However, it has 4" deep door shelves versus the 2.5" deep door shelves in the current model used. I believe they achieve this additional shelf depth by having the door come out beyond its cabinet as it does in the pictures on the AS website for other Caravels.

The R4500 also has one shelf in its main body, and the exact same two clear, plastic trays on the bottom. These trays appear to reside in front of the compressor in both models. These two fridges look the exactly the same in that the R4500 looks like it would slide right into the same cabinet in the 2024 Caravel 20FB.

The R4500 model looks superior for overall storage and packing flexibility while looking to be the same exact size. The door holds larger items as pictured on the Nova Kool website. Items that simply cannot fit in the door of the present fridge used in the 2024 Caravel 20FB. It also has a single, centered shelf which is far more accommodating to stacking items, storing taller items, and accessing items that are placed in the back of the fridge.

The current model has two shelves and several tracks on the side walls to slide them into. If you move a shelf up or down, you will gain or lose height for that shelf but you lose or gain the same exact amount of height for the other shelf. I am pretty certain that both fridges are 12V only, yet the R4500 holds more contents because the door offers more storage capability.

Unless it is impossible to fit that R4500 model into the cabinet already in place inside the Caravel 20FB, and it certainly looks like it could easily slide right in, I am at a loss as to why they would not choose the R4500 for additional storage capability.

Just thinking aloud.

[Jay22]

Our Caravel 20fb is a 2020 model and has the N-K R4500 refrigerator. It is a solid performer and we like it. I don’t know why Airstream switched suppliers.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Before buying *any* trailer you should head over and sped some time in it. Not just a couple minutes. We're talking a couple hours. Also spend some time in at least two alternatives. That might be one or two sizes larger. It might be different floor plans.

Looking at pictures on the internet simply isn't good enough to tell you how *you* will fit in this or that model. There are lots and lots of subtle issues that might or might not matter to you or your crew. It takes time in one to figure that stuff out.

Bob

[NC Camper]

Airstream is notorious for switching appliances during any given model year. This could be the fridge, the air conditioner, the microwave, etc. I have been told a lot of this has to do with supply chain issues (for what that is worth). We ran into this when we were trying to find a 12v fridge that would fit into our 2018 Globetrotter. Another thing that can cause confusion is they don't always update the literature with pictures of current models so you find one piece of info in a brochure, see something different in a trailer, and may get told something different by a salesperson. The best thing to do is to find a dealer with the model you want and look at what is actually installed. I found that even the service and parts folks could not guarantee which fridge was being installed in a particular model because it changes. If you are ready to buy, Customer Service at Airstream should be able to tell you what is currently being installed. Good luck in your hunt!

[ForteePlus]

I don't believe Airstream feels compelled to update their brochure photos when changes are made. Our 2023 doesn't have the, what I call "spotlight", on the outside curbside, nor does it have a radio antenna. Both are shown in the 2023 brochure. Best to get real eyes on a unit you are interested in.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Airstream makes it very clear in their verbiage that they can "make improvements as they go along". They phrase it various ways in various places. There are *tons* of threads here about various models getting changes in the middle of a production year. There are also examples of the first off the line "real thing" not quite matching those original specs (though this is rare).

Even without those changes, there really is no way to work out what's what from pictures. You very much need to go sit in whatever RV you are thinking of buying. That's just the way it works.

Bob