Powered 40 qt Frunk Cooler and 12 gal Water Tank w/ washdown sprayer concept (by @BoxGods)

[BoxGods]

Seems like the right project for a Kickstarter campaign! With 10k+ trucks already delivered (or very soon), along with more being delivered daily, there should be tons of interest in this!

I think Kickstarter ends up costing about 10% of your capital raise. The production volume for a project this small--say 400 to 500 units--isn't great for a bump in costs like that. I'm hoping we can get enough interested people from the community forums.

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[Riviot]

Did I miss price points? That might give you more solid responses.

 

[PracticalRivian]

Have you ever had your air conditioner fan on your car quit working and the air conditioning system immediately starts blowing ambient air? This is because the air flow across the condenser stopped and essentially the condenser became entrapped inside a closed system of hot air.

The front trunk is a closed system. Plus this Summer on hot days (presumably when you'd want a cooler) the front trunk get VERY warm inside because the truck's own a/c fan blows directly onto the front wall of the liner. It's about 2" away.

So a heat pump system which is placed inside of a sealed space which already receives very warm conductive heat is simply not going to work. The physics isn't there. You're going to have to figure out a way to ventilate the trunk tub continuously.

 

[domoplaytime]

You're going to have to figure out a way to ventilate the trunk tub continuously.

I think I've seen something like that before.

 

[Paradigm_Shift]

This looks fantastic. well done - I'll be watching this thread. interested to hear more about power and pricing.

 

[SDRivianR1T]

Interested! Of course depends on the price.

 

[BoxGods]

This looks fantastic. well done - I'll be watching this thread. interested to hear more about power and pricing.

Pricing is not final but the cooler is looking like $550 - $600 and the water tank with pump, electronic fill sensor, and sprayer will be in the $150 - $200 range.

 

[BoxGods]

Interested! Of course depends on the price.

Pricing is not final but the cooler is looking like $550 - $600 and the water tank with pump, electronic fill sensor, and sprayer will be in the $150 - $200 range.

 

[joelster]

Have you ever had your air conditioner fan on your car quit working and the air conditioning system immediately starts blowing ambient air? This is because the air flow across the condenser stopped and essentially the condenser became entrapped inside a closed system of hot air.

The front trunk is a closed system. Plus this Summer on hot days (presumably when you'd want a cooler) the front trunk get VERY warm inside because the truck's own a/c fan blows directly onto the front wall of the liner. It's about 2" away.

So a heat pump system which is placed inside of a sealed space which already receives very warm conductive heat is simply not going to work. The physics isn't there. You're going to have to figure out a way to ventilate the trunk tub continuously.

This is what I was thinking as well. As it is, it gets pretty warm in the front. I brought some wine home in the frunk recently on a trip and it was alarmingly warm when I got it to the house. All that additional trapped hot air is gonna make it really really warm in there. I am guessing that this is the reason Rivian dropped the 12v outlet in the frunk. Maybe folks were putting electric coolers in there and getting poor results.

I wonder if there is a way to vent the compressor out through a hole punched in the tub or even place the condenser remotely, outside of the tub.

The way I would approach this would be to make a whole replacement module for the tub. Maybe add a little insulation and vent the hot air out though the fender well vents.

Don't get me wrong. This this looks really sweet. I hope it works out.

 

[BoxGods]

This is what I was thinking as well. As it is, it gets pretty warm in the front. I brought some wine home in the frunk recently on a trip and it was alarmingly warm when I got it to the house. All that additional trapped hot air is gonna make it really really warm in there. I am guessing that this is the reason Rivian dropped the 12v outlet in the frunk. Maybe folks were putting electric coolers in there and getting poor results.

I wonder if there is a way to vent the compressor out through a hole punched in the tub or even place the condenser remotely, outside of the tub.

The way I would approach this would be to make a whole replacement module for the tub. Maybe add a little insulation and vent the hot air out though the fender well vents.

Don't get me wrong. This this looks really sweet. I hope it works out.

There are several people in this forum that have already run electric coolers for extended periods and monitored frunk temps and had zero issues.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/vehicle-fridge-temperature-impact-in-frunk.5074/

Keep in mind that the cooler is a super insulated airtight box--it is not uncommon for high end coolers to keep/hold ice for 7 to 10 days. By that I mean the refrigeration won't be running constantly. Depending on conditions something like 5 to 10 minutes per hour. You can also crack the frunk open slightly while at your campsite.

 

[jwardell]

I love this and it looks great!
I would just like to throw in a request for a custom cooler for the gear tunnel as well. I do cram an alpicool in there at an angle, but a custom shape and longer design would have much more storage. And it doesn't get as hot in there as the frunk.

 

[Madsen203]

Given the frunk is to be water resistant, which mean no airflow, this isn’t going to work. The old physics question: if you leave a refrigerator running with the door open in a sealed room, does it cool or warm the air. Fact is, you introducing BTU through use of 12v system (50w let’s say) which is 150btu of heat. In a small enclosed space, you’ll burn the compressor out running full duty cycle. You would need to drill in an intake/outtake ducting to allow movement of air. If you were to do this project, might I suggest building a drop in, plug and play, replacement tub that can accommodate this. Preferably with ventilation on the rear to prevent risk of pushing water in when traversing or driving in rain conditions. Add a vent fan to this as well with a temp sensor to trigger to cycle when temps are above 90°F.

Current design just won’t work with reality of physics. Add in the equipment under the tub will generate additional heat and the tub itself isn’t currently insulated as another user noted with their warm wine. There are motors, heat pumps for the trucks AC, etc all near/under this. Custom tub will be an absolute requirement.

Lastly, have the temperature gauges be accessible where they are visible. Your prototype photo would prevent from setting or visualizing the temps once it is loaded inside the frunk. Too heavy and high to have to lift to see/made adjustment.

The metal element in the center is not optimal either. Take a look at how Dormatech, Alpicool, or Massimo sets up their coolers. Still can be serviceable minus the line runs. Generally the compressors fail, not the lines. Serviceability of the lines is not a concern. Connection to them would be more so.

I’m betting true OTD profitable price would be $900-1200 with custom tub replacement.

 

[mightypile]

I have an R1T with a 12V outlet in the frunk, and I would love to order both the refrigerator unit and the water tank. I would be more comfortable buying from a reputable company with history and warranty behind it, but you've designed exactly what I would have if I had the time and skill to pull it off. I'll proudly bet on you.

I was really hoping to put a Dometic cfx3 75 with the dual zones in the frunk, but even though the frunk is wide enough and deep enough, the shape prevents it. And now the disappearing 12V plug may scare away third parties from designing anything to fit.

Kudos to you, and if you're willing to build them, I'll commit to a purchase.

 

[shrink]

Super cool! Great work. Interested.

A few questions:

- Is the water tank required or optional?
- is the center metal section going to be a color matched option? Seems expensive if you offer that, but I appreciate the depiction you posted.
- will the digital temperature display be visible at all when in the frunk? Looks like it’ll be flush against the front wall and not visible.
-any smart features planned? E.G., adjust and monitor the temp of the two zones from a phone app?
- capacity is 40 qt, so 20 qt for each side? What are the dimensions of each side?

 

[Flabirder]

Interested, but also wonder if this works given the lack of ventilation in the frunk.

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