Camping Fridge or Fridge/Freezer

[sgtsandman]

I have a single zone unit that can be either a refrigerator or a freezer. I've yet to need a dual zone one so I have both but that may change. It is a HCALORY 12 Volt Car Refrigerator, 30 Quart Large touch screen Display Car Fridge, Portable Freezer with Compressor Mini Cooler (-4℉~68℉) with 12/24V DC & 110V AC for Camping, RV, Travel & Home. The amp draw is surprising low and a 300 Watt solar power bank is able to keep it running though out the night. For the two of use, it seemed to perfectly sized when we were at LBL last year.

Amazon.com

Whoops, it's "currently unavailable". I paid $174 for it, after shipping. Perhaps that will change. At least it gives you an idea what has been working for us.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've switched to ice packs and jugs (half gallon or 2L bottles) just shy of full with the air squeezed out and like half a cup of rock salt then freeze that, works much better and you don't end up with soggy food...

Yeah, that doesn't work well for a week on the trail though...

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, that doesn't work well for a week on the trail though...

Fair, anymore most of my camping/wheeling has been with the truck camper as base camp with the propane fridge going for food and just beverages in a cooler outside under the trailer with ice packs and ice bags for the most part...

I do have a plug in cooler, one of the Igloo or Coleman (think I have both...) to take in the boat, got a smaller one for road trips but haven't used it for that yet...

 

[4x4junkie]

I've had an Edgestar FP-430 since 2010. No problems with it at all other than needing to replace the plastic carrying handles it originally had on it (put metal chest handles on it from the local hardware store).
Nowadays the unit is sold as the Whynter FM-45G and has had a controller update (now has selectable low-voltage cutoff levels, and also a voltage display) and also metal hardware (no more plastic handles & hinges).

At the time I bought it, there was no better value out there for your dollar (and i suspect still remains true since the price hasn't gone up for a few years now). It is single-zone though (not sure why the ad says dual).

Amazon.com

 

[Uncle Gump]

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

View attachment 130381

Have you came up with a way to secure it in the back of your truck?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Have you came up with a way to secure it in the back of your truck?

Not yet...

I have a vision for a slide... that's the width of the fridge and full length of the bed.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Slides are a back saver. And a half sheet of 3/4" plywood on the top of the rails adds a lot of storage. I ran a loop of rope to the corners of the ply so I could easily pull it forward to access stuff. Its easy to push it back.

 

[Curious Hound]

After my first trip using the fridge (3nights), my official opinion is " major game changer". So happy to have it.

 

[sgtsandman]

After my first trip using the fridge (3nights), my official opinion is " major game changer". So happy to have it.

I know we were very happy with ours at LBL and I had done a test run with it to Truck Nationals before that, and it had worked pretty well then.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

They definitely makes life easier. No more cocktail of meat water all over everything. I've been running mine consistently for about 3 years in my truck. I keep water and sodas in it on a daily basis. Then pack it for camping. I would like to upgrade eventually to a larger size. On the Vagabond trip last year I just kept a couple drinks and just replaced them when I took one out. That way I had more room for my perishable foods. If Zane goes this year I may have to be a little more crafty with my packing haha

 

[Rick W]

Nobody has probably noticed, but sometimes I do things a little different and think a little different than you guys who have more experience with camping. @Jim Oaks you said you were looking for ideas, so maybe this will help.

Probably nobody on earth knows more about keeping drinks cold at the right temperature than the Coca-Cola company. I picked up this late 90s top-of-the-line Batesville cooler from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in South Carolina over by @Curious Hound about a year and a half ago.

They took it to a professional kitchen company, the kind of place that does McDonald’s kitchens, and had it completely insulated around the sides and the bottom and the top, and then they fabricated a galvanized insert that fits perfectly.

I got it for $350 (they had more than 12,000 in it), but I had to put some new paint on it (yeah you know what) after touching up a little rust work. I’m mounting it with my Jen Air camping grill on a trailer.

I got bogged down with my arm problems and arm surgery this year, so I haven’t gotten it on the road yet, but we’ve used it in the backyard and neighborhood a couple times with the neighbors and friends.

There’s a local shop that sells dry ice, which I’ve used for keeping things cold traveling forever. No slushy water. I like the idea of the saltwater pop bottles too, but of course this one’s got plenty of space. The label said it was good up to 350 pounds, but I never understood what that meant.

It has a boiler drain on one end. My plan is to divide it into three, and add two more drains. I’d like to set it up with one dry compartment to store whatever, and then a big section for pops and beers, and then a smaller section for food. When we set that up in the neighborhood for a Saturday party, we put everything in it on a Thursday, and I still had dry ice and good leftovers on Sunday.

There’s a place not too far from me that takes in the old refrigerators, and he either repairs them quickly or just scraps them. Not the new electronic stuff, the old-fashioned stuff with mechanical controls and no touchscreens. He said he could put in a refrigerator/freezer element on 110 V compressor for less than $200. I’m just now getting back the use of my arm, but I’m seriously considering it, but I am already a dry ice junkie.

I also hunted around online, and found some different versions. This reminded me a little bit of your pre-runner.

and I think this is what it would look like in a range

and if you go this route, there are a couple videos on helpful tips

And backing up to the guy who handled the old fridges, he’s got some really interesting colors that might blend in on a camping trip

I remember we had an avocado in the lake house years ago, but it was the fancy one that had the fade toward the edges. It really makes a statement.

And people I’ve been doing this stuff for a long time

as always, my two cents, I hope it helps

As always, my two cents, I hope it helps

 

[Curious Hound]

Nobody has probably noticed, but sometimes I do things a little different and think a little different than you guys who have more experience with camping. @Jim Oaks you said you were looking for ideas, so maybe this will help.

Probably nobody on earth knows more about keeping drinks cold at the right temperature than the Coca-Cola company. I picked up this late 90s top-of-the-line Batesville cooler from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in South Carolina over by @Curious Hound about a year and a half ago.

View attachment 130609

They took it to a professional kitchen company, the kind of place that does McDonald’s kitchens, and had it completely insulated around the sides and the bottom and the top, and then they fabricated a galvanized insert that fits perfectly.

View attachment 130610

I got it for $350 (they had more than 12,000 in it), but I had to put some new paint on it (yeah you know what) after touching up a little rust work. I’m mounting it with my Jen Air camping grill on a trailer.

View attachment 130611

I got bogged down with my arm problems and arm surgery this year, so I haven’t gotten it on the road yet, but we’ve used it in the backyard and neighborhood a couple times with the neighbors and friends.

There’s a local shop that sells dry ice, which I’ve used for keeping things cold traveling forever. No slushy water. I like the idea of the saltwater pop bottles too, but of course this one’s got plenty of space. The label said it was good up to 350 pounds, but I never understood what that meant.

It has a boiler drain on one end. My plan is to divide it into three, and add two more drains. I’d like to set it up with one dry compartment to store whatever, and then a big section for pops and beers, and then a smaller section for food. When we set that up in the neighborhood for a Saturday party, we put everything in it on a Thursday, and I still had dry ice and good leftovers on Sunday.

There’s a place not too far from me that takes in the old refrigerators, and he either repairs them quickly or just scraps them. Not the new electronic stuff, the old-fashioned stuff with mechanical controls and no touchscreens. He said he could put in a refrigerator/freezer element on 110 V compressor for less than $200. I’m just now getting back the use of my arm, but I’m seriously considering it, but I am already a dry ice junkie.

I also hunted around online, and found some different versions. This reminded me a little bit of your pre-runner.

View attachment 130613

and I think this is what it would look like in a range

View attachment 130612

and if you go this route, there are a couple videos on helpful tips

View attachment 130614

And backing up to the guy who handled the old fridges, he’s got some really interesting colors that might blend in on a camping trip

View attachment 130617


View attachment 130616

I remember we had an avocado in the lake house years ago, but it was the fancy one that had the fade toward the edges. It really makes a statement.

View attachment 130615

And people I’ve been doing this stuff for a long time

as always, my two cents, I hope it helps

As always, my two cents, I hope it helps

That wasn't 2 cents. That was about 734 pesos.

 

[Roert42]

do any of you guys keep your refrigerators in an open bed full time?

I’ve been wanting to replace my steel belted cooler with a refrigerator, but I don’t run a top most of the time so I’m concerned about water damaging the electronics.

 

[sgtsandman]

do any of you guys keep your refrigerators in an open bed full time?

I’ve been wanting to replace my steel belted cooler with a refrigerator, but I don’t run a top most of the time so I’m concerned about water damaging the electronics.

I almost always run a bed cover of some kind. So, it's been covered the whole time. I have seen some of the fancier (more expensive) ones kept out in the open. But the ones I saw like that were $500 - $600 units.