Thread: Camping Fridge

One thing I do in summer to really help my car fridge is pop a 2L frozen bottle in the bottom.
The fridge works way less and theres nice ice cold water on hand when the bottle starts to defrost.
With the fridge on 3°, the 2L will still have ice in it even after 4 days

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Ok fair enough, I cant say I thought mine was that noisy but havent had others to compare.

They do have eco,max type settings that would no doubt affect current draw. I dont run solar on mine as yet but wouldnt you run it to a battery anyway?
I have a cheapo 100amphour lithium and run on cig lighter socket when driving and lithium when parked with no charging.
I dont have a shunt so cant comment on actual usage but have gone 5 days on the battery without it turning off...its a 60-70l dual zone or single zone one.

I run virtually the same way, but also have a solar blanket for the campsite.
Starting prechilled/frozen and fridge up in the shade at camp etc makes a big difference, 100amphour lithium runs two fridges for 3-4 days no worries as long as the sun is on the solar blanket for 4-5 hours a day.
We also have a small 18amphour I used in the boat running a 20 litre fridge. It recently did 3 days on a boating/camping trip in the Sounds and was at 15% at the end of the trip, no charging done while away, ran the fridge off the boat when we were underway.
None of the portable fridges are going to be amazing in the insulation department.
Find the best compromise.

I have run a Waeco from 2005 for two years when we were building our house. Was OK but the electronic boards eventually corroded and it stopped working. Was big coin back then. I think they are a different beast these days. (think cheaper)

More recently we have been running two x Brass Monkey's (to get away from the weight and stowage issue of one big 80L unit). A 30L that we use as a freezer, and a 35L dual zone as a fridge. Haven't been too noisy from our perspective. And on special they were a pretty sharp price.

Engel and Dometic are the big names in the Aussie outback fridge department. Usually the Engels come out on top. But man they are super heavy and super expensive.

The 30L unit is great. Simple to operate. Cranks down to -18 quickly when on boost, quiet running.

I hate a detest the dual zone setup on the 35L one though. Its a lesson in how to make something as difficult as possible by making 6 operations operate from just 2 buttons

Its a fricken fridge!!! I don't want to have to download an 'app' just to make it work easier

I had both running for a week down in the Wairarapa recently. Keeping the 'essential supplies' cool. Battery went from 100% to 75% charge in 4 days (12 volt 200 ahr battery)

Originally Posted by XR500

I have run a Waeco from 2005 for two years when we were building our house. Was OK but the electronic boards eventually corroded and it stopped working. Was big coin back then. I think they are a different beast these days. (think cheaper)

More recently we have been running two x Brass Monkey's (to get away from the weight and stowage issue of one big 80L unit). A 30L that we use as a freezer, and a 35L dual zone as a fridge. Haven't been too noisy from our perspective. And on special they were a pretty sharp price.

Engel and Dometic are the big names in the Aussie outback fridge department. Usually the Engels come out on top. But man they are super heavy and super expensive.

The 30L unit is great. Simple to operate. Cranks down to -18 quickly when on boost, quiet running.

I hate a detest the dual zone setup on the 35L one though. Its a lesson in how to make something as difficult as possible by making 6 operations operate from just 2 buttons

Its a fricken fridge!!! I don't want to have to download an 'app' just to make it work easier

I had both running for a week down in the Wairarapa recently. Keeping the 'essential supplies' cool. Battery went from 100% to 75% charge in 4 days (12 volt 200 ahr battery)

I think my 55L dual zone is the same as your 35L one. Every time I use it I have to look up how to change the fridge settings on the second zone (if I need to). I think the newer ones have a better setup. Maybe that's why it was so cheap at the time!

Originally Posted by Mathias

Go the Dometic CFX if you want less condensation, it's part of their design that makes this work. I've got the CFF45, it has a bit of condensation when it's shut down, but man it's awesome on battery consumption over long periods. Mine went for 8 days on a 100ah lithium at -2, opened 2-3 times a day & bottom stuff still frozen. Battery still read 13.2v at end of trip.
I pre chill on AC before heading away & put pre frozen in bottom with other chilled food on top to get that result.
Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Thank mate, this is the sort of helpful feedback I was hoping for - keen to try whichever we get on a battery and how it goes (ILO solar).
We will be prechilling for at least 2 days before heading out also.

Originally Posted by bjp

I think my 55L dual zone is the same as your 35L one. Every time I use it I have to look up how to change the fridge settings on the second zone (if I need to). I think the newer ones have a better setup. Maybe that's why it was so cheap at the time!

Another reason I preffer the dometic - easy for wife to use/control, not worth the arguement. Dual zones without thought requirements

Originally Posted by Deanohit

One thing I do in summer to really help my car fridge is pop a 2L frozen bottle in the bottom.
The fridge works way less and theres nice ice cold water on hand when the bottle starts to defrost.
With the fridge on 3°, the 2L will still have ice in it even after 4 days

Often squeeze oranges/other citrus and freeze that. That way once it's thawed out you can have freshly squeezed orange juice and still chill the fridge down!

It's better than carting water that you aren't going to use...

Another option for those with access to a really good freezer is making up a salt ice slurry in bottles and freezing that - seems to stay frozen a lot longer than just fresh water. Takes a lot more to get it fully frozen though.

Agreed with the salt water slurry - still use the Charlie 2L juice bottles for this (nice and square). Pool salt from bunnings is a cheap way to make it.
Have used a few 5L bottles like this too, better to take up the space than have air in there. Also good for throwing in the rib cage of carcases for long drives

keep your vodka in the freezer, then you have a cold chilly bin and booze!

Originally Posted by No.3

Often squeeze oranges/other citrus and freeze that. That way once it's thawed out you can have freshly squeezed orange juice and still chill the fridge down!

It's better than carting water that you aren't going to use...

Another option for those with access to a really good freezer is making up a salt ice slurry in bottles and freezing that - seems to stay frozen a lot longer than just fresh water. Takes a lot more to get it fully frozen though.

Oh I use the water, nothing better than getting off the hill in summer and having nice icey cold water to guzzle down.

Orange juice sounds good though