Knock knock, any fridge mfgr's listening?

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
To anyone that has pull with the portable fridge/freezer manufacturer's:

Ask them if they could design a storage area in the lid to house silverware, or even a slot large enough to fit a couple of place settings with plates, bowls, cups/mugs.
It could even be an add-on that gets bolted in place, it could just be an accessory that can be purchased separately.

Seems to me the dishes should get stored with the food. ;)
Hey, the companies could even come out with a custom designed and built set of dishes that they can charge us exhorbinant amounts of money on. :Wow1:
 

1speed

Explorer
My Engel MT-40 has room under the lid next to the fridge compartment that would hold some silverware. If no-one has a picture handy I could take one tomorrow.

EDIT: Here's a link with a good picture- http://www.i-m-d.com/mr040.htm
 
Last edited:

lwg

Member
I was about to say the transit bag for the ARB/Engel has a big pocket on the front. It would easily carry said silverware and plates.
 

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
I was about to say the transit bag for the ARB/Engel has a big pocket on the front. It would easily carry said silverware and plates.

So there has been "some" thought towards that, good stuff. :D
It would still be pretty cool to have a detachable hard-sided compartment that would protect some flatware, but maybe I'm asking too much? :bigbossHL:

On the newer model Engels; they look pretty good by the way; why did they choose to not make the handles flush, or at least fold down?

I think i'm in a complaining mood lately... lol
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
To anyone that has pull with the portable fridge/freezer manufacturer's:

Ask them if they could design a storage area in the lid to house silverware, or even a slot large enough to fit a couple of place settings with plates, bowls, cups/mugs.
It could even be an add-on that gets bolted in place, it could just be an accessory that can be purchased separately.

Seems to me the dishes should get stored with the food. ;)
Hey, the companies could even come out with a custom designed and built set of dishes that they can charge us exhorbinant amounts of money on. :Wow1:

If you have an Engel or ARB just go to Sierra Expeditions and order a Two-Zone
detail_172_tz.jpg

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=172
 

sundaypunch

Observer
Not to state the obvious, but designing a removable compartment would probably add considerable expense to an already expensive fridge. It is also going to make the intentionally compact fridge larger which will be a negative for many buyers.

Maybe not the most elegant solution but you could use 3M Dual Lock to attach a metal or plastic container to the fridge if you really need to keep plates with it.
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
What does that have to do with a slot for dishes? :clueless: Previously said----> "a storage area in the lid to house silverware, or even a slot large enough to fit a couple of place settings with plates, bowls, cups/mugs"

As you said above, you wanted two full place settings, more than just a slot for dishes. Just stick the dishes into the Two-Zone's basket....... and add in an extra six pack of your favorite beverage if you have room left over. Then invite some Expo friends over for a cold one. :victory:
 

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
As you said above, you wanted two full place settings, more than just a slot for dishes. Just stick the dishes into the Two-Zone's basket....... and add in an extra six pack of your favorite beverage if you have room left over. Then invite some Expo friends over for a cold one. :victory:

Ah, I see now.
I do actually like the idea of the twozone, but it's a rather expensive addition to hold some flatware. :D

And from sundaypunch:
"Not to state the obvious, but designing a removable compartment would probably add considerable expense to an already expensive fridge. It is also going to make the intentionally compact fridge larger which will be a negative for many buyers."

That's why I'm thinking it should be an accessory that could be purchased completely separate from the fridge itself. An option to be purchased if the customer so desired.

Here's what I'm thinking:
A feature could be built into the lid, or side of the fridge. Four recessed threaded female holes (I don't know what the correct term(s) would be for describing what I'm trying to say...) could be built into the top or side of the fridge. A separate rectangular-cube shaped compartment could be designed to have 4 matching bolt holes at it's corners. Then all you have to do is have the correct bolts and you could attach the compartment to the fridge quickly and easily. And conversely, detach the compartment when not wanted.
Expanding on that idea, you could put the recessed threaded holes on the top, and both sides, and have multiple attachment points for multiple attachments. Maybe a compartment for plates, maybe one for a set of kitchen knives...
If the compartments were easily detachable, even easier than 4 bolts, maybe wing nuts, or quick release latches similar to those on bicycle wheels.
Maybe even c-channels bolted onto the surface of the fridge to act as a guide to slide the compartment into place, with a latch on the open side.
You could get all your food for a meal out of the fridge, pull off your compartments for dishes and knives, a cutting board, bring all of it to the table and prepare your whole meal, then re-attach everything after it's been cleaned up.

sundaypunch, you mentioned the pouch on the transit bag...
What about making multiple pouches? Or extra pouches that could be zippered or even buttoned on or off for more utility?

The portable fridge is such a great idea, it would be cool (to me anyway) to build some more utilitarian features into these things.
(And I like throwing ideas out there - especially when I have neither the fridge, nor the technical know-how to experiment with those ideas.) :D
 

sundaypunch

Observer
....sundaypunch, you mentioned the pouch on the transit bag...
What about making multiple pouches? Or extra pouches that could be zippered or even buttoned on or off for more utility?

I like the extra insulation the transit bag gives. If I were to try to incorporate something for tableware I would do it so that the transit bag could stay on. I probably would go with a removable pouch. It would probably be pretty easy to add a couple of snaps to the transit bag to hold a pouch.
 

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
I like the extra insulation the transit bag gives. If I were to try to incorporate something for tableware I would do it so that the transit bag could stay on. I probably would go with a removable pouch. It would probably be pretty easy to add a couple of snaps to the transit bag to hold a pouch.

I'm thinking the same thing - making the separate compartments or pouches removable. And snaps would be a lot easier to incorporate than my zipper idea!
I wonder how easy it would be to add some snap buttons through the bag's material?
 

sundaypunch

Observer
I think snaps are the easiest. A fabric store (probably even Wal-Mart) has the cheap snap kits you can use to rivet through the fabric. No sewing or skill required really.
 

Ruffin' It

Explorer
Would a small motorcycle gas tank bag work? Strap it on top of the fridge and, with a little alterations, it might work well.
 

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