At what point do you move from the cooler to a fridge?

[CSG]

I've looked into getting a fridge for the Cruiser but the expense has me wondering. How do you guys decide when it's time to invest in one? I might get 20-30 nights in the rig because I've got a better *camping* set up in my van (which has a two-way fridge). I've got a five day cooler and get dry ice locally and freeze water bottles. But when I'm done, I'm done. Doesn't necessarily last five days when it's hot. I mostly just want to keep a little beer cold, some cheese and lunch meat, eggs, and butter, maybe some bacon.

 

[08whitex]

Just pull the trigger. You will never regret it. I wish I would of made the jump years ago. Without ice you can store more beer and food in less space. Also you will never have anything soggy or ruined from water. It is also nice not to have to dig in freezing ice water to find the last beer hiding at the bottom. I can go on and on about the benefits of the fridge over the cooler but I will save that for everyone else.

 

[CSG]

I mentioned I use dry ice and frozen water bottles. I don't use water ice. I drink the water and the dry ice just goes away.

 

[RHINO]

in your case i dunno, i mean you have the fridge in the van and you know the benefit to a fridge. you say you dont use the rig all that much, but 30-40 day year use is more than some of the folks here who do own a fridge so,,,,, i think if your system is working for you and your happy with it keep doing it, if its not you know what to do.

 

[CSG]

Well, I do use the Cruiser for SAR. I bet I could deduct the cost.

 

[davidshourd]

Question: "At what point do you move from the cooler to a fridge? "
Answer: when your buddies convert your cooler to a "cooleradio". just pull the jumpers out and land one end on your car battery or winch quick connect and the other on the leads sticking out the side and BAM "Cooleradio". ha.

Go with the fridge, great investment and a real ease of midn knowing your beer and salsa are keeping cool on those hot days.

 

[Paul 3]

I've got to agree with 08whitex. Once you have one you'll wished you had done it sooner. The benefits, more space for non-ice (wet or dry) items, portable (move it back and forth from vehicle to vehicle or even into your garage when not traveling for a beer fridge, and the best reason...ice cream in the desert!

My personal technique is to carry my dry goods in a standard cooler in the event the fridge were to go out. Still have yet to see that happen, but the standard cooler gives me a good backup while making use of the space.

Paul

 

[spressomon]

Like others have mentioned...I wrung my hands for 6-months before pulling trigger on a fridge/freezer (Waeco CF-51) and that was 5-years ago! The hardest part of the post decision process is figuring out what you're going to do with all the time you used to use for running down dry ice, regular ice and working on "Plan B" when you end up with soggy sandwiches ;-)

No regrets...but I understand your dilemma, after all anyone can go down to Home Creepo and buy a fridge/freeze for the home that's 8X as big for the same $. But it won't fit in the back of my Land Cruiser :elkgrin:

 

[Wes Craiglow]

"At what point do you move from the cooler to a fridge?"

Today. You won't regret it.

 

[dustboy]

I've known for a long time that I was going to eventually get one, and I don't want to go another summer without. As soon as I can scrape together some cash I'm buying one. The last thing I want to do the morning before a trip is run to the store for ice, and I'm sick of soggy food and never having enough ice.

Let's see now...what can I sell on craigslist?

 

[targa88]

I would say that it was the best mod $$$ spent. Knowing what I know today - I would have bought it earlier.
No regrets and it is very flexible - can also be used as a beer fridge in the garage our just out on the deck.
Have mine running 24/7

 

[Corey]

I would never go back to an ice cooler after using my ARB fridge for the past three years now.
Well worth the coin.

I use it also at work to keep cool drinks in, or I will have it set to freeze and share ice cream bars with employee's in my group, and also on runs.

My fridge gets a lot of use.

 

[RHINO]

As soon as I can scrape together some cash I'm buying one.
Let's see now...what can I sell on craigslist?

how bout these? http://www.evanandersen.com/

sorry couldnt help it :sombrero:

 

[mbuckner]

When the availability of ice becomes a concern on expeditions .....

Since buying an Engel, now fuel supply is the only thing
that has to be managed more closely ......

I addition, when you are not out on the trail you can
plug it into a 110v outlet and and start stocking cold
food ahead of the depature time .....

 

[CSG]

I guess the additional uses were something I hadn't considered but we own two houses and have four refrigerators already including a small "beer" fridge in my studio so I don't really need another for extra space or on the patio, etc. And that's sorta what kills me. That little Sanyo fridge in the studio cost a couple hundred bucks whereas a vehicle fridge will cost me $700 or more and only be used now and then. I think I probably exaggerated when I made a claim of how often it would be used because I was thinking of camping nights per year using both the Cruiser and the van. The Cruiser is more my daily driver and for hitting the 4x4 roads I can't take the van on. I might realistically have only 15-20 nights a year with it and the longest outing might be only 2-3 nights.

Now, if I get a SAR callout where I have to overnight, I wasn't including those times.

If I were to get one in stick it in the back driver's side of the storage area (there's a 12v outlet right there) would a couple tie down straps be sufficient for safety? I can't install anything thing (like a rail system) because the rig is multi functional and there are times when I need to put the jump seats back in.