ARB Fridge in Trailer or Tow Vehicle (Durability)?

[JPShooter]

So I've got a 63 QT ARB on the way and I'm wondering where I should mount it for my camping rig.

I've got an M1101 trailer project ongoing (thread in this forum) and will be towing it with a 2008 Tundra.

So my question is just how much bouncing and jolting/jarring can these things take?

The trailer will definitely not ride as smooth at the truck will, but I will have more room in the trailer and be using the fridge from trailer. So it will be more convenient to mount it there. But if the fridge won't take the pounding there, then I'll certainly live with it mounted in the truck.

Thanks for any insight on the durability of the ARB.

 

[indiedog]

Lots and lots of trailers with those fridges in them so they can obviously handle it. All depends on the quality of your trailer suspension. Is it stock? How much will you load it? Shockies? Etc, etc.

 

[Borrego60]

Have an Engel MT35 in my Adventure Trailer for 7 years now not a problem at all.

 

[Buffalobwana]

I bolted an Engel to the floor of one of my 5 ton trucks for a trip from Idaho to Texas. 1800 miles. Those trucks are rough! Back half of fridge was bolted directly to the steel floor. The front half was bolted through the floor mat, which is about 3/8 or more inches thick. This padding on the front caused it to bounce and shake a lot. A few miles in, I was unsure about the idea, but when I got to TX, there were frozen water bottles in the fridge. It never missed a lick.

That's an Engel I don't know about ARB. Never tested one like that!

 

[Robert Bills]

I have had an Engel MT45 fridge in my Bantam trailer since 2004 and it is still going strong.

 

[JPShooter]

Thanks for the input guys, I guess I'll mount it where I need it

 

[bobwohlers]

I had my ARB mounted in my trailer for a couple of years. No worries on durability; did fine. Now I have it mounted in my JK; sooooo much better for how we overland. We sometimes leave the trailer at a remote camp site and drive off without it; so having it in the vehicle is better. Also, the lid on my trailer is pretty air/water tight - I always worried about fridge "breathability." However, never had a problem. It's also easier for me to keep the fan areas on the fridge clear of blockage when it's in the JK. Opening the trailer lid each time to get out food, etc. was also a pain. If you have a trailer that has a fridge side/special compartment with a separate door, then it's a no brainer to put it in the trailer.

 

[Vettepilot427]

Bobwohlers has a very good point if you basecamp and take you vehicle out for the day and return to camp. You always want your cold drinks with you and usually food for lunch. Also, as anyone here can attest, having a fridge in your vehicle will spoil you, even for daily use.

What I did was mount a 50L ARB in my 4Runner and the smaller 37L in the trailer, which I use as a dedicated freezer or overflow if I'm camping with the family. I keep drinks and quick stuff in the 50L and put dinner items (meats, veggies, dairy, eggs) in the trailer.

But to answer your question, the ARB should be just fine in the trailer as long as it is secured properly and has adequate room around the vents.

 

[JPShooter]

Thanks again folks, much appreciate the input!

 

[Pete79]

Also, the lid on my trailer is pretty air/water tight - I always worried about fridge "breathability."

This should be your number one concern.
You'll find pretty much all fridges these days will durable enough to go in the trailer (as long as it's strapped down firmly), but if your trailer seals air tight and you don't have a lot of open space around the fridge it will be working very hard and use a lot of power that it doesn't need to.

I have a 40L Waeco, my trailer is really well sealed and the fridge had a good open space around it originally. But I rearranged a few things and now it only has a couple of inches of 'free air' around it.
I noticed a huge change in my battery life after I rearranged the space around the fridge, so I did a few little experiments on my power consumption at home;

Starting with a fully charged 100ah battery (showing 13v) and the fridge sitting out in the open, it will run my fridge for 2 nights and 3 days and the battery still have 12.3v - 12.5v.
A fully charged battery with the fridge in the trailer and the lid left slightly open uses roughly the same over 2 nights and 3 days (~12.3v).
But, with the lid closed and the trailer parked out in the sun, after 1 night and 1 day the battery is flat (~12.0v).

It was really obvious to me that without the correct air flow around the fridge it runs constantly (creating more heat) and will eat your power supply.
During my test at home I opened the trailer after being sealed shut in the sun for about 4 hours and the heat that came out was impressive.
I had lots of people comment on how tight my fridge space was and now i know they were right.

Durability in a trailer, no problems.
Air flow around the fridge, critical.

 

[JPShooter]

Thanks for the input Pete. I figured if I put the ARB in a truck box I would have to ventilate it well, perhaps even put a fan on a vent to promote airflow.

 

[Pete79]

I tried the fan idea too.
I have mounted a blower fan out of a 3D printer right behind the outlet side of the fridge motor, it can cycle the total volume of the (empty) trailer in about 2 seconds.
It helps a bit, but ultimately ends up pushing around hot air.

My fridge will be staying in my trailer, it's not practical for us to have it in the vehicle.
I will be re-configuring the storage boxes in my trailer to get better air flow in there again, as I said it wasn't too bad before I squeezed everything in so tight.

This is my blower fan in the bottom left of this pic, the fridge sits pretty much up against this and I leave it running when the trailer is parked in the sun with the lid closed.

 

[brentbba]

What bobwohlers said! I have my ARB mounted in the Landcruiser for the same reasons and why I like a trailer so much. Camp, set up trailer/tent and go explore during the day with fridge in the truck, not back at camp with the food!

 

[geo.greg]

put the fridge in the tow vechical. then where you go, the drinks go. and if take a day trip without the trailer, the drinks/food still go with ya.

 

[Steve F]

I have two fridges, a 50lt Waeco for the trailer too leave in camp and a Waeco CF25 for the back of the Jeep for the days drinks and lunch Works well as my wife and daughter don't always come out on the day trips and stay in camp if it's more hardcore wheelin'

Cheers
Steve