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

[Dave Bennett]

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

Ummm... I was done the first time Wil handed me a cold, non soaked beer from his Engel.

No regrets either.

 

[CSG]

Amazon has a smokin' deal on the ARB 50 qt. under $700 including shipping. I went out to the Cruiser and measured the footprint and no way. Much bigger than I can handle but what a deal!

Waeco makes a little unit designed as a console fridge. Very small but a true compressor unit. I wonder if this would work for my needs? Anyone own one? Seem to have just come out the last couple months. Very little info online.

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Dometic-CDF-11-Waeco-Portable-Refrigerator-Freezer-DC-Only-Trailer-Camper-RV_p_2417.html#

 

[FJLED]

Last time I searched a few weeks back I found a company selling ARB 50QT fridges from around $500...deals are out there if you look hard enough. Tempting, but I still haven't made the plunge yet. Trying to plan my rear storeage, fridge slide and fridge all together.

 

[Dale]

Don't forget the cost of hooking up a house battery to operate it .... which is why I still use an Igloo

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: ---House battery ???

My ENGEL hasn't been "off" since I got it from AT almost two years ago, it has the AC/DC hookup

So much more convenient that an ice chest and never a mess!!

:costumed-smiley-007:costumed-smiley-007 JIMBO

 

[Stumpalump]

The thing I like about the fridge is how clean and dry everything stays. I go from my fridge at home to the ARB and right back into the fridge at home. If I want to take milk then I just grab the jug at home and put it back when done. Same with all food. It stays and keeps just like it does at the house. I can often skip the extra trip to the grocery store for camping food and I wind up eating better. The other thing is cold drinks. I only need 4 because I can allways add more to fridge when I run low. The weight and size is offset by not hualing ice and not needing near as much room as I did with coolers. Over time it's an asset and the best investment in gear I have made.

 

[Fireman78]

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.

I can promise you the answer to your question will be "Years ago".

 

[timmy!!!!!!!]

You get a fridge when you realize it is hurricane season and you live below sealevel...

 

[stolenheron]

You get a fridge when you realize it is hurricane season and you live below sealevel...

and while you're at it, buy a generator too.

 

[AndrewP]

The fridge is the best piece of kit you will ever own. Buy it now.

It is better than:

Snow Peak Pots and Pans
Partner Steel Stoves
All winches but 8274s
Lifting your truck
New Tires
Any amount of lights and other bolt on do-dads
Synthetic Winch Cables
GPS units (all)
Roof Top Tents
Awnings
Heat exchanger showers

It is also way better than:

Soggy bread for sandwiches
Coldcuts you have to dry before use
Blood water
Running out of ice in Death Valley
Spoiled vegtables

It is not as good as true gear reduction if you 4 wheel. But it's better than every other mod and piece of kit you would consider without a second thought.

So buy it and don't look back.

Many friends have gotten insane deals on Craig's list, usually from boaters. Most recently an Engel 60 for $250. Check there first.

 

[CSG]

Well, I've about talked myself into this model. Too small for a family but big enough for me. I think. More importantly, it would fit up front.

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Dometic-CF-018DC-CF-18-Waeco-CoolFreeze-Portable-Fridge-Freezer-DC-only-CF-18-Trailer-Camper-RV_p_89.html

 

[AndrewP]

Well, I've about talked myself into this model. Too small for a family but big enough for me. I think. More importantly, it would fit up front.

http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Dometic-CF-018DC-CF-18-Waeco-CoolFreeze-Portable-Fridge-Freezer-DC-only-CF-18-Trailer-Camper-RV_p_89.html

That looks really small.

I guess it depends what you plan to do. That will be enough for overnighters, not enough for a week on the road. I think you'll be needlessly limiting yourself with that.

The mid size is just about perfect. I have in the past run a midsize Engel 40 for most stuff, and an Engel 17 just for ice cream.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

The fridge is the best piece of kit you will ever own. Buy it now.

It is better than:

Snow Peak Pots and Pans
Partner Steel Stoves
All winches but 8274s
Lifting your truck
New Tires
Any amount of lights and other bolt on do-dads
Synthetic Winch Cables
GPS units (all)
Roof Top Tents
Awnings
Heat exchanger showers

It is also way better than:

Soggy bread for sandwiches
Coldcuts you have to dry before use
Blood water
Running out of ice in Death Valley
Spoiled vegtables

It is not as good as true gear reduction if you 4 wheel. But it's better than every other mod and piece of kit you would consider without a second thought.

So buy it and don't look back.

Many friends have gotten insane deals on Craig's list, usually from boaters. Most recently an Engel 60 for $250. Check there first.

:sombrero:

Mind if I quote this? I'm writing a 'Do I need a Freezer-Fridge?' article and this brings the funny!

 

[CSG]

That looks really small.

I guess it depends what you plan to do. That will be enough for overnighters, not enough for a week on the road. I think you'll be needlessly limiting yourself with that.

The mid size is just about perfect. I have in the past run a midsize Engel 40 for most stuff, and an Engel 17 just for ice cream.

It *is* small. That's the benefit to me. I can't remember a time traveling in the west when I was a week from a store. That's not the way I travel. I have no interest in the room that something like a 40 qt would require. I don't need to fill it full of beer and junk food. It would be to keep butter, lunch meat, cheese, mayo, etc. fresh. I blocked out the size and it would be fine (not to mention it will fit in the front rather than the back where I sleep). 23 12 oz cans is not all that small for a single person for 3-4 days based on what I would put into it. You must drink a lot of beer or eat a lot of ice cream!

 

[spressomon]

It *is* small. That's the benefit to me. I can't remember a time traveling in the west when I was a week from a store. That's not the way I travel. I have no interest in the room that something like a 40 qt would require. I don't need to fill it full of beer and junk food. It would be to keep butter, lunch meat, cheese, mayo, etc. fresh. I blocked out the size and it would be fine (not to mention it will fit in the front rather than the back where I sleep). 23 12 oz cans is not all that small for a single person for 3-4 days based on what I would put into it. You must drink a lot of beer or eat a lot of ice cream!

Beer, cold vodka, tonic, ribs, steaks, eggs, bacon, crab, pork, more pork, milk for cappuccinos, homemade Beno burrito's...the list goes on and on. But damn it sure tastes great on or at the end (or beginning ;-) of the trail day! :coffeedrink: