how did we ever live without our 12 volt freezer?
- Thread starter jeep-N-montero
- Start date
Nice candid discussion going on here; many very good points raised!
For me, at the end of the day...the fridge (Edgestar 43qt) wins because (1) never have to make special stop for ice, (2) never have to drain water (except when I am negligent and have to wash out the funky stuff that grows after unplugging it and leaving it in the truck for a week), and (3) I can make it go WAY below freezing temperature...so if I know I'm going to leave it overnight and un-plugged--or maybe plugged in, but worried about battery drainage--I set the temperature to 20 degrees or something ridiculous like that while I'm on the last leg of the drive...then it won't have to cycle on much overnight but will still stay very cold. Not to mention, going "WAY" below freezing opens up the possibility of...ice cream!
For me, at the end of the day...the fridge (Edgestar 43qt) wins because (1) never have to make special stop for ice, (2) never have to drain water (except when I am negligent and have to wash out the funky stuff that grows after unplugging it and leaving it in the truck for a week), and (3) I can make it go WAY below freezing temperature...so if I know I'm going to leave it overnight and un-plugged--or maybe plugged in, but worried about battery drainage--I set the temperature to 20 degrees or something ridiculous like that while I'm on the last leg of the drive...then it won't have to cycle on much overnight but will still stay very cold. Not to mention, going "WAY" below freezing opens up the possibility of...ice cream!
ZMagic97
Explorer
From experiaence, you can stack stuff around it as long as the vent path has room to beathe. I leave my vent path expose towards my seat which meets the 4" requirements. Other than that it is close to using the same room as a cooler, but with a slide mount it doesn need a mounting point or strap and has more vertical storage than horizontal which seems to save floor space.
I think the thing I like most about it is if I do a small 1 or 2 night trip, I just throw stuff from my house fridge into the Edgestar and go. No more soggy cheeses and meets, double bagging things, throwing leftover stuff out because it's wet or warm. I didn't think about it, but is has almost saved enough in food costs to pay itself off.
I gotta say, that Edgestar is a champ for the price.
I agree. I have had mine at -8F before.
I think the thing I like most about it is if I do a small 1 or 2 night trip, I just throw stuff from my house fridge into the Edgestar and go. No more soggy cheeses and meets, double bagging things, throwing leftover stuff out because it's wet or warm. I didn't think about it, but is has almost saved enough in food costs to pay itself off.
I gotta say, that Edgestar is a champ for the price.
I agree. I have had mine at -8F before.
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
I pack stuff in the rig around the vents, never had a problem.
But the stuff does come out when setting up camp.
And I agree with all the points of these, no stopping to buy ice which I had to do during one week plus trips before when my kids were very young, and no draining of water, and no water soaked food.
Plenty of room in these fridges for a one week trip, and like already mentioned, throw in a can or two of drinks when you take one out.
No worries about warming up your ice.
I could never go back to using an ice chest again.
But the stuff does come out when setting up camp.
And I agree with all the points of these, no stopping to buy ice which I had to do during one week plus trips before when my kids were very young, and no draining of water, and no water soaked food.
Plenty of room in these fridges for a one week trip, and like already mentioned, throw in a can or two of drinks when you take one out.
No worries about warming up your ice.
I could never go back to using an ice chest again.
Scoutn79
Adventurer
I agree with everyone else.
Once you get over the sticker shock and get the fridge paid off you won't look back. I got my Engel in 2005 and never looked back.
I like the fact that I can have the fridge full to the brim with food and a few beers/drinks and have more beer/drinks stored in the truck and restock as I use them without worrying about loosing the ice prematurely.
I drink mainly water on the trail and it sure is nice to fill up a water bottle with warm water from my water container and put it in the fridge so I can have cold water once I empty my other water bottle....Cold water is REALLY nice when it's hot outside.
It's true you have to plan for the power consumption of the fridge but with a cooler you have to plan for ice consumption so each have their drawbacks. With the fridge I can resupply the fridges cooling ability by simply running the truck to recharge the battery every couple days or so if we are at the same place that long...with a cooler you have drive somewhere to get ice which takes more time/gas than recharging the battery if you are out in the middle of no where.
The only time I camp without the Engel is while elk hunting...at that point my issue is more trying to keep things from freezing than keeping them cold.
YMMV
Darrell
Once you get over the sticker shock and get the fridge paid off you won't look back. I got my Engel in 2005 and never looked back.
I like the fact that I can have the fridge full to the brim with food and a few beers/drinks and have more beer/drinks stored in the truck and restock as I use them without worrying about loosing the ice prematurely.
I drink mainly water on the trail and it sure is nice to fill up a water bottle with warm water from my water container and put it in the fridge so I can have cold water once I empty my other water bottle....Cold water is REALLY nice when it's hot outside.
It's true you have to plan for the power consumption of the fridge but with a cooler you have to plan for ice consumption so each have their drawbacks. With the fridge I can resupply the fridges cooling ability by simply running the truck to recharge the battery every couple days or so if we are at the same place that long...with a cooler you have drive somewhere to get ice which takes more time/gas than recharging the battery if you are out in the middle of no where.
The only time I camp without the Engel is while elk hunting...at that point my issue is more trying to keep things from freezing than keeping them cold.
YMMV
Darrell
Most years, we do a month long trip, mostly exploring back country in the West. When we were using a cooler, our trip planning revolved around gas stations, finding ice, and grocery stops. Then we got an ARB fridge and an aux fuel tank for the FJC. Gas stops factored far less into planning, and ice was a non-issue. I can't imagine going back to using a cooler. The FJC has a solar controller and a fold-up solar panel that can easily stay ahead of the fridge (and other loads on the batteries), allowing us to stay in the backcountry for extended periods of time.
I'd struggle to go back to a cooler.
I'd struggle to go back to a cooler.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
Last night I was saying to my wife that I could make some peach smoothies and freeze them to take camping next weekend, that would never happen with using a cooler.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
I pack all around ours until we get to camp and just leave space for the compressor fan to breathe, works great and I think it actually helps insulate it.
I wonder how much the different outlooks on the cooler/freezer question depend on how you originally got into camping. For ten years camping to me meant backpacking, so even coolers seem like an unnecessary luxury to me. So I look at six-packs of beer and peach smoothies, and think I wouldn't even want those camping. Water and Dinty-Moore beef stew for me.
http://www.hormelfoods.com/Brands/BrandWall/Dinty-Moore-stew
http://www.hormelfoods.com/Brands/BrandWall/Dinty-Moore-stew
Scoutn79
Adventurer
I started out backpacking when I was 8 years old. Did that for the next 20 years or so. Started truck camping at about the same age with my parents but did much more backpacking than truck camping.
Just moved into pop up camping about 5 years ago. I still camp out of a tent about 50% of the time. I even elk hunted many years here in Colorado from a tent...now in a travel camper, MUCH more comfy when it gets below zero let me tell ya.
Got my Engel in 2005.
Not sure how this all fits into your thinking but there ya go.
Darrell
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
I still backpack a bit, that's the only way to get back in to our elk spot. I have a Dana Design pack, MSR Pocket Rocket stove, Walrus/MSR lightweight tent, Prolite sleeping pad, a Marmot 0 degree bag, and an MSR titanium cook set. I carry more weight in water and food in my pack than anything else. 5 more weeks until the hunt, the wait is killing me!
Not saying there is any real pattern, but camping means different things. Some consider a 60 ft RV with widescreen TV and satellite camping. I knew a lot of people growing up that did car camping--where food options are much more flexible. I grew up hiking the Appalachian trail, so food while camping was bare necessities. I also do motorcycle camping, which has many of the same limitations as backpacking. My mindset is still in the food-as-basic-necessity camp. Maybe once I start doing car (well, 4x4) camping, I'll start changing my focus, but right my brain is still conditioned to think--simplify, simplify, simplify.
Geof
I do it all; car camp, off road, and backpack. (hopefully soon to be bikepacking). I use some of the same gear, but most of it isn't the same. I might be able to pull of steaks on day one (maybe day 2, but that takes some real effort) but there is no such thing as day 3 steaks backpacking. It would spoil by then. Freeze dried foods, and ramen are the main stays of backpacking for me. Some dried foods, some nuts, some granola bars, and coffee. But all that changes when you are car camping. I consider expedition travel to be much like car camping- 2-3 days without resupply in most cases. Maybe more if you using it as a base camp. But realistically the same, with some minor time constraints for setup time, etc.
Good food is epic for a lot of us, and much more than just calories and sustenance. To those who think like me, a great meal and a glass of good wine while staring at the stars is priceless; some go straight to the wine, while others feel that having a shared meal is a sacred event as old as the bible.
Just reading the Vermont Overland trip reports, those who had meals together- bonded together. Those who did not, did not truly get to know the person. I've eaten MRE's for 5 days, and if you had to do it with someone else, that is a bonding experience, but usually because both are complaining. LOL.
Good food is epic for a lot of us, and much more than just calories and sustenance. To those who think like me, a great meal and a glass of good wine while staring at the stars is priceless; some go straight to the wine, while others feel that having a shared meal is a sacred event as old as the bible.
Just reading the Vermont Overland trip reports, those who had meals together- bonded together. Those who did not, did not truly get to know the person. I've eaten MRE's for 5 days, and if you had to do it with someone else, that is a bonding experience, but usually because both are complaining. LOL.