How to best mount an ARB fridge

huang

New member
I received my new Fridge/freezer last week. I want to mount it in the bed semi permanently. The ARB 37 liter model will just fit under my Extang Solid Fold Tonneau. I have a Pop n Lock so it's fairly safe.

I have seen some amazing stuff in this forum so I'm soliciting ideas. Has anyone added anything like Etrack to their truck bed? One idea I had was to hang L shaped tie down points from the factory rail in front and in back of the unit and tie down to that. In the cab is not and option because I haul family in there. The truck is a 12 DCSB I don't want that thing bouncing around

Ric
 

STREGA

Explorer
I've been using a ARB slide with tie down straps to secure my 50qt. fridge for over 3 years now and it works great. I have been offroad all over Colorado/Utah with no failure at all, you are correct that you do not want it flying around. Also don't block the vents on the side with other gear, it needs those clear to operate properly and you might want to consider the transit bag as well for protection.
 

huang

New member
While straps work, I have been using an Engel Transit Mount recently for mine and love it.

Does tht mean you were able to make the ARB fit the engel transit mount. I'm still faced with locking that down,but it looks well designed.

Ric
 

Box Rocket

Well-known member
Yes mine fits. But my ARB fridge is an older model. I can't confirm the new style fridge will fit.

Here is an old photo from before I got the Transit Mount. Using straps successfully on my rear platform. This is just to show the model ARB Fridge that I have.

_MG_5250.jpg
 

zidaro

Explorer
Without overthinking it, i would just anchor it with straps.
A permanent spot is fine, but that may take a few trips to determine where you want it.
Add a few tiedown points in your bed for anything needing a strap, or add track on the bed to make it more modular. I am a huge fan of A-track, Macs Tiedowns has alot of different quality mounts for it.
http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/178/AnchorPlates couple of these, one at each end, is all it would take to mount it securely.

I have mine strapped inside the cab (one rear seat removed)

Or you could buck up for a Tembotusk slider with a cutting board and be super stoked while camping :)
 

loup407

Adventurer
I've had a similar experience as STREGA. I bolted an ARB slide to the floor and used straps to affix fridge to slide. In three years, have had no issues. The slide makes it WAY easier to load/unload the fridge. I've been told that the newer style ARB fridges won't fit the Engle transit mount, which is a shame.
 

Dipodomys

Observer
I have the Engel 45 model and I have it mounted in the truck bed using the Engel transit lock mount. Works great and the fridge is super easy to lock and unlock. Totally secure and I've had it about four years. Not sure if the transit lock will fit newer model ARB fridges. I suggest you contact the guys at Expedition Exchange. They sell both types and could definitely tell you what is compatible and what is not. See http://www.expeditionexchange.com/engel/ and http://www.expeditionexchange.com/arb/.

Only downside to the transit lock is that it is a permanent mount, and once it's installed, the bed of your truck won't be perfectly flat. This may or may not be a problem for you, but I find it mildly inconvenient on those rare occassions when I'm hauling stuff in the bed without the fridge. You could make it removable if you used the right kind of fasteners to secure it, but if you just install it by screwing it to the bottom of the truck bed then it's not so easy to remove since the screws are secured to the composite bed. This could be remedied with some creative fastening solutions that would enable the mount to be removed and reinstalled at will. I've come up with a few ideas, but haven't gotten around to implementing them. Wouldn't be too hard to do with a little thought.

The roller slide mounts are sweet, but they are even bulkier and your truck bed will be even less flat if you use one of those. That could be dealt with by using the aforementioned creative fastening solutions that would allow you to easilly remove and reinstall the mount whenever you need to. The roller setup would definitely make it easier to get to the contents of your fridge, especially when the tailgate is down. If I had to do it all over again, I'd get one of those and come up with a way to easily remove it when I needed to. I still might do it some day. The roller setup would also probably fit either the ARB or the Engel, giving you maximum versatility.

Agree with the other commenter about carefully considering where you position the mount. Load all of your usual gear in the bed and then figure out where the fridge should go, taking into account ease of access, your power source, and air circulation for the fridge (important). A transit cover is definitely recommended. Protects the fridge, provides additional insulation, and keeps out the dust. Worth the $ to protect your $$$ fridge.

One thing for sure...you're going to love your fridge. Once you've had one, you'll never go back to an ice chest. These things are the greatest invention since toilets.
 

STREGA

Explorer
The older ARB fridges were made by Engel. The new style ARB fridge does not fit the Engel mount, ARB came out with their own slide mount, tie down straps and transit bag which all work well as a package, not cheap though.
 

photoman

Explorer
I looked into making my own setup and then went to look at an ARB slide. My opinion- just buy the slide and be done with it. I bolted mine into the bed, ran power to the sidewall, and called it done. Everything works as it should and when you consider cost of metal, quality paint or powder coat, and time- the slide can't be beat.
 

huang

New member
I mounted it in the bed with macs tiedowns. Worked out well thanks for the suggestions. Last weekend when I pulled out some real frosty micro brews I was told that the fridge install was pure genius. I'll post pics later.

Ric
 

Box Rocket

Well-known member
Here is the Engel transit mount I mentioned earlier. I use this on both the rear seat platform or on the bed platform shown here.

_MG_8284_zpsce371e11.jpg


_MG_8285_zps2ef89597.jpg


_MG_8293_zps5fd5c5ea.jpg
 

VATACO

Adventurer
I'm thinking about the same thing under my undercover tonneau. 63q ARB fridge should fit just barely. Don't think ill have room for a slide though.
 

J4RR

Observer
Fridge is next on my list, that Engel transit mount is sweet as I plan to have the fridge in the bed.
 

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