Mount ARB fridge in camper or inside truck cab?

[icediver]

I have a 1st generation Tacoma access cab with a FWC Eagle popup. I'm looking at installing an ARB style fridge. Looking for opinions on installing it in the truck cab vs inside the camper. So far my thoughts:

Inside cab:
Pros:
Saves floor space inside an already small camper.
Cab is more temperature controlled when traveling, fridge might have to work less.
Access to food and drinks while traveling without having to get into camper.
Possible better weight balance, moves fridge further forward.
Able to use the fridge without camper attached.
Cons:
No dual battery set up on truck, possible battery draw issues when not driving?
Would take up the better part of the backseat (maybe not an issue, only travel with two people and a dog).
No suicide doors on 1st gen Tacoma access cabs. Not sure how easy it would be to actually get to the fridge.

Inside camper:
Pros:
Has a deep cycle battery/solar setup. Would run the fridge forever without power issue.
Access to food/drinks while in the camper.
Mounting and running power to the fridge would be far simpler in the camper.
Easy to prepare for trip, load camper and go.
Cons:
Takes up living space in an already small camper.
Not as secure as being inside truck cab?
Adding more weight to backend of the truck.

Anyone here mounted it one way only to change it later? Anything that I'm missing?
Thanks!

 

[ripperj]

My only input is that I am designing the interior of my new Alaskan lower section to include my ARB 50qt on a slide under the counter, the slide is so the fridge can be accessed if food or beer is sitting on the counter top

 

[subterran]

Hi,
I have my truck set up to do both. My junker is a 98 Tacoma xtra cab with a Phoenix popup in the back. I have a small Dometic CF18 1.8cf fridge unit that I use behind the rear seat sometimes. I do have a dual battery setup in the truck, apart from the tertiary battery in the camper for just this purpose. Here are my observations:

Putting your only fridge in the cab is not a good idea, as the cab gets hotter than the camper does (much more passive solar intake with all that glass). My truck is black, but I don't think the color makes that much difference in this situation. This is such a problem that the little Dometic winds up staying at home unless I am not 'wearing' the camper, and I must bring it (long drives). It's so hot in the summer that the little fridge would die trying to keep up in the cab. It will do much better in the superior insulation of the camper.

Also, getting my smaller unit in and out, even when empty, is a PITA. I can only imagine what a greater headache it would be if it were any larger. The fact that you only have your starter battery to operate from only reinforces my opinion that it's a bad plan.

Put it in the camper is my advice.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I have an Engel MT45 and there's no way it's gonna be easy to get into the back of my XtraCab. Without the suicide doors of the Access Cab I don't think it's a realistic option.

 

[icediver]

Good point on the greenhouse effect when sitting in the sun. I hadn't considered that, was only thinking about when I was driving.

I need to make up a few cardboard templates to see what I'm looking at size-wise of the different fridges. I've seen photos photos of a few in the 1st gen Tacomas, so they do fit...but yes, getting it in there could be a royal pain.

thanks everyone.

 

[VillageIdiot]

I've mounted my ARB 50qt between my the buckets of my F250 (removed the console). I have my power tapped in such a way that if I have the house battery system (with solar panel) it draws off that and off the vehicle batts if the camper is not installed.

I also have it wired into AC so if i get grid power or generator power it is powered off that rather than the DC.

My primary reason for putting in the cab was:

1. lack of space in the camper ( I hate moving stuff around)
2. Permanently mounted (its even there now that it is -20F)
3. ease of wiring for multiple scenarios as mentioned above.

I understand the "hot cab" agreement but proper ventilation and window shades can reduce that to some extent.

 

[Rot Box]

I kicked this around quite a bit before I decided to mount mine inside the camper. It took a bit of work because I had to remove the old fridge and shorten the countertop to make it (ARB 50qt) fit but overall I really like having it inside the camper. it's nice having it right next to the stove when I'm cooking. My only real complaint is having to climb into the front of the camper to get into the fridge for drinks and such while traveling around. With the top down and loaded with gear it can be pain at times. I wish I could have mounted it in the rear of the camper somehow but there was no easy way to do it.

Hope this helps.

 

[amocaT]

Simple platform. Not too bad to access stuff from either side. Running single Sears Platinum 31. I've pushed it to 44hrs and the truck started.

 

[icediver]

Thanks for the photo, that helps. What size fridge is that, 37L? 50L?

 

[amocaT]

It's the 50L

 

[champer]

I had the same question you have with my Tacoma AC and FWC Eagle. When the Eagle is on the truck, I run a wired 12v outlet into the cab through the slider from the camper house battery to power the fridge. When there is no camper on the truck, I have an always on 12v outlet in the cab on truck battery and change the ARB monitoring to high to maintain starting amps. I prefer the fridge in the truck for access, weight, and space considerations.

 

[shanz3n5]

i would definitely not run it off a solo starter battery, if u r wanting in the cab for sure i would run a second battery deep cycle with a separator. Or u could always run a pony tail plug from camper to cab, a little wiring work.
i would / have mine in the camper.
your 12vdc starter battery deep cycle or not will get worked. being stuck in nowhere land with dead battery can be costly.

 

[icediver]

Revisiting a dead thread for some follow up - I ended up mounting it in my truck cab like amocaT had done. I ended up wiring it two ways, one plug in wired to my truck battery and one extension wiring that would run to the camper battery. I left it plugged into the truck when driving or parked somewhere for less than a day. If parked somewhere for longer than a day I would plug it into the camper battery by running the extension wiring through the back window (my camper is not hardwired to my truck).

Setup worked perfectly, and the backseat was definitely the best spot for a small truck/camper set up like I have. Easy to grab drinks/snacks while on the road, and much easier to throw in groceries while resupplying rather than having to unlock and get into the camper. With as precious as floor space is in the Eagle camper there is no way I would want it back there.

Had a great summer exploring, Minnesota to CA/Death Valley, Montana, Utah, Colorado. There is great pleasure in popping a cold beer on day five in Death Valley, or being the hero when pulling up to a river party in Montana with a fridge full of cold drinks.

 

[ethernectar]

I run the ARB50 in the second row of my Tundra double cab. I removed the back seat and put a platform in. The fridge is always in there and it gets used often. As there's not much (any) room in the motor compartment I went with the National Luna battery system placed next to the fridge. Its been a great solution going on 4 years. A pop-up is in my future so will keep an eye on this thread. Torn between a shell version or with all the fixings...

 

[billy bee]

My fridge rides in the cab with me but is wired to the solar- and alternator-charged deep cycle battery in the truck bed. I installed an IBS battery isolator. Works well as I set up my camp kitchen alongside the truck. Easy to get to food while cooking. So, to me, it make sense to have the fridge near where you do your cooking...

bb