fridge size???

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IBCRUSN

IBCRUSN

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I've searched here and over on ExPo and haven't really had my question answered.

What size fridge for general wheeling, short duration expeditions (i.e. long weekends) and week long camping?

At some point I would like two units one small and one larger one but for now the larger unit is a priority. The wife has stepped up and is buying the unit because she too has had enough with traditional coolers. I'm leaning towards the 40-50qt units but since there are only two of us we don't pack for a family of four. Fill me in.
 
the general impression I developed reading here is that most US mudders seem to gravitate to the 40-45 liters range. I do remember some specific comment(s) to the effect that the 60 was considered too big by some.
 
I have the Waeco CF-50 and like it's overall capacity. We use it in a variety of different applications from holiday time house refrigerator overflow to 2-7 day off-road tours. On longer trips I just cycle the beer, V8, etc. in as the coldies are depleted.

I think the size is perfect overall: I wouldn't want anything smaller and couldn't come up with the space for anything larger.
 
I went with the mfrt 40. middle size. The 60 is gargantuan and the smaller 415 or whatever it was from norcold at the time had the same footprint as the 40 just shorter. For me the size was more of how much room it was going to take up in the truck. The 40 was the way to go for me. IMHO it's a good size for weekends and more.
 
I just looked at my ARB and it has no size listed on it, but I know it was 40 something. I think 42 liters.

Like an earlier post, the only difference between the 40 something and the 30 something is the height. The 60 seemed way too big.

The 40 something has been perfect for me. Remember, there is no room wasted for ice, and beverages can be inserted every morning and will be cold in a couple hours.

If you are addicted to fresh crab salad and steak every night for a week for 2 people, and want 12 Fat Tire ales and 1 bottle of Chardonnay every day plus bacon & eggs, and cheese/lunch meat the 42 will be a little small.

But a couple things I've learned to help.
For a really long trip; freeze the bacon and steaks/chicken/pork etc... that are planned for a couple days out and put them in a small ice chest that never gets opened. No ice needed, if kept out of direct sun it's good for a couple days easy depending on ambient temps. When they thaw out eat em or put em in the fridge that has had a couple days of food consumed.

Eggs; I can get 12 eggs into a 1/2 liter nalgene wide opening container by cracking the eggs and just pouring the egg into the container one by one. If you want to take more eggs just get a bigger nalgene. I hardly ever break a yolk, even after several days of hard wheeling. It uses a lot less space than the eggs in the carton, and never makes a mess. I have not tried freezing them so I don't know if that would be an option.

HTH
 
Thanks much guys this is a big help.

spressomon said:
I have the Waeco CF-50 and like it's overall capacity....I think the size is perfect overall: I wouldn't want anything smaller and couldn't come up with the space for anything larger.
Click to expand...

The Waeco CF-50 is one of the units I've been looking at. How is the 50 in the back of your 100? IIRC they are roughly similar in size to the 80's back storage area. Any pics of the unit on top of your drawer system?

jonb96150 said:
The 40 something has been perfect for me. Remember, there is no room wasted for ice, and beverages can be inserted every morning and will be cold in a couple hours.

If you are addicted to fresh crab salad and steak every night for a week for 2 people, and want 12 Fat Tire ales and 1 bottle of Chardonnay every day plus bacon & eggs, and cheese/lunch meat the 42 will be a little small.

But a couple things I've learned to help.
For a really long trip; freeze the bacon and steaks/chicken/pork etc... that are planned for a couple days out and put them in a small ice chest that never gets opened. No ice needed, if kept out of direct sun it's good for a couple days easy depending on ambient temps. When they thaw out eat em or put em in the fridge that has had a couple days of food consumed.

Eggs; I can get 12 eggs into a 1/2 liter nalgene wide opening container by cracking the eggs and just pouring the egg into the container one by one. If you want to take more eggs just get a bigger nalgene. I hardly ever break a yolk, even after several days of hard wheeling. It uses a lot less space than the eggs in the carton, and never makes a mess. I have not tried freezing them so I don't know if that would be an option.

HTH
Click to expand...

Awesome advice. I hadn't ever thought about packing eggs like that, right on.

mmmm crab and steak. The menu sounds good but I'm trying not to increase my figure any more than necessary. The Fat Tire sounds good though.
 
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spressomon,

nevermind, I found your ROTW write up. Which model of the 50 is yours?
 
Im running the ARB 32 and have been very happy, for a long weekend its perfect but you will be pushing it for anything over 4 days.
You have to be a little more creative when packing for the longer trips but the small footprint is Ideal for me.


ken
 
My wife still over packs when we leave the house for more than one day so unless I find a smokin' deal on a 35 I'll try for the 40+.

As a side note I was all sorts of excited to find United Commercial Corp. in Spencer IA (ronthebusnut.com) as they sell a scratch & dent 45 Norcold for $485. But alas after a quick call Ron informed me that he hasn't received any product for quite some time and there is a rather lengthy waiting list.
 
Just something to consider... The Norcold/Engel 45 has a 43 qt capacity and the Waeco 50 has a 52 qt capacity yet the Waeco has roughly the same exterior dimensions. So 9 quarts more capacity which is over 2 gallons.
 
hoser said:
Just something to consider... The Norcold/Engel 45 has a 43 qt capacity and the Waeco 50 has a 52 qt capacity yet the Waeco has roughly the same exterior dimensions. So 9 quarts more capacity which is over 2 gallons.
Click to expand...

is it possible that the similar sizes result at least in part from thinner insulation? if so, that may not be a good thing.
 
Eric: The wall thickness is a little thinner on my Waeco. But it has never been an issue. Used it in Sacramento last summer when the outside temp was 114 degrees...God only knows how hot it was inside when we were at a restaurant. But no problemo.

The Waeco has the other side benefit (to me anyway ;)) of having 3-different temp zones. One of the corners (bottom left rear corner as facing the opening side of the lid) is the coldest spot...I keep my box of ice cubes here and they stay frozen without freezing other items in the cooler) and the warmest relative zone is the upper 'shelf' area just beneath the control panel.

Maybe the ARB/Engel has similar temp zones...never used one so I don't know.
 
IBCRUSN said:
spressomon,

nevermind, I found your ROTW write up. Which model of the 50 is yours?
Click to expand...


CF-50. I remember when I bought mine several years ago it might have been labeled a CF-51. I never did figure out what the difference was/is between the two (CF-50, CF-51) because the dimensions were the same IIRC. Maybe one included the AC/DC converter and one didn't...something like that. At any rate I think they only market the CF-50 today.

WAECO USA
 
I just ordered a CF-50 from these guys in Punta Gorda, FL. Waeco USA - Fourwinds Enterprises
I should get it next week. Oddly enough, the CF-50 is listed at $539 and the CF-40 is listed at $585. Now that seemed like a no-brainer to me. The other thing I liked about the CF-50 (on paper, anyways) is that it has DC and AC built into it and it comes with both cords. No need for bulky AC transformer packs to keep up with. I believe the Engel/ARB's have a separate AC adapter (read additional $$).

[EDIT] OK, I was mistaken about the built in AC power connector. The owners manual that I downloaded opted to use one illustration of power connections for both models, so it looks like there is two wire connections, but it is really an either/or illustration depending on the model you got. There are separate AC and DC models of their fridge line. The optional AC adapter is $63.50. So I called FourWinds back and ordered it to arrive with my backordered cover.
 
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BMThiker said:
I just ordered a CF-50 from these guys in Punta Gorda, FL. Waeco USA - Fourwinds Enterprises
I should get it next week. Oddly enough, the CF-50 is listed at $539 and the CF-40 is listed at $585. Now that seemed like a no-brainer to me. The other thing I liked about the CF-50 (on paper, anyways) is that it has DC and AC built into it and it comes with both cords. No need for bulky AC transformer packs to keep up with. I believe the Engel/ARB's have a separate AC adapter (read additional $$).
Click to expand...


That's a great price! I think this is the same place I bought mine...

One other point about the Waeco: The handles are super stout. I have mine attached to my AO drawer slide from the handles and they're rock solid...no bendy!

My only real nit: The optional cover/insulator could have been a little heavier duty...but still works.
 
spressomon said:
CF-50. I remember when I bought mine several years ago it might have been labeled a CF-51. I never did figure out what the difference was/is between the two (CF-50, CF-51) because the dimensions were the same IIRC.
Click to expand...

As 97 FZJ80 they do have two different CF-50's. One seems to be DC only and the other has the AC built in generally for an addition $100+.

Oh yeah, good to hear the handle are stout. That was my only concern with it was if it had weak handles which couldn't be used to secure the unit.

BMThiker said:
I just ordered a CF-50 from these guys in Punta Gorda, FL. Waeco USA - Fourwinds Enterprises...Oddly enough, the CF-50 is listed at $539 and the CF-40 is listed at $585....The other thing I liked about the CF-50 (on paper, anyways) is that it has DC and AC built into it and it comes with both cords. No need for bulky AC transformer packs to keep up with. I believe the Engel/ARB's have a separate AC adapter (read additional $$).
Click to expand...

Nice find. They are even a little less expensive than Marine Warehouse that I found.

Looks like you scored the DC only unit. Go back to Four Winds and click the drop-down for the CF-50. The DC only unit is $539 and the AC/DC unit is $658

97 FZJ80 said:
Waeco has several models, some DC and some AC/DC.
Click to expand...

You are very correct. Surprisingly enough it is less expensive to purchase the DC only unit, AC adapter and cover than the AC/DC unit alone. Makes for an easy decision.

You guys have certainly made the decision easy at this point. Thanks for the input.:cheers:
 
e9999 said:
is it possible that the similar sizes result at least in part from thinner insulation? if so, that may not be a good thing.
Click to expand...
In the Overland Journal issue that compared fridges, they rated the Waeco as having better insulation properties than the Norcold/Engel/ARB. They brought the fridges up to a specified temperature, turned off the fridge and measured the temp after some time had elapsed.

Also worth mentioning, the new Waeco's have changed their control unit where you set the numerical temperature and it stays there no matter the ambient temperature. Also they feature auto "turbo" and soft-compressor start which would probably be better for compressor life. I have not heard of anybody in the States getting the new model yet.
getimage.webp
 
Originally I was going to get a Engel 45 then I saw the waeco 50, but now I'm undecided again as the Waeco draws more power than the Engel.....Engel 1.75 amps versus waeco 2.75 amps..
decisions decisions the reason the waeco has more room but still the same size is the compressor is all the way at the bottom of the unit wheras the engle goes from top to bottom
 
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