Official FRIDGE Thread (2 Viewers)

[GTV]

I am so over ice chests. My question: is there a way to search portable fridges by size?

I really want a fridge but I want to do it my way. My idea is to turn my 5 seater 100 series into a 4 seater by sacrificing the middle second row seat. To execute this properly I'll need the smaller left rear seat from a RHD 100 series. That's gonna be expensive to ship from Japan or Australia so first I need to make sure a fridge exists that will fit in the space remaining after the seat swap.

Max width is roughly 15" (380mm), this is the most critical measurement.
Height of the seat when folded flat is about 14" (350mm). The fridge can be slightly taller or shorter than that but I'd like to get as close as I can to that number so I can still throw a mattress on top of it.
Length is flexible, around 28" (700mm) or so is the distance from my drawers to where the floor drops down to the footwell. Bigger the better as far as volume is concerned.

Am I dreaming or is this actually possible? I appreciate any leads!

 

[coleAK]

I am so over ice chests. My question: is there a way to search portable fridges by size?

I really want a fridge but I want to do it my way. My idea is to turn my 5 seater 100 series into a 4 seater by sacrificing the middle second row seat. To execute this properly I'll need the smaller left rear seat from a RHD 100 series. That's gonna be expensive to ship from Japan or Australia so first I need to make sure a fridge exists that will fit in the space remaining after the seat swap.

Max width is roughly 15" (380mm), this is the most critical measurement. I could likely go a little wider by squishing into the seat foam.
Height of the seat when folded flat is about 14" (350mm). The fridge can be slightly taller or shorter than that but I'd like to get as close as I can to that number so I can still throw a mattress on top of it.
Length is flexible, around 28" (700mm) or so is the distance from my drawers to where the floor drops down to the footwell. Bigger the better as far as volume is concerned.

Am I dreaming or is this actually possible? I appreciate any leads!

This one is <15” wide

Dometic CRX Pro 50 Compressor Refrigerator

Dometic CRX Pro 50 Compressor Refrigerator - Durable, Versatile, Compact 3-in-1 Flexible Refrigerator/Freezer

www.dometic.com

 

[wahoowad]

Seeking advice. I'm going to buy some type of van or camper or truck with camper and do a couple 6+ week roadtrips in the western half of the US to visit national parks and do some backpacking. Most likely turn around and sell the vehicle after I satisfy that itch. Any build I do would be minimal, but I'm thinking adding a fridge would be smart. Can I go off on 3 to 7 day backpacking trips and expect the fridge to keep running during this time?

I currently have a 12v 100aH lithium ion battery and could add a 2nd one if needed. I should be able to recharge them while driving.

 

[MCtree]

There are a lot of variables here.
What size fridge? What size battery? What temps will the fridge see when you are off hiking? And also, fridge and freezer or just fridge (freezer consumes more power)?

For what it’s worth, I have a dometic 75L DFX and I power it with a Ecoflow delta 2.
If I set the fridge to 34 and the freezer to 5, my delta flow will power it for about 23 hours in a 75 degree environment.
But note that it’s a largish fridge and I am keeping it pretty cold. You could probably do better if you had a more conservative set-up.

But I think you would need to put solar panels on the roof of the camper.

Edit: oops, sorry. I see you gave your battery size.

 

[Corbet]

Seeking advice. I'm going to buy some type of van or camper or truck with camper and do a couple 6+ week roadtrips in the western half of the US to visit national parks and do some backpacking. Most likely turn around and sell the vehicle after I satisfy that itch. Any build I do would be minimal, but I'm thinking adding a fridge would be smart. Can I go off on 3 to 7 day backpacking trips and expect the fridge to keep running during this time?

I currently have a 12v 100aH lithium ion battery and could add a 2nd one if needed. I should be able to recharge them while driving.

You will need solar. A 100 watt system with good sunlight should be enough. I’d start here. solar panels for sale, buy portable camping solar panels | Renogy - https://www.renogy.com/solar-panels/

 

[MCtree]

You will need solar. A 100 watt system with good sunlight should be enough. I’d start here. solar panels for sale, buy portable camping solar panels | Renogy - https://www.renogy.com/solar-panels/

100 watts seems low to my inexpert eyes.
Sure, the fridge will only consume about 45 watts but I would guess that you don’t get the full 100 watts for more than 8 hours a day while the fridge keeps drawing power.

Especially if you consider rain or cloudy days while you are away hiking.

 

[coleAK]

100 watts seems low to my inexpert eyes.
Sure, the fridge will only consume about 45 watts but I would guess that you don’t get the full 100 watts for more than 8 hours a day while the fridge keeps drawing power.

Especially if you consider rain or cloudy days while you are away hiking.

I have 600w of solar and on overcast days it takes all 600w to maintain 100% on my 1kwh Battery running my dometic 95L, a little less solar for my 55L fridge. Full sun I could get by with 100-200w.

I can run my 55L for 3-4 days without solar in the summer in Alaska so temps in the 60’sF

 

[toy_tek]

Engel 45 that I've had 16 years. Runs like a champ. Super low draw, only ever used the main battery for power.

 

[Corbet]

Well my 80watt panel keeps my truck happy running a NL60 dual. A 200watt panel has my trailer fully charged before lunch if in direct sun. Power hungry ICECO 60 in that. Lots of variables, can always go bigger, it just takes up more space. If it’s cloudy one day the fridge isn’t running as hard. And the battery can run pretty much any fridge for 24 hours without help. Comes down to comfort zone and frequency of engine running.

It should also be noted not all panels are equal. Amazon has plenty of products with extremely exaggerated specs. Both my panels are from Renogy. The 80watt shows over 4 amps on the controller in direct sun. The 200 over 11.

 

[peesalot]

FWIW I have had the EngelMT45 for decades, currently have a 2022 model and with 2 optima vehicle batts & 100w of solar it can run stand alone about 3.5 hot arse days before it wont start the motor. This set up has lasted 5 days in 60/70 degree temps. I am adding more solar probably another 100W, I use Sunforce solar controllers as they are reasonable and reliable as far as my experience. I also ditched all the expensive dual batt contollers and just run them tied together with a Moroso main shut off, gets separated at camp so wont get stranded was the idea but I forget all the time.

 

[peesalot]

I forgot, I use a Lensun semi flexible panel mounted on double wall poly carb for cooling, its mounted on my alum roof skin.

 

[MCtree]

I forgot, I use a Lensun semi flexible panel mounted on double wall poly carb for cooling, its mounted on my alum roof skin.

Would you post some pics of this?
I’m contemplating something similar for my cooling.

And how do you run the wires into the vehicle?

 

[peesalot]

My 40 has no top so the starlink antenna & solar leads just run along A pillar of roll bar down into dash, my 40 has an alum roof skin. The solar is glued onto the poly double wall which is glued onto alum roof skin. I used e6000 adhesive from Tap Platics ( where I got double wall polycarb). The leading edge of panel is trapped with a piece of alum threshold transition with rubber vac hose over the biting edge. I did this cause the first attempt at securing panel to roof with hardware and no double wall poly resulted in a flapping freeway s*** show & a destroyed panel. I just ran small srews & nuts thru the skin & siliconed them for water leak. After lots of use I would offer that IMO the 100w solar on roof & a 100w solar that you can put wherever is ideal. 200w lets me stand alone indefinite with a engel mt45, led lighting, various aux power uses. I camp for a week or so & want to be able to not worry about starting vehicle. I run lights & a fan in the tent as well. very comfortable camping.

 

[franklin40]

anyone running an arb 101quart zero fridge? i have a large batch of teenagers to keep fed so need a big fridge. i know arb is premium name but they also have the largest fridge that i have found. coolers just aren’t keeping up. does anyone have any reasons for or against the arb zero fridges?

 

[joltman]

anyone running an arb 101quart zero fridge? i have a large batch of teenagers to keep fed so need a big fridge. i know arb is premium name but they also have the largest fridge that i have found. coolers just aren’t keeping up. does anyone have any reasons for or against the arb zero fridges?

National Luna has a 110L (~116qt) and 125L (~132qt) fridge. Equipt Outfitters has the 125L in stock apparently. But those are monsters. You will need a good and high Ah battery system to power that much volume.

 

[coleAK]

National Luna has a 110L (~116qt) and 125L (~132qt) fridge. Equipt Outfitters has the 125L in stock apparently. But those are monsters. You will need a good and high Ah battery system to power that much volume.

I have a 95L domestic. My daughter operates a commercial catering business and can feed 300 people a day out of it.

 

[Corbet]

National Luna will have a lower power draw than the ARB or Dometic. For that reason I’m a fan, same for Engel but I believe an 80 is the largest they offer.

 

[franklin40]

i can actually get national luna in canada. i didnt know that! i do like their design. the 110L is too tall for my trailer so id have to go with the 90L. its a bit smaller than the ARB but also a few hundred dollars less. theres a shop that sells both in calgary. maybe i'll stop in next month when im out there and compare them!