Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

[skip73 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skip73]

I'm looking at getting a small fridge (35L ?) suitable for two people for day trips and short camping trips (2-3 days max). I've started doing the research and wondering how many people are getting away with the power socket in the cargo bay?

If using the factory power socket, which fridge are you using?

Do you need to monitor the battery to avoid nasty surprises in the morning?

Or do I need to bite the bullet and go for a dual battery system? (due to budget constraints I would rather defer this option until we start doing more serious trips)

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

Camping overnight or more continuously (24-48+) will more or less flatten the starting battery. The plug in the back is not wired with the appropriate grade wiring to cope with continuous load (so I'm told). Also, I think you'll find that in the back of the 150 series Prado, the plug is 240v?
Your options are dual battery, DIY for around $600, $1,000 by professionals (prices include battery).

Cheers

[dereki Member Find all posts View Profile Close dereki]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

I have an evakool fridge (danfoss compressor). I have not bothered with a dual battery system, since I only do the odd day trip and 4 day base camp trips.
I use a 120Ah AGM battery in the rear cargo area next to the fridge and leave a CTEK charger on the battery when it is at home to keep it full. The battery and fridge are only in the car when I need them.

Why have I chosen to do this.
- Cost.
- The battery lasts for 4 days so haven't needed to have to charge it while camping... yet... I have jumper leads so I can alternator charge if I have to but this is a last resort. Solar panels or something else would be much better.
- I base camp so don't drive around to charge the battery anyhow.

Downside is...
- The battery weighs a ton, so putting it in and taking it out is a bit of a pain.
- The fridge is also is a pain to put in and take out.
- The battery need to be fastened to something secure. Don't want it moving in an accident.
- Running the battery down is not good for it. Solar or something would be good, but... cost.

If I were touring and moving from place to place every day or two, then the dual battery would be one of the first things on my shopping list.

D

[skip73 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skip73]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

Camping overnight or more continuously (24-48+) will more or less flatten the starting battery. The plug in the back is not wired with the appropriate grade wiring to cope with continuous load (so I'm told). Also, I think you'll find that in the back of the 150 series Prado, the plug is 240v?
Your options are dual battery, DIY for around $600, $1,000 by professionals (prices include battery).

Cheers

The rear plug is 220v 100W.

How about just a day trip?

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

Day trips are fine. That's what I currently do with the Prado. I am however installing a dual battery to the Prado this week. I also have done what dereki suggests, I simply remove the battery pack out of my other car and place it in the back of the Prado for longer stays, but I'm over it so have decided to permanently fix a dual system in both.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

You could probably get away without a dual battery setup for a start ( we did for a few years ) but it is much better with one.
But if running it directly off your starting battery you must have a fridge with a low voltage cutout so you always have enough starting power. ( Waeco and probably others have this )
You are way better off getting a compressor fridge rather than a 3 way or semiconductor cooling type.

As for size, around 40 litres has enough room for 2 people for a few days away, and for longer with careful packing. For example - use tupperware or similar containers that stack up inside, cut up veges beforehand ( things like whole capsicums take a large amount of room ), and for beer, wine, each morning put in only what you need for the evening happy hour. We've done a 3 month trip with a 40 litre fridge no problems. If you tends to just throw stuff in, get a 50 litre.

It will probably run OK off the 240V 100W inverter - but then you've got other potential issues. Refer to other threads on this subject.
So consider either running a 12V lead directly off the starting battery to the rear, or invest in a dual battery system - you won't regret the latter.

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

How about a Waeco with the external battery pack. I think one of the camping/outdoors shops are doing a special ATM

[skip73 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skip73]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

How about a Waeco with the external battery pack. I think one of the camping/outdoors shops are doing a special ATM

That's what I am leaning too at the moment.

[bdaearth Member Find all posts View Profile Close bdaearth]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

What does the battery pack cost? How many amp hours is it? If going that way you could probably do you own agm battery cheaper and have it last longer and if you do want to put a dual battery kit in later on then you already have the battery. I have just put a dual battery kit in my prado and feel it will be one of the best mods you could do.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

You could consider a Eutectic Autofridge, these are expensive, but you can easily run these without the need for a second battery as the eutectic system means they can be turned off and still keep cold for up to 20 hrs. We ran ours in 3 different vehicles for 7 years without a dual battery and never had a flat battery.

Cheers Andrew

[two+four Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close two+four]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

If you are only going away for a couple of days at most I would not even bother with the fridge and battery, just get a good quality eski. Careful planning and packing can keep stuff cold for days. Freeze the food you intend for the last day and have it stored in the bottom. Use sealed containers for your food to prevent any water causing cross contamination and solid ice packs (or water bottles fill of frozen water which gives you fresh cool water on the last day) Bags of ice melt to fast. Always drain excess water to keep the eski cooler longer.

We camped like this for years (2 adults and 4 kids) in a Kia carnival towing a trailer. We now have the fridge and dual battery for the longer trips but often still just use an eski for a weekend.

[dereki Member Find all posts View Profile Close dereki]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

If you are only going away for a couple of days at most I would not even bother with the fridge and battery, just get a good quality eski. Careful planning and packing can keep stuff cold for days. Freeze the food you intend for the last day and have it stored in the bottom. Use sealed containers for your food to prevent any water causing cross contamination and solid ice packs (or water bottles fill of frozen water which gives you fresh cool water on the last day) Bags of ice melt to fast. Always drain excess water to keep the eski cooler longer.

We camped like this for years (2 adults and 4 kids) in a Kia carnival towing a trailer. We now have the fridge and dual battery for the longer trips but often still just use an eski for a weekend.

+1

I use an evakool, with 1.25 litre bottles of ice. It is all I used for years. Ice is set for a month (left in the freezer at home). Same advantages as above, no slush, lasts well and cold drinking water. There is ice in the bottles for around 5 days depending on weather. If you get a fridge in the future the ice box is still a great asset. We have both and still take the ice box on the longer trips, for fruit and veg etc.

D

[ozgeoff Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozgeoff]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

Camping overnight or more continuously (24-48+) will more or less flatten the starting battery. The plug in the back is not wired with the appropriate grade wiring to cope with continuous load (so I'm told). Also, I think you'll find that in the back of the 150 series Prado, the plug is 240v?
Your options are dual battery, DIY for around $600, $1,000 by professionals (prices include battery).

Cheers

The rear plug is 220v 100W.

How about just a day trip?

I've got a 47 litre ARB fridge and it runs fine off the rear 220v outlet when the engine is running and keeps cold enough on a day trip when engine is off. For extended trips I take a 100ah deep cycle battery and a Ctek charger.

[mudboy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mudboy]

Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

I have a couple I will let u know the pros and cons of each of them. I do have duel batteries

1. 40 lt engel fridge just bought 3 months ago and is the best way to go as far ad o am concerned stays in car and usually turn it on for weekends and when needed

2. 3 way fridge this is good if staying in the one spot for 4 days plus as runs on gas, 240 and 12v. Drains the battery quick so no good if left in the car all the times does work best on gas. Is much cheaper than normal car fridge u can pick up about $400

3. The car cooler ok for drinks but will kill the battery in no time at all

Good luck with your choice

[altim Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close altim]

Re: Fridge advice - day trips and short camping trips

On the subject of car fridges,can anyone advise me as where to buy the Autofridge in Western Australia.
thanks in advance.
Altim