Electric coolers or refrigerators.

[jakesz28]

I think it is time to buy an electric refrigerator/freezer. I know ARB has a nice dual voltage 12 volt DC or 120 volt AC. But i see three or four types on eBay. I'm looking to buy something this week for camping and maybe some limited use in the Hummer. What do you have or have knowledge if? I saw a Porta Gaz that added propane to make it a three fuel unit. I like that option if I rough it and have limited power.

 

[Kyle]

im getting the coleman 12v one from walmart for 88$ cants beat that! and it was huge!! ill find the link!

 

[alrock]

Don't have experience with any of them, but I've heard nothing but good things about the ARB one.

 

[jakesz28]

I hear some bad things about the low end coolers not keeping food cold. If you get the Coleman one let me know how it does. I'm sick of buying ice every day and getting water in everything.

 

[Kyle]

I hear some bad things about the low end coolers not keeping food cold. If you get the Coleman one let me know how it does. I'm sick of buying ice every day and getting water in everything.

Im still skeptical on the coleman, its gotten 4 out if 5 stars on all the reviews ive read, but there are some that i have read where people have had them break after a few months of use and coleman wasn't very helpful in fixing or returning it. Which is surprising because coleman used to be a very good camping brand. Maybe there quality has dropped.


Sent from the top of a mountain in my h3

 

[06 H3]

I've read about 3 types of cooling methods on the expedition overland site and the Coleman's method was the worst.

Arb is the **** but pricey there are others that are as good as arb but half the price, about 350-400.

Engel is supposed to be good

 

[autumn walker]

I used a coleman one recently - struggled to keep bottled water / gatorade cool - not even cold, just cool.

It was sitting in an air conditioned truck too - not like it was out in the heat.

 

[DaveK]

There are two kind of coolers, each one serving different needs. The coolers usually just bring the temperature down a certain number of degrees below ambient temps. The upside is that they are inexpensive. The down side is that if it gets really hot in the vehicle, the inside of the cooler will get warmer as well. They also draw a lot of power.

The refrigerator/freezers work to keep things cold, regardless of outside temps and compared to the coolers, they use considerably less power. With the refrigerators, you can dial in any temp you want from below freezing to the 50s (or higher if you want). Many of us keep the refrigerators constantly running with soft drinks and water available. Want to be a hero on the trail? When lunch is over, bring out ice cream!! On long term trips, the only way to keep food cold and fresh is to have a 12v fridge, as ice just wont last that long.

There are about 4 brands of refrigerators on the market, with only one being made in the US - the FridgeFreeze company out of San Diego. Below is a picture of the FridgeFreeze in the H2.

 

[skippy]

we have had a lot of experience with them down here
i was disappointed when ARB changed to the current manufacturer (waco)
i have had an Engle for years and it has never missed a beat.
the waco fridges (from what i hear) cannot take the knocks as well.
my Engle has been on for 5 years never turned off.

 

[Chook]

Engel are the best hands down. ARB & Waco are next if you can't afford the Engel. If you have very limited budget those 3 way coolers are great value for money & go anywhere. BUT........ There is a trick to using them.........They have to be absolutely level to work well (a difference of even 1 degree off level can mean 10 degrees of temperature) so take the time to make sure they are absolutely level and they will work really well are really great value. (I use my Waco for frozen & 3 way for drinks, but sometimes the 3 way even got down to freezing if I keep it level).

 

[skippy]

up early chook
all my beers are at -2 deg c in the engle

 

[jakesz28]

FridgeFreeze seems to be the most expensive. An ARB will be around $800, a Engel will be about $900-1000 and I would want the steel case over the plastic, if the 3bolts way fuel ones need to be that level I'm going to pass on them. There are two other brands on eBay in the $450-550 range that are tempting to try. But not sure if they have to be level. I found an ARB one that is a scratch and dent type purchase. It is suppose to be new but looks different then the new ones
to I'm going to order something this week.

The Coleman style is not even an option, higher current draw, lower cooling capiblity, and they seem to break way to often. Some only run for hours others for months. This will mainly be for camping with the family. It may be used in the Hummer on occasion but not all the time.

 

[poncho1965]

I want the ARB, hmmm, before Sleeping Princess maybe?


Mike

 

[autumn walker]

There are two kind of coolers, each one serving different needs. The coolers usually just bring the temperature down a certain number of degrees below ambient temps. The upside is that they are inexpensive. The down side is that if it gets really hot in the vehicle, the inside of the cooler will get warmer as well. They also draw a lot of power.

Ahh this makes sense and is what the Coleman I had did - still was not impressed with it.

More details on your truck please - is that a mat in the back or did you pull the carpet? What are the switches for?

 

[evldave]

I have the Edgestar fridge/freezer...for going on 3+ years now. It's the compressor type (instead of thermoelectric)...so it's a 'real' fridge. I looked at those coleman coolers, they draw a LOT of current and realistically can't keep my beer cold enough

While there are certainly tradeoffs going 'cheap' I've had nothing but great luck with my Edgestar...it's been on my trailer outside for 3 years, has been submerged, rained on, driven through mud, 110+ heat, beat the hell up offroad, and it continues to keep my beer cold. Using el cheapo 3 year old walmart deep cycle (that has been run down repeatedly), I can still get 2-3 days of cold beer in hot (90+) weather. Other users report some minor issues (loose connections in the fridge, etc) but if you go through Compact Appliance (like I did) their customer service is excellent!

 

[Mb30sdl]

we have had a lot of experience with them down here
i was disappointed when ARB changed to the current manufacturer (waco)
i have had an Engle for years and it has never missed a beat.
the waco fridges (from what i hear) cannot take the knocks as well.
my Engle has been on for 5 years never turned off.

What is you opinion about "Ironman" company they starting to sell their stuff here? From what they tell me, they have been in business longer that ARB, are their products as good as ARB?

 

[JGBB04]

What is you opinion about "Ironman" company they starting to sell their stuff here? From what they tell me, they have been in business longer that ARB, are their products as good as ARB?

I have an Indel-B which is sold under several names one of which is Ironman. I've only used it for 1 trip so far but it worked great. They had good reviews & tests on expo. On our trip the truck ran every day so never had any battery issues & when I got home I left it running in the truck for about 36 hours w/ no problems, fridge was still running & truck started fine. It has most of the features that the other brand names have, can use AC & DC power, has high & low speed setting, low power cut off & numeric temp display. I got mine from truckfridge.com they seemed to have the best price when I was looking.

 

[jakesz28]

I have the Edgestar fridge/freezer...for going on 3+ years now. It's the compressor type (instead of thermoelectric)...so it's a 'real' fridge. I looked at those coleman coolers, they draw a LOT of current and realistically can't keep my beer cold enough

While there are certainly tradeoffs going 'cheap' I've had nothing but great luck with my Edgestar...it's been on my trailer outside for 3 years, has been submerged, rained on, driven through mud, 110+ heat, beat the hell up offroad, and it continues to keep my beer cold. Using el cheapo 3 year old walmart deep cycle (that has been run down repeatedly), I can still get 2-3 days of cold beer in hot (90+) weather. Other users report some minor issues (loose connections in the fridge, etc) but if you go through Compact Appliance (like I did) their customer service is excellent!

Do you have to try and level it or does it just work? For the price this is what I'm thinking of getting. If I go with edgestar I may get the 50 quart or maybe the 60. If I get the ARB I may have to go with a 37 quart.

 

[DaveK]

Ahh this makes sense and is what the Coleman I had did - still was not impressed with it.

More details on your truck please - is that a mat in the back or did you pull the carpet? What are the switches for?

I removed the rubber mat in the back and replaced it with a new carpet (the original carpet is still in place). There are three switches in the back - one for a 1700 watt inverter, one for a door lock (a stock accessory) and one for a compressor. My H2 did not come with the air suspension package, so I used the space which the factory reserved for the suspension compressor to install an Extreme Outback compressor and a second battery (Odyssey 1500).

On the question of keeping the Fridge level, at least with my Fridge Freeze, the only instructions that the manufacturer makes are:

"Never operate the Fridge Freeze unit at a tilt exceeding 30 degrees. The oil reservoir will not lubricate the compressor motor properly at angles above 30 degrees."

I’ve parked the truck on many angles (but not over 30 degrees) without any effect on cooling.

 

[skippy]

ironman is a lot cheaper have not heard of any bad things yet and i don't know if they have been around longer than ARB. i have only seen them around in the last couple of years?

 

[Chook]

Do you have to try and level it or does it just work? /QUOTE] 3 way fridges are really critical with being level. Compressor Fridges not as critical.

 

[jakesz28]

I can get a new 50 quart ARB out the door with tax for $802. So its that or a 60 quart edgestar for less then $600 delivered.