Shell Owners- 12V fridge or nice ice cooler

[BillTheHiker]

I have a fridge in the cab behind my seat. It is used for food. I also have a small RTIC cooler which is where beverages go. The cooler goes in the camper during transit and unless it is hot outside it stays outside when camping.

How do you power it? I figure I can run it via DC outlet in the dashboard while driving, but that will not be adequate. I could also wire it to my house battery in the camper which is used only for lights[Fleet shell, no appliances].

 

[JaSAn]

Well what say you and why? . . .

12V fridge because ice cream.

I usually am way out back beyond for a week or more so an ice chest doesn't cut it. Cream for my coffee, sandwich meats, cheese, mayo, bacon and some veggies don't keep well at higher temps. And an ice cream sammich after a hot day of hiking is heaven.

And (at least with the ice chests I have used) probing around with an infrared temperature gun convinced me that ice chests do not keep food at the recommended safe temperature well.

Oh, and did I mention I can keep ice cream

jim

 

[larryqp]

We have a Dometic 65 Refrig/freezer combination in our Eagle Shell. For long trips like the 10 day trip we just took to Big Bend Ranch State Park, we set it up 1/3 freezer and 2/3 refrigerator. We then freeze a bunch of entrees, chicken, pork chops, steaks, burgers and ice cubes for cocktails plug it into 120 volts the day before and then we travel with the Dometic running on the alternator. Upon arrival, we change the setup to all refrigerator. I only have 80 watts of solar and have found the freezer and my C-Pap draw a little too much power. But with the refrigerator only and the frozen entrees, we easily went ten days. The entrees remain frozen for many days, in fact in the early part of the trip we had to thaw some meat. We should have left the first 3 days of food unfrozen.

We did run out of ice cubes by day 7, but by then there was plenty of room in the Dometic for the Bourbon. I have a second battery in the Eagle for the Dometic, C-Pap and Propex Forced Hot Air furnace. The AGM "house" battery charges with the solar panels and/or the alternator if needed.

As someone said early, I like not being dependent on ice. Also, we have found many uses for the Dometic not related to camping. We use it for groceries when we shop, so we don't have to worry about heading right home. Also, serves as an extra freezer or refrigerator when needed at home.

 

[Hodakaguy]

ARB Fridge! Super easy on power, will stay as cold as you want (Fridge or Freezer) and you never have to worry about getting ice, food getting soggy etc.

Hodakaguy

 

[kmcintyre]

Like most others, refrigerators take a lot of power. We pretty much only use ours on LPG which is pretty efficient. We do use the 120v option when pre-cooling though. I left the 12V on once and over night, the house battery was dead.

We do use our good cooler more and more though and put it behind the front seats in the truck; easier access and we don't have to lift it into the camper and out all the time.

 

[GroovyDad]

If money's not a big concern, go with a large fridge and solar panels. It's so much easier than an ice chest AND it gives you more floor space. It's the route I plan to go one day, but for now, money is a consideration.

Currently, I'm using a higher end ice chest (Engel) and the ice will last for over 5 days and I'm never camped so remotely that I can't replenish my ice as needed. Plus, my ice chest can be used for other, non-camping, events.

Here's a link to a 7 minute video on higher end ice chest comparisons. It was this video that convinced me to go with Engel:

 

[ETAV8R]

How do you power it? I figure I can run it via DC outlet in the dashboard while driving, but that will not be adequate. I could also wire it to my house battery in the camper which is used only for lights[Fleet shell, no appliances].

I have two 12v outlets on the back of my center console that are hooked up to my 2nd battery. I chose not to have the 2nd battery and fridge in the camper since I can disconnect the camper and still have my fridge and all the power I need.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

If money's not a big concern, go with a large fridge and solar panels. It's so much easier than an ice chest AND it gives you more floor space. It's the route I plan to go one day, but for now, money is a consideration.

Currently, I'm using a higher end ice chest (Engel) and the ice will last for over 5 days and I'm never camped so remotely that I can't replenish my ice as needed. Plus, my ice chest can be used for other, non-camping, events.

Here's a link to a 7 minute video on higher end ice chest comparisons. It was this video that convinced me to go with Engel:

Good information. Thanks for sharing!

 

[DonC]

I have a Dometic in my 2012 Fleet with 200 w of solar. In temps of 70 - low 80's, this works fine. But on a 100 degree summer day, the fridge can not adequately cool to be safe for food, even while plugged-in sitting on my driveway.

 

[BillTheHiker]

I have two 12v outlets on the back of my center console that are hooked up to my 2nd battery. I chose not to have the 2nd battery and fridge in the camper since I can disconnect the camper and still have my fridge and all the power I need.

What is your typical usage in terms of how many days you can keep it running? Most everyone seems to claim that solar is needed, but I was thinking that with a second battery and since I run the truck everyday for at least an hour I can get by without solar.

 

[JaSAn]

I have a Dometic in my 2012 Fleet with 200 w of solar. In temps of 70 - low 80's, this works fine. But on a 100 degree summer day, the fridge can not adequately cool to be safe for food, even while plugged-in sitting on my driveway.

You might want to check if you have Dometic's specified venting. I have an ancient Norcold that would not hold temperature over 70º ambient when I got the camper. Increasing the external vents to Norcold's specification and adding an exhaust fan cured that problem. Refrigerator has* kept 33º - 38º inside temperatures well into the 90's (and on the couple of 100º days we had).

*Refrigerator is being replaced because that is no longer true, probably because of lost refrigerant and a warped door (it's 35 years old).

jim

 

[philos65]

I just had a MRI and have lower back foraminal narrowing at the L3/L4 region. I've been a slacker my whole life - eat and drink what I will and deal with the consequences later. I played tennis four times a week for three decades, and then had knee issues, and it's been downhill from there. Well, now at 65 I'm dealing with the consequences and have started the whole "lifestyle change" thing that includes going to a plant based/anti-inflammatory diet. Probably TMI.

The reason I'm chiming in here is that I'll likely spend months at a time living out of my 80s keystone, and it would be really good if I could keep leafy and other veges cold enough to last a week or more. My $500 camper has a $1000 solar system - 490 watts and 200 ah. I just finished sewing all the sideliner vinyl panels together - 38' x 36" of windowed and solid panels. That was about $300 for all the materials, not counting the $900 sewing machine. I have 22 yards of remnant upholstery fabric with a "rust theme" that I'll be sewing into abstract patterns and then using to make a new 48" bed and 42" wide cushions for the dinette that will make a second bed. I'll use excess fabric to pattern the walls with a reflectix backing and an arctic "rust themed" arctic panel.

The upshot is that a $600 12 volt fridge doesn't seem outrageous given I'll be spending three or four months a year living out of the camper. While I'm hungry all the time with this plant based diet, I am ok with it. I have a 120 qt. cooler for rafting, but am not willing to put up with all the dampness and so forth. I don't want to have to pay attention to food at that level. I just want it to be ready, and reasonably fresh. I'll be heading out for a a monthlong shakedown cruise in a couple weeks. I'll use my coolers and leave the rear five feet of the camper bare board. Lots of plastic boxes with "stuff" in them...

As an aside, beers are plant based, but man, - 200 calories each for good IPA... LOL

This thread has me really leaning towards just biting the bullet and getting a 12v fridge. Thanks for all the perspectives. This forum is really relevant for me in this stage of life...

Jeff
Laramie, WY

 

[DonC]

You might want to check if you have Dometic's specified venting.

The 2012 Fleet had one lower vent and one fan. FWC added a second high vent which I believe is now standard. I added two additional fans. Sometimes I get acceptable performance in low 90's, but when leaving southern California in the summer, drinks and a few other things are ok, I buy perishable food when I get to my generally cooler destination.

 

[Stokeme]

Jeff,

Where/how are you putting up all those watts? I will attempt similar.

 

[ETAV8R]

What is your typical usage in terms of how many days you can keep it running? Most everyone seems to claim that solar is needed, but I was thinking that with a second battery and since I run the truck everyday for at least an hour I can get by without solar.

To be honest I've never measured it. I did a calculations spreadsheet before deciding on what I wanted to have. I have run down the battery on one trip where the solar panel I was using was damaged (my fault). So that was <100watts in the winter. I had to leave early due to running the 2nd battery down. I tried to trouble shoot it but couldn't figure out why the fridge wasn't running and was giving an error code.

Well after only driving bout 20 minutes I checked the fridge again and it was going strong. I have a CTEK which charges both batteries from either solar or the alternator. I was packed up already and not going back to make camp for only one night. On my past few trips I've taken a different 100 watt panel and the system has worked well.

I'd say do solar as soon as possible to avoid any damage to your batteries.

 

[philos65]

BatteryPete has solar panels for an excellent, "best on the web" price. The link images in the schematic represent the "least expensive" parts to make up the system.

Jeff,

Where/how are you putting up all those watts? I will attempt similar.




https://www.batterypete.com/batteries/240-watt-solar-panel-rec-solar-rec240pe/

Last July I asked what was the best way to mount the two 40 lb panels, and decided to mount them fore/aft on the drivers side. I built a 1" box aluminum rack to support them. I'll post pictures when I get the camera and roof in the same room.


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Jeff

 

[la_morris]

I have two deep cycle batteries in my fleet shell. I use electricity for the two fantastic fans (if it is hot), charging the phone and very sparingly for the led lights. How much solar would I need for a12 volt fridge to run for 4 or 5 days with no driving. I'm thinking of an ARB or Engle - 40 liters at the most, but probably smaller. As is clear from the question, I don't really understand anything that has to do with electricity. Thanks for any advice you can toss my way.

 

[pvstoy]

Last July I asked what was the best way to mount the two 40 lb panels, and decided to mount them fore/aft on the drivers side. I built a 1" box aluminum rack to support them. I'll post pictures when I get the camera and roof in the same room.


Jeff

Hi Jeff did you put the panels on the roof as in the "Camper roof 2 PDF"?

Your weight is over 80 pounds on the roof. You have the "shock helper thingies" if so what pounds are they? 2 front and back?

Thanks

 

[JaSAn]

I have two deep cycle batteries in my fleet shell. I use electricity for the two fantastic fans (if it is hot), charging the phone and very sparingly for the led lights. How much solar would I need for a12 volt fridge to run for 4 or 5 days with no driving . . .

I have 2 X 100W panels and 208 AH of batteries running a 60L Norcold refrigerator, one Maxxfan, LED lights and assorted electronic gadgets. With good sun I am back to 100% full on my batteries by 1 PM every day. With no output from panels I can go 2 days to ~ 60% (closer to 50% if the temperatures are above 90ºF).

jim

 

[philos65]

Hi Jeff did you put the panels on the roof as in the "Camper roof 2 PDF"?

Your weight is over 80 pounds on the roof. You have the "shock helper thingies" if so what pounds are they? 2 front and back?

Thanks

Yes - I built a 1" aluminum box frame for the two solar panels as laid out in camper roof 2.pdf. They will tilt up from the edge.

I'm just finishing up wiring and insulation for the roof. The headliner is next - tomorrow if it's not too cold out. I'm not sure how chilly it can be for the spray adhesive to get tacky and dry. Unfortunately, I work in an uninsulated, leaky garage and it's still winter in Laramie.

I have both 60 lb and 40 lb gas struts I'm going to try out once the new sideliner is installed.

I got a linear actuator and decided not to use the EMT lifter setup. I'll find a "center of balance" for the actuator fore and aft to help raise and lower the thing with the best combination of struts. I decided I had no interest in actually using my body to lift and lower the roof. It'll be close to 180 pounds all told and I don't mind spending the time to use the actuator. Ideally I'd suck it up and get three more actuators. We'll see.

I'll test different ways of vertically stiffening the sideliner once the roof is raised. I'm assuming even 60 lb struts at either end won't keep the sideliner stiff and resist wind, etc.

The crudest way of stiffening is probably 1" x 1" pine cut to the right length put at the corners. Another would be spring loaded pvc pipe with end caps. I'm sure a more elegant solution will appear. Any suggestions are welcome.

Jeff