Any non-electric food chilling methods I'm missing?

[LordLochness]

I've been living in my van for a year now, just a mattress in the back and some plastic tubs, while I sort out enough money to start building. And I'm finally at the point where I can start moving things along a little more. In planning how I'm going to upgrade my living I discovered that out of everything, I miss a fridge the most.

For my circumstances, solar isn't an option right now, and I'm afraid a compressor fridge might not be the best for me either. Its the only thing that would need electric in my van, and spending the money for a battery system just for that feels silly when I've lived a year no fridge now, and have adapted to it with little issue. I looked into propane fridges for a bit, but they don't come recommended in most circles, though, in theory running a fridge off the same propane my cooktop uses could be good. There's obviously the trusty cooler, but I found already that I spoil more food than I save in those, and it feels more practical to eat shelf stable. 

Am I missing anything? If the biggest thing I loose out on in my van is cold food storage, Id say its worth it! But if there's a solution I'm missing, I would love to give it another look.

 

[VanFan]

Would you share how/why your food is spoiling?

If it's getting water logged, I might have an option to suggest.  We are not full time by any means, but after 13 years are still using a cooler and have worked out a pretty good system to minimize the hassle and food waste.

 

[bullfrog]

If you are buying ice a small solar system makes sense financially. If you are using a small cooler with free ice from drink machines or your work place it probably doesn't. We work most of the year with full hookups so regular 120 volt works for us. Most find a 12 volt compressor fridge and a small solar system pay for themselves long term. Some use cheap larger solar system ( I think I saw 250 watt used panels for $50 ) and a couple golf cart batteries with an inverter so they can power a 120 volt AC apartment fridge but they usually have a school bus or something with lots of room for panels, batteries and the fridge.

 

[LordLochness]

Would you share how/why your food is spoiling?

If it's getting water logged, I might have an option to suggest.  We are not full time by any means, but after 13 years are still using a cooler and have worked out a pretty good system to minimize the hassle and food waste.

Part water logging, and part me forgetting to refill the ice.
Ive seen a lot of people suggest ice be compartmentalized from the food in a dividing tub, I tried out a bit of a ship shod version of that with some success, and I'm sure if I fine tuned it I would have a dry cooler in no time!
The other issue, though, is that I'm a bit of a scatterbrain (ADHD can be blamed for some of that, but not all of it LOL) and I dont have a good port for free ice. The cost of bagged ice is a bit annoying, but manageable. My biggest hurdle is that I would often forget to change out my ice. My food never got room temperature, but it was warm enough that I wasn't comfortable eating it. All together, the cost of spoiled food and ice runs made it more work and money than it was worth to me, and after 2 months of it, I stocked only shelf stable food and made the cooler into a first aid kit.

 

[B and C]

Compressor fridges are all the rage now but the gas absorption (propane) fridges have been around a long time. Propane fridges are temperamental in that they want to be almost perfectly level to cool well. I still use the original one that came in my van and if it dies, I will replace it with another. No worries about too many cloudy/rainy days in a row. Once they are dialed in on the temperature setting they work well and sip propane. One drawback is the freezer has to be defrosted from time to time but goes pretty quickly.

 

[bullfrog]

We also used RV style propane fridges for years but the purchase price was several times the price of a regular fridge when it finally died. We spent more on a replacement control board than our new regular fridge cost trying to fix it. There is also a concern of having an open flame as well as maintenance as even a cobb web can cause problems. in extreme temperatures fans are sometimes needed to keep them working at safe temps as well. The new 12 volt fridges don't use that much power and even a small solar system and battery bank will keep them working for several cloudy days, Many 4x4 campers use only a power pack to power theirs for an entire weekend by prefreezing food while plugged in at home. They are still too expensive for me as long as I have an alternative but will probably be my next purchase.

 

[B and C]

Mine is old enough to not have a control board, just a dial that sets the temp. Manual switch between 12v, 120v and propane. I've never had a cobweb in the furnace, WH or fridge. Maybe I am just lucky. This winter in Q my 12 gallon (10 usable) propane tank lasted more than a month running the fridge, WH (3 times a week for showers), cooking and the furnace every night.

 

[RoamerRV428]

AH HA, you said.....--- Its the only thing that would need electric in my van, and spending the money for a battery system just for that feels silly when I've lived a year no fridge now, and have adapted to it with little issue.

Thing is you GOT issues LOL
They are irking you, and you are hearing asking for advice how to fix this issue

You need a darn little fridge. Make life super simple for you. That little fridge could just put a monster smile on your face and make it all so easy ya know at not alot of work to accomplish at all!!

Like Bullfrog said, go get the simple solar and battery etc you need, get that set up and get your little apartment/college fridge and BOOM....you upgraded just enough to MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY!

I know when on that fence, do you or don't ya.....at some point a little luxury and happiness and EASE of life over a simple low cost solar system for that little fridge would mean a world of difference to you.....darn, go for it!

 

[XERTYX]

I know you said non electric, but the cost of 12v compressor fridges have came way down. Just an idea. I'm thinking of getting this one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B088D6FQ7Y

$143. Of course a battery and solar would be another expense but would pay for itself in the cost of ice and wasted food.

 

[highdesertranger]

Remember the number one cause of RV fires is the propane refrigerator. Highdesertranger

 

[RoamerRV428]

yea I would go small solar system before propane....propane you have to BUY over and over vs. one small solar setup and it can power up a laptop etc and more ya know. Maybe power a small electric skillet to cook on too You get more wtih solar than propane in this instant. Small small fridges are out there and small solar setup can do it for sure and might give you a 'tad extra' in the boot

 

[LordLochness]

Compressor fridges are all the rage now but the gas absorption (propane) fridges have been around a long time.  Propane fridges are temperamental in that they want to be almost perfectly level to cool well.  I still use the original one that came in my van and if it dies, I will replace it with another.  No worries about too many cloudy/rainy days in a row.  Once they are dialed in on the temperature setting they work well and sip propane.  One drawback is the freezer has to be defrosted from time to time but goes pretty quickly.

Your van came with a propane fridge? Cool!

How long has she been running so far?
Do you find the heat coming from the back a problem?
How does the leveling issue work for you in practice? Are you just sure to park as flat as you can?
I really love the idea of the propane fridge, but Ive been scared off a bit from the research I did. 

 

[B and C]

My campervan is a Roadtrek and was built in the fall of 1999 and came with fridge, cooktop, WH and furnace. I bought it used about 6 or 7 years ago. I don't know how much the previous owners used it. I have used it for about 2 continuous years total time.

I like it and it runs well. The gas connections should be checked from time to time and look for the burner burning through. Mine hasn't stated to show signs of wear other than age.

Mine vents to the passenger side (they should all be vented to the outside). There is a vent at the bottom outside of the fridge for fresh air and a vent at the top outside that lets the heat out. Proper ventilation is second only to being level. The flame is about the size of a pilot light in a gas HW system so not much heat at all (unless you touch the little chimney). As it doesn't vent to the inside, heat is a non issue.

Leveling takes practice. I carry the camco tri-levelers, the lego blocks and a 3 ton hydraulic jack. I carry a little torpedo level that I place on the box between the front seats. The box is level with the fridge, floor, countertop, etc. I move around a little on the site making sure I am oriented the way I want (front NE). Forward and back moving a little sideways to see how the torpedo level tells me if I am close. I have done it enough now that When I find THE spot, I put one of the levelers by the tire directly under the hub at the desired height. I back up or pull forward as dictated by the lay of the land and the push the levelers into line with the wheel(s) that I am trying to raise. Pull onto the levelers counting the steps that I go up stopping on the predetermined one and then look at the torpedo level. Forward or back a step if needed. If I can't get a corner or end high enough, I break out the hydraulic jack or worst case move again.

Propane fridges have a small flame that burns continuously and is an ignition source for any propane leak in the area. Checking fittings bi-annually is good practice. Check all other propane fittings at the same time. Poor maintenance of anything leads to poor results.

 

[Tony's Dream]

I have the ice chest set up now, but I only road trip for a week or two at a time. One thing about ice is the more exposed the surface, the faster it melts. I like to freeze gallon milk jugs, but you don't want to fill it up all the way or it will crack. This keeps the water off the food and prevents the soggy food. Another advantage is to recycle the water. You can drink it or use it to bathe.

 

[Tony's Dream]

I also like to freeze everything I can before putting it in the ice chest. I separate my meals into either zip lock bags or sealing bags. Then when its time to eat, I open the cooler....take out the sealed meal....and close it back up. I also wrap the cooler in a heavy blanket or old sleeping back to help insulate the cooler.

 

[VanFan]

Part water logging, and part me forgetting to refill the ice.

Sorry to be so long replying!  Water logging was our biggest issue--no matter what we tried.  Digging around in ice cold water is a drag, as is draining the cooler in parking lots.  I don't want or need electricity for anything else at this point.  Does your cooler have a drain plug?  We connected a piece of tubing to the drain hole with a hose barb and clamp, and run it under the rear door seal and discretely behind the bumper.  Bagged ice sits on top.  The water drains continously, and is never deeper than the cooler's sump.  Everything stays very cold, dry, and easy to access.  Water can be collected in a bucket or jug when parked, too.  When we are away from an ice source for a while, we try to use everything up, then shift to shelf-stable foods, but that's rare.

If and when I have more room, more money, and more tolerance for fussing with things, I might consider a solar-assisted 'fridge.  Lots of folks really like them.  I hope you find what works just right for you!

 

[XERTYX]

A handy trick if you have lots of shade, lots of water, and a need for a cold canned beverage that comes in 12 packs or larger cardboard cartons.

I used this a few years ago, it's not original. I've read about evaporative coolers or whatever they're called on this forum before.

I had a busted canopy tent that wouldn't go higher than 2 feet or so any longer. So on a camp chair in the middle of the canopy, under a nice shade tree I did the following.

Keep the "sodas" or whatever beverage in the cardboard carton. Under the shade I kept a container of rainwater. Over the carton I draped a cotton towel. Every morning I would saturate the carton and towel with rainwater. Every evening as the sun sets I had available to me perfectly chilled beverages.

This worked even in humid Georgia days in the 90s and 100°F weather. My brothers neighbor from Burma said in her village everyone had a terra cotta pot under a tree by their house under a wet cloth filled with water for passers by.

More of a camp hack than a mobile one but it really does work. In fact legend says that after that hot humid sweltering day those cans that have a built in thermometer will have blue mountains on them. Normally this will not happen even in a cooler of melted ice water.