What size compressor fridge do you have in your van?

[RobOfYork]

I'm at the point that I need to select a compressor refrigerator. Not sure what size to get. What size do you use? Is it large enough or to large?

How did you select the size to get?

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

12v compressor fridge is the way to go. Fridge is a luxury and not necessity though. Unless you have medications and such. I have about 180 quarts of fridge/freezer space. For 2 people, it's plenty. We used to have 45 quarts, but that was far too small. We had room to fit the 180 quart, and it was the same price and power draw as a 65 quart we were originally looking at. Now we can go a few weeks between grocery stops. It all comes down to what you personally need. How many people? How long do you want to go between grocery stops? What kinda foods do you eat? Some people eat a lot of canned goods. Some people like lots of cold beer. Other crazy yahoos like ice cream. What do you like?

 

[user 423]

I chose a 20L Alpicool mainly because of the lower price but it's a bit too small for me (solo traveller).

Now I'm trying to decide if I could use it as a freezer and use ice packs along with one of the newer, super-insulated coolers vs. spending $320 for a larger 50L Alpicool.

Recently I've been checking the C20 with a Kill-a-Watt and found that it only uses 1.9AH when set at 10 degrees.

That's with lower ambient temps of 60-70 deg. so not sure how well it would work when it's 90+.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have three 40quart Engels. Two as refrigerators and one as a freezer. But I set myself up for extended stays without resupply, I planned it that way. I can easily go 1 month without resupply. So I don't know if that helps but that's what I do. Highdesertranger

 

[user 423]

^
Have you ever checked the amp draw difference between the fridges and the freezer?

 

[highdesertranger]

I have never actually kept a record of how much each draws. Of course when the are running they are drawing the same. Engels says 2.7 amps but the most I have ever seen is 2.1 on any of the three.

The freezer runs more but not by much once everything is frozen. Right now as I glance at the remote thermometers the freezer is at 5.8° and one of the refrigerators is at 36.9°. But I can go days without opening the freezer. So it really doesn't run much. Sorry I be more specific but I just don't have the documentation.

Highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I have a 2.4 cu.ft. = 68 liter refrigerator.  It is plenty big for me for 2 weeks, 3 is stretching it.

 

[abnorm]

Now HDR's are in a loooong trailer.............Hmmmm question sez VAN !

In the Transit Van we've got about 275 quarts of Cold goods including "Ice Cream".....That's a 9.2 cubic foot apartment frig.....on 600 watts solar

It's wonderfully oversized for Two.............

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

I know we all came here to compare sizes, but really, size doesn't matter. 

 

[jacqueg]

I have a 35 qt Alpicool, which is plenty big enough for me. typical inventory -- 2 dozen eggs in those plastic carriers, mustard, mayo, quart bottle of kefir, quart of hemp or soy milk, 3 pints of yogurt, a Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver for veggies, 2 pints of hummus, a quart of water, a couple bottles of other cold drinks, and some cold cuts and sliced cheese.

 

[highdesertranger]

That's another thing I don't refrigerate my eggs. So that frees up a lot of space. Plus I barely drink Milk so I have been buying the shelf stable milk. Those are in those square 8oz containers so I just throw a couple of those in as needed and I store the rest. Highdesertranger

 

[RobOfYork]

Thanks everyone. Your responses are helping me think through what I need. I guess I really need to sit down and make a list of exactly what I need to refrigerate and for how long.

 

[hugemoth]

A 15 liter Alpicool does the job for me. No space in my little camper for anything larger. I don't drink beer, milk, or eat meat so there isn't much space needed. It's been working fine for almost a year but the solar panels don't keep up during hot weather when the fridge runs more and I'm parked in the shade. I run my generator every 4 or 5 days to charge the battery at the same time as I use the bread maker.

 

[RobOfYork]

I'm looking at the Alpicool 58 quart with the LG compressor. I do like my beer.

 

[jacqueg]

That's another thing I don't refrigerate my eggs.  So that frees up a lot of space. Plus I barely drink Milk so I have been buying the shelf stable milk.  Those are in those square 8oz containers so I just throw a couple of those in as needed and I store the rest.  Highdesertranger

Yes, eggs in  their shells don't need to be refrigerated. But they are going to take up space somewhere, and I find that I can almost always fit them in the refer in such a way that they are not likely to get broken.

 

[MrNoodly]

I use a 21.6L Dometic.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Yes, eggs in  their shells don't need to be refrigerated. But they are going to take up space somewhere, and I find that I can almost always fit them in the refer in such a way that they are not likely to get broken.

I use one those little plastic egg carriers...it helps keep the eggs from getting broken even if it gets jostled around a bit. 

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[66788]

ARB 47L trouble free and 1.3 amp draw.

HDR's fridge setup is really solid and they have been working years on full time 24/365.

 

[maki2]

17 liter. But there is no one size suits all solution. We all have different preferences for drinks and food. Some dont go into town very often, others such as myself need to go into towns more often.

 

[jonyjoe303]

I been using the joytutu 26 liter, bought on amazon for less then 300. This march will be 1 year running 24/7. At 27 f degrees it uses about 18ah per 24 hours. What I like about it is you can set a 1 gallon jug of milk upright inside. Its alot smaller then the edgestar ep43 I use to have, that beast was made of metal and weigh almost 60 pounds empty, The joytutu weighs about 25 pounds empty, the exterior is made of plastic but hasnt been any problem for me.
Since summer is coming, it be a good idea to vent the fridge to the outside. All compressor fridges will put out alot of hot air out of the vents. After running the joytutu for 2 months last year I almost got rid of it, it was putting out too much hot air into my van.
 
joytutu 26L 12 volt fridge, good lightweight fridge