Portable Refrigerators?????

w_baker76

New member
I have been wanting to buy a portable refrigerator for a good while. Have seen them ranging in prices from $250 to $800. I really like the ARBs, But don't know if there worth the money. I want one that can take a beating.

Any suggestions to a good refrigerator?
 

cruiseroutfit

Supporting Sponsor: Cruiser Outfitters
Countless threads here on ExPo in regards to 12V refrigerators. Your absolutely spot on that there is a severe gradient in the price between the entry level units and some of the premium units however it really is a 'get what you pay for' scenario. That is not to say you can't be satisfies with an entry level unit but your nearly guaranteed to be satisfied with a premium unit (i.e, ARB, Engel, National Luna, etc.). Not just today, but in 1, 5 and 10 years down the road. Not if but when you need an accessory or a replacement part. Will some of the entry level brands still be around? Still offering customer and product support that you can expect from the premium. There is a great ExPo thread on the Compact Appliance units, as you can see some have come to really enjoy them, some have loathed them and many have had to deal with warranties or self repairs right out of the box: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/23350-Cheap-Fridge-lt-400-shipped?
 

RVR2RSQ

Observer
I have an old Norcold from the 80s, not as efficient as the new ones but still running strong. I got it on Craigs list for $75 so keep your eyes and options open.

Still wouldn't mind a new Engle/ARB though :)

Brian
 

Landay

New member
Good call. The ARB is a great unit. I bought cheap at first. It wasn't worth it. Now with the ARB I'm soooo satisfied!
 

Corey

OverCamping Specialist
I have had the old school ARB fridge since 2007, no complaints with it.
ARB is a great choice.
 

cchoc

Wilderness Photographer
I had an ARB that got totalled along with my D90 and trailer in 2007 and got an Engel to replace it - it's exact same unit. They are great fridges. A 'transit bag' helps insulate the fridge further, too, and I think they are also a good investment.
 

go4aryd

Adventurer
I have and Engel (same as old ARB style) and also use a transit bag. I also keep the top out of the sun with a folded, old wool army blanket. Just be sure you are not covering the cooling vents at the back of the fridges.
 

Hafwit

Adventurer
There was an excellent write up in Overland Journal a while back that compared several portable fridges. The National Luna, while very expensive, seems to be the preferred choice. I have two ARB fridges--one old style and one new style. They both work great and they are very comparable to the Engels. Waecos and some other brands are also supposedly good units. A key ingredient in your choice should be how long you plan to run the fridge while the alternator is not charging the battery. If you plan to camp for an extended period of time, a dual battery set up and consideration for solar power as well should be entertained.

Cheers,
Greg
 

cruiserfred

Observer
the price stings a bit

in april i went to the expo and purchased a national luna 50 liter weekender 40 liter ref ,10 liter deep freeze ,been looking 18 months, price is higher than others but it is worth it to me. I use it every day ,like it's always said you get what you pay for ,you'll probably enjoy any quality unit
Fred
 

esh

Explorer
Waecos are what the newer DanFoss compressor-based fridges were designed after. They had been in service all over Austrailia for a few years before ARB caught up. And good for ARB to use such an effective design!

Dometic has bought Waeco and now sell the fridge under their badge (recent design has digital temp controls, more low voltage cutoff settings, etc).

They are significantly cheaper than ARBs for what amounts to the same design...

(both AC/DC models)
Dometic CF-50 $605 transit/insulating bag $50
vs
ARB 50QT $800 transit/insulating bag $175

Would recommend either as well as the Luna and others.

The size of fridge and using an insulating bag, along with keeping the fridge full, are key to saving energy. I don't recall if a study was ever done of the difference between a bag vs without. There seems to be a lot of anecdotes about power usage. Mine is that I have gone 3 days without charging leaving the fridge running on a single battery, then started up the truck and drove away. I think I had a wool blanket over it as well. An aux battery is sensible but not a necessity unless you are in hot environments or long stays.

Whatever you end up with, I doubt you'll be disappointed!
 

spikemd

Explorer
I have the newer style (2009 to present) ARB 50qt and love it. Yes, it is a bit more expensive, but as other have said, you get what you pay for.

I have two buddies who bought the Edgestar 45qt and 80qt. Both quit working within a month of usage. They have had to deal with customer service (which has been very good), replacing parts, modifying the unit, etc. to get theirs to work. They also draw twice the amount of power as the ARB/National Luna as seen in the Overland Journal article. We joke about their issues all the time. The ARB is made for offroad driving and vibration. I recommend the tie-downs also.

I have had my ARB for 2 years now and it is on 120v in my kitchen everyday. I just throw it in the truck when we go out on the trail or even just a weekend trip.

It is the single best upgrade for car-camping you can buy. No more soggy food!

Well worth the money in the end.
 

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