Fridge in back of ute
Submitted: Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 09:17
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Squid
Hi everyone,
I am looking to purchase a fridge which will sit in the back of the ute. At the moment am looking at the Trailblaza or Explorer. These are both heavy units at over 30 kg's unladen.
Would the weight of these fridges fully loaded be too great mounted at the back of the tray, behind the rear axle?
I already have one storage box running down the side of the tray and am looking to get another for the other side, so my options are limited. However, if mounting the fridge at the rear will cause problems I will have to look at other options.
If I do place the fridge in the tray how is the best way to secure these fridges to the tray?
I have a 98 Hilux extra cab and was contemplating fitting a smaller fridge behind the seats but access would seem a bit limited. Does anyone know of anyone who has fitted a fridge in this position?
Thanks in advance.
Reply By: Squid - Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 13:51
Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 13:51
Well guys I have just been down to speak to my local 4wd guy and we threw a 40litre Engel, with insulation cover, behind the seats and it fit ok, although you could not open the lid fully. Enough though to comfortably access the goods.
I might look at the Waeco's though and see what they have to offer size wise.
If I can get a quality fridge to fit in the cab I think I will go with that, at least we can access some of the drinks and stuff as we go I guess. It will also work out cheaper as the Trailblaza is relatively expensive.
Thanks for your thoughts.
AnswerID:
22422
Follow Up By: Phil G - Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 19:18
Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 19:18
Squid,
The 52 litre Waeco has the same dimensions as the 40 litre Engel. ie should fit.
FollowupID:
14799
Follow Up By: Squid - Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 19:30
Friday, Jun 13, 2003 at 19:30
Yeah thanks Phil that's the way I am leaning now. The 52 litre lid also opens sideways rather than lengthways (if that makes sense). So it provides easier access for us, and the lid when fully open is not as high.
Looks like I will be getting the Waeco. It should fit in the space nicely and the boss has given the go ahead.
Now all I have to get is a dual battery system.
FollowupID:
14802
Reply By: CT - Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 13:51
Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 13:51
Squid,
I have a 78L Explorer and it sits quite happily in the passengers side rear corner
of the tray on my 75 series cruiser ute. It sits on a solid rubber mat about 10mm thick. I've secured it to the tray via a turnbuckle on each handle to an eye bolt mounted through the tray floor (two turnbuckles to one eye bolt at each end).
A mate (visitor fj45ute) has the same fridge mounted in the same manner but without any rubber spacing. Fridge sits just behind a full width toolbox behind the cab on a 45 series cruiser ute.
Yet another mate has the 56L Explorer mounted over the axle in the tray of a hilux. He also sits it directly on the tray and secures it from the handles.
All three fridges and installations performed flawlessly while up the Cape this time last year, and none of us have had the need to modify anything in the 12 months since.
Hope this helps with making the big decision on where to spend the hard earned dollars!
Cheers
Craig
AnswerID:
22652
Follow Up By: Squid - Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 19:19
Monday, Jun 16, 2003 at 19:19
Thanks for the reply CT. How do you find the Explorer? I did have a quick look at those but decided I could do without the separate freezer, so I turned to the Trailblaza mounted in the tray and now the Waeco inside the cab. Aaaaagh!!!!! Too many bloody choices.
I am still concerned that if I secure the fridge in the tray behind the rear axle the contents of the fridge will get a hell of a ride. Have you had any breakages or spillages?
FollowupID:
14974
Follow Up By: CT - Wednesday, Jun 18, 2003 at 11:19
Wednesday, Jun 18, 2003 at 11:19
Things do get shaken up occasionally I guess, but I've never broken anything (except I froze all the eggs once and they didn't like that much, neither did the lettuce) and everything is still sitting in the same spot once I get to the other end. I bought some of the 1 or 2mm non-slip matting sold from Clarke Rubber/Camping stores etc (also saw it at Crazy Clarks the other day) and I lie it in the bottom of the fridge to avoid the bottoms of containers, tinnies etc. rubbing those round rings in the fibreglass. Works a treat and keeps the fridge looking brand new.
I went with the explorer as I wanted the seperate freezer for extended fishing trips. Its been indestructable to date and cleans up
well when I get
home (from where the dog rubs on it and the like). If I didn't want the freezer, I'd have gone for the Trailblazer. Other than the Freezer, I couldn't seperate them when making my decision. I was also really impressed by the way they compared in the 4x4 Monthly fridge
test (mentioned in the archives somewhere). For life on the back of a ute, I'd stick with the big insulation and marine grade alloy or stainless exterior (archives give some other brands).
Good luck in the Fridge Minefield
Craig
FollowupID:
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