Fridge for a camper trailer

Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:09
ThreadID: 54278 Views:6647 Replies:10 FollowUps:22
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Hi all, before I start researching, is there a fridge (12v) that is low enough to fit in a camper trailer (off road 500mm deep). I have a 40lt Engel in the car to use as a freezer & would like another to use as a fridge.
Cheers
Jason
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Reply By: Member - Adam S (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:24

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:24
jjt98,

You could use 32lt Engel.

Link

Adam.
AnswerID: 285845

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:31

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:31
Thanks Adam,
It surprises me that a 32lt engel is lower that 500mm. I will look into that.
Thanks again
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 550840

Reply By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:30

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:30
I don't quite understand as the same 40l Engel in the car will fit in the camper as the height is only 370.Just get another Engel to use as a fridge in the camper.Iuse two Engels in my camper, a 40l for the fridge and a 32l for the freezer.
AnswerID: 285849

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:34

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:34
Thanks for that - My 40lt is 520 high thus the question. 20mm is all it takes to be too high for the trailer.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 550842

Reply By: Jim from Best Off Road - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:31

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:31
Waeco make "drawer" fridge. Essentially designed for boats and about 30 L. I'm sure it would suit your purpose.

Jim.
AnswerID: 285852

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:36

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 21:36
Thanks Jim - as i said, I've not done any research yet so the feed back very time saving.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 550843

Reply By: marcus - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:06

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:06
G'day,
I checked at www.fridgeshop.com.au which is essentially a site for factory seconds and superseded waeco fridges.The dimensions of the fridges are listed and for example the popular 50 litre model is only 480mm tall.
w360 h480 l630.
These fridges can be purchased on line and delivered to your door.
Cheers Mark
AnswerID: 285868

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:15

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:15
Hi Mark,
Your a champion. Thanks for that. I'll check out the site & hopefully fix my quandary.
Cheers again
Jason
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FollowupID: 550862

Follow Up By: marcus - Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 09:07

Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 09:07
Jason,
BTW if capacity is important i see the Waeco 80 litre comes in at 454mm tall and is well priced also.
Cheers Mark
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FollowupID: 550904

Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:14

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:14
Try trailblazer ute style fridge
http://www.norcoast.com.au/

Cheers Steve
AnswerID: 285871

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:48

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 22:48
Thanks Steve. Will do.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 550870

Reply By: MartyB - Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 23:02

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 at 23:02
Jason,
Have a look at the 60l Engel, they fit in camper trailers, that is how I carry mine. Longer & lower than the 40l.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I don't run it in the camper.

Marty
AnswerID: 285890

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:13

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:13
Thanks Marty.

I must ask about your last comment - are you not supposed to run a fridge in a trailer.
I understand about ventilation etc - is that it?
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 551412

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:17

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:17
The suspension on trailers are not up to the same sort of standard as vehicles.

They tend to get a rough ride.

My fridge has been sucessfully riding in my CT since I have had them (about 4 years).

I make sure I allow some room for air movement around the compressor area , and whenever I'm stopped , fuel etc , I open the tailgate for a few minutes.

I dont have the luxury of fitting the Fridge in my vehicle , so this works for me.
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FollowupID: 551417

Follow Up By: MartyB - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 13:09

Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 13:09
Hi Jason,
Reason for my comment was the roasting I receied on this forum a couple of years ago for suggesting to carry a fridge in a trailer.
There are 2 basic problems with carrying a fridge in a trailer they are rougher ride and the need for the fridge to disspate heat.
If you are towing your trailer up a bitumen or normal gravel road then the ride would not be a problem. if you are towing up some goat track in the middle of nowhere with the trailer in the air more than on the ground then the fridge would be getting a very rough ride.
If you pack a camper trailer like us the fridge would over heat in there. Fridges give out heat and this heat needs to disipate. We have 3 kids so our camper is totally loaded with no spare space. I have left the camper top open the night before with the fridge running and then turned the fridge off and closed the camper as we leave. The fridge will keep cold for hours, after all a fridge without power is basically an esky. If you have any spare room in the fridge add some techni ice this will help with keeping things cool.
We now go camping with 2 fridges, a 40l engel in the 4wd and the 60l in the camper. We have the 40l running with all the cold stuff in it. The 60l we fill with our linen and carry not running. After we set up camp we turn on the 60l and add the drinks, fruit & veges etc. We then leave the 60l in the camper trailer annex and the 40l in the 4WD.
As long as you are mindful of letting the fridge get rid of the heat and the ride it is getting you will have no problems.
Marty.
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FollowupID: 551674

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 19:59

Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 19:59
Thanks for taking the time to explain Marty. I will be traveling with a 40L Engel in the vehicle & a 40L in a breathable box on the trailer draw bar - so i think i've got it sussed.
Thanks again
Jason
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FollowupID: 551755

Reply By: Member - Mark H (VIC) - Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 00:12

Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 00:12
Jason,

I had the same issue before setting off on my trip and found the 32 Litre Engel would fit and also the 47Litre Evakool. I went for the Evakool which has a seperate Fridge/Freezer (22L & 25L). I liked the extra size, its lighter weight and the fact I have one of their Icekool ice boxes and have found that to be a great unit.

We also have the same in the 4wd and we are finding it to be a great set-up.

Mark.
AnswerID: 285902

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:09

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:09
Thanks Mark. Have had some good ideas given to me - will check it out.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 551410

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 20:45

Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 20:45
The Sidewinder Fridge is 450 high and 480 high when mounted on the slide.

Email me and I will send you the tech drawing.

Regards

Derek.
AnswerID: 286043

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:14

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:14
Thanks Derek - just sifting through the info now.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 551414

Reply By: gazza60 - Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 21:01

Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008 at 21:01
Gday
i have recently had the same problem.
i found the Bushman 35 litre fits my camper perfectly, it comes with a second higher lid that makes the fridge 42 litre.
I use the second lid when camping for a few days with the fridge on the ground out side the trailer.
the bushman has so far proven its self great.
you can find them at 4x4 storage components Narre Warren
ph 03-87901011 ask for peter

all the best
AnswerID: 286047

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:16

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:16
Thanks Gazza,
Will check it out.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 551415

Reply By: flappa - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:14

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:14
Most of the evakool fridges are under 500mm , at around 430mm according to their website
AnswerID: 286335

Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:18

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:18
Thanks Flappa,
The inlaws have an Evacool - might just steel (whoops - borrow) that.
Cheers
Jason
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FollowupID: 551418

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:23

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:23
Evakools become Evahots if you put them in a trailer, they are not up to the job in a tailer you will break them.

A mate of mine runs a camping hire business and has Evakools he told me never put an Evakool in a trailer.

Cheers Steve.
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FollowupID: 551422

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:27

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:27
Rubbish
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FollowupID: 551424

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:39

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:39
The information I give on this forum is free and you can do with it as you wish..

I have a 68lt Evakool fridge that could fit in my camper, but I will not put it there as I have seen what happens to them after they have been in a trailer.

Hey flappa your opinion has been dually noted.

Cheers Steve.


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FollowupID: 551427

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:47

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 13:47
Why would they suddenly become "Evahot" as you say ?

My 60l Evakool EXCLUSIVELY rides in my CT as it has done for the past 4 years without ever having a problem of becoming hot.

Why would it ?

They are recognised as being an excellent Icebox. The fridges are little more then converted iceboxes , which, IMO, makes them so good.

I have on occassions had the need to turn the fridge off in the trailer , and never had the temp vary by more then 2 degrees.

Now that is MY experience on Evakools in trailers.
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FollowupID: 551431

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 14:04

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 14:04
My Evakool would not have survived in the camper on my last trip, it would have been smashed to piece therefore it would have stoped working and then become for EvaHOT.LOL

Cheers Steve
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FollowupID: 551439

Follow Up By: flappa - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 14:10

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 14:10
Lol , fair enough.

I mean lets face it , if you had a choice you wouldn't have a frdige in a CT . . . . fullstop.

Not all of us have that choice.

For that reason I dont see that an evakool is any worse then the others.

None of them are designed to run in CT's.

By the way . . . I had to work hard to have my wiring in good order to run my evakool. It did take me a while to get it right.

In that respect , mine was an Evahot on occassions , but , that was mine fault , and not the fridges.
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FollowupID: 551440

Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 14:33

Friday, Feb 08, 2008 at 14:33
The only fridge I would put in a trailer, would be the Trailblazer.

I don't have any affiliation with them, but a colleague of mine has had one in his tour trailer for 7 years now, he does tours from Arnhemland to the Kimberley several times a year and this thing keeps working.

They are a solid build and there price is very competitive.

Engel 60lt $1639 rr

Trailblazer 75lt ute size $1606

Evakool 60lt $1299

I couldn't find a price on Waeco

Cheers Steve
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FollowupID: 551444

Follow Up By: Member - Mark H (VIC) - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 01:52

Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 01:52
I have 2 evakools, both 47L models, one in car & other in camper. Not much spare space in camper but enough for some air flow around compressor. In 6 weeks of touring we have not had any problems with keeping cool or breaking down from rough tracks. Another 5 months to go so will report on here what worked and what didn't.

I don't doubt the ruggedness of the Trailblazer or Explorer's for a minute. I was originally going to get the Explorer but just too big for my set-up, hence the need to go for 2 smaller fridges.

Mark.
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FollowupID: 551627

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