Just brought the tent, so excited - Got the kids room , got the carpet, now do I get the fridge? or am I just getting carried away? We are a family of five, hoping to camp in france in the summer. Would a fridge be useful? if so has anyone got any recommendations or can I make do with a cool box and hope I can freeze the cold packs at the site?
Do you have ehu? We have just got a small fridge that is normally used for cans / beers. We are only really going to use it for milk/cheese and any bangers we buy for breakfasts!
We have spent the last two years with a cool box and ice packs and haven't had a problem but have never had ehu before so taking advantage of it now lol
I can't speak for French sites, but some (many?) Britsh sites do have gel pack freezing facilities (although some people talk about having packs stolen). A fridge gives you more freedom.
There are electric-powered fridges and 3-way fridges that can be powered by 12V car, mains or gas. The 3-way fridges have different powers, e.g. able to chill to 20 degrees below ambient or 30 degrees below ambient. In France you would need the more powerful 30 degrees below.
I started with a decent cool box (IGLOO) that can keep things chilled for 5 days without the need to replenish the packs. I still use this for short vamps but for anything longer I use a 3-way.
We are a family of 5 camping for the first time in france this summer. I contacted our site re: ice for our igloo cool box, but they don't keep ice on site. However, they can rent a fridge at 4euro a day. Perhaps ask the site you are going to if they rent fridges.
Thanks for the tips. I think I will have to get one as we consume vast amounts of milk and food generally. Also we are hoping to stay at more "off the beaten track" sites .
We bought a table top fridge off ebay rather than a camping fride.I know we're in a caravan and space is an issue when you are camping, but it's a lot more practical.it holds a good few bottles(alcoholic and non-alcoholic) plus cheese, ham etc and even has a freezer bit for my gin ice!!
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I wouldn't be without my fridge. I don't mind camping without electric or heaters but I always take the fridge. i have a combicool, so I can use it on gas, and I also have a glass fronted beer fridge from the days when we always used to ge to ehu sites. Space isn't an issue for me and the fridge is one luxury I won't go without. warm wine and soft drinks I can't be doing with.
I find a fridge useful for keeping things like a pint of milk fresh. Means that I don't have to buy the meat everyday. Which is very handy, saves finding a shop all the time, and arranging your day around shopping. Although I have done without, this was on a site with several freezers dotted around, so that you could just freeze your own icepacks down. Couldn't comment on France.
We also are a family of 5 and I wouldn't be without our 3 way fridge. We usually use it on elec but like the freedom of being able to use it on gas as well. It saves going to the shops every day to stock up (I refuse to pay site shop prices but it can be quite a drive to the nearest supermarket) and saves paying for ice packs which seems to be the norm these days.
It is probably the one thing I wouldn't be without when camping - we fit loads in it and it's great to know your milk and marg will be cold after a long hot day on the beach.........sorry, I wandered into dreamland for a moment!!
Would not go anywhere without one ! We have spent the last two summers in the South of France and would definately recommend taking one if you can carry it. We went for the table top type (cost about £55) and found that it worked really well. Certainly able to make more ice than a 3 way !
Have to agree - I wouldn't be without our 3 way fridge. We tend to cook all our own food rather than eat out or do takeaways. The fridge meant that during the hot weather (yes we do get some sometimes!) I only need to shop every 4 days or so. Plus you get cold beer, wine and soft drinks an added bonus. A lot of the sites we go on won't allow you to freeze your own packs - you have to use/hire the sites. Luckily we got ours second hand when friends switched from tenting to motorhoming.
How are you planning to travel? Unless you have a trailer I'd imagine you're going to struggle to get your family and all your belongings into a car even with a roofbox if you add a fridge.
I love ours but it was the tipping point for going over to a trailer and there are only the two of us!
For this year I'd contact the site you are going to and see if they hire fridges, I think this is very common in France.