Used to go camping a lot, but our tent broke and we've not been for a while. We used to use a coolbag and ice blocks, but I have decided that I would like a fridge when we go next year (once new tent has been purchased...!)
Please can anyone advise on which is the best one to get? Do some of them run on camping gaz, or will we need a hook-up?
Thanks!
Louise
------------- Book 'em Danno!
I wear a fez now - fezes are cool!
Normally a fridge is three way running off gas, 12v or 240volt these are usually about 40 litres and on some can make ice cubes - the other type are cool boxes usually 12volt but some are mains - and usually drop the temperature down by about 20 degrees on the outside temperature. I use a camping gaz cool box when I'm travelling its run on the rear cigar plug - on site I sometimes put it on mains using a transformer or put it back in the car for doing any shopping and keeping things cool and fresh. The other beauty is I can turn the plug round and also keep things warm if the need arises so duel purpose - hope this helps
we have the one sold in Aldi recently - 12v/240v coolbox. I'm an Environmental Health Officer by profession so was naturally wary about keeping high risk (meat etc) foods in there.
I am now not worried finding that, if used carefully and as per instructions you can be sure of food safety for high risk foods (maybe not up to use-by dates but at least a day or two).
The 12v/240v boxes are slightly different. in 12v mode (i.e. in the car) they will "maintain temperature" - i.e. not cool. they will maintain at around 15-20 deg.c. blow AMBIENT (remember ambient might be your car in the sunshine - up to 50 deg cTHAT IS NOT SAFE).
You need to put Ice in there - to get the temp down. Then it can be maintained.
In 240v mode they will COOL to 15-20 below ambient. In the UK this GENERALLY means that food is kept at fridge temps (anything < 8 deg C is OK) -
Travelling pack with ice blocks.
Camping we plugged in during the day (whilst re-freezing the ice blocks) then shut up at night using ice blocks and insulation to maintain temps (which worked). Plugging in again the next day.
We just take a table top fridge - it's awkward and heavy but gives us cold milk and keeps all food cool, saves us having to shop every day. We always have ehu though, for that, the heater and the George Foreman! I got the fridge through gumtree for £35, bargain!
Mairi
------------- April/May - Georgia destroyed in high winds sob
May - Loch Ken, 1st outing for the wolf lake
July - Waterside House, Lake District
July - Inside Park, Dorset
Take a bit of time to decide exactly what you require now and may need in the future then research the market. We use hook up but also like to go for long weekends without electricity so we like having the gas/12v/240 volt option but no point paying for that if you will always be on hook up.
Mike
------------- Some people have nothing much to say, but you often have to listen for a while before you realise it!
My 10 year old Sibir 3 way fridge broke down this year after blowing the 12V socket in the car on the way it then refused point blank to cool off the gas once we got there, it knew I had wine to keep cool
So I'm also looking for a new 3 way fridge, has anyone had any experience with the Combicool ones?
We've just bought a Dometic RC1700, our first three way fridge after years of managing with a smallish coolbox and trug (for the liquids!), and think it's brilliant. Definitely one of our best buys even though they don't come cheap. We were really pleased with it's performance last weekend and I'm not sure we'll ever really get used to having cold wine and beer even on the last evening! And we had ice even though it was on its lowest setting. It's big enough that we can get everything in for the two of us and just replace the beers etc as and when they're used - after all it doesn't have to go in cold.
Another vote fo Waeco , remember there are two main styles...
First is the heat exchanger type, they swap the heat out of the box and can only manage to remove about 20 degrees. This is great up to the point that the temperature outside the box is over 25 degrees ( temps in tents in summer may be more like 35), in which case the removal of 20 degrees leaves you with a fridge that cant get the contents cool enough. If your heading to the Med your in bother with these. They are easily recognised by the cooling unit which protrudes into the inner of the box.
Th second type have a compressor like a normal fridge , thus they can pump the coolant round and round until everything is icy. They are quite heavy though and cost a bit more. However you will be able to use one of these as a freezer even in summer. We have one of these and a cooler box , this way we can keep frozen food from home and also freeze our own blocks for the small cooler box that we use to keep the daily milk etc cool. Loads to carry for just a 3 nighter perhaps, but fantastic for a week or two .