Packing a fridge, How ???

[Chops]

Just wondering how people pack their fridges.
It doesn't seem to matter whether its an esky or the fridge (38/40Lt), no matter how I pack it, it always ends up the same,,, crap.
I always have to seem to pull just about everything out to get the one thing I want. The next problem is destroying stuff. I used to keep things like meat etc in tubs/boxes, but depending on how long we're away for, this can take up too much space. Not so bad when I'm on my own, but with two, it gets a bit painful.


So, how do you pack your fridge so you can get to most stuff, and not destroy anything?
Pics welcome too :D

[Eevo]

start with alcohol

[Mick_Marsh]

I find putting the stuff on the bottom in first is the easiest. I tried packing it from the top down but I got in a right old mess.

[Chops]

I find putting the stuff on the bottom in first is the easiest. I tried packing it from the top down but I got in a right old mess.



There's one in every crowd :bangin:

[Blknight.aus]

I use elastic seperators and tubs when Im in the mood to keep the fridge sorted. Lots of square waterbottles to use up excess space.

meat gets vac packed on plastic plates to keep it in a fixed shape.

2/3/4l juice and milk bottles cut up and cleaned up to make drop tubs is the cheapest and easiest thing to use.

always fill as much space as you can with water bottles when youve got the fridge running on charging power, if you dont have external charging on your batteries the next best thing is to put the drinks in either late at night or very early in the morning.

[roverrescue]

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" I use elastic seperators and tubs when Im in the mood to keep the fridge sorted. Lots of square waterbottles to use up excess space."

Ffs water has never gone in my fridge any spare space is filled with beer rum shifties or perhaps Coke

The only time there is space is when the above is running out

S

[Chops]

I did learn the hard way to keep the fridge full of something at least. Empty fridges just love to use up batteries.

I like the idea of the cut down bottles, I'll try that.

[Blknight.aus]

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" I use elastic seperators and tubs when Im in the mood to keep the fridge sorted. Lots of square waterbottles to use up excess space."

Ffs water has never gone in my fridge any spare space is filled with beer rum shifties or perhaps Coke

The only time there is space is when the above is running out

S

who said there was water in the waterbottles?

[DiscoMick]

? also find packing from the bottom up is easier than from top down. Sorry...
We have several containers with vacuum seal lids so lots of stuff goes in them to protect them. Then other stuff on top.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[loanrangie]

I have a vacuum sealer on the shopping list, this will save space and reduce excess liquid that pre-packed meat usually has.
Also finding plastic containers that fit neatly will help use the space wisely.

[vnx205]

I found that the most important thing was to use only square or rectangular containers. Round containers waste too much space.

That way a 15 litre Engel was big enough for trips with two adults and two children.

[loanrangie]

I found that the most important thing was to use only square or rectangular containers. Round containers waste too much space.

That way a 15 litre Engel was big enough for trips with two adults and two children.

15 litres wouldnt hold my beer for a weekend let alone food for 4 people .

[DiscoMick]

Rectangular is the way to minimise loss of space. Vacuum sealing lids are a bonus as food lasts twice as long.
Using containers means less gets squashed or rots in water in the bottom of the fridge.
The drinks problem can be solved by only putting a couple in at a time and replacing as used. It only takes an hour in the fridge to cool a beer.

[vnx205]

15 litres wouldnt hold my beer for a weekend let alone food for 4 people .

If beer came in square containers, 15 litres would add up to 40 stubbies or cans. That should keep you going most of the weekend. :)

[Chops]

If beer came in square containers, 15 litres would add up to 40 stubbies or cans. That should keep you going most of the weekend. :)



Damn,, I've had mates that'd knock that lot off in a day, easy. :angel:


We use square/oblong tubs, and we do the can replacement thing too, except for her wine/s.
Have thought hard about buying a vacuum sealer, and as always, it looks a good option, just have to get one.
I started using sealed containers back when I had an esky. I can remember pulling up at camp one night in the high country, looking forward to my steak, opening the esky and fishing out my soaked rotten looking meat. Never again :mad:

[Fluids]

Definitley pack bottom up ... :)

Vacum seal everything and anything that can be vacum sealed. Even stuff that can be only partially vacum sealed. Easier to pack, keeps fridge cleaner inside.

Square or rectangular packaging wherever possible, and if it can be removed from it's store packaging, it is. A great space saving.

We have a 47L ARB fridge. I leave the divider in the middle. Flat pack all the meat and perishables that are vacum sealed in the rear 1/2, in reverse order where possible so you just take from the top day by day. Bottles, juice beer, mixers for the bourbon, etc in the front 1/2. Cheeses, butter, all the small stuff into the dairy compartment at the rear, with any spill over ontop of the vacum packed stuff. There's always a bit of space here for fruit & veg if required.

We play the 1 out/1 in game for drinks. The hot one going in always goes to the bottom if its cans, if it's bottles, the hot one stands up, and the cold one lies horizontal across the top.

Once anything from the fridge is opened, or there's left overs, we put them in Zip-Vac bags and evacuate the air ... again, easier to pack and no fridge mess ... for larger volumes we use recycled chinese food containers.

Allways try where possible to pack in such a manner that taking something out doesn't cause the house of cards to collapse ! :)

And ... If your have trouble making it work for you ... get a bigger fridge ! ;)

[Tank]

I vacuum seal pre-cooked meals in bags that fit neatly across the bottom of my 38L Engel, I can fit about six meals on the bottom and only take up about 50mm of depth. Bagged meals are small enough to fit into a 200mm cooking pot of boiling water and brought to temp., hot water in pot is then used for washing up after.
Flat sided containers use the available space, for milk I use the UHT rectangular containers, suprising how many of them you can get to fit.
Never pack Butter or Marg. containers with anything on top, I had a small jar of Vegemite sitting on top of a Marg, container and after about 1 1/2 hours of rough road travel the vegemite jar vibrated through the lid of the marg. and squeezed all of the marg. out all over everything else, needs to be on top.
The frozen meals in the bottom help cool the fridge and are only accessed once a day at dinner time, so not a hassle, I also freeze the UHT Milk, except for 1 container.
I really don't have to run my fridge at least for the first day, I pack my frozen stuff towards the bottom up to 24 hours before I go camping and run the Engel off 240V at home and it keeps everything (meals and milk) frozen when I load the fridge into the disco, I run the fridge till I get to where I'm camping, then I turn it off for 24 hours (if not driving), after that I just run it off the aux. battery and that way I get an extra day from the batteries before I need to plug in the Solar setup. Works for me, Regards Frank.

[Chops]

Good stuff Frank. I've never thought about leaving the fridge off for the first day, that would certainly take some of the load off the batteries, especially if you don't have a house battery.
We travelled for two weeks through part of Tassie with just one battery, never had an issue, but when we didn't use the car for the second day a couple of times, it did worry me a bit.

[Homestar]

start with alcohol

Agreed - start with the alcohol. End with the alcohol - leave the food out... ;)

It's only when SWMBO started coming camping with me that I even considered the Engel was also an appropriate place for food. ;)

Before that, a loaf of bread, some potatoes, chips and a can of braised steak and onions would see me through a weekend. :angel:

I didn't care what I ate as long as the beer was cold.

[Fluids]

Here's another tip for stretching your battery run time I use all the time. Yes, leave home with everything chilled and down to temperature. While you're travelling (engine running) I set the fridge to -5deg so the fridge runs pretty much non stop. When we stop for the day I'll turn the fridge back to 2deg. Generally the fridge won't cycle on again until sometime the following morning ... When we set off again, turn the fridge down and repeat. Means there's no fridge draw on the batteries for up to 18hrs in cool weather, 6-12hrs in hotter weather.

The fuller the fridge is the better this works. If the fridge is part empty I stuff it full of water bottles or beer before we set off each day.

Sent from my iPhone using two tin cans and a length of twine

[weeds]

Here's another tip for stretching your battery run time I use all the time. Yes, leave home with everything chilled and down to temperature. While you're travelling (engine running) I set the fridge to -5deg so the fridge runs pretty much non stop. When we stop for the day I'll turn the fridge back to 2deg. Generally the fridge won't cycle on again until sometime the following morning ... When we set off again, turn the fridge down and repeat. Means there's no fridge draw on the batteries for up to 18hrs in cool weather, 6-12hrs in hotter weather.

The fuller the fridge is the better this works. If the fridge is part empty I stuff it full of water bottles or beer before we set off each day.

Sent from my iPhone using two tin cans and a length of twine



If your driving everyday not much point going to the trouble of winding up and down the temp plus it plays havoc with fresh veg and salads

My fridge runs 24/7 weather is full or empty set at 2 degrees. I turned it on Dec 14 and hasn't been turned off since.....car does get driven nearly every day except when it sitting at the airport for 2 maybe three days.

[Eevo]

i'll drink to that!
:Thump:

[DiscoMick]

Here's another tip for stretching your battery run time I use all the time. Yes, leave home with everything chilled and down to temperature. While you're travelling (engine running) I set the fridge to -5deg so the fridge runs pretty much non stop. When we stop for the day I'll turn the fridge back to 2deg. Generally the fridge won't cycle on again until sometime the following morning ... When we set off again, turn the fridge down and repeat. Means there's no fridge draw on the batteries for up to 18hrs in cool weather, 6-12hrs in hotter weather.

The fuller the fridge is the better this works. If the fridge is part empty I stuff it full of water bottles or beer before we set off each day.

Sent from my iPhone using two tin cans and a length of twine
That can work well if it doesn't matter that the contents of the fridge will freeze while it is running at -5, but some vegies don't like being frozen.

[Fluids]

If your driving everyday not much point going to the trouble of winding up and down the temp plus it plays havoc with fresh veg and salads


But if we decide to stop over for and extra day or two, and not head on the next day, I've just added almost an extra days run time for the fridge on the aux' battery (without having to setup the solar).



That can work well if it doesn't matter that the contents of the fridge will freeze while it is running at -5, but some vegies don't like being frozen.


Fridge has never frozen anything when I've done this ... it gets mighty cold, and any fruit/vege is packed in the very top of the fridge .... but 4 to 6 Hrs driving isn't enough time for these 12v fridges to freeze stuff ... and, I doubt the accuracy of the fridges temperature display ... but you get the idea.

[d2dave]

suggests that you spend most of your time drinking while away camping.
Regards Frank.

Don't most of us? I do and so do a lot of others that I meet up with.:beer:

[Tank]

Don't most of us? I do and so do a lot of others that I meet up with.:beer:
I don't know anyone that I go camping and driving trails with that would rather have beer rather than food, I don't see the sense in hauling a load of beer on a camping trip, IMO.
It must be pretty common going by the hundreds of beer bottles and cans in the scrub around my favourite spot. Not saying that you don't take your rubbish home but 99.99% don't.
After a heavy night of drinking by some campers 1/2 a Klm down the track at Bendethra, 4 of the drinkers were pulled up by the cops the next day, who had come into Bendethra looking for stolen and unregistered bikes.
All 4 were charged with high range DUI and were banned from Bendethra for life, (local newspaper) one of these clowns was also charged with shooting and killing a Kangaroo, got 6 months in the can for that.
Speaking to the Rangers about this and they said head office was considering a total ban on alcohol in NPWS areas as 99% of Incidents involved alcohol, I just don't see any need to boast about how much beer you consume while camping, Regards Frank.

[DiscoMick]

But if we decide to stop over for and extra day or two, and not head on the next day, I've just added almost an extra days run time for the fridge on the aux' battery (without having to setup the solar).





Fridge has never frozen anything when I've done this ... it gets mighty cold, and any fruit/vege is packed in the very top of the fridge .... but 4 to 6 Hrs driving isn't enough time for these 12v fridges to freeze stuff ... and, I doubt the accuracy of the fridges temperature display ... but you get the idea.
Fair enough. Our old Engel starts to freeze if the dial drops below 0 degrees. Couple of times that has happened accidentally and we've had to throw food out.

[loanrangie]

I find just turning the fridge off at night when you arent accessing the contents will keep it cold enough til the next days driving, in the mornings on last trip it was at 4c before i turned it back on.

[Toxic_Avenger]

Fair enough. Our old Engel starts to freeze if the dial drops below 0 degrees. Couple of times that has happened accidentally and we've had to throw food out.

It's a revelation!
Things freeze below 0 celsius!
:p

[Tombie]

One of our fridges (we have a few) would have everything frozen in 4-6 hours. It's done it before!!!

But I have used a similar method with other fridges; just not quite that cold....

[Tombie]

It's a revelation!

Things freeze below 0 celsius!

:p



Wait till they find out what happens to water at Sea level when it gets to 100c !!!!

[Tombie]

Change to decent, I repeat decent, spirits and you don't need mixers. Or a fridge to cool them...

And change it up with a nice bottle of red. That doesn't need a fridge either...

It's those Queensland Diesel / 4X swillers that seem to need the fridge for something other than food [emoji13][emoji41]

[pop058]

Change to decent, I repeat decent, spirits and you don't need mixers. Or a fridge to cool them...

And change it up with a nice bottle of red. That doesn't need a fridge either...

It's those Queensland Diesel / 4X swillers that seem to need the fridge for something other than food [emoji13][emoji41]

A bottle of SA ( Rimini) Red :p No fridge required.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/05/27.jpg

[d2dave]

Change to decent, I repeat decent, spirits and you don't need mixers. Or a fridge to cool them...

And change it up with a nice bottle of red. That doesn't need a fridge either...

It's those Queensland Diesel / 4X swillers that seem to need the fridge for something other than food [emoji13][emoji41]

I hate red wine and spirits. Beer and a dry white only gets packed for our camping trips.

SWMBO loves Bundy, but she needs a diet coke to go with it.

[Tombie]

A bottle of SA ( Rimini) Red :p No fridge required.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/05/27.jpg



I think Toxic Avenger did a review of that one

[Toxic_Avenger]

Not yet, but I'll pen a quick review ;)

[Fluids]

Change to decent, I repeat decent, spirits and you don't need mixers. Or a fridge to cool them...

And change it up with a nice bottle of red. That doesn't need a fridge either...




Agree'd. Makers Mark ... but a little ice makes it even better :D

Like red ... she doesn't ... so need coke for her JB ... and she doesn't drink beer or ANY type of wine ... talk about fussy !! (ducks for cover!)

[Chops]

It's funny, we always take grog, some white, a mix for me and very small bottles of coke for my mix.
The little bottles of coke are probably expensive compared to a large bottle, but they seem to fit in easily, are quick to cool, makes them very worthwhile.

The last few times we've been away, I've been lucky if I've had one, maybe two drinks,, I'd sooner punch down a coffee.

[loanrangie]

It's funny, we always take grog, some white, a mix for me and very small bottles of coke for my mix.
The little bottles of coke are probably expensive compared to a large bottle, but they seem to fit in easily, are quick to cool, makes them very worthwhile.

The last few times we've been away, I've been lucky if I've had one, maybe two drinks,, I'd sooner punch down a coffee.

Thats coz you're going soft mate :p.

[d2dave]

The little bottles of coke are probably expensive compared to a large bottle, but they seem to fit in easily, are quick to cool, makes them very worthwhile.


I always take cans over bottles.
They pack better in the fridge and when it comes to take your rubbish home, they crush very compact.

[Chops]

Thats coz you're going soft mate :p.

:wheelchair::BigCry: