Thread: Packing a fridge, How ???

i'll drink to that!

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Originally Posted by weeds

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).

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

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.

Originally Posted by Tank

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.

Originally Posted by d2dave

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

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.

Originally Posted by Fluids

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.

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.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

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!