[Catlalib]

Hello campervan builders: probably a question asked many times but what kind of chest 12v fridge did you choose, if any?
I've read that those with compressor are better; that Danfoss / Secop was good, as well as the Dometic' homemade?
Many trademarks that come back on forums are Dometic, Iceco, ARB, Truckfridge.
45L should work for us, 2 people. We will travel only during the summer, west coast and midwest, south and north, perhaps a week in October and some week ends, on the north east coast or south. We will be off grid sometimes but most of the time in campings. All of this, in the US and Canada.
I was wondering if a dual zone would be better than a single, but they are larger with bigger capacity so single should be enough. I wanted a freezer for ice cream, now I think I can buy my ice cream somewhere and eat it on the spot.
I found that Dometic or Iceco could be my last choice but I've read reviews on forums that worrie me, especially related to the customer service. If we are lucky, we will have what we ask for with a $600-$800 chest fridge, but if we are not, what a bummer for that price and I will regret to not have a simple ice cooler as we used to have during our road trips with our car.
I hope you'll have some advice for us.

 

[SteveSS]

Truck Fridge is good. Also check out Engel.

 

[RV8R]

I have had ARB 50QT & Truck Fridge TF130.

Both have been excellent.

The ARB is extremely efficient. We have the TF130 in our new build & prefer it over the ARB for use and convenient space ,,, but it does use more 12vdc.

 

[Catlalib]

I have had ARB 50QT & Truck Fridge TF130.

Both have been excellent.

The ARB is extremely efficient. We have the TF130 in our new build & prefer it over the ARB for use and convenient space ,,, but it does use more 12vdc.

Thank you ! I saw that the TF 130 is sold out. The closest would be TF65.

 

[MsNomer]

I highly recommend Engel. I have both the MT45 and the MT27. They have been flawless and extremely efficient. It is astounding how much a chest fridge can hold and how easy access can be with baskets. If I sound prejudiced, it’s because I am.

Before the MT27, I bought an ICECO GO20. It is crap.

 

[proeddie]

What MsNomer said... she just beat me to it! Engel is expensive but worth it.

I have the MR40.

 

[Black Pearl]

I have an iceco dual zone.
I love it.
I think it uses 80 watts when first pulling down from room temp.

 

[MsNomer]

In my calibration, 80W is HUGE—about twice what my two Engels use together.

 

[metalmagpie]

After years living out of a cooler and constant searching for ice, we bought an Iceco. We just returned from 12 weeks in Mexico (moving around a lot) we absolutely love it. We were astonished at how efficient it was. Often we were 2-3 nights without shore power and our house battery only went down about half a volt. We don't have solar. Our house battery is charged by the alternator when we're driving or by shore power when we're plugged in, so we never failed to have plenty of power.

 

[Catlalib]

we bought an Iceco.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Which Iceco it is?

 

[Motor7]

IceCo VL 60 here. Picked a dual zone because Mrs Motor likes ice. 2 years and 20+K miles and it's worked perfect.

ICECO VL60D 12V Refrigerator Dual Zone with Cover Portable Fridge

Shop ICECO VL60D 12V Refrigerator Dual Zone with Cover Portable Fridge at the lowest price in icecofreezer.com in US. Check reviews and buy Portable Fridge

icecofreezer.com

 

[RamVanGuy]

Thank you ! I saw that the TF 130 is sold out. The closest would be TF65.

The Truckfridge is a rebadged Vitrofrigio and is same same but much cheaper - about $900 for TF versus $1400 for the V (hence being sold out!) The 65 is closer in size to your preference.

 

[rjcarter3]

I bought one of these on sale for $215 to my door:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08295YLYW/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I initially regretted my purchase since I thought I might want a dual zone (I also like ice cream), but I noticed that when I cranked down the temp to use it as a freezer, my energy consumption went up quite a bit over just refrigeration mode. Maybe with a small freezer compartment in a dual-zone the impact isn't as much, but while fridges are not in microwave or hot water heater territory when it comes to energy consumption, they're not exactly light consumers either. Of course it's all relative to the ambient van temperature.

Right now I supplement with a cooler, which we always travel with anyway and gives me the option of turning my fridge into a large freezer and using the cooler as the "fridge".

 

[kwilsonathiker]

We have the iceco 50 L single zone and have loved it. We have 300 amp/hr of Li battery with no solar or shore power. We have used it for 2-3 days on 12V and only lost 4-5 % of our battery capacity.

 

[GaryBIS]

We have been using a Norcold NB751 since 2014 with no problems.

Its big attraction to me was that it used the Danfoss BD36 compressor, which was said to be good for efficiency and durability.

I did an energy use test on it - it came out 42 amp-hrs on fairly hot day.

No idea how it compares with the other brands.

Just to make you feel bad, I paid $350 for it in 2014

Gary

 

[RV8R]

Thank you ! I saw that the TF 130 is sold out. The closest would be TF65.

I think $2,000 CAN is about $ 1.12 USD 😁 ,,, but on a serious note - here is the Canadian distributor ,,, just sayin;

12V Truck Fridge

The Truckfridge™ line of 12V truck fridges are ideally suited for most North American highway trucks with sleeper cabs. Most models can be ordered as DC Only (12-24VDC) or as ACDC (12-24VDC, 110-220VAC 60/50 Hz) for shorepower applications. When equipped as ACDC the fridge automatically switches...

www.northernfridge.ca

IndelB is the Manufacturer;

Home - IndelB

Leading supplier of cooling and refrigeration systems for vehicles, hotels, cruise ships and outdoor travel experiences.

www.indelb.com

 

[baitbegger44##]

I purchased alicool t36 ac/DC cooler....relatively low cost, put money into lithium battery 100ah added shunt to know what's going on.....going from camping with ice all my life this great....I run it on 1 temp but u can split....has wheels & handle but load into van cooled down empty then add 2 included baskets....I usually stay @ koa's so use shore power still and DC rolling , I live in east so with gas over $3 shorter trips but hoping to get back west/&canada at some time

 

[Roach711]

We have the Engel MT45 Combi which can be all refrig, all freezer or fridge/freezer at the same time. It just sips from our battery bank. Definitely not cheap but worth it.

 

[MaggieMarty]

I had my 65 qt Dometic chest fridge for 5 yrs now running 24/7 as a freezer. Still going strong.
I got it in 2018 for $750, which was a steal in comparison to today’s prices.
I need it portable and to be able to store a large amount of frozen meat for my pups.

 

[jtrobb]

I have had good luck with this off brand. Had it for 3 years and still running strong. For the price I can't complain.

Amazon.com: EUHOMY Car Refrigerator, 55Liter(59qt) RV Refrigerator with 12/24V DC & 110-240V AC, Portable refrigerator freezer fridge cooler For Car, RV, Camping, Travel, Fishing, Outdoor or Home Use(Gray). : Automotive

Amazon.com: EUHOMY Car Refrigerator, 55Liter(59qt) RV Refrigerator with 12/24V DC & 110-240V AC, Portable refrigerator freezer fridge cooler For Car, RV, Camping, Travel, Fishing, Outdoor or Home Use(Gray). : Automotive

www.amazon.com