What 12V Fridge Would You Choose?

geekcohen on 24/03/2023 - 06:00
Last edited 24/03/2023 - 08:00

Hi all,

Looking to buy a 12V Fridge for day trips that also have 240V capability to pre-cooling before departure. This will be hooked up to a 2nd battery in the near future as well.

Any feedback or recommendations would be great.

1 - Ridge Ryder Thermo Cooler/Warmer 12 Litre - Looking at this 12L from Supercheap. It offers portability. - $113
2 - myCOOLMAN CEP 47 Insulated Fridge Cover - Not so portable - $99 - Its just a cover.
3 - Wait for this Mitre 10 Deal to come up again (if lucky) which offers portable

Mainly for drinks and a little bit of food. Portability would be great, but I guess no essential.

Poll Options

  • 1
    Number 1
  • 6
    Number 2
  • 2
    Number 3
Automotive Portable Refrigerator

Comments

  • mapax on 24/03/2023 - 06:36
    +3

    Number 1 is not a fridge it is only a thermo cooler.
    Number 2 isn’t even a cooler, it’s only a cover…
    Number 3 is a 50L fridge and would be the least portable option.

    You probably want something like the Rovin 30L fridge.

  • Euphemistic on 24/03/2023 - 06:59

    First one is a cooler/warmer. It isn’t a compressor fridge and won’t really be effective at cooling stuff, they are more for keeping already cool stuff cool and not very effective at that. It’s also too small
    .
    Second one is a cover. The fridge will be a lot more expensive.

    Third will probably never be at that price again. It is also quite large at 50l and really suited for a weeks worth of camping not a day trip.

    IMO getting a 12v fridge to keep stuff cool for a day trip is a waste of money. If you want one for a few days trip, that’s when they start to become worth it. Which one is it?

  • Hansi on 24/03/2023 - 07:54
    +1

    Get a good esky if it is just for day trips.

    Something like the Cool Ice Icebox WCI−22 will easily get you through the day at under $100 and no need to worry about power options. Just throw a frozen water bottle in with your stuff.

    • geekcohen on 24/03/2023 - 08:20
      +1

      I do have an Esky but sick of buying ice all the time.

      • Euphemistic on 24/03/2023 - 08:21
        +1

        Fill a couple of water bottles and keep them in the freezer. You don’t need to buy ice all the time.

        Back in the day my old man would freeze 2x2l of milk and it’s keep our food cool enough for a weekend camp trip, but then we never had ‘ice cold’ drinks available for the weekend and would just deal with it.

        • fantombloo on 24/03/2023 - 10:10

          Fill a couple of water bottles and keep them in the freezer.

          This. It's usable cold water as it melts, costs nothing. I don't understand why people bother with ice packs.

          Also if your home fridge has an auto ice maker you can empty it every once in a while into a bag and keep it in the chest freezer - don't need to buy ice again if leaving from home.

    • sepa on 24/03/2023 - 11:40

      For day trips, I'd also go the esky, using freezer bricks rather than buying ice. Cheaper, lighter, more versatile and reliable. Portable fridges are great for multi-day camping but heavy and bulky for the cooling space you get. But, hey, that's not what you asked, so Jaycar aka Roadtechmarine 15-20L fridges are pretty good value in the $200-250 range, and come with 3-year warranties, which is important for cheaper fridges. Adventure Kings (usually cheaper on ebay) are also good but only 2-year warranties on their cheap fridges.

  • Gunnar on 24/03/2023 - 08:01

    What’s it going into? The second two will be massive and take up quite a bit of usable space in your car, especially if it’s a sedan or hatch, you think you have space in there until you have a Fridge in it and see just how much space it takes. If you’re Going dual battery I’m guessing a 4WD or dual cab?

    As above RE the first one

    If It’s for a day trip you won’t need that big so I’d get something around the 15-20L size and make sure it has a compressor.

    • geekcohen on 24/03/2023 - 08:19

      What’s it going into? The second two will be massive and take up quite a bit of usable space in your car, especially if it’s a sedan or hatch, you think you have space in there until you have a Fridge in it and see just how much space it takes. If you’re Going dual battery I’m guessing a 4WD or dual cab?

      Ford Ranger with Canopy. I've got a spot with my shelf design for it to go into. Which provides easy access from the rear.

      If It’s for a day trip you won’t need that big so I’d get something around the 15-20L size and make sure it has a compressor.

      Awesome, thanks, I will take a look at the smaller ones.

      • Euphemistic on 24/03/2023 - 08:23

        Plus one for a 40-50l being too big for a day trip.

        Also, for day trips you shouldn’t need an extra battery. You only really need an extra battery if y out are going to be running a fridge overnight, and probably then only if you aren’t driving for a couple of hours at start and end of day.

      • Gunnar on 24/03/2023 - 08:56

        Ah yeah that will be loads of space. Size wise they are deceptive because they take on much more that you think they will (use square and rectangle containers to maximise space use, and cans for drinks)

        I've got a 20L fridge in the boot of my car (Lexus IS350) and it's both the best thing I've bought and a complete pain in the ass.

        The latter is because of how much boot space it takes (it's not just the footprint of the fridge but also the usable space in the boot after it's installed. Best thing because having a fridge for day trip, transporting food to a friends place, or just grocery shopping on a hot day is excellent because you don't have to worry about rushing home with your frozen stuff. Car fridges chill beer excellently

        20L is more than enough for a day trip (remember when comparing internal dimensions to an Esky you don't have any space lost to ice)

  • joshjosh210 on 24/03/2023 - 08:24
    +1

    As others have stated, unless you are going to go to the effort of a proper dual battery system or proper battery bank you are probably better off with a quality esky.

    I'm a fan of the Brass Monkey range, in particular the 15L is one that I've used. It'll keep your drinks and food cool, is small enough that it doesn't take up a heap of space. They also make a more premium model that can take solar and a battery for extra. I have found though, that unless you have a proper battery setup it'll be warm come morning.
    It's worth noting if you go the premium model the battery can only be charged off 240V so you can't recharge it on the go which is a bugger.
    https://www.roadtechmarine.com.au/15l-brass-monkey-portable-…

    If you go this route make sure that your car has a live cig socket even when the ignition is off, and that the fridge has an auto low voltage cut off.

    I just read you have a dual cab with canopy, also check out the drawer type fridges. I reckon these are the go, being able to stack things on top and not necessarily needing to purchase an additional fridge slide depending on how the ute is setup / large the fridge is. https://www.snowys.com.au/20l-drawer-fridgefreezer-gh2008?gc…

    Regarding size I would say a 15-20L fridge is ideal for a day trip, and can make do for a overnight camping trip. If you're going away for more than a day though you'll want to look at something larger like a 40-50L fridge. I used to use my 15L fridge while working to keep drinks and lunch cool, and a 50L fridge when I go away.

    • Euphemistic on 25/03/2023 - 07:30

      Not cheap, but handy if you want to take your cold drinks to the beach and can’t drive on it.

    • geekcohen on 26/03/2023 - 07:50

      If I had the Ryobi equipment, I would. But I am an Ozito man, so maybe when Ozito make one!

      • Euphemistic on 26/03/2023 - 11:57
        +1

        It’ll be on the cards, just a matter of when. I think makita do one too, and others are likely to have a version.

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