fridge recommendations

[sdtripper2]

one word...CRAP...they work sorta well WHILE traveling BUT will kill a battery overnight...they are notoriously inefficient and will only cool to 40* below ambient, which means on a 90* day, your baloney will turn green and your drinks will be tepid...getta Engel, a Waeco or one of these , which are on sale for 395USD right now......

Thank you Jack for pointing out the on EdgeStar Portable Fridge / Freezers

Potential customers consider urgency.
Today 12/26/2008 may mean dollars in your pocket.

EdgeStar Portable Fridge / Freezer
Comparison shopping of the 43qt & 63qt

Looking into the units I found this website that shows well that the price for the 43qt is 395USD
(that is 10% extra off ONLY TODAY and FREE SHIPPING Ending TODAY12/26/2008.

The same discount and shipping for the 64qt unit at 495USD ends today.

So if you are thinking of buying one of these fridges it may be time to make a decision.
The bottom line as I searched the web today is the 43qt is 100USD less than the 64qt
at its lowest price including discounts and free shipping. All bets are off tomorrow as
discounts and free shipping maybe gone on Saturday 12/27/2008.

[Jonolin]

Coleman makes a 12v/110 cooler/fridge that works as a cooler in the normal position or a fridge (with shelves) in an upright position.
They are only $98 in wally world.

Has anybody used one of these? Do they work good and are they COLD?
Thanks
Greg

Not cold. Only cool. Don't think they take anywhere near the power the fridge/freezer's take but just compare their names and you'll have your answer.
1) COOLER
2) FRIDGE/FREEZER
There you go....

I've used one for traveling, worked good in keeping drinks coldish and chocolate from melting all over the place. It's a cooler without the mess of the water from melted ice. If you're wanting to use it like a fridge/freezer, I don't think it will work.

[sdtripper2]

Decisions ~ Decisions

Jack:
Did you buy one of the EdgeStar 43qt's for yourself?
If so or if you know of anyone that has bought one,
what has been their experience with this make and model?

[madjack]

Steve, so far I have not been able to convince headquarters of the necessity of purchasing one...but I continue to work on it....all I know about them, are a couple of favorable reviews I read...I keep hoping that sooner or later, YOU would buy one and let us know just how well it performs
madjack

[doug hodder]

If you want a freezer...you can always get some dry ice and put it in a regular cooler. You can buy a lot of dry ice for that coin....and I know that Steve E uses a small piece of dry ice in his cooler along with the regular ice. Just keep it out of contact with unfrozen food, and not a lot of it. He's been experimenting with it and had good luck. I'm going to experiment also. It's available at the Safeways here. Doug

[sdtripper2]

Jack & Doug:

I did today pull out the moths from my tiny wallet and spent
some dust on the EdgeStar 43qt. Have talked to John B
about his Engel fridge and he likes his very much. For all the
reasons we all would like one. NO soggy food and fighting ice to find food.
As well as constant temps.

Now I will have my ice chest for adult beverages for "Quick Draw Mcgraw"
type fool hardy attacks as in SpinnerNut action. But my food won't be such
a chore to deal with, as my minds eye visualizes.

The reviews on the 43qt seem to suggest that the battery power drain
seems minimal but time will tell and my report will be forth coming.

Yes Doug... allot of bucks for ice is involved here. I can tell ya dry ice here
is about 10 bucks a throw at "Smart & Final". I too have used block ice and
dry ice with that silver 99% keep insulation and that works pretty good but
still water finds a home in my cheese and everything I wish it didn't it seems.

So anyway guys ... I am onward to a brave new world with EdgeStar or as
I prefer to think the Edge of the Stars. For a new way to camp with food.

Reports will follow ~ down the teardrop road.

Steve

[madjack]

Steve,(in my best Mission Impossible voice)...in case of failure, I disavow any knowledge of those machines...BUT wish you the best of luck and await your report...the 43qt size seems about right for foods stuffs to me, since you no longer havvta have room for ice...being able to place tall items in it is a plus as well...let us know, since a 250-200 dollar difference in similar products is significant!!!!
madjack

[greg755]

Steve,
How is that new cooler working out for you?
Looked at the site you showed us, and I am trying to decide between a 43 qt or a 65qt, How much stuff can you put into a 43 qt fridge?

Also what type of 12 volt battery do you recommend? I was going to get a marine/deep cycle but somebody told me "that's not a real deep cycle battery", you need a golf cart battery.

Hm....

How long do you think 2 regular Marine batteries will run that thing (fridge)on a single charge?

Also all the batteries have "Amps" and Cold cranking Amps" Am I correct to assume that I just want to pay attention to AMPS and get the battery with the higher number?
Thanks
Greg

[sdtripper2]

Steve,
How is that new cooler working out for you?
Looked at the site you showed us, and I am trying to decide between a 43 qt or a 65qt, How much stuff can you put into a 43 qt fridge?

Also what type of 12 volt battery do you recommend? I was going to get a marine/deep cycle but somebody told me "that's not a real deep cycle battery", you need a golf cart battery.

Hm....

How long do you think 2 regular Marine batteries will run that thing (fridge)on a single charge?

Also all the batteries have "Amps" and Cold cranking Amps" Am I correct to assume that I just want to pay attention to AMPS and get the battery with the higher number?
Thanks
Greg

Greg:

All good questions ~ but yet to be determined. I am still waiting for the
43qt. to show uP at my door. Holiday shipping has not speed-ed uP
delivery.

I have a deep cycle battery in my trailer, not a golf cart battery. So testing
will be a follow uP posting on this thread down the Teardrop road.

So, Greg ~ I was driven towards buying this box after reading these reviews.

I liked this review in particular.

Great value and well built

Pros:
Door Shuts Securely, Does not drain battery, Space For Tall Items, Quiet, Cools fast, Rugged outer shell
Best Uses:
Long road trip, 4x4 expedition
Describe Yourself:
Avid Cook
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
***
I purchased this unit for a 4x4 trip on the Rubicon trail, where ice is not
available. Most of the others had either the ARB or Engle fridges that cost
$700-$900.My buddies ARB ran his battery down, my Edgestar ran all
week, did not tax my battery, kept food cool and I even turned the
thermostat colder to cool warm beer. Beer was cool in about 20 minutes or
so. All food stayed fresh, the entire trip. Holds a lot more then anticipated.
Extremely quiet..Also the display of temp is better the the ARB or
Engle.Great value and many folks asked about it on the trail.

Options are great to dream about, I guess. Some have solar, generator or
extra batteries to ease their mind and fears of food without proper
temperatures. I have the Honda 2000 so have some security. But will test
the limits most likely of the battery in my trailer. Most times I am camping
3 to 4 days in one spot without a charge is the outside limit of norm, with
gusts uP to 6 days.

Bottom line ~ more data is needed and I will post my experiences here as travel in 2009 unfolds.
(I like the sound of "Travel in 2009 unfolds" as I look forward to meeting uP with people on the road)

About the proper choice of batteries ~ I am not as experienced in this
arena as some here are. Maybe someone else could chime in on what they
use for their fridge, or what experience they want to share about batteries?

Steve

[greg755]

Steve, because of you and Jacks comments, I decided to take the plunge.

I was deciding between the 43qt or the 63qt at a hundred bucks more...

Decisions decisions....

I went to the site Steve suggested, noticed an "Open Box" section...

Called and ordered the 63 qt with a 3 year extended warranty for...

Drum roll.

Wait for it.

TADA - $404 includes shipping and tax. That just made the decision much easier.

Steve you rock..

Thanks
Greg
PS I think they have a couple of more and a 43 in open box as well//

Thanks for the heads up

[Gerdo]

My 45qt Engle holds a ton of food. I know with the Engle it doesn't matter if you have some food of it packed, it keeps everything cool. I have run mine for days on my TD battery and not killed the battery. I've never just let it run for days to find the limits.

[greg755]

I went with the 63qt because there will probably be up to 4 people eating out of it for 2 to 4 days at a time...

At this time I think my TD only weighs about 600 pounds so by the time I finish the Galley it should top out at no more than 850 to 900 fully loaded....

[greg755]

My Cooler came in today...
YEA!

Bad news is, it doesn't run....


Got on the horn to edge star, but they were out so I had to leave a message.

I will let you know how it turns out.....

[greg755]

Good news, They called me on the phone and in about 3 minutes it was up and running. Seems a wire came loose during shipping, which I easily found and re connected.

I got it set up and it cooled down pretty fast. It is very quiet, I had to put my hand on the compressor to even tell it was running.

Will post more after I use it for a couple of days.

G

[sdtripper2]

Greg:

I too have received my 43qt. fridge.
I got it about Tuesday of this week and unboxed it and there it sat while I
took the book in here by my computer to read. Well, I hadn't plugged it in
and when I read your first NO JOY post ... went right out and plugged mine
in. I am also glad to report the VERY QUIET box is running and @ Zero
degrees f inside. All is well for this fridge report.
I will check out the 12v power source in the next few days.

Glad your experience has turned around and all is well for you too.

BTW Are you happy with the 63qt that you bought as far as the size goes?
Weight?
Space that it will take uP?

Steve