sandman said...

Batteries...

Deep cycle are a bit more expensive. From memory there are wet type, gel type and some other type that takes the best from both worlds. try and find out what that other type is and get it. the wet type has to be mounted outside the car cos of gasses, the gel type is fine anywhere else but has some other major flaw... damn I wish i could find the info again.

bottom line, deep cycle aint deep cycle, do research.

The "other type" is AGM (absorbed glass mat). Reaonably expensive though- think $300-$500.

The friends we go camping with asked what sort of fridge they should get. Their style of camping is "Drive and plonk" where they stay put wherever they go, rather than travelling around. I suggested a 3 way (gas/240v/12v) because a gas bottle will last for a long time without having to worry about batteries and recharging, plus if you have other things running on gas then you're already set up for that type of fuel. Gas fridges will generally get you a larger volume for less cost than a compressor equivalent. Others might be able to give feedback on this, but gas fridges aren't supposed to like being bumped around (like off road) or kept on funny angles.

I got a compressor driven 12v/240v fridge because the priority was for 4wdriving trips. In those days we would usually be driving nearly every day so there is the ability to recharge the aux battery regularly. A three day stop would usually drain the aux battery though. Compressor fridges don't mind being bounced around or being on 45 degree angles and I don't think a gas fridge would have been any good for our 6 week Cape York trip. Given we now do more drive and plonk camping I've had to go solar to keep things charged. I can use the compressor fridge in the boat if an esky won't do because again it doesn't mind a bumpy ride.

So if your style of camping is drive and plonk, and an esky won't do it for you, I'd recommend going gas and not worrying about batteries and solar.

I'll shut up now. Cheers for cold beers.

WaWa verider, just wondering what brand of 3 way fridge your using

Have been using chescold which is great but I'm thinking of buying a 40 litre waeco 3 way from Auto One who have them for around $600 which looks like great value .
Be careful with all the gas fittings as dust or sand can block jets I always cover any open fitting with gaff tape and yes gas fridges need to be set up level

A: Buy yourself a fibreglass EVA KOOL eski (most expensive eski you will buy but you will see why when you use it )

B: Get an Aluminium plate cut that is just a shade smaller than the inside of the eski measured at about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom ( stick with me here it will be all worth it in the end ) These eskis are tapered slightly from top to bottom so don't measure at the top or it will be too big.

C: Buy a rubber extrusion that fits on the aluminium to act as a seal and silicon it on and manufacture some handles out of some rubber sheet and bolt them to the aluminium ( otherwise you won't be able to get the plate out when it's in the bottom of the eski.) The plate when it is in the eski with the rubber on the outside should fit snugly almost creating an airtight compartment underneath.

D: Make your own ice in a deep freeze if you've got the room. Put the ice in the eski and smash it up a bit if you have to to get it fairly evenly spread. It will refreeze into one block.

E: sit your aluminium plate on top, now your ice is contained in a nearly airtight area that is not affected by outside temperature when you lift the lid repeatedly to get your beer.

Think beer won't get cold unless it is sitting in ice ? with good homemade ice, temp on the aluminium is 0.4 deg C and just inside the eski lid 4.0 deg C. Plastic water bootles will start to freeze if sat directly on the aluminium. Don't even think about putting lettuce or tomatoes on there. Also nothing in the eski gets wet using this method.

Must drain off any water out of the bung every day, maybe twice a day in hot conditions. I've gone on holidays in Alice springs for four weeks in the middle of the year, and topping up with bag ice when required I have still bought back small pieces of my home made ice after all this time. Without adding any ice you should easily get 5 days.

I have never before released this priviliged information to the public so do what you will with it, but if you think about it you know it makes sense, the main thing that kills your ice is air temp and putting warm beers in it. My next step is to make a complete aluminium basket that slides in so you get cold conducted all the way up the sides as well as being able to lift everything out at once to add more ice.

This method will improve the hell out of any eski, but do yourself a favour and buy yourself an EVA KOOL, it's the last eski you will buy.

I hope my long winded essay has given you some food for thought.

We are still looking for a portable fridge for two reasons. Firstly as a beer fridge at home and secondly to keep beer and food cold when camping.

Can someone explain how the 3 way fridge system works?

Looked on eBay but the ones for sale seem to be mainly in Melbourne.
What about the 3 way fridges on this page?
http://www.kangarootentcity.com.au/welcome/page34.php

If the seal on the esky/waeco etc is in good condition and does'nt allow air in or out, I find there's still ice in it after a day in the car/van. It's only after I start dipping my mitts in it that the ice starts to melt.