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Overland fridge question

Discussion in 'Recovery & Gear' started by Wahayes, Feb 15, 2021.

  1. Feb 15, 2021 at 1:20 PM
    #1
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Not sure I'm in the right topic so mods feel free to recat. I am setting my truck up for camping. Ordered a leer 100xr and am doing a dual battery isolator setup (more to come on that soon) but I want to put in a fridge. Now I know dometic is a vendor here so maybe they can chime in but I want to know what the difference is between the high dollar dometic and arb fridges and a cheapo walmart 1.7cu special dorm fridge? I mean I get that dometic/arb/ etc overland fridges are more efficient but other than that is there really any difference? I haven't been able to find any explanation while googling.
     
  2. Feb 15, 2021 at 2:30 PM
    #2
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    Allegedly Dometic and ARB is less fragile.
     
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  3. Feb 15, 2021 at 2:31 PM
    #3
    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

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    These types of fridges are much more efficient power-wise as they work will off 12v DC power. The dorm fridges you are referencing most likely run off 110v AC like a plug you would use in a house. You can run one of these in your truck, sure, but then you have to run an inverter which opens up a whole 'nother discussion of power consumption. Many camping/ car fridges like the one I have will let you plug in to 12v DC or 110v AC by changing adapters.
     
  4. Feb 15, 2021 at 2:33 PM
    #4
    Nick T

    Nick T New Member

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    You are correct, the higher end refridgerators are more efficient.
    A cheap dorm fridge runs on 120v, you will lose efficiency with an inverter, they are designed to run off a constant 120v source, also not designed for extreme conditions. Your deep cycle battery might run it for 12 hours, much better to get an RV refrigerator.

    Engle swing compressors are the most efficient with soft start and fully insulated, your same battery might run it for 3 days vs 12 hours.
    Dometic and ARB also have soft start compressors with variable speed ( very similar to the swing compressor, but not quite...think knock off vs genuine )...they can run for approx 2.5

    Dometic is the one to buy, decently priced...you pay extra just for the ARB name, and the engel is the one to get if you are the buy once cry once type of guy...aluminum/stainless steel casing, japanese made swing compressor etc etc.
     
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  5. Feb 15, 2021 at 3:49 PM
    #5
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    325/60r20 falken at3w, 2.25 dobinsons ,20x9 +20 fuel torque wheels, leer xr100, bmc
    So I will be running an inverter. My dual batt setup will have an isolator and will recharge through the alternator.
     
  6. Feb 15, 2021 at 7:03 PM
    #6
    cquilichini

    cquilichini New Member

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    I run a Dometic CFX-50 with their PLB 40 battery and it works pretty good. With a dual battery setup you will get better run times.
     
  7. Feb 15, 2021 at 7:10 PM
    #7
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    I bought a cheap Amazon 12v fridge from a guy off Craigslist for $175. I’ve had a positive experience so far. 4AB06B26-29E2-4704-A62C-87733E6E4B67.jpg
     
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  8. Feb 23, 2021 at 12:00 PM
    #8
    hefemi

    hefemi kifaru overland - Qi Fuh Rou

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    Great Ideas,

    Received my Dometic CFX 55IM today, I'll be doing this tonight, hopping for great results.

    Will post pictures after the install.

    upload_2021-2-23_13-59-49.jpg

    Best,
    hefemi.
     
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  9. Feb 23, 2021 at 12:35 PM
    #9
    blackoutt

    blackoutt YEAH BUDDY!

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    I've had a dometic and I don't think they're worth the hype. Although the customer service was decent when I had a defective unit.

    I ordered a cheap bougeRV 53 qt fridge off Amazon, it was broken upon arrival. I got a replacement, it had a bad controller upon arrival so it got returned too.

    I paid the extra couple hundred for an ICECO JP50 with Sepco compressor which in pictures looks identical to the bougeRV BUT man in person the difference in quality of the casing, controls, plugs, and even the basket inside is insanely better. I'll get to plug it in and test the controller accuracy tomorrow once I let the refrigerant settle from shipping.

    Running a dorm fridge off of an inverter will drain a house battery way too fast unless you have a massive battery, lots of solar and sunny days, or engine is always running (expensive generator). Even with a moderately sized dual battery setup and a low draw DC fridge I opt to run solar if the truck is going to be sitting anywhere for more than a day or two, otherwise the battery will die and that's rough on the battery.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
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  10. Feb 23, 2021 at 1:18 PM
    #10
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    As blackoutt said, anything with a secop/Danfoss compressor is the way to go (I thinks that’s ARB, iceco and dometic). I would steer away from anything else unless you purchase an Engle or national Luna but those are a pretty penny. Nice thing about secop/danfoss compressors is even if the electronics on the fridge go south after the warranty is up, you can use an external thermostat and Hotwire the compressor. I picked up a free dometic someone was getting rid of because the electronic boards went bad. $15 bucks later and it’s up and running.
     
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  11. Feb 23, 2021 at 7:25 PM
    #11
    hefemi

    hefemi kifaru overland - Qi Fuh Rou

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    Worked out Pretty nice.

     
  12. Feb 23, 2021 at 8:39 PM
    #12
    blackoutt

    blackoutt YEAH BUDDY!

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    I was considering doing this with one of the bougeRV fridges, it cooled fine but read 19f no matter what, $10 digital thermostat on Amazon looked like a fun project. But they made it too easy to return and try again.
     
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  13. Feb 25, 2021 at 8:48 AM
    #13
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    Very nice fit. The IM55 is definitely the hot Dometic to me. Perfect size for 7 days solo if packed well with minimal re-ups, and ice cubes for bourbon each night! Fits perfectly behind passenger side. Is that a CM or DC? Either way nice setup. Did you build your platform? Would like pics of that too :thumbsup:
     
  14. Feb 25, 2021 at 9:51 AM
    #14
    hefemi

    hefemi kifaru overland - Qi Fuh Rou

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    Thank you, I have not gotten a chance to use the cooler yet but what I can tell so far is it works :) - with family may be 2-3 days, solo can last for a week and managing.

    it is a CM, I designed and built my own platform using creform plastic; snugly fit.

    I did not want to clutter the post so I shared the design and few pictures of the build on my kifaru overland build post here.

    Best,
    hefemi.
     
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  15. Feb 25, 2021 at 11:02 AM
    #15
    Wallygator

    Wallygator Well Zippedy Da Do!

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    This is what I have. Has been nothing but solid for me and half the price of the "fancy" ones. An has a Danfoss compressor. Details of how I installed it are in my build thread. Please post up your install when you get er done.

    https://mikescustomtoys.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=45
     
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  16. Feb 26, 2021 at 12:12 PM
    #16
    Dometic

    Dometic New Member Vendor

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  17. Sep 5, 2022 at 2:27 PM
    #17
    grave

    grave New Member

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    what would you say is the minimum size for a family of four for 2-3 day trips? the 45s seem to be in my size & price range.
     

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