12V Refrigerator Suggestions

Since I sprung for the 92ah AGM battery I figure step 2 is to put it to good use and since Yeti coolers run about $400 ( for a size small) and I’m tired of buying ice?…a small 12V fridge in my Tundra is sounding awful tempting so?…

any suggestions?

 

I love my ICECO JP50 fridge (https://amzn.to/3N9DFPF), it's a bit on the older model side but it does the job and is very efficient.
I have done a video of how much stuff it can hold below. I run this fridge 24/7 off of my 175watt solar panel and a 700whr portable battery.

 

Had those pineapple sausages for lunch today.

 

Haha, the best kind!

 

I have a dometic cx30 I think it is. I’ve had it for quite a few years now. So nice to not have to buy ice, have soggy food, etc.

 

Well I’m happy for the suggestions thus far but I guess I should’ve been more specific in that I’m looking for small and economical but of decent quality. The Dometic is nice as well as the ICECO but I’m looking for something like a $200-$300 20L or so.

 

I have one of each of these

$29 Living Enrichment Portable Mini Fridge 4 Liter 6 Can Skincare Fridge, AC 120V DC 12V Small Refrigerator Cooler and Warmer for Skincare, Foods, Medications, Bedroom, Travel and Car - Black

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Enric...58379&sprefix=12v+cooler,aps,106&sr=8-16&th=1
This little one is not worth the money, it may keep things coolish at best.

And one of these

$205 Koolatron Electric Portable Cooler Plug in 12V Car Cooler/Warmer 36 qt (34 L), No Ice Thermo Electric portable Fridge for camping, Travel Road Trips Trucking with 12 Volt DC Power Cord, Gray/White.

https://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-P7...mzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0
This one kind of worked OK but we would supplement with the blue ice blocks. Without that it would keep things cool if it was not real hot in the environment the fridge is in. Meaning in the car with the AC on it was OK.

I also have a Dometic C30 which works much better that both of those but costs alot more. Also all 3 were free and were attached to other projects, so to speak. I gave the little one away.

 

I have one of those in the backseat of my '07 DC. Been using it for the past year in Phoenix almost weekly and on 2 runs to Baja and numerous weekend trips. I ended up making a wood "shelf/tray" that takes up the middle back seat so I don't accidently block any of the compressor vents and it keeps it level. Lots of people in my Teardrop trailer use them and love them.

For bigger chests, I have an Alpicool C40 in our Teardrop that works pretty good, as long as it has some liquid mass inside, otherwise it'll short cycle a bit.

 

I've seen one of these in person recently and I think for the price point it's a pretty good deal. https://www.roughcountry.com/rough-country-cooler-refrigerator-99020.html


Personally I've been using a classic ARB fridge freezer but would recommend anything with the Danfoss compressor. But not same price point. A smaller version of all this might not exist. Wish I could be more help.

 

Call up iceco and ask for a deal/if they have any scratch & dent models. They just had the fridge I have, the tr45, on sale for $339.

My current one might be going up for sale here. Have a deal worked out for a 95dz but still hemming and hawing it over. Where are you located?

 

I have one of the bougy RV fridges, has lasted more than 2 years now. Only use it in the summer, but it gets run alot then.

 

I have an Iceco VL45 (i think) and its been pretty awesome. I got it on sale, which I think they have fairly often, and its solid with a very well known german made compressor. The only negative is that the temperature indicator is off about 4 to 5 degrees F. I usually set it to 28 degrees and it keeps stuff ice cold without actually freezing it.

 

I bought a small one of these a year ago. Been good so far, but not as efficient as my Iceco.

https://www.f40c4tmp.com/

 

Maybe iceco go20 would be the right size for you?
https://amzn.to/3AujtQZ

 

Port Saint Lucie, FL

 

So I thank everyone for their input and if nothing else its been a great learning experience for me but alas I leaned towards the side of frugality.

Having learned much about the virtues of owning a 12V Fridge I was really torn between the Danfoss equipped GO20 which best price (with recommended cover) would’ve put me right at $500 or buying this AstroAI unit for $234 and I thought it was cute that it came with a silicone ice cube tray and glowing reviews of how quickly it got cold and how quiet running it is.

https://www.astroai.com/portable-freezer-car-refrigerator-22liter/ap/10001526

As long as it works I think it’ll work out swell for my menial needs. I’ll report back after I experience it.

Thanks again folks.

 

I have a joytutus fridge since 2019. I use it once a month for a road trip or camping trip. Been great. I don't use it daily, because, well, I am WFH. My buddy got one (Alpicool) and keeps water in it for clients and team members in the field.

https://www.amazon.com/JOYTUTUS-Refrigerator-Adapter-Portable-Freezer/dp/B08295YLYW/

 

I have been completely satisfied with my Engel 45qt refrig/freezer. It has the most efficient and reliable compressor on the market. I can run it for at least 2days on just the truck's battery before I need to start the truck to charge the battery. On a 60amp solar panel it's plug in and forget in all but the cloudest days. It's over ten years old now and still freezes thi gs faster than my household freezer. Amazingly efficient! Kept ice cream hard even in Dath Valley at 112°! Highly recommended for overlanding. It even works when sitting on It's side.

 

Well there’s been a lot of informative and great suggestions made and it appears most are rather happy with their selections.

The biggest difference I see that influences purchase decisions is application and frequency of need/use as mitigated by cost which are the controls that directed my purchase dollars as follows.

I bought, received and today used both my 23qt AstroAI fridge/freezer ($234) along with my new Jackery Explorer 290 Plus power generation unit.

What attracted me to the AstroAI was how quiet running it is and the glowing reviews and it didn’t disappoint this first trial run as I had an archery tournament to attend today.

I pre cooled it at 33 degrees with a gallon jug of water inside (and yes I was happy it fit (( could probably swallow 2 one gallon jugs)).

Left the house 7am outside temps were 77.

Switched off of truck power at 8:30am and plugged it into the Jackery 290.

At 12:30 the AstroAI had been powered for 4hrs by the Jackery and the Jackery was sucked down to 75% in that time which I didn’t think was to bad as outside temps had risen to 91 degrees and these units were locked up in my truck.

On the 45 minute ride home I had both the Jackery charging and the AstroAI running off my trucks two 12V cigarette lighter outlets and the Jackery made it back up to 90% charged.

I’m pleased with both units and will probably add a solar panel soon.

 

Heck yea! I usually run mine right there too!

 

I've been running my old Engel 45qt for almost 20 years now...its been in my WJ, XJ, Subagon Westy, Montero, 4Runner and now the Tundra. I bought it on Craigslist for $450 from a retired couple and it has been solid. I've found my Mom a smaller 35qt version that she uses in her camper. These types of fridges that use a Sawafuji swing compressor are great because it only has one moving part and operate on inclines of 30*.

I upgraded to an NL dual 72L earlier in the year; freezer/fridge options, or all of one or the other. Significantly bigger, but it works well w the new camper layout I've got going. I've got 200W of solar and a 100AH battery in the camper, so it has plenty of power.