Inexpensive Mini Refrig for the 4Runner ?

[RichinRidgewood]

Has anyone used one of those 2.5 cf mini fridges while traveling in the 4R? I was thinking that one might be good for day trips instead of packing a cooler with icepacks. I could bungee the door closed so it does not fly open when we are on the road

They are $150-$200 and there is 120v in the back of the truck.

I don't really want to spend $1000 and get one of those nice freezers because I don't think we need that much capacity for what we do.

 

[Bumbo]

Are you talking about a standard residential style 120 VAC mini fridge?

Not sure if those use compressors... you might to check to see if they are based on a Peltier element because there are plenty of DC car fridges that use the same tech and can be had for about the same price.

My other concern is can it keep up with the increased ambient heat load... in car ambient temps can really get up there.

Being a mobile application, I would be concerned about energy efficiency and durability. Compressor based fridges have pretty amazing performance.

Peltier fridges might only cool about 40F below ambient. Its fine for drinks, but I don't really trust them in summer months to keep meat safe.

There are some budget DC fridges that are compressor based for not too much more money. ($300-400)

I have put my ARB compressor based fridge to the test (Vegas in the summer) and I was holding Freezer temps (13F) in 108F heat. I thought a 95 degree delta was pretty impressive. I think a budget fridge is fine, but you might have to manage your performance expectations.

I didn't want to spend $1000 on a fridge either, but my breaking point came after my budget option helped me get food poisoning when on a 3000 mile camping road trip. I spent about 1k renting a hotel room for 3 days until I recovered.

 

[Justthemechanic]

I picked up an Alpicool C20 12v refrigerator about a year ago and it works great. It looks like is has been replaced by the C22 model. I use it as a freezer for runs to Costco and a refrigerator for day trips and camping. It is very easy on the battery, it drops the voltage only .5 volt after using it overnight.

Amazon shows an XtremepowerUS 21 for $230, looks similar to my Alpicool C20.

 

[Bossman]

Portable Refrigerator.

What fridge are you running?

Who's Running a Fridge in their Runner?

Fridge/Freezer set up

Dometic Portable Electric Cooler - CFX Series

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Are you talking about a standard residential style 120 VAC mini fridge?

Not sure if those use compressors... you might to check to see if they are based on a Peltier element because there are plenty of DC car fridges that use the same tech and can be had for about the same price.

My other concern is can it keep up with the increased ambient heat load... in car ambient temps can really get up there.

Being a mobile application, I would be concerned about energy efficiency and durability. Compressor based fridges have pretty amazing performance.

Peltier fridges might only cool about 40F below ambient. Its fine for drinks, but I don't really trust them in summer months to keep meat safe.

There are some budget DC fridges that are compressor based for not too much more money. ($300-400)

I have put my ARB compressor based fridge to the test (Vegas in the summer) and I was holding Freezer temps (13F) in 108F heat. I thought a 95 degree delta was pretty impressive. I think a budget fridge is fine, but you might have to manage your performance expectations.

I didn't want to spend $1000 on a fridge either, but my breaking point came after my budget option helped me get food poisoning when on a 3000 mile camping road trip. I spent about 1k renting a hotel room for 3 days until I recovered.

Yes I’m considering a standard residential style 120 VAC mini fridge. I have not seen anyone using one here however it seems that some of the purpose built portable fridge/freezers use the compressors made by the residential refrigerator companies. I would only use a residential one when we are in the truck and moving and with the AC on in the vehicle. It would not be in sun when the vehicle is stationary except for maybe very short amounts of time.

I read all of the links and everyone is using the purpose built ones.