Travel fridges in hot weather

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Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by Dave_Harris » Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:43 pm

So we're away on out summer hols on hot and sunny Frejus, south east France.
Everything is going swimmingly, except my beers are not cold.

It's well into the 30's here, and the fridge in the van is clearly struggling, and just preventing things from getting warm, rather than keeping things cool.

So it got me thinking, are there travel fridges (like the waeco or others) that specialise in being able to deliver ice cold beers at high ambient temperatures?

We've got the space, and power (albeit in France they are extremely frugal with power and when we use the microwave the fridge turns off briefly!), so have a secondary fridge - but would they be any better?


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by Bodsy » Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:51 pm

Yes, my Engel mt45 delivers ice cooled beer at very high external temperatures. Last year in Spain with the tintent, 30+ outside and lovely icy cold beer.

They really are worth their weight in gold!


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by Bodsy » Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:52 pm

Oh, and don't think about getting a cheap fridge as they'll end 18 below ambient temperature, which is next to useless.


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by Stu » Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:51 pm

Waeco have a cheaper arm who's name escapes me but they seem to be exactly the same components. I have the ARB and love it. I debated about the Engle as I'd used one for quite a bit but like: setting a temp rather than a random number, the internal light, the drain hole and the battery protection built in so you don't flatten the battery.

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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by anglefire » Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:20 am

I have the Waeco 35ltr one and its brilliant - as Stu says you enter the temperature you want and it does it and has 3 settings for battery protection.

Only snag with it now is that the BMW boot isn't so deep as the D3 and the cover only goes over it, if it is in the right place and you accept the lump! :headbang:


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by mzplcg » Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:43 pm

Are you running the van fridge on gas? This is the most efficient way for the 3 way units. Ours has been fine up to 30 odd degrees.


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by anglefire » Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:49 am

The other thing with a fridge in the van is where the condenser is located - it could be in the sun and therefore not able to recondense the gas properly.


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by Dave_Harris » Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:41 am

The condenser is behind the fridge with vents 'outside', none of which are in the sun as they are covered by the awning.

I have been running it on elec though, hadn't considered that gas could be better - we'll give that a go.

Having a portable does provide some added benefits.
Although given how difficult it was to get the van into position between the trees at this site, I am now debating getting a mover (that I always protested I wouldn't need)


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by mzplcg » Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:52 am

Real drivers don't need a mover Dave, especially ex HGV drivers :thumbright:

PS. I'm considering one too


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Re: Travel fridges in hot weather

Post by Dave_Harris » Sun Jul 30, 2017 8:35 am

Ha, I thought the same!
The issue was a narrow road between the pitches, and trees all over the bloody place!
One of which leans into our pitch at an angle, really reducing the useable space we've got.

Still, we got in, albeit by hand for the last bit of manoeuvring


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