mnjeeper
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #31
At the end of the day, this may be where I start simply based on time. If so, and if I build the trailer...I am still curious how to size the end game. Extra space with the start is ok, too small later sucks.Id say give the cooler a try. And if it doesnt work out you can always buy the fridge then.
Mine will get shaken and stirred offroad. That is the goal.As far as an electric cooler there are none that last much more than 3-5 years max if they are being banged around off road. Even the high end Engel coolers fail in harsh off road conditions.
I just buy a cheap one and replace it as it fails. Dometic and ARB are no better or worse than than the cheap Chinese BougeRV cooler that I beat up.
Now if you are taking care not to go off road, not plugging/unplugging frequently, and are careful handling and not tipping your cooler at extreme angles, then the higher end ones will last a really long time. Engel coolers are known to give over 10 years of service if taken care of.
I'm both aware, and willing to spend for quality. Name, meh. But sometimes the leaders in the field end up there for a reason.@mnjeeper Dometic and Iceco (and ARB) are not the only brands around, just the ones pushed hardest in the past few years by social media.
This obviously may change based on how things shake out, but my vision is no more than 3 days remote, and that would be moving daily except perhaps in somewhere like JV or Moab, then I would be more careful on supplies. If I was in a spot for 4-5 days...supplies are available. I like preparing, but I also like supporting small economies. I'm in America...it's rare to get too far from a small store.Maybe give some more usage examples, e.g. # days with no resupply, # days not moving, # people, recharging capability for what you are planning.
I will look them up!I agree wholeheartedly with @entropy on Engel. They are rapidly becoming a forgotten brand. I have a small one (15ltr?) that lives in the jeep 99% of the time, and a larger (45ltr?) one as well. Look up the super cool Sawafuji Swing compressor that they use. Completely different technology. Lower start-up Amps and lower Amp draw overall, compared to most anything, and at least as dependable. Those are important limiting factors when it comes to boondocking.
Interesting and logical, not sure if I will be "away" enough to make this worthy.One thing no one has recommended, I prefer using a smaller sized fridge/freezer in freezer mode, then supplementing with whatever size cooler suits the trip.
Keep the unit set to freezer and fill with Engel or Yeti or other new-brand phase change 20°F or 32°F ice packs in the freezer, along with meats/ice cream/whatever. Then transfer ice packs to the cooler every morning. Then you have dual zone, without a single, expensive, heavy, enormous dual zone unit, and you can scale the cooler to whatever excursion.
Edit:
Deferring to @OllieChristopher OP should also mention what sort of trails and how he runs them. I don't think anyone really parks and spends the night at a 30° angles like the manufacturers say is possible though.
Thus far, parks. I could eat at restaurants or resupply easily. But, once I take care of a few things, there will be visiting my friend in Colorado for wheeling, Moab, etc. The wheeling is far beyond fire roads, if that helps.
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