We are in the midst of ordering a van and we need help with choosing a fridge. We can have the new Dometic (with the curved front), a Thetford (both 3 way) or a 12/240 Weaco. Sorry don't know any model numbers but they all are around 170+ litres and have 2 doors.
Any issues with any of them not keeping cold in the heat. Any advise greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Gerty Dancer said
08:57 AM Oct 16, 2014
The Waeco 12/240 does a great job of keeping cold, apparently the compressor motor is an advantage. Its disadvantage is that it uses 12volt power while you are bush-camping so you will need solar panels or a generator to keep your batteries charge up. We've had a peculiar problem with ours, have a look at this from the Techies section.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 16th of October 2014 09:17:53 AM
KFT said
10:21 AM Oct 16, 2014
G'day Leajoy,
I think the answer to your question will depend on just what type of camping you wish to do.
A 3 way has several advantages, silent running, runs on 3 different energy sources and Lpgas while away from power. Disadvantages, can be temperamental if not installed in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
A compressor fridge also has advantages in that they will always cool dont need to be completely level. Disadvantages can be power hungry in high ambient temps and when away from power this may mean having to run a vehicle or genny for power and they do make some noise when running.
From info on forums the curved front Dometics seem to have a problem with the capacity or effectiveness of the cooling unit
So I suppose you need to think about just where you intend to go and whether power will be available or not.
hope that helps
frank
Oz Gypsy said
03:40 PM Oct 16, 2014
We have a Dometic 3 way 2 door fridge/freezer. We have lived in our fifth wheeler for almost 8 years full time and have never had a major problem with our fridge. It does take a long time to freeze meats, but I just do the shopping & pack everything in the freezer and leave it closed for at least 24 hours. In really hot sunny weather we put a shade cloth over the fridge - below the top vent so as not to restrict the air flow. Wealso have a little computer fan in the top vent to help out on hot days.
The key is to make sure it is properly installed and insulated. We made sure there was insulation material (think ceiling batts) stuffed all around the gaps on top and sides of the fridge. The fridge is supposed to be installed with no air space on the sides or top, but this is near enough impossible so they do tend to leave quite big gaps. The hot air then collects around the fridge and heats it up. Insulation stops this.
We will always go for a 3 way so we can stay bush for longer without worrying about the batteries. We prefer to refill gas bottles than run the generator. The 3 way is also totally silent. It comes down to personal choice
Blue said
05:49 PM Oct 16, 2014
if you are doing a lot of free camping or camping without 240v power then you'll need a 3 way fridge
Thanks for the advice. We will be doing a fair bit of free camping and will have solar and generator. The Waeco 12/240 fridge uses 7amps do solar may struggle to keep up. Looks like a 3 way will be yhe way to go.
Thanks again
SnowT said
08:10 PM Oct 16, 2014
Why is it People keep on Looking to OLD TECHNOLOGY regarding fridge's..
The Newer Modern Day House Fridge are Far more efficient than the current range of RV Fridge's.. 1/4 - 1/3 the Cost of the RV fridge's and can be run off a System that has at least 20AH of Usable Battery with the required Charging..
ie from enough Solar or if you need to generator or running the Vehicle motor..
and when I say Enough solar I mean enough solar in the Worst time of the year you can expect to be out there..
So for say $550 you can get a 3.5Star Fridge that consumes 60-70w of power when they are running..
- how do I know.. I'm Running a new generation Samsung Fridge..
Juergen
Early said
11:51 AM Oct 17, 2014
Keep away from Dometic 8551 sub tropical rated fridge freezer, they do NOT get or keep cold enough. The cheap 3 way solution but inferior as now made in Germany. We are still awaiting resolution, but not hopeful of a good outcome. Dometic comes up with another possible CAUSE when the previous one has been proven NOT to have been the cause of the inferior performance. Just a cheap and nasty 3 way which ALWAYS has to be set on the MAXIMUMtto get CLOSE to a NON FOOD POISONING temperature.
leajoy said
12:40 PM Oct 17, 2014
Thanks Early just googled it and it looks like the fridge in their van so will not get that. We have had experience with the Waeco CR110 and a 40 l chest fridge with the same problems so maybe Thetford is the way to go??? Cheers
-- Edited by leajoy on Friday 17th of October 2014 12:42:25 PM
mr glassies said
04:18 PM Oct 18, 2014
if it were me id be going 12 volt compressor fridge i got 2 a 180 cf and a 210 cf both with freezers and love both . actually got 4 if you count the 2 engels
Hi Everyone
We are in the midst of ordering a van and we need help with choosing a fridge. We can have the new Dometic (with the curved front), a Thetford (both 3 way) or a 12/240 Weaco. Sorry don't know any model numbers but they all are around 170+ litres and have 2 doors.
Any issues with any of them not keeping cold in the heat. Any advise greatly appreciated.
Cheers
The Waeco 12/240 does a great job of keeping cold, apparently the compressor motor is an advantage. Its disadvantage is that it uses 12volt power while you are bush-camping so you will need solar panels or a generator to keep your batteries charge up. We've had a peculiar problem with ours, have a look at this from the Techies section.
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t58581841/waeco-fridge/
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 16th of October 2014 09:17:53 AM
I think the answer to your question will depend on just what type of camping you wish to do.
A 3 way has several advantages, silent running, runs on 3 different energy sources and Lpgas while away from power. Disadvantages, can be temperamental if not installed in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
A compressor fridge also has advantages in that they will always cool dont need to be completely level. Disadvantages can be power hungry in high ambient temps and when away from power this may mean having to run a vehicle or genny for power and they do make some noise when running.
From info on forums the curved front Dometics seem to have a problem with the capacity or effectiveness of the cooling unit
So I suppose you need to think about just where you intend to go and whether power will be available or not.
hope that helps
frank
We have a Dometic 3 way 2 door fridge/freezer. We have lived in our fifth wheeler for almost 8 years full time and have never had a major problem with our fridge. It does take a long time to freeze meats, but I just do the shopping & pack everything in the freezer and leave it closed for at least 24 hours. In really hot sunny weather we put a shade cloth over the fridge - below the top vent so as not to restrict the air flow. Wealso have a little computer fan in the top vent to help out on hot days.
The key is to make sure it is properly installed and insulated. We made sure there was insulation material (think ceiling batts) stuffed all around the gaps on top and sides of the fridge. The fridge is supposed to be installed with no air space on the sides or top, but this is near enough impossible so they do tend to leave quite big gaps. The hot air then collects around the fridge and heats it up. Insulation stops this.
We will always go for a 3 way so we can stay bush for longer without worrying about the batteries. We prefer to refill gas bottles than run the generator. The 3 way is also totally silent. It comes down to personal choice
if you are doing a lot of free camping or camping without 240v power then you'll need a 3 way fridge
see discussion
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t58758613/3-way-fridges/
Thanks again
The Newer Modern Day House Fridge are Far more efficient than the current range of RV Fridge's.. 1/4 - 1/3 the Cost of the RV fridge's and can be run off a System that has at least 20AH of Usable Battery with the required Charging..
ie from enough Solar or if you need to generator or running the Vehicle motor..
and when I say Enough solar I mean enough solar in the Worst time of the year you can expect to be out there..
So for say $550 you can get a 3.5Star Fridge that consumes 60-70w of power when they are running..
- how do I know.. I'm Running a new generation Samsung Fridge..
Juergen
Keep away from Dometic 8551 sub tropical rated fridge freezer, they do NOT get or keep cold enough. The cheap 3 way solution but inferior as now made in Germany. We are still awaiting resolution, but not hopeful of a good outcome. Dometic comes up with another possible CAUSE when the previous one has been proven NOT to have been the cause of the inferior performance. Just a cheap and nasty 3 way which ALWAYS has to be set on the MAXIMUMtto get CLOSE to a NON FOOD POISONING temperature.
Thanks Early just googled it and it looks like the fridge in their van so will not get that. We have had experience with the Waeco CR110 and a 40 l chest fridge with the same problems so maybe Thetford is the way to go???
Cheers
-- Edited by leajoy on Friday 17th of October 2014 12:42:25 PM
dibs