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Fridges and Freezers, am I wrong ?

Offroad Trailers and Caravans, Equipment, Tips & Tricks
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grips
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Fridges and Freezers, am I wrong ?

#1

Post by grips »

Something that fascinates is Camping fridge/freezer sizes.

I have two fridges in the Cruiser a 80l fridge/freezer and a 40l freezer. All stuff that needed to be freeze goes in there. More or less all meat products.
The 80l I use the fridge side to keep a few beers, cooldrinks and foods like cheese, butter, vegetables. The freezer side mostly ice.

Can do 2 weeks in the wild like this without stressing about top up. Some places we go is completely off-grid.

Now I see so many guys doing 2 week trips with only a 40l freezer and seems to cope. Do they have a different menu and rely on canned and dried foods ? Don`t they drink cold stuff ?

Am I the one in the wrong ? Should we change our way of eating ? Must I learn to have a hot beer or whisky ? FOOKIT I cannot see me going without a braai and having something cold
Last edited by grips on Mon Apr 10, 2023 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Shane
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#2

Post by Shane »

Grips I think you're on the right track.

Cold beer and unspoiled meat rank first on my list.

I'm not into dehydrated ,plastic "box" food either...



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#3

Post by Paul#25 »

Why are you even stressing about how others operate? Your setup works for you on the trips you do and obviously fits your needs perfectly. I think you have a lekker setup with your Cruiser. If others want to drink warm water/beer and only that is their problem.
Personally we also operate with two fridges, the one built into the Xplorer and then a Dometic that I can move to the Disco or the van. The built in one acts as our deepfreeze and the Dometic is the fridge. This system works well for us. On some trips with the club we've had space in the deepfreeze for other members to store some of their stuff because they only had a fridge.
Having 2 units gives you flexibility and backup if one decides to go on strike while on a trip.
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#4

Post by HenriSteyn »

If you really really want to be off the "grid", take a bow and arrow, some hops and yeast and a water filter. That way you get those guys who live off a 40 l fridge another goal post to work to.

Seriously, it's not about how little you can get away with, but to enjoy camping with as little fuss and as comfortable as it suites you, and nobody else.

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Mad Manny
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#5

Post by Mad Manny »

This is how I see it...

There are 3 types of (Off Grid) trips:

1. A Weekender (1 or 2 nights)

2. A Short Trip (3 to 7 nights.

3. An Extended trip (7+ nights)


For a Weekender you don't need a Fridge - well stocked decent cooler boxes are fine.
Meats can't go off.

For a Short Trip a small fridge is fine as long as you apply a bit of management.
You need the ability to Forward Plan.
So you need to keep restocking the fridge with beers & drinks etc. as you use.
As I explained to Wessel earlier - the Afrikaans don't have a term for 'Forward Planning'.
Their closest phrase is "n Boer maak n Plan".
A small Fridge AND a Cooler & you are good.

For an Extended Trip you kinda need a Fridge and a Freezer as meat (esp. chicken & pork) won't keep for 7+ days.
A Cooler is of no help. Also good 'Management doesn't help because putting warm beers or cold drinks in starts to strain your system.

I dunno how anyone could do an extended trip with only a small fridge, but as state above, you'd need that re-hydrated food and keep the fridge for drinks only.
Even then it'd be a challenge...

The Groot trekkers shot their meat as they went (& then Biltong'd the left overs) & trust me, everything they drank was at the ambient temperature...

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#6

Post by AndreasR »

Life is too short to sukkel. I have two fridges. 90l in trailer is normally my fridge, 40l in vehicle is my freezer. Never have a problem.

If I go on my own just with the car then I only take the 40l as a fridge and plan accordingly. But on a long trip on my own I don’t hassle too much about extravagant meals. If I have fresh food all good, if on the last few days I have to eat pasta or rice with tinned sauce that’s also fine.

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#7

Post by Disco Nic »


That’s exactly the set up I have. 90l Fridge in the kakavan and the 40l as a freezer in the back of car.

Going fishing, the 40l runs as a bait fridge/beer fridge at about -1°/-2°
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#8

Post by Saxj »

For weekend trips, just the 35l fridge in the trailer - no solar required.
For extended trips with max 2 night stops, 35l in the trailer gets set to freeze, 42l fridge in the car, with second battery - no solar required.
For trips with 3 or more nights in one spot, 35l in the trailer gets set to freeze, 42l fridge in the car, with second battery - solar setup connected to trailer required.

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#9

Post by Bugger »

In my Syncro I have a Dual.120L.Sno split worked for long trips
Richtersveld and Botswana


The New setup Dual compartment 90 Luna in trailer freezer for Ice and Freezer for meat

65Sno in the Touareg is Fridge cold drinks and beers and some fresh produce
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#10

Post by Mad Manny »

Duel ~ two men with guns settling a score.
Dual ~ Two times twice double reoccurring side by side

Know the difference...
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#11

Post by jakeslouw »

Who the hell has money for a 2 week wild camp trip? Because you'd need to be R10k worth of fuel away from ZA.

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#12

Post by AndreasR »

Believe it or not some guys still do this. 10k fuel not going to get you very far. 10k only gets me about 2500km.

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#13

Post by Bugger »

Mad Manny wrote:Duel ~ two men with guns settling a score.
Dual ~ Two times twice double reoccurring side by side

Know the difference...
Ho cares
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#14

Post by Mad Manny »

Bugger wrote:
Wed Apr 12, 2023 11:15 pm
Ho cares
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#15

Post by jakeslouw »

AndreasR wrote:
Wed Apr 12, 2023 9:15 pm
Believe it or not some guys still do this. 10k fuel not going to get you very far. 10k only gets me about 2500km.
My point exactly.

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