Cost of having a fridge

[bert56]

Hi all,

I've added up the cost of having fridges compared to eskies.

I NOW DON'T KNOW WHY I WANTED FRIDGES IN THE FIRST PLACE. HOW OFTEN ARE WE THAT FAR FROM CIVILISATION THAT WE CAN'T GET ICE. I WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED IF I HAD KNOWN THE REAL COST.

2 waeco's...$1200
Dual battery set up, including a 70 a/h marine battery...$900
Powersonic battery to replace marine battery...$280
700 watt generator...$400
Petrol for generator...$5/day based on coastal pricing
Battery chargers...$330
Solar kit...$450
Wire...$120
Plugs, switches etc...$200
2 X 31 Litre fridge of meat when the marine battery collapsed...$100

Nearly $4000 in 18 months and a lot of heart ache trying to get set up, that is a hell of a lot of ice. I've got 1 large (100 litre) and 2 small eskies sitting in the shed. Only the small ones get used now. I should have bought a 140 litre tucker box freezer for at home and made my own ice.

Bert

[hargs]

Our fridge cost a grand ten years ago..................is used at home too, when needed when the family are all home...........hate to think about replacing it !!!

Really feel it owes us nothing.

[Marcus73]

I've had mine 10 years and haven't spent anywhere near that, but I can guarantee I've saved a fortune on cans of drink in that time. You don't feel you may have gone a touch overboard with your set up? I have a fridge and dual batteries that's it. Yes I will eventually get solar for the ct but I still feel its well worth it.

[dav]

I got my 40L  fridge in 2002 runs at home every day when not 4x4 driving. Did the first 4years with just a single battery but carried a jump start kit as a back up and only had to use it once. I have a dual battery now and have stayed in one spot for up to 4 days no solar. I just start the Patrol for 15 min every second day. I would not go back to a ice box.

[krisandkev]

Maybe you need to get out more and enjoy your fridge. 
We have been to heaps of places where you cannot get ice or if you can it is very expensive and is a large block! And you spend time and fuel just trying to find a place that does sell it, plus the worry if you are unable to find some.
For example we carried an esky as well as our fridge when we spent 3 months in the Kimberley, using the esky to store our fruit and veggies and it was a real pain. We would loved to have had a second fridge.
Also there are a lot of travellers who use a second fridge as a freezer. Bit hard to keep food frozen in a esky.
I suppose it is like the old cost of fuel argument. If you have to worry so much about the cost, then stay home. 
Life a too short, spend a little and be enjoy....
Kevin

[Bird]

2 waeco's...$1200
Dual battery set up, including a 70 a/h marine battery...$900
Powersonic battery to replace marine battery...$280
700 watt generator...$400
Petrol for generator...$5/day based on coastal pricing
Battery chargers...$330
Solar kit...$450
Wire...$120
Plugs, switches etc...$200
2 X 31 Litre fridge of meat when the marine battery collapsed...$100
Nearly $4000 in 18 months and a lot of heart ache trying to get set up, that is a hell of a lot of ice

Dual battery setup $900? WTF?
I think you've been given **** advice like the marine battery in the first place, or not understood what was said..

Why a Genny + Solar + ChargerS?
And where do you get 2x Wako's for $1200..

Whats the heartache in setting it up? Dual Battery + power outlet = Works.

Plus your running 2x Fridges not one. So you should expect it to cost more to setup than a single


PS. you do realise theres literally thousands of people with that setup (well, only 1 charger, no genny, 1 solar panel, and dual batteries) camping regularly without any problems.

[Murray]

Hi Bert,
I went through the same thought process several years ago. I agree with your thinking. I bought a 50 ltr Chescold 3 way instead of a compressor fridge. Most of my camping is in one spot so I run it on gas or electricity (when in a van park). I can run it in the  car when driving. Some folk hate the 3 way fridges claiming they don't work because they are controlled by ambient temperature. This might be an issue if you live in the northern regions of Aust. I'm in Brisbane , we camp Moreton Is, central Qld and up to Gladstone and don't have an issue. I put the fridge on a stand so air can circulate around it and make sure it is level.  I add this only as an alternative to compressor fridges and ice. But if ice suits your camping style, go with that. It's a personal choice thing.

Murray

[oldtrack123]

Hi all,

I've added up the cost of having fridges compared to eskies.

I NOW DON'T KNOW WHY I WANTED FRIDGES IN THE FIRST PLACE. HOW OFTEN ARE WE THAT FAR FROM CIVILISATION THAT WE CAN'T GET ICE. I WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED IF I HAD KNOWN THE REAL COST.

[1]2 waeco's...$1200
[2]Dual battery set up, including a 70 a/h marine battery...$900
[3]Powersonic battery to replace marine battery...$280
[4]700 watt generator...$400
Petrol for generator...$5/day based on coastal pricing
[5]] Battery chargers...$330
[6]Solar kit...$450
Wire...$120
Plugs, switches etc...$200
[7]2 X 31 Litre fridge of meat when the marine battery collapsed...$100

Nearly $4000 in 18 months and a lot of heart ache trying to get set up, that is a hell of a lot of ice. I've got 1 large (100 litre) and 2 small eskies sitting in the shed. Only the small ones get used now. I should have bought a 140 litre tucker box freezer for at home and made my own ice.

Bert

Hi Bert
Perhaps you were ill advised in the first place

[1]You should have understood the power requirements of compressor fridges & perhaps considered a GOOD 3way
[2]Obviously an undersized battery for the purpose ,  DEFINATELY FLOGGED TO DEATH resulting in QUICK failure
[3] perhaps not suitable for the job
[4]&[5]Perhaps that money would have been better spent on  solar
[5]Why more than ONE & again pehaps not suitable for the purpose
[6]Certainly in adequate for the purpose [see[4]]

I expect the Waecos low voltage cut out was not set a the correct point to PROTECT THE BATTERY
If it had been you would have had a very early warning that your system had problems
You could have saved your self a lot of problems

Your system was poorly designed & set up
The same amount of $$$ would have given you a very good solar set up
or as in [1]a good 3way  ,correctly installed.

Peter

[WilSurf]

I am very happy with our 50 liter Waeco which we bought over 6 years ago.
It has been running quit a lot and even on 1 battery.
Our set up is like most of us very simpel:
- dual battery system
- 1 fridge/freezer
- 1 solar panel

And yes, we are going remote where no ice is available.
Last time I checked the Israelite Bay Telegraph station had run out of ice years ago. 

[bushbandit]

Just went thru the process of installing the Engel after many years of ice .

Engel 40ltr $950 on special
Optima D31A Battery $350 but cheaper now
Redarc Battery Isolator  $110
Mandrake 120w Solar Kit $450 delivered
Plus roughly $200 on Cable ,Andersons ,fabricated plate to mount Isolater and Engel Transit Mount.

Just over $2000 money well spent wife loves it and will last for years and as someone said also use at home when family arrives .Ice is good but a pain in the butt.

[chester ver2.0]

1x waeco 80L 1500
1x duel battery system 400
1x deep cycle battery 250

Not getting back to the camp site and going Crap i forgot the ice = Priceless

[McGirr]

If you want to be shocked see what owning a 4wd costs. 

I have 2 fridges, a generator, dual battery system......Total cost approx $4300 over 10 years.   

It depends what you needs are. I have not worried about solar panels as I have not needed it. One fridge is in the cruiser and is used when I go for trips for the day. Both fridges are used on big trips.

Mark 

[Teabag]

Small price to pay for cold beer...:-)

My fridge alone was $2400......but the convenience it provides is priceless......:-)

[jeb1900]

Obviously space savings and weight savings are not an issue to you. 

One big advantage with compressor fridges, and doing away with ice boxes is the space and weight you save. 

PLUS they're also a great beer fridge for home. 

Each to their own though.  There is more than one way to skin a cat. 

[BernieS]

My Engel was a hand me down - 3rd hand still going strong. Gets used for xmas drinks and parties at home, particularly since the Bris flood and likely power surge killed the beer fridge in the man cave.
Since we're about to order our camper investigating getting an Arkpak $449 plus battery and solar panel.

[Joff]

Holy crap! You spent some cash in that lot. cant help but agree that you may have gone a little over the top on a few things

I run two fridges and wouldn't be without at least one. In fact, if I'm in the cruiser I'm never without one. I havent taken it out apart from maintenance in 3 or 4 years. I reckon eskies and ice are seriously painfull 

[Mrs smith]

The cost of the fridge setup was a small price to pay for dry bread. lol

[wholehog]

Yes.....Ice boxes are a pain in the but.....getiing ice every day....having to worry where u can GET ice...Ill take my fridges any day

[oldmate]

Cost compared to convenience is nothing. I wonder how much bigger you esky has to be to get the same amount of food/drinks in and cold for 7 days as opposed to my 50lt fridge?

[briann532]

PRICE??

On cold beer from the fridge?

Can someone explain please. I think I'm missing the point

[Kalebjarrod]

Expensive but it looks really cool to pull out frozen magnums in the back of nowhere while your mate has his margarine full of water

And yes I understand that they are $500 magnums......  Still cool

[WilSurf]

Expensive but it looks really cool to pull out frozen magnums in the back of nowhere while your mate has his margarine full of water

And yes I understand that they are $500 magnums......  Still cool

Good point.

[GeeTee]

Wow you got 'sold' a lot of stuff.
I 'bought' one fridge.

[Bird]

Wow you got 'sold' a lot of stuff.
I 'bought' one fridge.

x2

[discoteddy]

Love my two 40l Engels. One is more than ten years old and the other a little over two. My truck has a deep cycle aux battery fitted with a rotronics management system. The Trackabout has a couple of 100 amp hour AGMs which Charge from the Triton via a ctek dc - dc charger. The CT also can be hooked up to 240 volt via another ctek 10. Amp smart charger. A cheap 80 watt folding solar panel keeps me running a bit longer and if the weather is cr$p the Honda gives the whole lot a tickle for a couple of hours here and there!!

All up a substantial investment, as is the truck and CT. thinking about it I'd do it all again, both Engels are used at birthdays, Easter and christmas at home. They get taken away for two  two week blocks each year plus about another dozen weekends! Yeah we've saved a fair bit of money on ice and stayed some wonderful places where there was no ice eating some great food. The on going savings we've noticed the most is the cash saved preparing meals whilst travelling, the 50 dollar McDonald /hungry jacks lunch dinners are no more, on a two week trip alone we probably saved a couple of hundred bucks and feel all the better for it, anyway suits our clan and our camping style.



Discoteddy .