Best mini fridge?

I got that one. Returning it to the Ts I got it at and trying the koolatron

 

all of the 100 dollar range ones dont use compressor cooling. They use peltier cooling. The advantage is peltier cooling is cheap. The disadvantage is its not efficient and can only cool to a max of 40 bellow ambient temp. If the closet on your truck starts at 80, but then this little frige heats it to 100, your drinks just got 20 degrees warmer.

You can go with an inverter and small mini fridge that uses A/c. The problem is most of them are to big still AND they wont last. The compressors die after 6 months since its not designed for bumpy use. the compressor doesn't get lubed correctly and dies.

The only real good option is the 500-700 dollar ones. Waeco is a good name. Thes have compressors but are built for trucks. They are expensive, but they work. Milk never spoils and I have frozen meat in mine right now. One of my trucks has 790,000 miles on it and the fridge is still running strong (installed 8 years ago). My newer 2010 truck didnt have on when i got it and i just installed one. Expensive, but they work.

There is a redneck cheaper solution. Peltier cooling fridges need tons of air flow to work. The fans that come on the units suck. Good news is, they are standard 12 volt computer fans and can be replaced. My roadpro (when i was company driver) used a 120mm fan. I bought this fan http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835213001 and it super charged my roadpro. Got rid of the OEM and wired in that one. With a wopping 240 cfm, it was way more powerful then the stock one. I got my fridge to reliably go 40 degrees bellow outside temp.

 

I ran an Emerson for 7 years through heavy abuse and it still runs great. If you are not in a hurry watch and you can catch it on sale at Target. I think mine was $189 and I bought it on sale for $139. They are built like a home fridge with a separate freezer door. I've had 4 dorm fridges in my lifetime and that one is by far the best I've owned. It takes 150 watt surge to start the compressor and it cruises on 70 watts. Though I had a 2500 watt inverter, I bet a 400 watt would run it.

That's mine. The locking doors was a nice feature when full of food going down the road. The freezer will hold 10 TV dinners to give you an idea. Stick a 700-800 watt microwave on top and you have a dream truck kitchen.





Target has a newer model now for $199. But watch and they'll knock $50 off it every now and then. I went to Lowes today and they had a good selection of dorm fridges. The same with Walmart. They must be becoming more popular.

 

If you need a real refrigerator that is 12volt, then this is the best one out there:
[h=1]Whynter FM-65G 65-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer, Platinum[/h]

by Whynter

37 customer reviews

| 10 answered questions

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Only 7 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it Thursday, July 10? Order within 80 hrs 10 mins and choose Standard Shipping at checkout. Details




Size: 65 qt

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• Capacity: 65 Quarts or 107 Cans
• Operates as a refrigerator or freezer
• 8-feet AC power cord and 5-feet DC power cord and two removable wire baskets are included
• "Fast Freeze" mode rapidly cools to -8°F
• LED temperature display

By no means is it inexpensive, but it is long lasting and really keeps things cold and or frozen.

 

I have a Haier 2.7 mini fridge running off a little Cobra 400 watt inverter. I have to unplug it if I fire up the coffee pot, and I don't run a microwave in the truck. It was a choice because I don't have a lot of real estate for anything bigger in a 2006 Columbia.

It's been reliable, and it doesn't have a separate freezer door, so it will tend to want to freeze whatever goes on the top shelf if I keep it cold. I don't know the name of the part in the back that has a ball inside of it, ( some kind of expansion device for the freon ), but it will rattle like crazy on bumpy roads.

But for $80, give or take, it doesn't do a bad job of keeping a small amount of food cold. It's been chugging for a year and a half, but I don't use it constantly.

View attachment 68279

 

We bought a Coleman cooler from Wal-Mart with the warranty for a few extra bucks. Works great ! ! If it breaks....there is a Wa-Mart everywhere to go and exchange for a new one.

 

http://www.truckfridge.com/

Not sure what they are like . They are a little pricey , but then again you get what you pay for.

I haven't bought one yet and I am really considering it....

 

I myself have used the Emerson brand and loved them. Granted i have never had one in a truck.
Mike1140