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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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4baja's 'Fridge-Freeze' or ? (propane, AC, DC)
I am going to use Nomad search and dig up all the stuff posted on his ice maker/ refrigerator he takes to Baja that I saw a few years ago...
[Edited on 4-10-2007 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Here's one post:
4baja
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 9-4-2003
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posted on 6-2-2004 at 07:39 PM
rough roads and coolers dont get along, as david k said this fridge i have works awsome and no brocken bottles and no watered down food. ive owned it
over 8 years now and never have had a problem even in 100 degree temps(in the shade) while camping. i'll be bringing a bunch of fish back this july
and will gurentee that it will be 100% frozen when i get back. 250 bucks at the swap meet well spent.
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ursidae69
Nomad
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Registered: 2-22-2004
Location: Youngsville, NM
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No point in starting a new thread, everything you need to know was posted yesterday.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=23817
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David K
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Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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I put 'Fridge-Freeze' in qoutes because 4baja has something else that runs on propane, too (while the unit is not moving, in camp).
I am hoping he or someone that knows what he has can provide the name or web site for it.
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ursidae69
Nomad
Posts: 275
Registered: 2-22-2004
Location: Youngsville, NM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I put 'Fridge-Freeze' in qoutes because 4baja has something else that runs on propane, too (while the unit is not moving, in camp).
I am hoping he or someone that knows what he has can provide the name or web site for it. |
If it runs on propane in camp then the unit must be an absorption unit, and just so you know, absorption units don't work well in your truck. So, on
your drive to camp, the unit will not last long because like it was said in the other thread, absorption units don't do well with vibration or angles.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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ursidae69 is 100% right on any propane operated units, after going through three of them, including one with a freezer, I gave up and got a 115/12v
compressor type Waeco with a freezer. It works (I tested) in 25 - 105 degrees F. I, on the other hand, did not do well.
I can not always park level and that kills propane absorption types.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
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Location: San Diego County
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Okay then... knowing how 4baja drives all over Baja and was so happy for so many years with his propane/electric unit, I am surprised by this talk of
it not going to work well...?
If electric only, then what is the best way to keep the food and beer cold on days you are not driving, and don't want your battery to die?
Neal, with the Toyota battery, how long can I run the fridge before starting up the truck... and how long does the truck need to run to bring the
battery back up to full charge?
Can you recommend an affordable solar panel I can set on the roof and plug onto my battery or cig. lighter to keep it charged while the fridge is
running?
Gracias!
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ursidae69
Nomad
Posts: 275
Registered: 2-22-2004
Location: Youngsville, NM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
If electric only, then what is the best way to keep the food and beer cold on days you are not driving, and don't want your battery to die?
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In warm weather, your stock bttery will last 6-8 hours. You need a dual battery setup with the aux battery being a deep cycle, preferably an agm
battery like a lifeline, something around 100-110 amp hours. It will run the fridge for days in the Baja heat.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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There are not any affordable solar panels strong enough to do what you want.
You need two batteries. Waeco (and probably the others) have a low voltage disconnect that will leave enough juice to start your truck. If not, get a
disconnect:
https://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/vcc/cartergroup/batterybra... or ebay
How long will they last? Depends on the temperature - a couple of days.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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If this isn't going to be simple, I will stick with ice!
Thanks for your time guys!
I was really hoping to attract 4baja and hear his latest views... as he drives Toyota, has the unit he swore was rock solid, etc.
Steve-o, are you in Baja this week? 
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ursidae69
Nomad
Posts: 275
Registered: 2-22-2004
Location: Youngsville, NM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
If this isn't going to be simple, I will stick with ice!
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Nothing worth doing in life is simple Dave, come on, don't weenie out, get a fridge! They go well in Tacomas. 
I have a writeup on my website on my waeco install. I'm still deciding which battery setup to go with. The rest of my Tacoma mods are here.
On my 2 week Baja trip in March, my fridge was amazing and I'm SOO glad I bought it. I went with friends and they had the usual cooler mess, wet
food, nothing really cold enough, no ice in most places, etc.etc.
[Edited on 4-11-2007 by ursidae69]
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David K
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I did look at bajataco's web page of installing one behind his Tacoma seat... and just now, yours too.
Thanks for your concern!
Keep in mind, that I have just one vehicle and it is my work truck and my family transportation when it's not a Baja fun truck.
I am not going to do an installation like bajataco's because I need my back seat open for people. Is yours easy to pull out, or is that permanent like
bajataco's? Here is his link: http://bajataco.com/fridge/fridge1.html
I am not at all interested in a second battery install...
I go camping maybe 6 times a normal year and only 1-2 times for more than a long weekend.
I would like to have a fridge to keep food and drinks in, naturally. Not needing ice would be a great luxery... but not if I am going to spend a grand
on it (or more).
A unit I can put in the back or bed, plug into the 110 VAC inverter outlet the Tacoma comes with would be handy use for it (how many U.S. trucks have
a 110 volt outlet in the bed?).
I did read of a solar panel that can sit on the truck to keep battery charged, but maybe not as fast as the fridge draws out?
Thanks Neal for the battery switch off link... looks neat.
[Edited on 4-11-2007 by David K]
[Edited on 4-11-2007 by David K]
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ursidae69
Nomad
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Location: Youngsville, NM
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I hear ya on the space issue. Many folks install the fridges in the back of the truck if you have a shell to protect it. The engel and/or waecos run
round 600, not a grand, still a lot of dough though. Another option I'm looking at is simply having a single large agm battery in place of the stock
battery with low voltage protection. I'm looking into getting a custom battery tray fabbed up to make this work, then I don't have to mess with a
dual battery setup.
I assumed you camped more.
My install is permanent like Bajataco's.
[Edited on 4-11-2007 by ursidae69]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I put every one of my camping trips on Nomad Trip Reports Forum and most of them also will get a web page made and put on VivaBaja.com.
Ever since Baja Cactus invited me to see his new motel, I have used it instead of a lot of camping!
6 camping trips from 2-6 days long in '06, 4 trips in '05 & '04.
Baja Cactus Motel can really spoil you, along with all the good food in El Rosario!
[Edited on 4-11-2007 by David K]
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Location: Sonora
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David, with as much driving as you seem to do on your trips, I dont think you'd have much trouble keeping a charge to your battery. Maybe just upgrade
to an AGM when the stock battery goes, like ursidae69.
But you should check out the capacity on these ones that run 600.00 or so. They're not the largest things in the world, No way could one hold all the
food and beer and the occasional white wine that my wife and I might consume on a long weekend in the boonies. Especially if you have to store bulky
vegges like lettuce and such. Plus, it certainly wont chill beer down as fast as ice, not by a long stretch.
I use mine as a second refer or freezer in the truck or boat. It's a luxury. Cant imagine it being my only source of cold at 45 quarts. The 60 quart
models are nearing 1k, once it's shipped.
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
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Location: morro bay ca
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i was up at the cabin for a week(first time not in baja at easter for years) and just got home. i have a colman surviver 3 way fridge and it works
awesome but i do believe the fridge freeze is a better unit and better for off road use. i use mine alot on propane mainly and have never had a
problem with the unit. the fridgefreeze is just to costly for me and besides my place south is solar with inverters so i use 110volt fridges now. i
will try to get a few pics up of the fridge sometime today.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
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Location: San Diego County
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Thanks Steve for your input here... So, it is a Coleman Survivor?
Hook, you are correct that with a lot of driving the battery should be pumped up enough... However, I am thinking of a long trip to Los Corrales south
of El Barril or Malarrimo/Asuncion/Tortugas where I may park for a few days.
Even though it may produce less amps than the fridge draws, can someone suggest a solar panel that will trickle charge the battery while parked... ?
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ursidae69
Nomad
Posts: 275
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Location: Youngsville, NM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Even though it may produce less amps than the fridge draws, can someone suggest a solar panel that will trickle charge the battery while parked... ?
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Here are some reads on solar:
BadgerTrek's solution using larger panels:LINK
I plan to buy a solar panel roll from Brunton later this year: LINK
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Thank you ursidae69... I appreciate that... I will study those links later... got to go do some irrigation business now! Bye!
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4baja
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Location: morro bay ca
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dave, my buddy tells me that with a good battery(optima blue top) the charge should last 5 to 6 days on the fridge. if you fire up the truck every few
days you should have no problems. good luck. fridge-freeze works.
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