Fridge For Campervan
Discussion
I'm currently in the process of converting my T5 into a dayvan/camper type of set up to use at 24h mountain bike races.
I've sorted a camping stove for cooking food and boiling water with but need to sort out some kind of fridge to keep food and drinks in.
I've tried a Coleman cooler box in the past but it wants great TBH.
After a bit of research it seems that the Waeco portable fridges seem to be highly rated. I'm considering one of the CDF series to run from a 110aH leisure battery in the van as they seem to have a fairly low current draw.
With fridges like this is it best to go with the logic of buying the biggest one you can afford? The CDF 25 seems to be popular but is £100 or so dearer than the 11 litre version. Should I just bite the bullet and get the bigger version?
Also, is there anything else worn taking a look at?
I've looked locally but there doesn't appear to be any Waeco stockists nearby that I could go and have a look at their products at.
I've sorted a camping stove for cooking food and boiling water with but need to sort out some kind of fridge to keep food and drinks in.
I've tried a Coleman cooler box in the past but it wants great TBH.
After a bit of research it seems that the Waeco portable fridges seem to be highly rated. I'm considering one of the CDF series to run from a 110aH leisure battery in the van as they seem to have a fairly low current draw.
With fridges like this is it best to go with the logic of buying the biggest one you can afford? The CDF 25 seems to be popular but is £100 or so dearer than the 11 litre version. Should I just bite the bullet and get the bigger version?
Also, is there anything else worn taking a look at?
I've looked locally but there doesn't appear to be any Waeco stockists nearby that I could go and have a look at their products at.
It may not be suitable for your use as it isn't a fridge, but I have just bought a 12v/230v 30 litre cool box from Aldi. I have always just used a cool box and rotated ice packs but for £39.99 I thought it was worth trying when I go camping in a couple of weeks.
Edit: Having re read your post if the Coleman one wasn't suitable then doubtful a cheapo one would be any use.
Edit: Having re read your post if the Coleman one wasn't suitable then doubtful a cheapo one would be any use.
Edited by PH5121 on Wednesday 8th July 14:42
Waeco are great. I had a CF35 until I got my T5 and then fitted a CRP-40 which is no where near as good as the top loader. I'd say get a 35 if you can, 25 if you must, forget 11. A 25/35 size will run for 4 days on a 110Ah battery. Just dont turn up the power past 40% or you'll freeze your beers.
Just clarify, the fridge will be used to keep stuff while we're away at 24h races but will be used for the weekends camping so needs to last 2-3 days, hence looking at running it from a leisure battery via a split charge system.
I considered gas fridges but it seems a lot of hassle for something which will only be used a few times a year and will need to be easily removed from the van when I need the extra space inside.
I've been looking at a couple of cheaper options from a local camping shop but I've also found the Waeco fridges at a decent price from a supplier in Germany so I think I might just bite the bullet and go for one of these.
I considered gas fridges but it seems a lot of hassle for something which will only be used a few times a year and will need to be easily removed from the van when I need the extra space inside.
I've been looking at a couple of cheaper options from a local camping shop but I've also found the Waeco fridges at a decent price from a supplier in Germany so I think I might just bite the bullet and go for one of these.
I have a Waeco CDF25 and its brilliant! Bought it for self catering trips to the South of France and skiing in the Alps and its been perfect. As has been said, anything above 40% and it will freeze in any ambient temp. Its not the smallest, but can fit 4x 1.5 litre water bottles and 8 cans of beer - i know that as thats whats sitting in it now in our holiday cottage in Wales as the fridge in it is tiny. 
Its become a must-have on the holiday list.
Buy cheep - buy twice (its my third and last electric fridge!!)
Its become a must-have on the holiday list. Buy cheep - buy twice (its my third and last electric fridge!!)
As long as its a compressor and not a thermo-electric style fridge you're running through your leisure battery and split charge system you will not have a problem.
I have two Engel fridges, a 60lt and a 38lt, both are brilliant. My 60lt was in my expedition 110 LR but is now my beer fridge powered 24/7 by a 60W solar panel through a std car battery. My 38lt is in the back of my Disco which has dual batteries and a 60W solar panel. I left it on freeze for a week with only short commuter trips (10km per day) with no problems.
Waeco and Engel are very popular brands in Oz so you would be buying decent quality, the Rolls Royce is National Luna I believe.
Andy
I have two Engel fridges, a 60lt and a 38lt, both are brilliant. My 60lt was in my expedition 110 LR but is now my beer fridge powered 24/7 by a 60W solar panel through a std car battery. My 38lt is in the back of my Disco which has dual batteries and a 60W solar panel. I left it on freeze for a week with only short commuter trips (10km per day) with no problems.
Waeco and Engel are very popular brands in Oz so you would be buying decent quality, the Rolls Royce is National Luna I believe.
Andy
I went for the newer CDF 26 model in the end, it's a compressor type fridge.
The newer model was on the Capital Outdoor website at £369 which was the cheapest UK supplier that I could find. On top of that I got 10% off with a promotion they're running and another 4.5% cashback through Quidco so I'm pretty happy with that
The newer model was on the Capital Outdoor website at £369 which was the cheapest UK supplier that I could find. On top of that I got 10% off with a promotion they're running and another 4.5% cashback through Quidco so I'm pretty happy with that
neenaw said:
I went for the newer CDF 26 model in the end, it's a compressor type fridge.
The newer model was on the Capital Outdoor website at £369 which was the cheapest UK supplier that I could find. On top of that I got 10% off with a promotion they're running and another 4.5% cashback through Quidco so I'm pretty happy with that
Did you receive your CDF-26 yet? Just looking on the Capital Outdoor website at the picture (I think) shows a CDF-25 without the digital readout? Might just be that they've not updated their photo.The newer model was on the Capital Outdoor website at £369 which was the cheapest UK supplier that I could find. On top of that I got 10% off with a promotion they're running and another 4.5% cashback through Quidco so I'm pretty happy with that
That's a good price - £333 + cashback - might consider upgrading my 25
LotusMartin said:
Did you receive your CDF-26 yet? Just looking on the Capital Outdoor website at the picture (I think) shows a CDF-25 without the digital readout? Might just be that they've not updated their photo.
That's a good price - £333 + cashback - might consider upgrading my 25
Just a quick update.That's a good price - £333 + cashback - might consider upgrading my 25
The fridge arrived this afternoon and it's the CDF-26 that's been sent. It would appear that they haven't updated the picture on the website.
I just noticed that Capital Outdoor are also running an offer where if you spend over £300 you get a voucher emailed to you for £30 off your next purchase of £50 or over which could b e pretty handy if you're looking for any other bits and bobs.
neenaw said:
Just a quick update.
The fridge arrived this afternoon and it's the CDF-26 that's been sent. It would appear that they haven't updated the picture on the website.
I just noticed that Capital Outdoor are also running an offer where if you spend over £300 you get a voucher emailed to you for £30 off your next purchase of £50 or over which could b e pretty handy if you're looking for any other bits and bobs.
Excellent - I did exchange some emails with them and they were stunningly usless - claimed the photo was fine and that the 26 had no digital display - glad you go the right one The fridge arrived this afternoon and it's the CDF-26 that's been sent. It would appear that they haven't updated the picture on the website.
I just noticed that Capital Outdoor are also running an offer where if you spend over £300 you get a voucher emailed to you for £30 off your next purchase of £50 or over which could b e pretty handy if you're looking for any other bits and bobs.
Next project for me is to try and create a mini leisure battery + solar panel for mine. I only need to run it for 12 hours (by the pool) so am trying to find the smallest battery/solar combo I can. It has a max 3-4amp draw apparently with .67amp/h max
LotusMartin said:
Next project for me is to try and create a mini leisure battery + solar panel for mine. I only need to run it for 12 hours (by the pool) so am trying to find the smallest battery/solar combo I can. It has a max 3-4amp draw apparently with .67amp/h max
http://www.bimblesolar.com/I found this lot were helpful when I was doing my van.
My daughter has temperature sensitive medications so we need a 100% reliable fridge - spoke to Bimble and got just the right combination of battery, controller and panel (though I ended up buying a much bigger panel than I needed as they were cheap).
Just come back from a weekend away in our camper,shakedown test for the solar panel.
We have a 42w fridge and an 85amp/h leisure battery and the 120w panel had no problems running it all.
Kit and regulator brackets etc cost about £150 on the bay. Regulator also has 2 usb ports so good for phones too.
Its great to get off grid, it opens up so many more camp sites and if you are in a camper you can often go in with the tents.
We got one of those grid type toaster jobs so we are sorted!
We have a 42w fridge and an 85amp/h leisure battery and the 120w panel had no problems running it all.
Kit and regulator brackets etc cost about £150 on the bay. Regulator also has 2 usb ports so good for phones too.
Its great to get off grid, it opens up so many more camp sites and if you are in a camper you can often go in with the tents.
We got one of those grid type toaster jobs so we are sorted!
bristolracer said:
Its great to get off grid, it opens up so many more camp sites and if you are in a camper you can often go in with the tents.
We got one of those grid type toaster jobs so we are sorted!
That's been the biggest advantage for us - we can go in with the tents so last minute weekends away are usually easy to book.We got one of those grid type toaster jobs so we are sorted!
Just a few more bits to arrive and I can get wiring I've gone for Battery only at the moment, if it can't last 10 hours then I'll add a solar panel and regulator.
Peli 1300
12v Cig + Voltmeter+dual USB
AMP Meter
Lucus 12v 22Ah golf cart battery
Charger
Inline Fuses
Switches for meters
I also built a dual temperature gauge (instead of upgrading to the CDF-26)
I've gone for Battery only at the moment, if it can't last 10 hours then I'll add a solar panel and regulator.Peli 1300
12v Cig + Voltmeter+dual USB
AMP Meter
Lucus 12v 22Ah golf cart battery
Charger
Inline Fuses
Switches for meters
I also built a dual temperature gauge (instead of upgrading to the CDF-26)
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