We're thinking of getting a second hand 3 way fridge if we can find one, one of the campsites we like to visit regularly has no EHU so would like some means of keeping food (alcohol!) cold and I like the idea of being able to run one on gas, we have a 12v coolbox which is utter pants. It would be used in porch area of tent which is well ventilated.
Are they any good and do they keep things properly cold? Any brands to steer clear of?
Fair comment about the 12v cool box, but have you considered a proper compressor type electric fridge.
Personally I would not consider a 3 way fridge in this modern age, although that's more down to were we go camping than anything else.
Our icle Waeco CF25 has can run forever in the boot of the car, no fear of it flattening the cars battery as it will automatically shut down to prevent that.
Have a look at the Mobicool FR40 probably the best value portable compressor fridge around.
We have a 3 way fridge and probably wouldn't go back to coolboxes.
Didn't fancy an electric compressor fridge as we prefer not to be tied to electric pitches. That's just a personal preference though - and also the reason why we're now in a bell tent with a stove...
The other advantage of a 3 way fridge over a compressor one is that it's silent.
In terms of space, we used to take 2 coolboxes with the things that need to be kept cold in there (i.e. because of food safety, so not beers). We figure that the fridge takes the same space in the car, has a much larger capacity than the coolboxes as you're not taking up space with ice packs, and cools much better. This means that we can happily keep it loaded up with drinks too... I guess the same would be true regardless of condensing or compression fridges.
We got ours from www.mgdonine.co.uk a couple of years ago after camping with friends that have a similar one. We're on the Dometic Combicool RC 1700.
Thinks to note and check when comparing:
-Capacity. These things aren't cheap (ours was about £200 when we got it) but it's only a small amount extra for a larger capacity (or at least it was when we looked, couldn't find the smaller version to compare this morning)
-Cooling 'power' or operating external temperature range - again a small amount for more cooling 'power'. As an example here, the RC1200 and the RC 1700 are the same size internally and externally, but the 1200 can keep your food cool at up to 30 degrees, whereas the 1700 will chill at up to 36 degrees, but the price difference at current prices on that site is only £5
Bear in mind that these only work as a proper fridge giving full cooling when on 240v or gas, in fact we're generally amazed by how much cooling the gas provides. We often pull out a drink that has been sat against the cooling elements and has started to freeze.
When on 12v they're generally about the same your 12v coolbox in that if something is already cold it'll keep it cold, and ideal for the car journey, but you wouldn't want to use it on 12v for a few days of camping - especially if you wanted to chill drinks and restock with food that hasn't come straight from another fridge.
But yeah - we love ours. We often camp with another family who also have a Dometic Combicool (slightly smaller version). They've had theirs for years and have had absolutely no problems with it.
As for location, it generally goes in our friend's event shelter (which we use as a mess tent when camping together) right next to theirs. One for food, one for beverages, both fridges and the gas cooker running off the same bottle. When not with them, we have it outside the tent under the tarp and haven't had any issues with it blowing out (we try to pitch with the tent door facing away from the prevailing wind anyway).
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Think I will be definitely sticking with a gas powered 3 way one rather than compressor type after looking at those prices! NdBuk thanks for the input that's very informative
Yep roz84, Dometic Waeco pricing is quite high, which makes the Mobicool models also from Dometic more appealing.
The Mobicool FR40 works out at around £275 from svb24.com with around £10 to be added for shipping from Germany, well worth the money imho, and far better than any 3 way units out there.
Some members on here have bought the Mobicool FR40 from svb24.com so they seem to be an OK firm to deal with.
I got lucky with my Waeco CF25 back in 2008, paid £150 brand new in the box, although had to pay a courier £20 to send it up from Southampton.
And if that was not lucky enough the latest version of the CF25 does not have the touch screen digital display.
To be fair though and as much as we loved the CF25 it's capacity was always going to be a compromise for our fortnight campings, so in 2013 we got the Mobicool C40.
The CF25 is now relegated to in car use, or for when there is no electric at the pitch.
another vote for a three way fridge as far as i am concerned only disadvantage is they are not so tolerant of being off level but if your a regular off grid camper don't think you can beat them they are quieter as well. If i was on electric sites then yes compressor is more efficient and more tolerant of not being level.
We have a 3 way fridge and probably wouldn't go back to coolboxes.
Didn't fancy an electric compressor fridge as we prefer not to be tied to electric pitches. That's just a personal preference though - and also the reason why we're now in a bell tent with a stove...
The other advantage of a 3 way fridge over a compressor one is that it's silent.
In terms of space, we used to take 2 coolboxes with the things that need to be kept cold in there (i.e. because of food safety, so not beers). We figure that the fridge takes the same space in the car, has a much larger capacity than the coolboxes as you're not taking up space with ice packs, and cools much better. This means that we can happily keep it loaded up with drinks too... I guess the same would be true regardless of condensing or compression fridges.
We got ours from www.mgdonine.co.uk a couple of years ago after camping with friends that have a similar one. We're on the Dometic Combicool RC 1700.
Thinks to note and check when comparing:
-Capacity. These things aren't cheap (ours was about £200 when we got it) but it's only a small amount extra for a larger capacity (or at least it was when we looked, couldn't find the smaller version to compare this morning)
-Cooling 'power' or operating external temperature range - again a small amount for more cooling 'power'. As an example here, the RC1200 and the RC 1700 are the same size internally and externally, but the 1200 can keep your food cool at up to 30 degrees, whereas the 1700 will chill at up to 36 degrees, but the price difference at current prices on that site is only £5
Bear in mind that these only work as a proper fridge giving full cooling when on 240v or gas, in fact we're generally amazed by how much cooling the gas provides. We often pull out a drink that has been sat against the cooling elements and has started to freeze.
When on 12v they're generally about the same your 12v coolbox in that if something is already cold it'll keep it cold, and ideal for the car journey, but you wouldn't want to use it on 12v for a few days of camping - especially if you wanted to chill drinks and restock with food that hasn't come straight from another fridge.
But yeah - we love ours. We often camp with another family who also have a Dometic Combicool (slightly smaller version). They've had theirs for years and have had absolutely no problems with it.
As for location, it generally goes in our friend's event shelter (which we use as a mess tent when camping together) right next to theirs. One for food, one for beverages, both fridges and the gas cooker running off the same bottle. When not with them, we have it outside the tent under the tarp and haven't had any issues with it blowing out (we try to pitch with the tent door facing away from the prevailing wind anyway).
Beg to differ there NdBuk, the RC1200/1700 works exactly the same regardless of power source, just as efficient on 12v as 240v with near identical performance figures, it works on the absorption principle with all three power sources. The only difference really is that 240v is fully thermostatically controlled, 12v is full power only, and gas has half or full power setting. Mine is the higher performing RC1700 version and certainly on gas will happily freeze everything solid overnight when the ambient temp drops (must remember to turn to half power overnight!)! You may be thinking of the similar compressor/thermoelectric unit, that runs on compressor with 240v and will freeze, but only on Peltier element on 12v, which is same as electric cool box.
All in all I like my 3 way fridge and it's versatility, am not inclined to swap it for a compressor fridge just yet.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 31/3/2019
Beg to differ there NdBuk, the RC1200/1700 works exactly the same regardless of power source, just as efficient on 12v as 240v with near identical performance figures
Hmm. Thanks Monty. I'm on the RC1700 like you and was sure I read somewhere that it ran on a lower setting when on 12v. Perhaps it was just the reference to not being thermostatically controlled. When camping, we generally run it on gas and, like you say, it happily freezes stuff if left on full blast.
For me, it doesn't seem to run as cold when on 12v, however the only time I run it on that is in the car on the way to (and if we took too much food, back from ) the campsite. As we all know, these things don't run as well if they're not level so being in car going up and down hills and round corners etc. probably has more to do with it than the 12v power source.
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Topic: 3 way fridge recommendations?
via mobile 28/3/2019 at 7:12am
