12 Volt freezer? Is this an option?

[BobsYourUncle]

As we all know, our freezers are notoriously small unless you have one of those fancy dancy big honkin things in a triple axle 40 foot 5ver.

Planning a trip in a few days and would like to prepare a bunch of frozen meals I can just thaw and heat up. I'm going to be with a friend in their TT which has your basic small freezer. I eat healthy, they eat junk.

So the question is, anyone here have experience with a small stand alone 12 Volt freezer? I've never researched this or considered it before as I've always cooked as I go.

I'd like to find some small unit I can keep plugged into 12V and have frozen stuff on hand.

Any thoughts?

[Naio]

If you have an inverter, you can run the 120v freezer while you are driving.

If you drive once every 4 days (at least) you will not ever need a campsite with power.

If you park the truck for more than 4 days, you will need to plug in. Or eat up all the food :B

The key thing is to know that a 120v freezer only needs about 8-12 hours of run time every 3-4 days. That can be one long stretch (a drive day, or an overnight plugin) or it can be divided up. Some people do a few hours every day, with a short drive or a generator.

[BobsYourUncle]

Naio wrote:
Did you see my $50 solution?

I did see it and thank you for the idea.

I guess I wasnt thinking of something I could run unplugged until the next 110 hookup because I was thinking a 12V specific unit.

Logic says that could work, as the 12V unit would be for traveling with until 110 is available. Generally I don't drive more than 12-14 hours in one shot so I usually have a plugin available at the end of a days driving.

Worth considering...
Thanks.

[Naio]

Did you see my $50 solution?

[SidecarFlip]

wa8yxm wrote:
On my ENgle.. at one time when we were getting ready to move I closed down the house Freezer (cleaned and proped the door open so it did not mold) and used the Engle on 120v as my house freezer. It is also good for bringing Ice cream home from the store in August.

So I used it a lot both in and out of the RV.. But now it lives full time, as do I , in the RV.

Kind of my impetus for getting a Dometic. My wife can have it in the grocery getter and put the frozen goods in it so they don't un-thaw on the way home when it's 90 out. The store is 40 minutes from here...we live in bum fudge nowhere....

[wa8yxm]

JiminDenver wrote:
I have a Engel MT 45, a 40 quart 12v freezer or fridge. It wasn't cheap at $669 but turned all the way down it will keep your stuff at -10 F.

Not sure of the model of my Engel. ... but yes.

OH and on 12 volts it draws a great whomping THREE (3) Amps running

That is about the same as a pair of 1141 Light bulbs.

[BobsYourUncle]

Well, after reading all this info and checking out the suggestions, I've decided that the cost has scared me off. Didnt think they would cost that much. Can't justify it for now little I'd use it.
Going to have to pass on it for now.
Thanks for all the help guys!
🙂

[wa8yxm]

On my ENgle.. at one time when we were getting ready to move I closed down the house Freezer (cleaned and proped the door open so it did not mold) and used the Engle on 120v as my house freezer. It is also good for bringing Ice cream home from the store in August.

So I used it a lot both in and out of the RV.. But now it lives full time, as do I , in the RV.

[BobsYourUncle]

OP here, think my brain fell out for a couple days. I posted this then forgot to come back!! :B

Anyhow, thanks everyone for the input, I appreciate that.

I have one of those thermoelectric things and it's not great. Could never freeze anything in there.

Didn't really want to fool around with dry ice but hadn't considered it either.

Wasn't aware that the cost of a couple of the suggested units was that high. Gulp! But I maintain you only cry once......

It wouldn't get used often, but I do intend to spend more time camping and less time working. Gonna be 63 in a couple days, time to back off on the work and live a little...

I'll check out the things suggested here.

Thanks all!

[pianotuna]

Hi Bob,

Dry Ice in a cooler will meet your requirements cheaply and easily. I would not buy a Yeti. I would buy an Engle.

http://www.coolersonsale.com/ultimate-ice-challenge-results/

[Rolling_Condo]

I have both a 36qt. Engel 8 years old and a 43qt. Edgestar 6 years old. Both work excellent as freezers or refrigerators as needed. Either on 120V A/C or 12V D/C. To me a well worth investment.

[SidecarFlip]

Pricing is high but I suspect you are paying for the compressor and electronic controls more than the box or insulation.

[GordonThree]

Are any of them using an aerogel insulation yet? Seems the prices are high enough to support such a luxury.

[SidecarFlip]

wa8yxm wrote:
Back when I first got my RV I also purchased an ENGEL Refrigerator/Freezer (one or the other depending on how far you twist the knob) this is advertised in 12 ounce can sizes but it's about 2 Cubic Feet.

Sucks a great grand 3 amps when it runs.. Yup, 3 amps, 36 watts, runs on 120 or 12 volt (That is the 12 volt current) it's been running on 12 volts for the last 12 years,, I blew dust out of the condenser coils once.

One has to wonder why they are named ENGEL...

I guess that is the Japanese to English name. Yackabafugnutz probably would not sell...lol

Nice unit to and the use their own compressor. Everyone else uses a Danfoss except Dometic, they use a Waeco and Panasonic. I'm sure all the designs are very similar, they all seem to have similar power draws.

[Chris_Bryant]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Wouldn't it be neat if a manufacturer used vacuum panels instead of regular insulation? A half inch of vacuum insulates better than a foot thick wall of foam. Keep dreaming...sigh...

Dometic (and I *think* Norcold) make vacuum insulated gas/electric models- they get an extra foot or so inside.

When the Dometic recall first came out, I went to Atlanta to a class to learn what was involved. I had to point out to them that it was probably a bad idea to mount a plate with screws in to the body of these models 🙂