Thinking about a Truck Fridge.

pezvela wrote:
DJ, are you saying your Engel starting making the dreaded vibrational noises AND it stopped cooling?

My Engel has gotten a bit noisy at times but it still cools like the first day I got it. The vibrations are unpredictable; sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. I am beginning to wonder if the compressor mounting has come loose or something.

I live on the road in August and September out west. Last summer I went with BOTH my propane fridge AND the Engel. I have a Lance 1030 and that big counter space between the dinette and the propane fridge is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR MY ENGEL/NORCOLD 45! Lance has both a 110 and 12v outlet right at the back.

This was really the way to go for me. I kept ALL my drinks in the Engel and all my food in the absorption fridge. My absorp still works pretty well; I can usually get about 50-55 degrees below ambient temps. If it's 100 degrees out, I'm moving to some place higher. But I just dont open the absorp fridge much and that helps a great deal in hot temps.

I only have a single 31 AGM. But I do have a 140 watt solar panel that more than keeps up with it. My charge controller says I am occasionally putting out as much as 7 amps in good, full sun which is not uncommon in the summer in the West.

I never bought a single bag of ice last summer. That was nice not having to deal with ice.

Before I had solar, I took a fishing trip where I filled the Engel with fish fillets I had caught. These were room temp fillets and I used it as a freezer. After three days of probably running constantly, the Engel had run down BOTH of the starting batteries in my F350, diesel. These were very capable 27 group Interstates. This was when I wasnt using the camper. So, the electrical options for fridges will have to be coupled with SOME good charging source OR you will have to keep moving on the road to keep you batt(s) charged. I dont like moving that much, so I went solar.

I guess one could figure out a way to increase battery capacity. That isnt easy in the TC world.

I cant imagine being limited to a single 4 cu ft fridge for EVERYTHING. Not with as long as I spend on the road and in remote areas.

No sir!!! My Engel still works like new. Just way too noisy. I replaced the fan but did not help. It was my only cooler for my 88 Northstar after I ripped out the gas fridge. One Group 31 battery held it for 48 hours without recharge.

I have a store room next to my bedroom so I put it in there for an extra freezer. It got shut off the next day. Kept waking me from the next room. Maybe the garage will get it!!!

I think a 4.4 is pretty good sized for a small pop up TC. ,