Going Back On The Road Regional, Need Recommendations For A Good Refrigerator/Freezer

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Crev9, Apr 26, 2015.

  1. Crev9

    Crev9 Light Load Member

    76
    30
    Dec 30, 2008
    0
    I lived OTR for a little more than 5 years and STAYED on the road by choice for long stretches... out 2-3 months at a time, come back 'home' (my stuff was in storage) and pick up my mail from a PO Box and say hello to my parents and friends for 1-3 days (sleeping in the truck) and then back out for 2-3 months... that was my regular routine. I gained about 30 lbs. pretty quick with that lifestyle from lack of exercise and poor diet... my health definitely took a hit in many areas.

    I've been off the road just over a year now (I dropped the 30 lbs I had gained pretty quick) but didn't care for the local job I had and I start this Monday with Southern Freight Inc regional. I'll be heading out Monday mornings usually with a rare Sunday night pickup/load and home early Friday evenings. With that schedule I'm hoping to be a little more active on the weekends and not such a couch/truck-sleeper potato.

    One of the main changes I want to focus on is diet... and that means not eating like I use to, truck stop fast food (subway/arby's/taco bell, flying j pizza, sodas, etc). I spent a ridiculous amount of money on that junk over a 5+ year period. I used a regular ice cooler ($2-4/day on ice) because, well... I liked my drinks COLD... I went through 2 or 3 of those Coleman Coolers and they are junk. I just never sought out a good refrigerator/freezer thinking there's no way they could take the beating a big truck can dish out, so I never looked, even though I knew other drivers used them... go figure.

    I haven't received my truck yet but I know it'll be a Freightliner... hoping it'll be a Cascadia/Cascadia Evolution. I hear they are late models, all with APUs (nice). So now I seek your wealth of experience and input on this important topic. Good/Reliable Refrigerator/Freezers (freezer not mandatory but would be nice). What do you use, how long have you been using it, pros and cons to your unit, price, warranty, best deals/stores, etc. Hook me up!

    Thanks folks! :biggrin_25519:


    Interesting Link For Improving Health For OTR Drivers
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 26, 2015
    pattyj Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. marineman227

    marineman227 Dock Waterer

    600
    796
    Jan 26, 2008
    Neenah, WI
    0
    I can't give you much of what you're looking for but I have an igloo 12 volt cooler similar to the colemans that I bought at the local farm store 3 years ago going strong.

    The main recurring theme in fridge/freezer threads has been find a way to isolate the condenser. They take a beating in trucks but if you can use foam or something to isolate it they will last, if not they will bite the dust as quick as a cheap cooler.
     
    ryevick Thanks this.
  4. flybynight12

    flybynight12 Medium Load Member

    683
    539
    Jan 10, 2015
    slc
    0
    walmart sells mini fridges about 125 decent
     
  5. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

    22,474
    20,134
    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
    0
    Congrats on your weight loss.
     
  6. rocknroll81

    rocknroll81 Road Train Member

    1,332
    930
    Sep 29, 2010
    West Allis Wi.
    0
    You can Google Truck fridge, there's a place in Kentucky that sell's them, they are not cheap at all, mine was $500.00 but it's made for the truck to take all the bumps of the road it's a portable model and runs on DC and the plug will not melt like the Coleman cooler does.....
     
  7. crzyjarmans

    crzyjarmans Road Train Member

    3,293
    2,410
    Jun 9, 2010
    Home
    0
    As you like the OTR thing, I use to be the same many many years ago, but not any more, I got off the road back in Feb. hopefully for the last time, when I first got off the road back in 99' I said I'd never do it again, but never say never, cause' in 07' I found myself needing to go back to. The road, with a little luck, I'll be home every day, but best of luck going back to the road
     
  8. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

    14,765
    22,560
    Jul 15, 2006
    El Chuco, Tejas
    0
    Bought a $79 dorm fridge at Walmart. Runs off the factory inverter. It's a real compressor fridge. Has a freezer compartment. Will run about 14+ hours before it trips the low voltage cutout on the inverter depending on temperature.
     
  9. Milechaser

    Milechaser Light Load Member

    82
    54
    Mar 8, 2014
    Campobello, SC.
    0
    I'm using a mini fridge with a small freezer compartment, got it from Walmart for about $100.00. Have it plugged up to a 1200 watt inverter, and have had no issues with it.
     
  10. 88 Alpha

    88 Alpha Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    5,216
    16,193
    May 12, 2012
    SouthEast Alabama
    0
  11. x#1

    x#1 Road Train Member

    1,773
    1,102
    Dec 24, 2009
    Cherokee County, Alabama
    0
    with your experience i am dismayed that you chose to drive for an outfit that runs slow trucks. I had a dedicated gig with them before they were southern freight(1997ish) if they are located in atlanta just off I75/85. they have certainly grown.

    best of luck regardless.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.