Need a fridge for the truck.....

I went the WalMart route. I bought a 120v fridge, about 3 ft, high. I too, removed a cabinet to enable installation. I had a 3,000w inverter and due to a tolerable energy draw, I left it on constantly. I had no problems with it for the year it was in the truck and gave it to a friend who lived in a residential hotel who got another two years of use. Problem was, it kept stuff cool; but, milk quickly curdled. VERY quickly!

I was at a Freightliner dealership one day and say a refrigerator they had on sale. The price was close to $700. Apparently, this unit and others like it, use a compressor and refrigerant that is the same as that used in your standard refrigerator. But, they are very expensive. Starting around $650. Google Nextag, compact refrigerator and you'll find hundreds of offerings, many two-door units suitable for trucks and designed for RV's. They commonly carry 3 yr. warrantys. I have pretty much come to believe that investing $600-$700 may be a worthwhile investment for a quality refrigerator. But, it would be nice to hear from those with experience running these high-priced units.

 

I have had mine about 1 year bouncing around running mich ohio and ky......its one of those walmart 69.00 110 fridges with the freezer compartment. if I get a yr or two who really cares its actually cheaper than one of those koolatron jobbies and keeps things cold and things froze in the freezer. It measures 18" high wide and deep its 1.8 cu ft. It rattles a little but thats something in the compressor or something like that. I got used to it after a day or so. The rattle isn't something associated with it running but just the crashing and banging of driving. Sitting still you barely hear it.

 

I also have a coleman I have had it for 5 yrs now also and have never had a problem with it knock on wood,but am thinking of goin with a little refrigerator anyone have any suggestions on which one to use.Thanks.

 

So you spend say $200 on a fridge that lasts a year... that's about $3.85 a week. Spend another $50 a week to fill it... I'd say you're way ahead of the crew that keeps the truckstop death-food franchises in business!

$7 apiece for fast-food breakfast and lunch, plus say $15 for dinner - that's around $30 per day or $210 a week in truckstop food alone. So you're only spending about a quarter of what you would at the truckstop restaurants by buying the fridge and eating healthy to boot!

 

If you've been like me and using an ice chest you are spending at least $2.00 a day in ice. Add to that you can't trust anything perishable that didn't start out frozen more than about four days. If you're on the road twenty days a month you're spending at least $40 a month in ice. Anything that lasts over three months saves you money. I tried the Coleman and it lasted a month, it's my understanding the newer model Colemans are made by a different manufacturer and aren't nearly as reliable.

I am very interested in using a dorm fridge and would like some updates on how things have worked out since many of you first posted on this thread.

(Yes I understand I am resurrecting an old thread, but the information is still valuable.)

 

Been using a 3.1 cu ft Fridgidare that I got at Lowes. It has a separate freezer compartment that I think works much better than a unit that has just one door for both. First unit lasted a year... the second one I've had for 2 years now. Beats the holy ice out of coolers n' Colemans!