What size fridge/freezer for a family of 6??

[SteveandViv]

We have a 60 liter Waeco in the Fourby that we use mainly fir drinks and when we are on a day trip we will full it with snacks and sandwiches etc. We then have 50 liter in the camper that is a dual zone. We use the freezer part for ice blocks and that is about that. Up here I find it hard on power to make ice blocks - so to speak so we only freeze while driving and there is plenty of power. Once we run out of ice blocks or the need to freeze we take out the partition and make it into another standard fridge.

The fridge part of the 50 liter dual zone from the start is full of the cryovac meat and all that food stuff like butter in the diary compartment. I we get stuck the 60 is also use for food at the beers expense.

it is important to remember that once you start using the fridge as a freezer you increase the power consumption a LOT...We run our freezer at -14 to -16 but in 42 c that is hard work

[morgue]

Morgue, I almost picked up a bushman, but managed to get an Autofridge second hand.  I think the Bushman is the most versatile on the market in terms of size and multiple arrangement of collar and lid.

I saw the new model Bushman today at the local Alco Battery Centre, it has the same style and the mods are an improvement on the existing Bushman Compressor fridge, they are:

 Thicker insulation in the main casing, new handles attached to the main body casting (similar to Engel), no battery needed for the digital thermometer any more, low Ahr draw on compressor start up by up to 10% at ambient 25- 30c over existing model.
You can get the fridge, 1 normal collar, 1 extention collar, high dome lid, 240v/12v power adapter and cord, 3 baskets plus complete fridge cover, all for $1140.00 incl GST, not bad for a fridge that will cover the market from 32 Ltr to 52Ltr.

This is the best value 12v compressor fridge on the market at present.

Note: I have no commercial interest in Bushman fridges, nor recieve any imburstments from the company...but I have used one for 3 years and have been very happy with it.

[meimarocu]

We, a family of 5 use a fridge for our main foods,milk etc.
We also have a 60lt eski for water/drinks etc.To keep little fingers out.

We have a 80lt fridge,wich we have found out is more 12v user friendly in fridge mode.
As steve said if you go full freezer you use more power.
Planning things like, cryovac meat,making ice at home will all help you cause.

Good luck,  Ian.

[Teabag]

We have a 75ltr Autofridge and is buy far the most efficient large 12v fridge on the market......At $2300 they are not cheap but you won't regret the eutectic fridge.......

Good luck with which ever you choose......

[Kidsanall]

Wow an endless amount of options and as most have learnt we wont really know what works best until we try for ourselves. Currently looking at just a fridge which would (should) do us fine until such time as we need a freezer (for longer trips) most likely around 60l. Will update as purchases happen, again many thanks for all your thoughts and some great tips in general.

[Camping Grant]

Hi All

We're looking at buying a fridge, and tossing up between a 50 litre Waeco, 55l poly Fridge Mate, or perhaps a 70 litre poly fridge mate.

My wife thinks that a 35 litre Eva Kool which is exclusive to BCF - http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Evakool-Rv-Fridge-Freezer-35L.aspx?pid=321826&menuFrom=330804#Description. I've said if she's adament about getting one, we could get the 60 litre.

For a family of 4 (two boys aged 6 and 2.5), what size to you think we'd need. We only go away on shortish trips (up to 1 week), but we're never far from shops, I like a beer (but only a few a day),

Cheers
Grant

[fuji]

I reckon the ideal would be a 60l and for long trips take a 40l as well and run it as a freezer.
The problem with more refrigeration is you have got to have the power to keep it running.

Cheers
Parry

I agree, we have a 60 litre engel and we needed more space on our Kimberley trip. I bought an Aldi for 399 which will now be our drinks fridge. 

[Crisp Image]

When we went on out 2 week trip family of 4 we took a 60l engel fridge. We packed one side with frozen food and the other side with other fridge stuff. We ran it at about 1deg. When we arrived home we still had some chicken that was cristalised in the bottom.
We also vac packed food to help with the packing. We do not drink much so did not need the capacity for lots of cans.
I have now purchased a 55l fridge mate fridge freezer combo and have only run it as a fridge at this stage. I have tested the freezer and it works well.
My sister has the 85 evakool white fridge for her tribe of 6 (all teens now) and had plenty of room.
Trial a fridge if you can. That is what we did and then purchased one of our own.
Good luck as there are so many options for you to look at.
Regards
Crisp Image

[Marschy]

I come from a family of 7, all big eaters, so we used one of these