Food Storage: Fridges. chest versus upright?

[ChrisK]

Hi all,
After running a 3 way fridge for some years I have a pretty good idea that they're not much chop for touring. So looking at getting a 12/240v fridge.
Question is, has anyone run an upright fridge in their car or camper? Most fridges I see are the chest type which slide out and are a pain in the neck to get anything out of, especially if your car is lifted and you are not over 6 feet tall.
I know Waeco make 80lt upright fridge freezers that weigh less than the chest types and given that they're used in caravans all the time, it would seem that you could set one up in the back of a car or camper.

Thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated before we commit to an investment.
Cheers

[nab]

We have a 57L Engel upright in our camper. I was worried that the kids opening it all the time it would lose all the cool air but in reality it keeps things as cool as our 32L Engel chest fridge does.

Some complain about the compressor noise when sleeping but it hasn't affected us at all.

Can't fit as much as a comparable chest fridge but it is all very accessible and much more user friendly. Also they are generally permanently mounted and not really suitable as a portable fridge if you are thinking of lifting it in and out of the camper.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Hi, Uprights are always power hungry compared to the Chest type Fridge.
Every time you open an Upright, you let ALL the cold air out.
Chest types always hold a greater portion of the hard won coldness.
Up to you how you do it, there's always a drop slide.
You would need a vehicle with Barn door, or side swinging doors, for a drop-slide to work.
Especially if you fit the slide to the floor in the rear of your 4x4, and squeeze in a couple of draws beside it.

[TimE]

I have an 80l Waeco upright in the camper, a 50l Waeco chest and a 40l Engel chest in the tug.
The upright is power hungry and has trouble in hot, or really cold weather.  Chest fridge is by far a better option  in my view.

[UIZ733]

I have an 80l Waeco upright in the camper, a 50l Waeco chest and a 40l Engel chest in the tug.
The upright is power hungry and has trouble in hot, or really cold weather.  Chest fridge is by far a better option  in my view.

If the upright (I presume Waeco) is converted to an electronic thermostat most (if not all ) problems are eliminated. 

[ChrisK]

Thanks for the input
Interesting hearing about the noise, cold air release and power consumption issues.
The particular upright I looked at was a Waeco 80lt and by the numbers, it weighs less and uses about the same amount of power, but I guess if it has to work harder because it keeps getting warm air let in then I guess that would make sense.
Cheers!

[gronk]

If the upright (I presume Waeco) is converted to an electronic thermostat most (if not all ) problems are eliminated. 

Some problems still exist. My Waeco upright 110 ltr ( electronic thermostat ) is power hungry compared to a chest fridge ( Waeco 60...same compressor ) because it cycles a lot more, even if not opened. Bad insulation?? Seals seem to seal very good, but ??

But, even though it runs for more than I'd like, even almost non stop on a 34 + deg day, the beers are always nice and cold and the freezer stays frozen.

[UIZ733]

https://cooltechleisure.co.uk/shop/waeco-coolmatic-crx-80-cabinet-fridge-freezer-3-in-1/
Looks very good and apparently is available here. Interesting that Waeco have gone for a digital thermostat setup with compressor speed controls. 
Some of the tools on the Vista Owners forum will no doubt STILL deny there was any problem with the existing thermostat setup on the Cr80.