Using and transporting a bar fridge in a CT to use for a week stay.

[jagfromaus]

Right, first let me say to all the Waeco and Engel users out there who are about to shudder at what i ask please understand that everyone needs to work within their own budget.
Just starting out in the CT world after upgrading from tenting and most of the upcoming trips are on powered sites and when i was doing the tent thing we allways carted a domestic small fridge with us and it served our needs very well. One time we even lugged a 250 litre fridge away with us standing it upright in the box trailer and packed around and in it. I'm now looking at a brand new 115 litre at gerry's for only $189 and it appears that most bar fridges this size are 49.5cm wide which laid on its side fits nicely in a CT with 50cm sides. I know its not ideal to transport fridges on their side BUT have also heard that if you just let them settle for half an hour once upright before turning them on they do fine?? Not sure if the one im looking at is clean-back or not but that would be an added bonus for packing neatly. Can anyone share their experience with doing the same and/or offer any other advice on the best way to ensure it survives the trip and many others? SWMBO wants her creature comforts and ice and eskies aint an option unfortunately, nor is the mega bucks on a proper 12v waeco etc.

[jwb]

I expect laying the unit on it's side for transport stages would bring you
A Russian Roulette type of result.?
YMMV
Cheers

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[KingBilly]

Go to any CP, and heaps of folks are doing what you suggest.  Even saw a chest freezer once.  Have heard you may need a little than 30 minutes to get the gases settled but that is only hearsay.  If lying it down, make sure the hinges are on top to keep the door closed whilst travelling.

KB

[ScottH]

We have been doing the same thing for our 2-3 week Christmas holiday for the past 5 years, and our old bar fridge still works like a charm. It's a little battle-scarred from sliding around in the trailer, but it stays very cold, and has a small freezer that is handy for icecreams, etc.

We let ours settle for ~30 mins before turning on, typically while we set up the tent and kitchen, unpack the car, etc. It's not so much a deliberate wait as just how long it takes before we're ready to put the fridge int he right spot and hook up all the 240V stuff.

[Taz64]

Prior to purchasing a CT, I too used a bar fridge when camped at powered locations.  I was told however that they should be stood upright for a minimum 2 hours prior to turing on.  I still have the bar fridge, it's now a dog food fridge and over 10yrs old and running as well as the day I bought it, so lugging it around and using outdoors hasn't seemed to be detrimental.  I was lucky enough to have the height in the s/wagon to stand mine up, so no issues with letting gas settle.  I now have a camp fridge, but if I plan on a prolonged stay at a powered location, I will probably take the bar fridge with me as well for added conveniance.

Camping is all about being as comfortable as you can within your budget.  I have a cheaper 2nd hand CT with not too many bells and whistles, but I still have a great time getting out and about.  I class my CT simply as a portable bed with comforts, 1 step above tents and 2 steps above swags.

[Nomad]

I don't reckon you'd have to buy a new one either.

They seem to get left everywhere around here and they are as cheap as chips on gumtree or ebay..........at least if you get one for a few bucks you dont care so much when it gets knocked around in a trailer.

Cheers Nomad.

[BigJules]

We met an older couple at Xmas time who were doing as Nomad suggests and simply buying a cheapie on Gumtree at their camping locale.

One of my BILs carries a bar fridge on the drawbar of his CT.

[Nomad]

One of my BILs carries a bar fridge on the drawbar of his CT.

Does he have a pair of these yet.....................



Warm feet and cold beer and styling the cara park. 
Nomad