Fridge in the bed or the cab ?

[Holes]

If that were me, I'd put it in the bed, but it depends on many factors. So here are some considerations I'd think about:

• Is the brand of fridge you have rugged enough to be out to the element at all? Depending on this, you may want to put it inside or buy their cover if they have any.
• Inside protects from the element but doesn't guarantee energy saving
  • It'll emit heat as part of the heat exchange, so in turn, if you live in a hot area, the AC will have to compensate
  • If you go camping in a cold place, I'd argue that better energy usage would be outside of the car (that's how I chose where I put my coolbox)
• What are the other things that you want inside? Just think of priorities; 50L indeed takes a lot of space
• Do you or your passenger ever want to recline your seat for a quick nap or something? Having it inside makes it a no-no.
• Animals, do you camp where bears & alike wander around? It may sound stupid, but I'm dumping everything I can think of.
• Wiring, any outlet in the bed? Where's the power source?

I know it's not a "put it there" answer, but I hope this helps you make a decision that fits you best.

Cautiously agree.
I don’t camp a lot. I don’t tent a lot.
But I’ve been hunting since I was four. So forty years in the woods has taught me what works for him may not work for you.
I get it. Money is an object. But eventually you will have to try a couple things and see how they work.

I’ve got drawers full of holsters and closets full of packs and backpacks and satchels and such...

Ultimately you have to pick an idea and try it.
You will have to change things. Guaranteed. What works for one is irritating to another.

Good luck.

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[Biggy]

If that were me, I'd put it in the bed, but it depends on many factors. So here are some considerations I'd think about:

• Is the brand of fridge you have rugged enough to be out to the element at all? Depending on this, you may want to put it inside or buy their cover if they have any.
• Inside protects from the element but doesn't guarantee energy saving
  • It'll emit heat as part of the heat exchange, so in turn, if you live in a hot area, the AC will have to compensate
  • If you go camping in a cold place, I'd argue that better energy usage would be outside of the car (that's how I chose where I put my coolbox)
• What are the other things that you want inside? Just think of priorities; 50L indeed takes a lot of space
• Do you or your passenger ever want to recline your seat for a quick nap or something? Having it inside makes it a no-no.
• Animals, do you camp where bears & alike wander around? It may sound stupid, but I'm dumping everything I can think of.
• Wiring, any outlet in the bed? Where's the power source?

I know it's not a "put it there" answer, but I hope this helps you make a decision that fits you best.

All valid points for sure. I think I'm probably going to try it in the cab and see how that's goes.

 

[MPMB]

Handful of questions need to be answered before you can determine where the fridge goes. Wherever you determine the fridge will go, then you can pack around it.

1. Bear country vs. not bear country. We just took our first multi-day trip with our fridge. It's small enough to fit in the backseat (35L) without being a PITA. There's no locking lid, so it's not sitting out in bear country. Also, even if it did, I don't want to let a 500#-600# bear test the durability of an expensive fridge.

2. Ambient air temps. If it's going to be 90*+ outside, inside will be the best option if you're driving a lot and keeping the interior cool. 90*+, sunny and staying parked? Best to keep it outside in the shade than inside a 120*+ interior. Vise-versa; 30* outside might as well keep it outside to not use as much energy keeping things cold; let nature do the work.

3. Power source. Running off the JT's inverter or bed plug? Or battery like GoalZero/Jackery/etc? With the fridge in the cab, I can plug the fridge into the battery, then the battery into the JT. That way the battery will recharge when we get moving, and the fridge has uninterrupted power. I installed some 12v outlets in the bed (I didn't get the bed power option) so I can do the same setup if I put the fridge in the bed.

For pure accessibility reasons, I plan on making a contraption that will allow me to keep it in the bed for places other than bear country. I've been working on my wife the last few years to pare down what we bring (ex: we used to bring 4-6 1# propane bottles. ADHD can be a b**ch sometimes), as we also starting having to bring other items like a gas firepit and a portable toilet.

 

[hjdca]

I put my Engel in the bed with a lifepo4 bluetti battery. The Engel fits under my hard folding tonneau cover. I need my fridge removable, since we use the bed once in a while. It has been like that almost a year now, and tons of trails with no problem. The 115V plug in the bed charges the battery (200watts) and runs the fridge (35 watts) when the truck is running. When the truck shuts off, the Engel pulls DC from the Bluetti.

 

[Biggy]

Anybody have it mounted in the cab on a slide?

 

[Lost1wing]

In the bed on a slide works for me. I'd like to keep the seats open in the cab. It's not a big deal to take the fridge out, but the slide will take a minute or two to get out.

 

[Mules]

Thanks for starting this thread. I couldn't decide where to mount my Iceco JP42, so I decided for two ways. I measured both spots, before buying a fridge that would fit.

When I have my hardtop on, I like it on top of the back seat. There's just enough room to open the top, and I can plug it in the cigarette lighter. I'm planning to upgrade to an Antigravity LiPO starter battery which should keep the fridge running for a few days without starting the truck. The battery also has protection from running dry. Most people opt for a dual battery system or an axillary battery like a Jackery to power the fridge. I'll give this a try since it's simple and lighter than original battery. I also installed a bypass to keep my cigarette lighter socket powered, when the truck is off.

When I eventually finish my camper (check out my build), the fridge will go in the bed back corner. Looks like it will be a perfect fit, under the bench I'll make.

 

[ttn333]

I have mine in the bed. Keep in mind when it's exposed to direct sun in hot summer's day, it may have problems keep up, even with iceco fridge cover. I've now added an rtt and that made a world of difference.

 

[jeepers29]

I put my Engel in the bed with a lifepo4 bluetti battery. The Engel fits under my hard folding tonneau cover. I need my fridge removable, since we use the bed once in a while. It has been like that almost a year now, and tons of trails with no problem. The 115V plug in the bed charges the battery (200watts) and runs the fridge (35 watts) when the truck is running. When the truck shuts off, the Engel pulls DC from the Bluetti.

Can I ask you which bluetti you have. I tried using your set up but had zero luck.

https://icecofreezer.com/products/vlpro75d-12v-refrigerator

https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-eb3a-portable-power-station

These are the products I am trying to use. When I plug the bluetti into the bed outlet it will power up but shows no input coming from the bed outlet and the frig will not turn on. If I plug the frig directly into the bed outlet it runs but seems to cool slowly. If I plug the bluetti into the wall input shows as would be expected and frig runs as well. Any thoughts? Thanks for your time, Joel

 

[ttn333]

Can I ask you which bluetti you have. I tried using your set up but had zero luck.

https://icecofreezer.com/products/vlpro75d-12v-refrigerator

https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-eb3a-portable-power-station

These are the products I am trying to use. When I plug the bluetti into the bed outlet it will power up but shows no input coming from the bed outlet and the frig will not turn on. If I plug the frig directly into the bed outlet it runs but seems to cool slowly. If I plug the bluetti into the wall input shows as would be expected and frig runs as well. Any thoughts? Thanks for your time, Joel

I usually plug fridge to both the bluetti dc and truck bed ac outlet. If you want it to faster cooling set the iceco to max. I assume you have your truck runner and switch on the ac outlet on the bed. I have an ac50s.

 

[jeepers29]

I usually plug fridge to both the bluetti dc and truck bed ac outlet. If you want it to faster cooling set the iceco to max. I assume you have your truck runner and switch on the ac outlet on the bed. I have an ac50s.

I will try the ac and dc connections on the new one. I think there was an issue with the battery as it was very finicky about taking a charge. And yes, the truck was running with the switch on. Hoping next one works better.

 

[hjdca]

Can I ask you which bluetti you have. I tried using your set up but had zero luck.

https://icecofreezer.com/products/vlpro75d-12v-refrigerator

https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-eb3a-portable-power-station

These are the products I am trying to use. When I plug the bluetti into the bed outlet it will power up but shows no input coming from the bed outlet and the frig will not turn on. If I plug the frig directly into the bed outlet it runs but seems to cool slowly. If I plug the bluetti into the wall input shows as would be expected and frig runs as well. Any thoughts? Thanks for your time, Joel

I have the Bluetti EB70s with the stable LiFePO4 battery chemistry,2500+ life cycles. The Refrigerator does all the switching automatically. You need an octopus for the 115v AC connector in the bed. You need to run two AC cords from that AC outlet. One for the Bluetti and one for the Refrig. . Then, you need to run a DC cord from the Bluetti to the Refrig. . The Fridge priority should be AC first.... If no AC is avalialable, then, the Fridge should draw DC from the Bluetti. When the truck is running, it is charging the Bluetti and also running the Fridge. DC is only used when the Truck is off and there is no AC running.

 

[jeepers29]

The bluetti that I have says to olug battery into outlet and frig into bluetti. It says that when the bluetti is getting current, it will go to frig and secondly charge battery. I am sending back the battery as it was being finicky on taking a charge from both truck and house outlet. Charging would stop ramdomly. I have a new one on order. We will see. So far, the ice frig seems to be working great, but I only have it plugged into an outlet. Fingers crossed.

 

[hjdca]

The bluetti that I have says to olug battery into outlet and frig into bluetti. It says that when the bluetti is getting current, it will go to frig and secondly charge battery. I am sending back the battery as it was being finicky on taking a charge from both truck and house outlet. Charging would stop ramdomly. I have a new one on order. We will see. So far, the ice frig seems to be working great, but I only have it plugged into an outlet. Fingers crossed.

If you try to charge the bluetti and discharge it at the same time, it is not as efficient. It will get hotter, etc.... The way I described the setup, the Bluetti is never charging and discharging at the same time. When the truck is running, the Bluetti should never be discharging, only charging. When the truck is off, then, then that should be the only time the Bluetti is discharging using DC to run the Fridge. For this to work properly, the fridge should have a priority of AC power, then, switch to DC power when AC power is not available. Make sure your fridge has that capability.

 

[jeepers29]

If you try to charge the bluetti and discharge it at the same time, it is not as efficient. It will get hotter, etc.... The way I described the setup, the Bluetti is never charging and discharging at the same time. When the truck is running, the Bluetti should never be discharging, only charging. When the truck is off, then, then that should be the only time the Bluetti is discharging using DC to run the Fridge. For this to work properly, the fridge should have a priority of AC power, then, switch to DC power when AC power is not available. Make sure your fridge has that capability.

Understand. Will give it a try. Rhanks

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