Compressor coolboxes

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

njl:

stu675:

njl:
I haven’t forgotten this thread but not made any substantial progress with the van conversion, I am still a bit in limbo about what size unit will work, some times I would only need space for 2 days supplies but there would be times it would be nice at least to get 6 days of basics packed in.

I think the 40+ litre boxes would prove to be too big, otherwise I might be tempted by this :

ebay.co.uk/itm/274453912614

If pushed to buy one today I think the 2 zone Dellonda has so much going for it, I would go for that.

Pierre I guess you are on the road in Europe already, did you add something to your inventory?

It says “Our portable fridge freezer is good to -20 degrees Celcius (sic) below ambient temperature” with temperatures we’ve been having of 30-40 degrees C, plus whatever that equates to inside a van, how could 20 degrees below ambient be any use as a fridge, nevermind a freezer?

Interesting spot, that description seems to be common across the ebay ad, their website and amazon listing. I messaged them on ebay and queried it, they came back and just confirmed its correct. Though on Amazon the q and a someone asked the question and a buyer responded and discounted the limitation.

That limitation is common on absorption or thermo-electric types of cooler, but much less so on compressor types.
If you are thinking that advert is the result of some cutnpast description, I would tend to agree.
My fridge is very similar in appearance to the one shown, probably from the same factory with a different sticker on it, and is capable of freezing stuff when ambient temp is much nearer 30 than 20. So, no guaranties, but I would be looking at that one too.

22

Franglais:
That limitation is common on absorption or thermo-electric types of cooler, but much less so on compressor types.
If you are thinking that advert is the result of some cutnpast description, I would tend to agree.
My fridge is very similar in appearance to the one shown, probably from the same factory with a different sticker on it, and is capable of freezing stuff when ambient temp is much nearer 30 than 20. So, no guaranties, but I would be looking at that one too.

Yeah that was my thinking. You would imagine they get asked about it a lot!

I have gone for a box, none of the ones discussed so far, but a 35L from Outwell (badged, at least).

It has a rugged look about it, though that might be deceiving. I did note your warnings Franglais about capacity for 6 day trip, I may rue not going bigger, but as the van is small, a box that sits in less than half the floor space across means some other stuff can move around it better (when the bed is folded out, there isn’t a lot of space left, may make sense with some pictures, but needs to come along a bit more before it’s photogenic!!)

Also should I take it out in the truck, at 610mm long I imagine it would sit in a passenger footwell ok.

ebay.co.uk/itm/185301197988
outwell.com/en-gb/ecommerce … ep-cool-35

At the £250 ebay price it’s quite a lot under list / other prices offered online, but that could well be more about profit margins and brand names than anything else!!

There are a couple of used boxes on ebay I considered, that might end up selling at a good price, but both were 200 mile round trips to collect so currently pushes up the overall cost.

ebay.co.uk/itm/325281066923
ebay.co.uk/itm/175362830008

23

njl:

Franglais:
That limitation is common on absorption or thermo-electric types of cooler, but much less so on compressor types.
If you are thinking that advert is the result of some cutnpast description, I would tend to agree.
My fridge is very similar in appearance to the one shown, probably from the same factory with a different sticker on it, and is capable of freezing stuff when ambient temp is much nearer 30 than 20. So, no guaranties, but I would be looking at that one too.

Yeah that was my thinking. You would imagine they get asked about it a lot!

I have gone for a box, none of the ones discussed so far, but a 35L from Outwell (badged, at least).

It has a rugged look about it, though that might be deceiving. I did note your warnings Franglais about capacity for 6 day trip, I may rue not going bigger, but as the van is small, a box that sits in less than half the floor space across means some other stuff can move around it better (when the bed is folded out, there isn’t a lot of space left, may make sense with some pictures, but needs to come along a bit more before it’s photogenic!!)

Also should I take it out in the truck, at 610mm long I imagine it would sit in a passenger footwell ok.

ebay.co.uk/itm/185301197988
outwell.com/en-gb/ecommerce … ep-cool-35

At the £250 ebay price it’s quite a lot under list / other prices offered online, but that could well be more about profit margins and brand names than anything else!!

There are a couple of used boxes on ebay I considered, that might end up selling at a good price, but both were 200 mile round trips to collect so currently pushes up the overall cost.

ebay.co.uk/itm/325281066923
ebay.co.uk/itm/175362830008

Where are you based ? I’ve got one of the Delhonda one I’m putting up on eBay today

24

If it’s a campervan conversion or you’re happy to have a permanent one fitted I’d find a caravan surplus spares place and get a small under counter gas/electric fridge freezer from there. It’ll run on electric when you’re on the move, on gas when you’re parked up and it’ll keep everything nice and cool. It will need a flue to the outside world.

25

blue estate:
Where are you based ? I’ve got one of the Delhonda one I’m putting up on eBay today

Shame, we might have made something work out, but I have the order in for that 35L box now.

Hope you get a good price for yours, the couple ending today look to be a good buy if they don’t clear £150, though as ever all the auction action comes on in the last few minutes.

26

Conor:
If it’s a campervan conversion or you’re happy to have a permanent one fitted I’d find a caravan surplus spares place and get a small under counter gas/electric fridge freezer from there. It’ll run on electric when you’re on the move, on gas when you’re parked up and it’ll keep everything nice and cool. It will need a flue to the outside world.

I had a concept from the start that I would like to be able to fairly easily strip out the van so it could do van duties if needed. I managed to move house last time without anything else, and it’s only a vito (my sofa is small). I don’t think I will carry this through when I get round to putting side units over the wheel arches, but the kitchen unit and folding bed come back out with 4 bolts and two people. I would still have a space on the floor to put 8 x 4 sheets.

There was a time that I would put a bike in the back and go off for a trackday, though that hasn’t been on the agenda for a few years.

27

njl:

blue estate:
Where are you based ? I’ve got one of the Delhonda one I’m putting up on eBay today

Shame, we might have made something work out, but I have the order in for that 35L box now.

Hope you get a good price for yours, the couple ending today look to be a good buy if they don’t clear £150, though as ever all the auction action comes on in the last few minutes.

That’s ok , what brand did you buy in the end ?

28

We have a Dometic CDF18 in out camper which serves a family of 5 well. Mrs was sure that we needed a more fridge space so we got everything out of the fridge at home that we thought we needed in it. Mocked up the CDF18 internal dimensions in card. Everything fitted, though one has to pack carefully and not keep any unnecessary food on there.

It sits behind the passenger seat and hardly restricts access via the sliding door at all. It’s raised up so it fits in the deepest part of the back of the seat.

We have one 110Ah leisure battery and no solar (roof used for various sports kit). It’ll do 3days at 30c or more outside temperature with water pumps, lights etc off the same battery. We rarely stay in one spot for more time than that. If we did, it’d likely be somewhere with 230v.

Kitchen space is very limited in a non coach build van. This way saved me a lot of space.

If you want some pics or a chat about my nearly finished conversion, PM me. I’ve been really pleased with ours because it is exactly the way we want it.

29

blue estate:
That’s ok , what brand did you buy in the end ?

I have an Outwell deep cool 35 on the way, looks quite rugged in the pictures, we shall see!!

30

granddaddylow:
Kitchen space is very limited in a non coach build van. This way saved me a lot of space.

If you want some pics or a chat about my nearly finished conversion, PM me. I’ve been really pleased with ours because it is exactly the way we want it.

Thanks, I’m just about to get deep into prep for work on Monday zone but later in the week I will take you up on that offer. Some of the delay I have had in progressing work on mine has been over indecision over what I want and how best to achieve it.

I have put a basic lead acid leisure battery in and a 30a dc to dc charger and will end up with ehu as well. I am more inclined at the moment to get where I am going and settle in for most of a week, so might try to tag in a solar panel to give scope if no hook up is available.

I put roof bars on yesterday and am thinking about a panel that could travel in the van on route when a kayak is on the roof, then hook up and bolt on once arrived, leaving the kayak on the ground at destination, though that’s based on using campsites.