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Anybody try to run a small fridge in their taco?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by JoeBama, Jun 17, 2012.

  1. Jun 17, 2012 at 9:21 PM
    #1
    JoeBama

    JoeBama [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thought it would be "cool" to have a small fridge (like a 1-2 cubic ft.) for traveling, camping, etc. I've stripped out seats and console and built a deck in access cab for stuff like that. How big of a power inverter would it take to run one? Was thinking about a fridge running on ac, not one of those dc semiconductor jobs, unless someone has good luck with those
     
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  2. Jun 17, 2012 at 9:28 PM
    #2
    Highspeed

    Highspeed Well-Known Member

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    I spotted a small 12v fridge at Costco this weekend. I think it was a Colman.
     
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  3. Jun 17, 2012 at 9:35 PM
    #3
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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  4. Jun 17, 2012 at 10:15 PM
    #4
    JoeBama

    JoeBama [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Checked out those ARB and Engel links. Nice, but very pricey--IMO $900
     
  5. Jun 17, 2012 at 10:18 PM
    #5
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    Cooler and ice
     
  6. Jun 17, 2012 at 10:31 PM
    #6
    tx novice

    tx novice Foward momentum

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    There was a guy with an x-runner in Hawaii that drove around selling frozen steaks and pork chops out of a fridge in the back of his truck. Long story short his truck burnt down from electrical shortage of some sort.
     
  7. Jun 17, 2012 at 10:32 PM
    #7
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    That's why you get a good one
     
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  8. Jun 17, 2012 at 10:42 PM
    #8
    tx novice

    tx novice Foward momentum

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    I agree
     
  9. Jun 18, 2012 at 12:27 AM
    #9
    ProForce

    ProForce IG @proforce.expeditions OB#5411

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    Keep in mind that a standard mini fridge takes hours to chill and will defrost quickly. Even if you have it on for the 2 hour drive to your campground, it will barely be cold and then still take awhile to chill your drinks. Then once your there you can't keep running it or it will destroy your battery. So then it instantly warms up... Pointless.

    Those 12v fridges are expensive but you must consider that they are designed to chill very quickly and run very efficiently. They are the only real practical option. But still not worth $900 IMO. I'll take the cooler for a one time fee of $35 and 10 lbs of dry ice for about $15 per trip... that will stay cold for days and it would take generations of use for your usage cost to exceed that of a $900 fridge. And a cooler is portable.. you can bring it down to the beach with you, into the hotel, out to the campsite, pack it inside your house, etc etc. You get my point. Plus a cooler is about 10x bigger than a <1 ft² cooler in your center console.

    It would be sick to say you have a fridge in your car, but just not practical. Buy a Range Rover if you want a fridge and even heated/chilled cup holders... they are standard features :D Also probably part of the reason they cost more than $100,000.
     
  10. Jun 18, 2012 at 2:39 AM
    #10
    Enzo

    Enzo Well-Known Member

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    I have an ARB 50qt mounted on a slide. I folded part of the backseat down and drilled 4 small holes and bolted the slide down.
     
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  11. Jun 18, 2012 at 2:43 AM
    #11
    Highland Logan

    Highland Logan UBIQUE

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    Pictures?

    Frank
     
  12. Jun 18, 2012 at 4:45 AM
    #12
    PSJ

    PSJ Prerunners Work

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    Turned out to be a good BBQ? :D
     
  13. Jun 18, 2012 at 4:48 AM
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    PSJ

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    X2 Photos?
     
  14. Jun 18, 2012 at 5:17 AM
    #14
    Enzo

    Enzo Well-Known Member

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    I'll post some when I get home from work.
     
  15. Jun 18, 2012 at 5:23 AM
    #15
    DueNorth

    DueNorth Well-Known Member

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    My gf and I just went for a road trip down to Myrtle beach, SC and we used a cooler that plugs in via the cig outlet or to the inverter in the back. It worked great at keeping our condiments and veggies nice a cold for the whole trip. It was really nice not having to worry about using ice...
     
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  16. Jun 18, 2012 at 7:24 AM
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    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    I'd rather keep the Tacoma and buy a fridge
     
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  17. Jun 18, 2012 at 7:30 AM
    #17
    colinb17

    colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

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    I run a standard 2ft tall minifridge off of a 5000 watt inverter. still plenty of juice left coming from the inverter.
     
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  18. Jun 18, 2012 at 1:29 PM
    #18
    Enzo

    Enzo Well-Known Member

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    Here are a few pics.

    IMG_1320.jpg
    IMG_1323.jpg
    IMG_1321.jpg
     
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  19. Jun 18, 2012 at 4:36 PM
    #19
    boardude

    boardude BOOMSHAKALAKA

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    ^^^ Thats quite an elaborate setup just to keep a 30 pack and a bottle of Jack cold. It looks like that thing was made to transport organs or tissue samples!
     
  20. Jun 18, 2012 at 4:46 PM
    #20
    Enzo

    Enzo Well-Known Member

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    It'll hold a helluva lot more than a 30 pack.:) And yes some people do use these to transport organs.
     

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