Fridge powering strstegies

We are looking at getting a fridge like the dometic 75 dual zone. Family of 5. While we learn about and try to plan out a dual battery set up, we are coming up on a trip soon and I don’t think the battery set up will be near ready. Can something like a Jackery power a fridge over night? Maybe run the fridge and charge the jackery type device during the day from the truck and then switch the fridge to the jackery over night? We don’t stay put when we travel, hit camp around 5 or possibly later and then on the road by 9 or 10 am. I’m still in the beginning learning phases about fridges and powering stuff so I may be waaaaay off but I’m hoping for something quick and easy as a temporary stop gap. Thanks!

 

I ran my ARB 37 off the stock battery for 12-24 hours pretty regularly until i finally replaced that battery with a bigger one. Now I’ve got a 27F agm and have quite a bit more run time.

I still dont run a dual battery system in my truck. If you aren’t sitting for days, you can definitely run with just one. I just carry a jump back in case the fridge low voltage shutoff doesn’t work and it drains the battery too low. Never had an issue.

 

See this is what I’m wondering but can’t get a straight answer. I have one person saying because I have a winch, adding a battery pushes me too far over on the one battery. If we use one side of the fridge for freezing will the fridge allow stuff to melt overnight? If not then I should be able to limp by just fine right? Maybe I just upgrade my battery?

 

It depends what the ambient temps are and what you have the fridge set to but i dont see any reason why you couldnt run over night unless its super hot outside and the fridge / freezer is mostly empty so its running a lot. I ran mine half full at 32* around 24 hours off the stock battery with 100*+ temps in New Mexico before the low voltage cut off shut it down. I’ve yet to hit the low voltage shutoff since putting in an AGM.

I’d start by putting in an AGM battery.

This is what I have in my truck, there’s currently a 10% discount and $20 rebate
https://www.batteriesplus.com/product-details/auto_light-truck/battery/x2power/sli27fagmdp

A lot of people think you have to have dual batteries for fridges, lights, etc but I’ve run with a single battery for 3 years and never had an issue.

 

Is there a way to tell if this battery will fit in my first gen Tacoma without having the battery in hand? I assume it will but I’m pretty clueless as well. Thanks!

 

Easiest way is to pop your hood and see what’s in there already. I know a 27F will fit in 2nd and 3rd gens. I don’t remember on the first gens, it’s been a long time since I’ve had one.

 

Looks like all the battery search websites say 24f and 35. Do I try and squeeze a 27f in there or is it wisest to stick with the 24f?

 

This website says your truck should be a 24f. Wtf? May not be a reliable website huh?
https://www.autobatteries.com/en-us...=Toyota&model=Tacoma&engine=V6-3.5L&find=find

 

The third gen comes stock with a 24f but a 27f fits just fine. It’s basically a few inches wider.

 

Does the 27 give you more capacity or whatever other technical jargon? Is there a real advantage to putting it in over the 24f?

 

Yes. More capacity

 

Noob question Does the fridge charge itself when the car is off or do you have it running? and you just turn it off when its night time?

Op you might need a bigger battery tray and a different Jbolt if you upgrade your battery.

 

How would the fridge charge itself?

my battery is only charged by the alternator. I don’t shut my fridge off but I guess you could?

 

Get a portable solar panel ~100W. That'll keep you going for a while. My fixed 100W panel keeps my battery full for days w/ the fridge running.

 

It's a slippery slope with upgrading battery to a larger AGM, IF your alternator doesn't fully charge it (I don't know enough about 1st gens to argue it either way) so, look into that. 75dz is power hungry if you run any compartment as a freezer, and as mentioned before it also depends on ambient temps. Power supply like Jackery, plb40 will be able to power your fridge for a while, but they come with a price tag (especially if you want to get a bigger ones) edit and with some of them, you can leave the fridge plugged into it while the unit is charging.
Another option is a dual battery system, which at the end will still cost a bundle, and will require bunch of work.
Anyways, good luck with your fridge and your choice.






PS. In any case, make sure you have a way to jump start your truck. Some portable units aren't expenisve at all

 

We have ordered a jumper pack. I think we bought the highest rated one from the ones Project Farm on YouTube tested. Hopefully it will be reliable.

 

I use Jackery 240 to run my iceco. Recent review here - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/iceco-jp50-initial-review.681680/#post-24040454 Solar will be ordered soon and will most likely get a backup Jackery.