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Let’s talk Coolers:
- Thread starter M Rose
- Start date
Member III
I like your idea and will try it out myself
Member III
It's been off for 2 hours and it's still 32 degrees ???
Advocate III
Yes
Advocate III
So 4 days and 3 nights of off grid camping I set the temp to -8 degrees and only ran the fridge while driving... the temp stayed at a constant 35 degrees without the insulation cover on. Now at home running in 110, I have it set to 20 degrees and the pump is barely running.
Advocate III
Also in my trip I found out @PNW EXPLR has been running the fridge for the past 4 years almost constant without any issues...
Member III
I've always heard that keeping a ref running is better for the Freon than letting the ref sit idol. So for that reason I would keep in plugged in to 110v all the time at home and use it for something (cooling your beer maybe) when not on the trail.
Member III
Does anyone know !!
If you have a travel trailer and it has a duel fuel capability refer in it that uses either propane or 110v electricity, can you leave the propane on for the refer when traveling in order to keep your food cold ?? duaaaaa
If you have a travel trailer and it has a duel fuel capability refer in it that uses either propane or 110v electricity, can you leave the propane on for the refer when traveling in order to keep your food cold ?? duaaaaa
Advocate III
This is a debate that opens HUGE cans of worms... some say yes, others say no... the best solution is to get a 110vac/12vdc/propane fridge... at off grid camp run propane, run 12vdc in the road and 110VAC at the rv parks or home...
Buuuut, yes you can run the propane while driving down the road, just shot off the propane before entering a gas station.
Member III
The frig I'm asking about came with the Scamp rv in 1976. Still works great. It only has propane or 110v ac as far as I can tell. It seems useless on the road if you can't use the propane setting. Too bad they didnt make it 12vdc so it could run off the tow vehicle elect system. It has 12vdc for the lights inside from a battery mounted on the rear bumper from the factory. Seems like they would have a way for the ref to run off that setup.
This is the Scamp I gave my daughter who just pulled it back to Coos bay Or. from NM.
I was not aware of the service station danger. I'm glad I told her not to ignite the ref for travel. Thanks for the info Mike.
Advocate III
I figured it was your old Scamp Trailer Jon. That’s why I stated best to get a dual 12VDC/110VAC unit, then went into the details about running off propane while driving.
Member III
I do have a portable 54 qt(12v/110vdc) ref for my camping rig and a 100w solar set up for it and a back up small gas generstor.
When I was going to use the scamp for myself I had planned to use the portable for the frozen food and other cold stuff while traveling and the Scamp ref for camping using the propane system to save on electricity.
I just wanted info for my daughter so that she would know when she can use the propane on her scamp ref. I had told her to be sure and turn off the propane when she was traveling and only use it when camping.
Explorer I
what I do with my class c.
Advocate I
I've owned two Scamps covering the better part of twenty years and agree with the 'can of worms' assessment of powering the fridge with propane when driving. This is generally a contentious topic on any of the fiberglass camper boards I frequent. From my experience, the three way (12V. 120V and propane) options are available only on the smaller units. My first Scamp, a 16'er, had a 1.9 cf fridge and it's cooling was marginal at best when running on 12V (although it would freeze eggs if we forgot to change the thermostat when we reached our destination and switched to propane) The 19' Scamp we currently have has a 4.6 cf propane or 120V fridge but no 12V option. We use 120V for pre-cooling before leaving home but, once we're off, it stays on propane 24/7. The only time I've ever shut it off was when driving was when asked to do so by the attendants at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel. I'm not saying its right but we almost never camp where 120V is available and the vast majority of those we camp with do the same. That most of us camp on public lands with no hookups likely skews this stat.
Member III
Thanks for the heads up on traveling with the propane refer on. My old Scamp is a 13'-1976 model. The previous owner never used the ref or the stove because he used a cooler box and portable one burner cook stove. He loved his small propane bottles and said he never used the bigger propane bottle on the Scamp's trailer tongue. When I started to have the propane tank filled recently the propane co. told me the tank was over 30 years old. I just took it to a swap out station and got an updated tank rather than buying a new tank.
I've had it since 2000 Y2K and never used it at all. It was my get out of harms way rig. LOL
Advocate I
Good move on the tank swap. We use the Scamp's propane for the fridge, furnace and hot water heater but very seldom use the stove and then only for coffee. All cooking is done outside. We carry two 20 lb tanks on the Scamp and a third for the propane firepit and as a backup in the truck bed. The fridge and hot water heater are real misers but the furnace will go through a tank every week when camping in colder weather.
You and/or your daughter might want to check out this Fiberglass campers group It's a good source for info on these and, with a classic like your 76 13'er, you'd be greeted warmly. They often have rallies with varying degrees of organization. Probably our best outdoor experience ever was with a group of fifteen molded fiberglass campers of almost all brands boondocking around southern UT and norther AZ for a month or so in 2017.
MarcoM
Rank III
Enthusiast III
Greetins All,
Anyone use Cordova Coolers?
been geeking on a rotomolded cooler outside of the Yeti's and happened on the Cordova brand. Looks to be high quality, USA made (Idaho), with excellent features and warranty.
Before I pull the trigger on one, any one using these?
Thoughts?
thanks
Anyone use Cordova Coolers?
been geeking on a rotomolded cooler outside of the Yeti's and happened on the Cordova brand. Looks to be high quality, USA made (Idaho), with excellent features and warranty.
Before I pull the trigger on one, any one using these?
Thoughts?
thanks
Advocate I
Sorry, no personal experience with these but a couple of observations. I really like the handles and the latch system and the price, especially with free shipping, seems competitive. Nits - I couldn't tell if the drain cap had a retaining strap or not, easy to lose one without this feature. Also, can a water hose be attached to the drain - may or may not be important to you but I'm too old to move any larger, loaded roto molded cooler around much and don't want to drain it into my truck bed when its packed with other gear, I use a piece of hose long enough to reach outside the bed to drain mine. I saw no mention of a basket; this is a key accessory for us as it keeps food from becoming waterlogged and eggs from being cracked. I didn't see a tab for replacement parts i.e. latches, drain, foot pads etc. Important to me as something will wear out or break if it lasts as long as I expect. If you get it, please post back with an evaluation.
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MarcoM
Rank III
Enthusiast III
Thanks for your input @huachuca, much appreciate it. Gave me some food for thought.
Among other features, I was also drawn to the latching system and the 'no pinch' handles, and they have built in bottle opener :-). After I read your post, went back and found a video where they highlight the features.
The cap does not come off, it unscrews out but never comes off. Good thing because it would be highly annoying to loose the cap. There is a basket sold separately, I personally never have used one but maybe time to do so. Cooler also has a limited lifetime warranty which made it also more attractive than other more expensive brands.
Anywho- after spending hours doing research I ordered the 48Q model- $220 to my door. I have a trip coming up and we shall see how this goes.
thanks again for your input.
Cheers
