Club Arnage

Having suffered warm beers for the last 8 years at Le Mans, the team have finally invested in a generator and want to buy a fridge.

Having looked around there seems to be a few different types. Some are Gas, 12v or 240v. I have a 12v coolbox which is not brill so I want to firdge to keep things cool.

I don't want to buy a 'fridge' that is just a little better than a coolbox. Also what is sensible size (8 people) for beers and maybe even a little food if there is enough space!

Thanks in advance,

Tony

If you've got a genny or an electric hook, I can find you a 240V cheap second or third hand cheap fridge that you collect in june and leave after on the campsite for gipsies...

Morning Gilles,
I would be interested in one of your 2nd hand working 240V fridges - if you would be so kind.

Cheers
Steve

ps. - sorry I missed your UK visit - from what I heard, you didn't last the distance  ;)

I just got a genny from ebay. With the power issue sorted
Team DMC has started talking about chilled cold ones.
 One of our members has a old 3/4 size chest freezer which has been used at garden bbq's.
 This is pretty good as we don't have to run power all the time.
 As we have the use of the LM DSV (Boxer Van) space is not a
problem.

Regards
Nick

 

Gilles, are you trying to sell the fridge that we left on HA last year. If you are don't offer a guarentee cos it is nackered.

I got a freebie, a fridge freezer, but it takes the whole weekend to cool the freezer properly.

Hi Tony,
            Those 3 way fridges are good  as you can run the genny to cool it down then when you go to bed switch to 12V and in the morning switch on the genny to cool the fridge and charge the battery for the next cycle. The Gas option works well too. These fridges however are not cheap.
Canada Phil

Tony,

We use a fridge as described by Canada Phil, it must be making its tenth trip this year.  You can plug the 12 v into the car on the way down so as to give it a head start.  

Works well off the gas as well.

Jem

We used one of the £30 12v cool boxes from Wollies last year, woked remarably well considering it was in the back of the MGF next to the engine! we did give it a helping hand by freezing everything we could beforehand, bottles of mineral water in the bottom, curry, bacon etc then put the beer and eggs butter etc on top. the only downside was not being able to run it for to long without the engine running. This year we are taking a 12v power pack (£30 from most places) to run it in the tent ,which we will charge from the car when out and about along side the cool box. Beers not Ice cold but not warm! and best solution within the spce constraint of the MG and total cost of £60.  

Try these people

http://www.mobilegas.co.uk/mobilecoolbox/gasfridgefreezerunit/

WAECO COMBICOOL

. Absorption Camping Fridge
. Capacity 40L
. 12v Car 240v Mains & Gas
. Gas Control Valve & Piezo Igniter
. Ice Cube Tray
. Accommodates Standing 1.5L Bottles
. Integrated Carry Handles
. Weight 16.3kg Approx
. (H/W/D cm) 45 x 51 x 46
. 12v & Mains Leads Supplied
. Gas Regulator & Hose Optional
. Regulator & Hose £11.99 Select
  From Other Products When Ordering

  Special Offer
  Price  £149.99

Or this

http://www.boysstuff.co.uk/product.asp?id=12434&random=21221340&cid=25&subcat=62&scid=62

You can always repaint it ;D

Some of these 3 way fridges are not very big inside - I had an Electrolux - the coooling bar inside the thing took a ridiculous amount of space..

If you do take a 'normal' household fridge and a genny over, make sure you give it a test run first.  One year we took over a large, hired, genny and a smallish fridge, and the combo didn't work at all well, as the fridge compressor only comes on intermitantly which used to stall the genny as it was ticking over without any load on it.

Since then we've had more success with pre-prepared ice and cool boxes.  Although this year we will be trialling a generator and ice machine combination.

Ohh - an ice machine... which camping are u on?  :-*

Jem,

Does it cool the stuff or chill it. For example, I have a 12v cool box that we always take. This works OK as long as you put something cold in it to start with (i.e Ice Cubes). I am after something that will chill something in the same way as my fridge does at home without taking my fridge from home ;-)

Cheers,

Tony

Few years ago, the guys next to us on the campsite had a freezer, which they filled with beer.

They ran it off a genny, while they where there and when they went off around the track they unplugged the genny, put it safely in there motor and still had cold beers when they got back. Not bad, and they let us share them - thats the spirit.

Mind you drinking slush puppy beers was different (need to drink the cold ones first)

Go for a freezer ! - hope this helps (p.s. mines a cold one please, - if I can get a MB campsite ticket)

Tony there are two distinct 12v systems your
coolbox (koolatron) uses electronics to transfer the heat from one heat sink inside to another outside and as you note really extends ice but not up to high volume cooling. The other is a functioning fridge.
Canada Phil

Will be going with the chest freezer as I checked the wattage
which is only 145w.
 So our 900w ebay genny should run it easily.
 We used it for a garden party last year and it worked
a treat.
 Just remember to unplug or turn off the genny. or its
Ice pop time!

Regards
Nick H

Its been very interesting reading peoples accounts of the great good approaches to the refrigertor question.  Many years ago when i were a lad and yacht racing, our main worries in those days wasn't keeping the beers cold but how to heat food up.

Electrical and gas weights needed to be kept to absolute minium for the quest of an extra 10th of a knot.  The skipper had his R & D group look at the problem, by the way these guys were the scientists working on the new Rapier point defense weapon.  Anyway they came up with the first ever man portable microwave oven which at that stage must of been the pinnacle of british technology.

It worked fine and we were the envy of the racing fleet that year with frequent visits from other crews wanting demostrations and to sample the food which really was streets ahead of the instant heat in a bag bloody pot noodle.  The only draw back we would explain to the latest visitor was keeping the wick trimmed.

I've run a 12v/240 cold box for a number of years, off of either the car or mains.  It's great and I wouldn't be without it but these things only cool to around 15 or 20 degrees below ambient temperature - at Le Mans that's still likely to leave you with warm beer.

For this year I've splashed out on the combi cool gas/12v/240 fridge that someone listed over the page.  We had a trial run on it the other day for a birthday party and it was great - the other half is very happy as (although we have three fridges anyway!) there is now a dedicated "beer fridge".  It cools very quickly and even produced ice around by the cooler bar.  It took a large amount of beer and I'm confident that it's going to be fab for the 4/5 of us who are camping at LM.   It is going to take up a chunk of room in the boot but our intention is not to run it on the way down but to pack it with camping stuff and run it when we get there.

Having said all that - if I was worried about boot space,  had a genny or was on Houx with electric Gille's suggestion of a cheap "disposable" fridge would probably be the way to go, particuarly if there was a group of you as the cost would be minimal.  

Piglet

edited to say, I've got one of these:- http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?Mfg=6&ProductID=300

I've got our new cheap fridge...

Thanks all for the feedback.

Piglet - Your experience with the coolbox is exactly how I remember it. Even if we don't get ice, it sounds that your coolbox will certainly chill the beer a lot more than the coolbox I have now.

Time to invest in one.

TonyT

Do you mind having cold camping gear then????

Did you buy the Waeco Fridge I advertised. We are thinking of buying this one.

You've got to be careful what you chill though..... ;D

Yep, I've got the fridge that you've listed - second one down on the page your link goes to - it's a tenner cheaper on my link but I don't know what P&P works out on either of them.  You can usually pick these Waeco's up at camping stores rather than pay P&P.   It really is a fab bit of kit, it's going to be useful at home as well as for camping.  I just can't wait to get out there and use it!  Roll on June!

Anybody with a genny could use this -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36798&item=4542328504&rd=1

Yep and even if the price trebles that's still a good price.

What's the best type of gas to use with the waeco fridge? You can specify three different types of regulator when ordering - calor butane, calor propane or camping gaz.

Is'nt the Blue Camping Gaz the most common in France?

Most of the hypermarkets in tourist areas carry the large gaz bottles. Other types seem to be more differcult to find

Calor gas is avaliable throughout the UK and is cheaper than the Camping Gaz in France.

A 6Kg Red cylinder will last all week.

Propane burns hotter than Butane.

Butane= Blue
Propane= Red

Hmmm, I'll have to weigh that up. Faster cooking time versus increased risk of burning tent down cooking indoors while pissed. ???

Propane will also work at lower temperatures than Butane, so if you're likely to use it when it is really cold (I know that's unlikely as you're using it on a  fridge but just for general information)

Camping Gaz will be readily available in France so you can geta  refill if you run out, it also only comes in small cannisters. You can't get Calor Gas at all in France.

If you have a gas bbq then I'd get the same sort of gas as you can then always double up if you run out!!

I went for camping gaz - mainly because my dad had an empty cylinder lying around that I could recycle!!  ;D

If you need to buy a cylinder, go to your local refuse tip they will usually have cylinders there and let you buy one for a few quid - saves you a bit of cash you can then use for beer to keep in the fridge!!  ;D ;D

I've ordered the same fridge as you Piglet, luckily I didn't see your link so mine cost £10 more  :'(

I left the gas out of it for now, too confusing. We're off on the Norfolk Broads for a week so I plan to use it with 12v only. I'll let you know how we get on Rick.

I hate to get scientific, but there must be an equation involving ambient temperature, size of bottles, drinking rate etc. which gives size of fridge and power rating etc

If its hot, then the smaller fridges will struggle to chill beer faster than you can drink it.  Tips are:
Top it up last thing at night, if you can find it,
Don't put warm bottles in the fridge.
Wrap the fridge in bubble wrap, but leave vents clear
Drink red wine till they chill.

Due to power cuts, you'll need a genny or gaz

Truck'n'truck,
You raise some interesting points here, and if I can persuade you to get out of that attic and your grandmothers Sunday best, then I promise never to introduce you to Sally Fields.

The biggest variable here is, unfortunately, the ambient temperature (wouldn't that be a great name to change to by deed poll? "Temperature's the name, Ambient Temperature..."). It can be a real scorcher or a little parky, so that would effect your calcs. I'd say fridges are damn good insulaters, and I can't see a bit of bubble wrap making much difference. And if the beers aren't warm, what the hell are you putting them in the fridge for anyway?

It's a hairy old walnut though, and much web time has been wasted, uh.. sorry - invested in the problem. My own thoughts are:

Get a top opening fridge.
A fridge freezer would be best, get the b*stard chilled right down during the afternoon, get some beers in before bed and then switch your genny off for the night. Blast it up for an hour or two in the morning to get the breakfast beerage at the right temp. Max temperature setting during the day in a fridge freezer shouldn't freeze things solid.
With a fridge freezer you should be able to freeze your own urine as well.

No ice cubes off BigH then!

Hi Giles,

Sorry for not coming back to you sooner.

Any chance of one of those 2nd hand fridges. We would probably leave it behind.

If you have one, how would we collect it and about how much would it cost. We are down first thing Wednesday morning and are staying in Musee. Although I have just watched the moto gp a Le mans and musee camping has been destroyed. Especially the bit at the far end  :'(

Cheers,

Tony

Still investigating to fing the best value in second-ahnd fridges.

Will publish all good bargains pretty soon ...

Thanks Giles. I am away in the US at the moment so will be trying to visit the site as often as possible.

Back in the UK again in June 6th.......then off to France the following week...... ;)

Weve just invested in a ice cube making machine, and im pleased to say its worth every penny. £125 off of Ebay.....easier to transport than a fridge and lets you use up the saved space with cool boxes full of ice, food and beer!

We've just obtained three of these  :)

(http://i5.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/13/0e/78_2.JPG)

What fridges with no doors!!!!

Hmmm, been at Tink's supplies have you Rick????

Proper bar fridges they are, with sliding glass doors!!

Down side is you need to make sure all the bottle labels are facing the front or they look crap. But full and all lined up they look great!!  :)

Downside there JP is how long do you expect them to stay full for ;D

Three of them, each twice the size of a standard fridge.

I'm guessing that as long as we refill them when they are empty then the contents should be chilled by the time we've worked our way through the next two fridges!

Don't suppose you are looking for an old pensioner to keep the shelves stacked are you? Just taken early retirement and need summat to do to keep the boredom away

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


As if!!!


Bill


Mark, ta!

You'd be more than welcome Bill, but how are you going to get all the way to MB when you struggle to get to the 'poo bar??  ;D ??? ;D

Ooh you sooooo cruel.

Reminding me of one of my few failings, that of constantly failing!!!

No, not so I shall not fail this time !

At least it spared me hours of painful scrubbing of body parts after being assaulted by a bird or an amy.

Small mercies.

 ;)

bill