Do I NEED a freezer for overlanding?

[murphtron]

Having used a friends Dometic on a few trips I must admit i like the convenience of a fridge. Things don’t accidentally get wet like in an ice filled cooler.

But the downsides are that you gotta have a battery - which is more money and takes up space. Yeah I know there are ways I could hide a battery, and I’d likely do that if I was 100% convinced the fridge was perfect for my needs. The amount of ice the Dometic produces is laughable. If you want to mix some martinis at the end of the day, well, you’ll get one round. And that’s the issue. It really depends on what you need. And if you need ice, the Dometic won’t supply much.

Of course I have seen people with dedicated ice makers. More gear… yeah!

I do like the fridge though. I’ll keep borrowing my friends.

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[cbrenthus]

LoL … remember when it was just called “CAMPING”

What's classy when you're rich but trashy when you're poor?

Sleeping in your car!

 

[Seahund]

Sweet, I'm officially an overlander, I have a fridge!! LOL

No game meat. I don't see being off the grid more than 3 days before finding a store/fuel. If I have to choose between beer or ice cream...I'll go with nice cold beer!! Gear, yes, I have a list, need more gear!!

Guess my main concern is that if I'm building a nice storage/kitchen system, its essentially built around the fridge. I could add an inch or two of extra space beyond my current fridge specs in case mine fails and can't get or don't want the same one again.

If you precook some of your food and put other fresh items in the fridge you don't need s freezer. If you have kids (ice cream/pops) or need ice for drinks... then you're stuck. I'd stay with the fridge. Good enough for Overlanding IMHO

 

[lairgeral]

It sounds like you've got a good setup with your BougeRV 42 Qt single zone fridge for day trips. When it comes to overlanding and building out your setup, opting for a dual-zone fridge can offer some benefits, especially if you're planning longer trips or need to store a variety of perishable items.
One advantage of having a BougeRV dual zone fridge is the flexibility it provides. You can keep items that need to be frozen separate from those that just need to be chilled, which can be convenient for meal planning and organization.

 

[RHeinz]

OMG!!!! Overlanding without ice for your scotch or bourbon. Indeed savage conditions…..

 

[SeptuagenarianSasquatch]

Consider forsaking some of your First World Amenities as you escape "the world." Something to be said for roughing it. You manage without plumbing out there, don't you?

 

[nwGTS]

This is the only way to do it:

 

[Durangatan]

Negative. I keep ice in a 75qt Yeti for 6 days on river trips. Temps are often either side of 100F.

 

[akturbo]

Cracking me up! I opted to stick with the BougeRV. I left it running at 33 degrees after wheeling Saturday, came back Tuesday morning and the Bronco started! Put that $1k for a fridge toward a new suspension, much better than a freezer!

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

IMPO no. Having owned a full on built expo Tacoma in the past I have no plans to add a dual battery system / fridge to my Bronco.

With proper menu planning and a good rotomolded cooler you should be fine for multi day trips. I’ve had several 5+ day trips in the desert with no fridge.

I gave up on regular ice years ago in favor of freezing plastic jugs. While not perfectly dry, the bottles sweat as they melt, it does keep the inside much cleaner. Plus as they melt I just drink the water.

In other news surrounding cooler management: more whiskey, less beer. Problem solved.

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