Why A Dual-Zone Fridge Makes Sense

Way back, and I mean way back when I was a teenager out camping with my mates for the weekend, we relied on a trusty old Esky, or chillie bin, or ice box, whatever you want to call them, to keep our food and drinks cold. Well, at least colder than the ambient temperatures, which was the best they could do after a few days of opening and closing to retrieve the contents.

We had simple requirements and simple foods. We were a happy bunch of guys who spent a few days at a time out in the bush or at the beach. 

Fast forward to my early 20s (1990, to be exact), and I had almost finished working on my very first touring setup, nearly ready to tackle a one-year lap of Australia – my dream come true. There was no way I would rely on the Esky, so I put my money down on a brand-new 12V fridge. There weren’t many brands to choose from back then; Engel was ‘the’ name, so my decision was easy. Funnily enough, that same fridge is still in one of my 4x4s to this day and still keeps cold whatever I throw in it.

Even though this huge camping trip and my touring setup was the flashiest I’d ever seen, my meals and drinks were still pretty basic – beer, meat, a bit of salad at times, and, well, to be honest, I can’t remember what else I survived on back then. Given it was just me and my simplistic food and drink needs, the 40L single-zone fridge was better than anything I’d owned.

Fast-forward some 30 years: not only have my food and beverage wants advanced – it’s still a beer for me at the end of my knuckle-dragging day – but I also needed to cater for my fairer half and deal with the needs of extended remote-area touring in my latest touring 4×4 setup.

I know they are not new to the scene, but I decided a large fridge-freezer would be the best fit for our converted 4×4 HiAce van.

POWER NEEDS

There were a few considerations to negotiate prior to picking a brand, size and door orientation. Most importantly, powering a large-sized fridge-freezer is more power-draining than my old small-sized single-zone fridge.

Current lithium battery and charging technology is a far cry from my old lead-acid deep cycle, rudimentary solenoid-style dual battery system. Not only do lithium batteries (of equivalent size) last longer than lead-acid batteries, they also charge up faster and can be charged more easily via the alternator or solar.

Before choosing your fridge-freezer, be sure you have an adequate power setup. Not being able to keep a freezer running may see a lot of expensive food ruined as it defrosts into what will become an expensive Esky, chillie bin or ice box.

The system I have ended up with in our remote touring 4×4 van comprises a 400Ah lithium battery bank, fixed solar panels on the roof, and a secondary solar blanket if an extra boost of charge is needed.

Why so much? Not only to ensure the constant running of the fridge freezer, but we also dabble with induction cooking, which is a large power drain, but perhaps more on that another time.

THE FRIDGE-FREEZER

We wanted a large-capacity chest-style fridge-freezer with separate bins and doors for the fridge and freezer sections. I also wanted the ability to adjust the temperatures of each bin independently and, indeed, swap from the smaller section to the larger section for use as either a fridge or freezer if ever required.

Being able to use baskets in both bins is essential to saving time rummaging for whatever product you want. Lifting the top basket to gain access to lower-stacked foods makes for shorter lid-open times, plus it helps negate squashing delicate foods. Have you ever seen what a six-pack of drinks does to crispy green lettuce?

Given that Sharyn, my food-loving, extraordinary cooking partner, is (mostly) responsible for what goes into the fridge, we… well, she, prepares a whole freezer’s worth of fine meals for all our trips. They are all frozen at home and transferred into the freezer the day we leave, forming a solid block of healthy, tasty, homemade frozen meals. If only she knew how little I used to survive on – ahhh, the good old days… not!

Generally, each morning after making a healthy smoothie – frozen berries and fruits from the freezer, remember – we would move that day’s evening meal to the fridge or into a tub in the campervan to allow it to defrost. At times, we also used that frozen meal as a small icepack in our hiking day packs if weight wasn’t a concern. Come nighttime, our cook-up – well, let’s cut to the chase – Sharyn’s cook-up was superb as usual.

Let’s not forget the small indulgences, the treats, and the extravagance of what is usually the realm of a home-based freezer – ice cream! Yep, we occasionally lash out while on the road and buy a pack of ice creams to stock in the freezer. Knowing that after a delicious cooked meal, while reclining in our camp chairs counting shooting stars, I can saunter into the camper with the offerings of a yummy frozen treat, is pure luxury to me. Yeah, I know this is hardly a necessity or a must-have item while out camping, but we figured we’ve earned it, so we take advantage of the ability to cart frozen foods.

Our chosen fridge is a 96L myCOOLMAN dual zone fridge-freezer, split 41 and 55L with either section able to be either fridge, freezer or both at a time. It has fulfilled all our requirements and has reconfigurable doors, which can open from either side. That allows it to function efficiently and perfectly fit with our interior setup. The small LED interior lights in each bin also makes fishing around for food at night easier. However, they shine in my eyes rather than down at the food, so the manufacturer could consider an alternative way to light up the interior.

BUT WHY?

When tripping remote, it’s quite comforting to know you have more than enough food and drinks. To know that, should you either purposely extend your stay or, in the unfortunate event, suffer a breakdown or some other unintentional delay, you have a higher chance of not needing to restock. That backup of food and drinks is ultimately a survival fallback if needed.

The myCoolman fridge-freezer has transformed how we eat on the road. It has allowed us to stock up at our leisure rather than relying on unknown, second-rate food sources while remote. Plus, it allows those remote trips to last longer with more and better food.

Ultimately, not only do we have more and better quality food, we save money by purchasing when we decide to rather than when we have to. That doesn’t always mean only shopping at large supermarkets in large towns. No siree: we have the ability to buy fresh produce from side-of-the-road farm outlets. Think here: salad items, eggs, or even small treats that must all be refrigerated to keep them best. Because we have fridge space, when we see quality food, we grab it and enjoy mixing it with whatever meals we have in the freezer.

Overall, I’m not sure I could or would want to go back to a single-zone fridge after experiencing the luxuries of a fridge-freezer.

Ice cream… don’t forget, we can now eat ice cream anywhere we choose. Double choc chip is my choice, in case you were wondering!

MARK’S WISE WORDS

Keep in mind that the fuller you keep both the fridge and freezer sections, the less the compressor tends to cycle, resulting in less power drain. More food and less power is a win-win.

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