ProPower MiniFridge

[capiche87]

I am waiting for my 2023 F150 with 7.2Kw ProPower.

I always keep a cooler in the back of my truck and was curious if anyone has tried keeping a mini fridge going on road trips with propower onboard? Was it one of the cheapo ones or higher-end compressor driven coolers designed for travel?

I was looking at some options from IceCo too.

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[Snakebitten]

I can't see why it would be a problem. There's been quite a few experiments with running the generator while traveling. TFL even charged up an EV that it was towing on a trailer behind the Powerboost.
That fridge will not be a burden.

 

[asouza68]

Haven't yet, because mine still at Granger waiting for me. But I have been looking at these reviews:

https://www.overlandexpo.com/compass/best-overlanding-fridge-freezer/

 

[HammaMan]

Might not even need to turn it on, it supplies 400w via internal outlets w/ out it being 'engaged'. I've had those outlets start a big shop vac and run for a while before shutting down so it might deliver a good surge w/ out even having to turn it "on". Seems silly to have to tell it to "turn on" to deliver max amperage. It is already running. In generator mode it will however continue to "run" w/ out timeout kicking in. Truck could likely power a fridge for a month or more on a full tank.

 

[Juiceman_210]

I just ran a chest freezer for four hours down the freeway. Pulling less than 250 watts the whole way. Both truck and freezer had no issues. Knock on wood going back home with my deer haul.

 

[Str8Shooter]

A mini fridge doesn't take much power, but leaving a truck running on/off all through a night or if I am away from the truck for a while is not something I like doing.

I plug my Dometic CFX3 55IM fridge into a Jackery 300 portable power station and then power the jackery with my truck. That way when I am driving the jackery is being recharged and when I stop the fridge will run off the jackery for about 20 hours if the weather isn't too hot. Truck Outlet --->Jackery --->Fridge

The really great thing about the powerboost for me is that I can take a microwave oven with me on road trips. That has to be directly powered by the truck because a microwave ovens need lots of amps.

 

[capiche87]

A mini fridge doesn't take much power, but leaving a truck running on/off all through a night or if I am away from the truck for a while is not something I like doing.

I plug my Dometic CFX3 55IM fridge into a Jackery 300 portable power station and then power the jackery with my truck. That way when I am driving the jackery is being recharged and when I stop the fridge will run off the jackery for about 20 hours if the weather isn't too hot. Truck Outlet --->Jackery --->Fridge

The really great thing about the powerboost for me is that I can take a microwave oven with me on road trips. That has to be directly powered by the truck because a microwave ovens need lots of amps.

Really cool setup! I may have to do something like that. Have you had issues with Jackery or Dometic overheating under the bedcover?

 

[imnuts]

I ran a Crock-Pot in the back seat going tailgating with no issues. Once we got to the parking lot it moved to the bed. I don't see any reason a small fridge or freezer would be any different.

 

[Str8Shooter]

Really cool setup! I may have to do something like that. Have you had issues with Jackery or Dometic overheating under the bedcover?

Interesting question. There was one day last July when I was driving through the Badlands where the outside temperature was extremely hot and reached 114 degrees. It was the hottest day of the year. I was very surprised the fridge still operated. However, I can tell you that my jackery battery stopped operating at about 105-107 degrees outside. So I plugged my fridge directly in to the truck outlet until later in the day when the temperature dropped. Everything worked fine after the temperature dropped and beer was still cold.

 

[Aron]

Interesting question. There was one day last July when I was driving through the Badlands where the outside temperature was extremely hot and reached 114 degrees. It was the hottest day of the year. I was very surprised the fridge still operated. However, I can tell you that my jackery battery stopped operating at about 105-107 degrees outside. So I plugged my fridge directly in to the truck outlet until later in the day when the temperature dropped. Everything worked fine after the temperature dropped and beer was still cold.

I'm going to try this setup next time I take the kids camping. My daughter has a fridge left over from the college dorm that she's not using, and I already have a Jackery for emergencies. I had considered dragging the fridge along for weekend car camping trips in the past, but I didn't really want the truck turning on every 20 minutes throughout the night.

 

[Atlee]

A mini fridge doesn't take much power, but leaving a truck running on/off all through a night or if I am away from the truck for a while is not something I like doing.

Why do you feel this way? I do it a lot, and haven't had any qualms about it.

 

[Jaylars]

Although I don't have a PB, I agree with Str8Shooter on this, very low power draw from a decent fridge. I am happy with a portable solar gen like a Jackery or in my case a Bluetti. I Overland for 7-14 days at a time and in all climates and environments and have had great success using my ICECO fridge/freezer. I keep mine inside the cab (SCREW) since my seats are always folded up. I use the trucks 400w plug when driving and the Bluetti takes over when camped or stopped thru the DC plug. The ICECO automatically switches between AC and DC draw when the truck starts or shuts down and the little Bluetti recharges when the truck is running and could run the fridge when stationary for about 36ish hrs. I also use a portable solar panel when stationary for more than a day or so. For the price of the small Solar gen, IMO it's worth it and probably better then having to go through your truck starting, idling, and stopping throughout the night when camping.

...and having cold beer and a steak in 105 degree temps in the middle of the desert is more than a morale booster.

 

[Str8Shooter]

Why do you feel this way? I do it a lot, and haven't had any qualms about it.

How many days in a row did you keep your PB running or in generator mode 24/7? I was thousands of miles away from home for almost 2 months straight boondocking and hiking in many locations in the middle of nowhere. If I were doing an overnight trip just a couple times a year I probably would consider not needing something like a Jackery. I'm guessing that you are doing just one day trips.

 

[Atlee]

How many days in a row did you keep your PB running or in generator mode 24/7? I was thousands of miles away from home for almost 2 months straight boondocking and hiking in many locations in the middle of nowhere. If I were doing an overnight trip just a couple times a year I probably would consider not needing something like a Jackery. I'm guessing that you are doing just one day trips.

60+ hours 8 times a year, plus other over nights. IMO, it's what this truck was built for. If it can't do this I'll look for another solution.

You would be wrong guessing I'm doing single day trips.

 

[Snakebitten]

If there is no draw or very little draw, like discussed, the Powerboost can sit as long as 40 minute ICE-off intervals, and then less than 2 minutes ICE-on to bring the HV battery back to the SOC necessary to start all over again.
I don't know why the truck couldn't be kept in that mode for days at a time. I don't think anything would be harmed or taxed negatively by doing so. It's really well designed for it.

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