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Gary O
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2015 20:30 - Edited by: Gary O
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I'm sure there's a gazzilion threads on propane fridges.
But
Has anyone discussed the economics of an ice chest vs propane fridge...for the summer?
Right now, this summer, we're spending somewhere around $100/mo on...ice....to keep around $20-$30 worth of groceries cool.
So, seemed a no brainer to pick up a gas ice box.
Went into a state of sticker shock.
May get this one;
http://www.amazon.com/Porta-Gaz-61211-Portable-Refrigerator/dp/B009GT5J5C/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1436140637&sr=8-1&keywords=propane+camp+fridge
$500
But
We've only got a couple/three months before we start considering just setting stuff outside to keep cool.
Then there's the Yeti types, of which we would spend $400-$500 to save (what?) $50/mo.....
Yes, I'm looking for pat answers, experiences.
Please type slow (I read slow)
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LastOutlaw
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2015 22:06
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Do you have a battery bank? Solar? Generator with battery bank?
I run a chest freezer conversion that uses about 500 watts in 24 hours on max high. I put my ice from the cooler in the bottom when I get there and then reuse it on the way home when I leave.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jul 2015 22:31
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that sounds like a definite option.....if I had a battery bank.
Looks like next year.
Too much for us to do before winter to fiddle with a bunch of other stuff.
thnx LO, seems viable
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 06:28
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Another option is an ice maker. We were spending a lot on ice as well during our times in the summer. We do have a small propane fridge with freezer but not big enough to keep beer cold and other stuff. So I bought a small table top ice maker on sale at Canadian Tire for $100. It makes ice in as little as 10 minutes I think it is. We are off grid and it will run off my battery and inverter but if I am running the generator for other things il turn the ice maker on and make a bunch of ice in an hour or so and throw it in the cooler. It's also nice for the glass for drinks. This might be a cheaper option for you for this summer. Ours is a Salton which I believe are readily available at Walmart in the U.S. As well.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 08:32
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Quoting: skootamattaschmidty Another option is an ice maker
well, there it is (head slap)
thank you very much, skooty
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 08:43
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Quoting: Gary O Then there's the Yeti types, of which we would spend $400-$500 to save (what?) $50/mo.....
I drinked the YETI koolaide... ..I have 2 BIG Yeti cooler's for my hunting/fishing/camping trips...just bought the Yeti roadie cooler ( small one) a couple weeks ago to keep in front of my truck to have ice cold waters close by during my day to day activities )...and got the YETI tumbler as well ( stainless steel travel mug) for Fathers day..i love the Yeti products..buy one and NEVER have to buy a cooler again....THEY WORK!!!!
Also~~~ use it off season to keep your food etc. as a critter proof storage box
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 08:54
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Quoting: turkeyhunter buy one and NEVER have to buy a cooler again
won't be able to afford another one....
OK, serious;
I'm gonna get one, TH, just for the reason of security ('critter proof')
Thanks, pard
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BaconCreek
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 09:05
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We bought the medium Yeti for our off grid shabin. During the week I make block ice in my extra freezer at home filling up old milk and juice jugs. These last a long time in the Yeti where we keep our food.
We use another cooler for drinks. When we buy a bag or so of ice it lasts much longer with the block ice mixed in.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 09:15 - Edited by: turkeyhunter
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Quoting: BaconCreek During the week I make block ice in my extra freezer at home filling up old milk and juice jugs
I do this as well...before a trip...I get my Yeti cold overnight ...because it takes a lot to get all the plastic and insulation COLD...but when you do all your ice lasts so much longer. I filled my cooler up in FL when turkey hunting a couple of springs ago...when I got to South Dakota on my extended turkey hunting trip...still had ice in cooler that I had but in FL. This particular cooler was on a Hitch haul on the back of my pickup ...out in full sun.
ps-==BLOCK ICE IS THE BEST FOR SURE!!
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 09:23 - Edited by: Cowracer
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I have a hybrid camper with canvas bunks like a Pop-Up. These are notorious for getting hot in direct sunlight. There is a guy who makes custom fitted covers for them out of some sort of aluminum/mylar insulating material. I have a set and they work fantastically.
He also makes cooler covers out of the same material that reduces ice usage by up to half.
Link Here
It might be worth looking into.
Tim
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jul 2015 09:39
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good input, guys
appreciated
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 09:34 - Edited by: Gary O
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Got this yesterday
Takin' it back next trip to town
40 'large' cubes (one tumbler's worth) in only 137 minutes....
It's now carefully repackaged and sitting by my desk with the receipt, waiting for the ride back to the store.
Now looking again at propane fridges
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 10:26
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http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/3_5749_0.html
did you look at Dave's build?
So. Batteries. 3 AGM. I mean beats me. 300?
Mini Fridge. 200
charger. 150? (30 amp at 12v-rv charger. cheaper used.)
inverter: 150-300
less than a thousand and you have an electrical source for lights, battery charging, small appliances. a small fridge. for what, the same cost of a propane fridge. and NO ongoing propane costs.
Dave has solar already of course. excellent. quieter. cheaper.
rmak and razmichael both did easy to follow solar systems. you can copy. rmaks pics/diagrams are excellent. publication quality really.
Now you have a fridge and freezer. run the charger off the genny. use the batteries when the genny ain't runnin.
next year. or whenever. add your solar panels and controller.
solar panels: 400w: 350?
mppt controller: 200 (those tracer bn models look amazing. and cheeeep).
bifto bam. you're the off grid solar man. no more gas. no on going; propane costs; creeky buggin' ya about doing a solar system.
ps-check groingo's posts. he ran batts/charger for quite some time and did a dang fine job of it.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 11:33
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creeky......
I....
I....I love you
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 12:17 - Edited by: creeky
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thanks. i'm here for you brother. plus. ahem. I think I just earned my blue butterfly wings.
so i 'spect youze'll be goin' by my blog to buy me a beer. or is it an acorn now?
i did buy running water in the studio! off my blog from the thank youze last year. big thx to s_s from this site and others from around the world: don't fergets we'ze in a material world.
peace and happiness
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 17:13
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Gary O I'm sorry you didn't have luck with the ice maker you bought. It is a different one than I have and we have been very happy with ours. Sorry if I lead you astray. This falls into the realm of the other thread about advice. Guess it shows not everything works for all of us and advice has to be taken with a grain of salt! Worth a shot though...
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 17:49
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Quoting: skootamattaschmidty Sorry if I lead you astray
No way, man. I went in with both eyes closed.
Akshly, I think I got the last one in K Falls, so weren't too concerned about style, maker, grade...or even price.
No worries, skooty, keep the info comin'.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 17:53
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Quoting: creeky i'm here for you brother
....soon
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littlesalmon4
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 18:46
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I bought a used propane fridge for 400.00 It is not huge but it works for us. It runs almost 5 months of the year on 1 100lb propane tank.
Cost about $85.00 for that tank here. If you can find a good used fridge I think $85.00/yr is pretty cheap for almost unlimited ice and no food wastage.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 20:37 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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Been round and round with this decision as well. Still using ice. Spent a lot of money on it over the years. Going with a propane refrigerator as soon as the budget allows.
Don't like the Porta Gaz,looked at that last year and the comments on Amazon. To many bad ratings for my taste,plus I want a freezer.
Looked at making ice with a portable ice maker. Would burn more fuel to make ice than running a propane refrigerator not to mention wear and tear on the generator.
Looked at the Yeti,to much money and think the rubber latching system would probably break,was hard to unlatch as well for me.
Started talking to other propane refrigerator owners ALL of them were happy with the performance and love the quiet operation. That's something to think about because a refrigerator with a compressor will sound really noisy in a peaceful cabin setting. A propane refrigerator will also last for decades as long as it's properly maintained.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 20:59
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Quoting: silverwaterlady A propane refrigerator will also last for decades as long as it's properly maintained.
yup
considerations
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 21:01
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Quoting: littlesalmon4 I bought a used propane fridge
Izzat a little freezer behind the upper door?
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littlesalmon4
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 22:03
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Yes it is a small freezer. If we had more stuff than space in the freezer we rotate it between the fridge and freezer. Before The propane fridge we probably through out the $85 a year in spoiled food, mostly produce
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jul 2015 22:35
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N-I-I-I-C-E
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2015 02:09
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Gary,
How are you and Cabi fixing to stock up on perishable food in the winter/spring when it might be difficult to get to the store for a long while due to snow/ice and muddy roads? I'm wondering because I'll be in the same situation, south of you!
I'm thinking that a lot of freezer space for food may be more valuable to me than refrigerator space but I could very well be wrong about that.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2015 07:55
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Quoting: Julie2Oregon How are you and Cabi fixing to stock up on perishable food in the winter/spring when it might be difficult to get to the store for a long while due to snow/ice and muddy roads?
Leavin' that up to cabi.
We've had discussions of 5 gal metal cans of beans, rice, flour.
Canned veggies, soups. (Her garden is flourishing)
Poppin' a deer that wanders in.
Cabi makes a slurping sound when talkin' squirrel.
I'll havta watch her....and closely inventory my bowls of stew.
'Heyyyyy, that's not chikin!'
I'll be on the lookout for squirrel testicle surprise...
But hey, we're sourdoughs this first year.
We'll figger it out.
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2015 10:18
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DH's Mom canned venison back in the old days. That was their prime source of protein in the winter.
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cabingal3
Member
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# Posted: 8 Jul 2015 20:46 - Edited by: cabingal3
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Quoting: Julie2Oregon Gary, How are you and Cabi fixing to stock up on perishable food in the winter/spring when it might be difficult to get to the store for a long while due to snow/ice and muddy roads? I'm wondering because I'll be in the same situation, south of you! I'm thinking that a lot of freezer space for food may be more valuable to me than refrigerator space but I could very well be wrong about that.
hi Julie.well we go to town and i get extra cans of foods on sale.
we have a big pile.
i am thinking if we shoot a deer i will can that up...but the canning has to be done outside over the fire.
i am thinking as Gary O stated...5 gallon metal cans with bulk.powder milk,flour,oats,sugar,beans and some canned meats and rice.it u have these staples u can do alot.also big containers of some spices.garlic powder,onion powder and such.
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 9 Jul 2015 02:18
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I didn't know you could can meat like deer! Guess I never really thought about it, to be honest. I've always been big on freezing food. And I've seen some nifty plans for building a dead-simple smoke house which I'm very interested in -- thought that might come in handy for preserving meat/fish/poultry.
My mum and aunt used to spend weekends canning vegetables and fruit from my aunt and uncle's huge garden and orchard. Now I wish I had paid more attention when I was a kid instead of sneaking cut-up foodies!
Thanks for the tips, Cabi! Canned goods have gotten so expensive that watching for sales will be imperative! At least, that's how it is in Texas; I don't know how the prices there compare.
I will sleep sweetly and not dream of squirrel testicles. I will not, I will not, I will not! 
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