Living On The Road

[BigRAWesty]

If you want the very best fridge get yourself a National Luna/ Trailblazer.
Nothing comes close but they come at a premium price, but resale value will remain.
Check as some fridges don't like humidity same as some stoves don't like altitude.
Don't know if I'd like erecting an annexe on a regular basis, but don't know of alternatives
that are easy.

Thanks mate when time comes I'll investigate the fridge further.
As for full annexe it would only be put up for long stays.

[Cuppa]

So the plan is still a plan then Kallen?

[BigRAWesty]

So the plan is still a plan then Kallen?

Sure is.. The Patrol is taking a little longer than expected but doing it right the first time..
So once that's done then smash these final few house renos over then on the market.. It is just a waiting game then..
Have decided to drop home loan back to interest only come next year.. Were 14 thou infront so have some time up our sleeve of minimum repayments..

[oncedisturbed]

How did I miss this thread?? Sounds like a good trip.

the wife and I wish to do the same but it will be a few years off as munchkin is only 12.

[BigRAWesty]

How did I miss this thread?? Sounds like a good trip.

the wife and I wish to do the same but it will be a few years off as munchkin is only 12.

Yea were hoping to get in early. Eldest is 3 in Feb and youngest is nearly 1 so if we miss the first few years of school no big loss.. So were looking at 5 years On the road..

[JoeG]

Hi Kallen
If you have solar charging on the van be advised that travel in the north (in / above the tropics ) de rates your panels so you require double the wattage.
We found our 120w system needed upgradind to 220w just to run a 12v fridge and night time lighting.
In our new slide on i have a fridge and freezer so have installed 400w (at 24v with a smart charger MPPT tracker) to charge our 240AH battery bank
all fine till 3days of rain and cloud then need to start engine to chasrge up.
we also have a smart DC/DC charger for charging from engine alt as the Patrol regulates to 13.6v and this is too low with 6m of 6mm wire to rear batteries.
of course if you are in a powered site the no worries, however we rarely find one (and mostly don't need one unless its raining)
We aim to find a Powered site and laundry once a week other than that find what we can off road.
Hope you live the dream soon
Good luck and enjoy life
Joe

[FNQGU]

If you want the very best fridge get yourself a National Luna/ Trailblazer.
Nothing comes close but they come at a premium price, but resale value will remain.

Not to start a fridge debate... I agree with TD, but would add that the Trailblaza is more suited to sitting in the back of a ute. Yes, they will go in the back of a wagon, but you will have to make do without lots of stuff just to fit one in.

If your budget will allow it, I'd also consider two units instead of one monster sized fridge. At one point I ran a 60 litre as a fridge and a 40 litre as a freezer. You could stick one in the van and one in the back of the Patrol as long as your power needs are sorted...

[Cuppa]

If your budget will allow it, I'd also consider two units instead of one monster sized fridge. At one point I ran a 60 litre as a fridge and a 40 litre as a freezer.

That's how I've set up our camper. After having an upright fridge with freezer space in our bus I realised how much of a compromise that is, often having to choose between soft ice cream or frozen lettuce! Going with the separate fridge & freezer does away with this problem, but also gives a lot more flexibility. If need be both can be used as fridges, or one can be turned off once food stocks are depleted.

Cuppa

[BigRAWesty]

Yea that's a good thought. We have a 50 For the Patrol so why spend big bucks On a van fridge. A 80 would be tops if that's the setup..

[FNQGU]

If you have a 50 already, perhaps find a decent little second hand 32 litre or 40 litre which can work as your freezer?