Fridge operation on ferry crossings
Hi everyone. will be taking a four hour ferry crossing shortly. and am concerned about transporting frozen goods in dometic fridge freezer compartment.Any tips ? or shall we just leave it empty.
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When we crossed with the caravan we used to absolutely fill both fridge and freezer - packing every spare space in the fridge with things like frozen milk, frozen water, frozen bacon, and this kept frozen for a long time. Gradually the frozen items in the fridge part defrosted and could then be used, but the stuff in the freezer lasted through the crossing and on long journeys through Europe, ready to be used when we decided to eat it.
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No worry. On occasion when touring and moving between sites and in hot weather the power to the caravan fridge is off for half an hour before departure, not on for a 4.5 hour tow or on until set up. So over 5 hours. I never bother to switch fridge to 12 volt and frozen stays frozen. The fridge when not powered is still a dammed efficient cool box
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If you are still worried you could do what I do at home (in case the freezer has gone off and then restarted while I am away) and in the caravan.
Put a few ice cubes in a bag or a box and if they have melted eat everything quick!
(Not the freezer at home as you won't know if it rotted before defrosting and refreezing!). I have also not had a problem on long crossings. Have a great time! I am getting my fridge full of French cheeses to come home Roscoff/Plymouth! 0 -
Your biggest problem is usually defrosting it when you get where you're going as it's still rock solid.
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On our recent crossing to St Malo the fridge and freezer only had a few things in them. In total it was off for about 15 hours. However, the evening meal, which we forgot to remove from the freezer, was still too frozen for use and we had to nip and buy something. As ET says they are a very efficient cool box.
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Would agree with others, not a problem at all keeping frozen food in ice box on a ferry crossing. We've done the 24 hr Santander crossing so fridge off for around 27 hours but food inside was still solid when we stopped for our overnight stop once off the ferry, in fact the frozen 4 pints of milk that I had in the fridge door was still partially frozen. Just don't try keeping soft food like ice cream or bread and you will be fine.
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I am sure that everyone is correct, although I don't think we have ever bothered taking frozen food with us on overseas caravan visits for the last 45 years. Perhaps we will one day.
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I just take a small bag of frozen spinach and a meals worth of something like chicken breast for an emergency meal but much prefer to buy local. My ice cubes were still frozen after sitting for 2.5 hours in hot sunshine at Roscoff from 1pm and then the boat. At 11 pm I checked them in my nightcap!
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The general rule in keeping food under refrigeration is to allow room for air to circulate in a fridge but to pack a freezer tightly. You should be ok for four hours if you pack as much frozen food into the freezer compartment as you can.
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I hope all you lovely people are aware that it is illegal to take meat and dairy products into France..... bread, eggs and fish are OK. They will confiscate and prosecute!. I just take nothing and do a big shop at the first supermarket thst's open.Coming back you can bring what you like..... no dope or stowaways😁. And just as a mention, I always leave the fridge OFF when towing as the habitation relay will maintain the temperature.
Smiley.
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"I hope all you lovely people are aware that it is illegal to take meat and dairy products into France."
I’m sure they are but this thread dates from 2017 - nearly 3 years before Brexit.
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I have yet to come across a reported reported confiscation or prosecution. They've got better things to do than check the contents a fridge in a caravan when entering the country.
That said, when we drive down to southern Spain we have the fridge running on 12 volt all day, even when parked somewhere for an extended lunch break, and never arrived at an overnight stop with a flat battery.
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For reasons probably best known to themselves, Knaus do not connect the fridge/freezer to 12v at all. Consequently, in the 6 years we have now owned the van, we have never run the FF on 12v whilst towing. We always switch it on (on mains) a couple of days before setting off - and load it up completely (why - I don't know - ask Ros! It's not as if we won't be near any shops🤔)
Even after 4 or 5 hours, in the middle of summer - without power - we have never had a problem with anything defrosting.
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I thought I'd join in on this old post with a couple of points that may help regarding long distances/times with cold food.
Yes, I do know French shops sell food, but some things I like to prepare in advance.
We always, including post Brexit, travel with caravan fridge/freezer full. Just like others we start fridge up on mains well in advance and run it on 12v during the trip.
Our longest journeys have been about 600 miles, leaving Merseyside at 8.00pm for a 2 to 3 am Dover crossing. If we had anything longer than an hour wait for the crossing I've flicked the fridge onto gas whilst waiting. When arriving in the Loire early afternoon the fridge has still been cold and our frozen meal for the night when pulled out of the fridge still frozen. Freezer contents also solid.
For a couple of years we travelled with a domestic table top freezer in the car boot. This was full, -20c when we left and some 20-22 hours later when we arrived on site still showing -10c, without any power to it during the journey.
We now travel with a 12/230v Hybrid fridge/freezer in the car boot. This will hold -15c on mains and 20c below ambient on 12v. I run and load this for a day or so before leaving home. It holds -10 c to -12c on the 12v feed from the car.
Next year we are on the overnight crossing from Plymouth to Roscoff. I will not bother with the caravan fridge, but I will fill the combi fridge./freezer as I'm confident this will hold minus temperatures when turned off.
Colin
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