As someone that carried 20 ft boards up a mountain when starting out on a piece of property on a dirt road, I know all about the importance of being able to carry something in or at least transport it in a wagon. Very small fridges can also be carried into a site which at the beginning of homesteading may be the reality you have to deal with. If you like to get away to that off-grid cabin for the weekend then there is little use in going to crazy. An RV style or 12-volt travel cooler/fridge or two may be all that is needed. If it is just you and you want to just keep a few things cold then you will have it easier with fridge options. It sure doesn’t hurt to ask though! If you are buying other things at once you can sometimes do better on shipping so if you think you will need another appliance in the not too distant future, it might be best to buy them both at once. Sometimes freight is what it is no matter what or the cost difference is so small you might as well let them bring it to you. Ask your dealer to see if this is an option. A few hours time to save $100 may be worth it. If a home delivery option is available you can sometimes cut a lot off the shipping expense if you drive to the freight terminal and pick it up. You can easily pay $200 in shipping and you may still have to pick it up at a freight depot rather than have it delivered to your home. Like any appliance they are very heavy and bulky so shipping costs must be factored in. Not many places are just going to have one in stock for you to pick up. Off-grid style fridges are a specialty item. During an emergency even keeping your fridge running a few hours a day and only opening it a few times can make a big difference. Regulators can freeze up in very low temps if not protected from freezing.ġ2-volt fridges can get their power from the sun and your battery bank. In some areas where there are heavy snow loads in the winter or very cold temperatures it might be that you can’t get out all the time. Tanks are bulky and heavy and it may be too difficult to get them if you are way out on an off-grid homestead. While propane appliances work great, you are dependent on a steady supply of gas. If you are off-grid and have solar panels then you might be best with 12 volt power. Factors to Consider Before Buyingīefore you head out and buy an off-grid fridge, think about the following factors to help you find the best fridge for your needs. There are a lot of factors to consider here, like the average temperature in your area. You can get a few months at least of decent cooling temperatures if done correctly. In some parts of the country they make more sense than others. It is not the easiest method but icehouses do work. Beverages can be kept at a decent drinking temperature this way. This is something the old-timers definitely used to keep butter and milk cool at times. If you have a cool spring then you can use this to keep some items that don’t require very cold temperatures. Plenty of fruits and vegetables can be stored for a large part of the year in a root cellar so that you can have more space in your fridge and have more food on hand. You don’t have to store ALL your food in the fridge, these are some other ways you can store food safely. Leftovers are great but planning out meals where they are kept to a reasonable level and you are not just refrigerating food that never gets eaten can save space, money, and work. Leftovers happen too but since fridges are inexpensive and readily available used, they have become super-sized and if you have the space you will fill it just like with a storage building or house! Watch Out for the Condiment & Leftover Trap One thing I have noticed over the years is how absolutely crammed a lot of people’s fridges are with premade condiments. I think it is worth it to go over a few ways to save yourself some space and money and then look at some of the many options you have to choose from. Having a very large fridge can be expensive and challenging off-grid. While some of you may be team propane, others are going to want a 12-volt option that is reasonably sized. Your choices for off-grid refrigerators have never been so wide. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
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