When it comes to changing equipment in remote areas for those of us who are exploring in 4x4, there may be a connection between rooftop tents and portable refrigerators/freezers. Although even the snorkel is not as obvious as the RTT mounted on the top of the truck, it is difficult to beat one of these 12v refrigerators for sheer practicality and unique features. It’s no surprise that the market continues to grow, as dozens of companies are now selling copies of leading brands. To understand the differences, consumers need to dig deeper in this increasingly crowded market.

In addition to many knockoffs, the North American market has also seen some long-established brands from Australia and Africa's famous off-road adventure countries import their product lines to the United States. For those in America. Brands like ARB come to mind. These brands come from ruthless inland and savannah explorations. The products they introduced to our market continue to influence buyers. This is especially true in the case of a 12v refrigerator.

Although Australian companies are well known, African brands are more well-known in Europe. This situation has changed due to some persistent and gaining visibility companies (for example, Alu-Cab). SnoMaster is an example of this trend. The company broke into the refrigerator/freezer market 20 years ago and was head-to-head with Australian brands in this highly competitive country around 2012. Africa and Australia).

Why is this relevant? The core and soul of the off-road refrigerator/freezer is its cooling device, that is, the compressor. In fact, there are few compressor manufacturers. Therefore, most refrigerator brands rely on compressors produced by one of the major manufacturers: Engel/Sawafugi, Dometic/Waeco or DanFoss/Secop. SnoMaster broke this pattern and created its own compressor as the starting point for its designers. Similarly, its refrigerator is designed for long-term off-road use, emphasizing durability, insulation efficiency and meaningful functions.

Starting in 2017, thanks to Todd Trudeau of SnoMaster USA, we started testing the company's two leading production lines. First, we have been running Classic for nearly a year, followed by Expedition, both use the same 66w compressor (even the largest 95L model), and both are suitable for off-road/land users. After two years of use, we have a real understanding of their advantages and disadvantages.

Opening the product packaging for the first time will tell you a lot about the brand. SnoMaster ships refrigerators to many customers. This is how the two units contact us. Each is protected by a large cardboard, thick styrofoam and a separate bag. The result is very good protection, which is important for large and expensive products like refrigerators/freezers. After opening the package, the integrity of the SnoMaster device is clear at a glance. Instead of omitting the functions that are sold separately as "accessories", all required functions are also included. This applies to built-in functions as well as potential additional components (for example, removable covers).

It is this lengthy list of built-in features, together with its proprietary compressor, that immediately makes SnoMaster unique. This includes a wireless remote control (solar powered), easy-to-view digital display, stainless steel hardware (including spring handles), textured stainless steel housing, removable doors, integrated feet for fixed installation, low battery protection settings, AC and DC power supplies Wire, repairable fuses, food-grade rubber-coated steel baskets, LED interior lighting, lid open alarm, power failure alarm, multi-point cooling vents, and to maintain authenticity, a bottle opener (equipped with a removable cap catcher).

Less obvious is one of the SnoMaster design specifications that affects efficiency. The classic series all use 60 mm insulation material. This thickness, coupled with the reflective skin and reflective removable cover, together improve heat resistance. Top competitor models such as ARB and National Luna also use 60 mm as their foam thickness. However, SnoMaster has increased the insulation volume by 17% in its top Expedition series. With a 70 mm insulation layer, the Expedition model is the best in its class.

SnoMaster also offers a range of sizes. Classic includes 40, 56, 60 and 72 liter models, as well as single and double compartment (and double door) configurations. The Expedition series includes 67, 75, 85 and 95 liter models, and also has a variety of configuration options.

We chose the classic 56D, the most popular model from SnoMaster USA, and the larger Expedition 67D, both of which have more flexible double compartments/doors. These models suitable for testing are as important as volume and function in terms of quality. They weigh 57 pounds and 75 pounds respectively, which are comparable to similar sturdy refrigerators (for example, ARB Elements, National Luna 2-in-1). The result is that the refrigerator likes to be installed for a long time, and the owner will not easily get in and out of the vehicle. Therefore, we chose to use the refrigerator slide in Expedition (see sidebar) because we want to keep our Land Cruiser loaded and ready for travel.

When choosing a refrigerator, two volumes are important-internal or content capacity, and external or space consumption. There is no doubt that the refrigerator/freezer will eat up most of the volume of any vehicle. This is especially true if you want to open the lid while the refrigerator is inside. Although both SnoMaster models can easily handle stacked items and are strong enough to be used as a seat, in most vehicles, the top must remain unobstructed, or a slide like Tembo Tusk to facilitate movement from the cab come out. The large area insulation of SnoMaster models means that they are larger on the outside than many refrigerators of similar size.

For more than two years, we have used Classic and Expedition for all seasons in multiple vehicles (mainly the 5th generation 4Runner and 80 series land cruisers) and three weeks of travel. Although it was unintentional, the test also included emergency 120v use for nearly two weeks, after our household refrigerator broke down, when we "downsized" to fit the two SnoMaster models.

Powering a 12v refrigerator/freezer can easily exceed the capacity of any 4×4 backup battery. Since the starter battery allows a limited depth of suction before damage begins, it is important to evaluate the capabilities of your electrical system. In summer conditions, two SnoMasters consume about 40Ah per day, depending on the following key factors: temperature setting; if they are in the shade; whether they are full of food/drink; and how often the lid is opened. Although you cannot change the weather forecast, you can do many things by optimizing these factors to prevent the compressor from cycling on and off.

When it does cycle, the SnoMaster compressor pulls from about 12w to nearly 70w. The actual impact of this power consumption can be seen in which systems will maintain long-term operation. For example, Goal Zero's popular Yeti 400 (33Ah, lead-acid battery) can run in any refrigerator for 18-20 hours. When our Land Cruiser uses a full-throttle group 49 (80Ah, AGM) auxiliary or dual battery system of "home" batteries, we can easily camp for two full days. If you upgrade to an excellent new lithium-ion deep-cycle battery, such as Battle Born's LiFePO4 (100Ah, but only 31 pounds), the ability to stay in place improves again.

Buy Battle Born Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

However, running any SnoMaster from the solar system is ideal and simple. Using different battery systems, we use Solbian (72w), P3 (75w), PowerFilm (120w), Zamp (140w), Go Power panels to operate the refrigerator! (200w), Off Grid Trek (215w) and Flexopower (240w). Under sunny conditions, the lowest output of these panels, the highly efficient Solbian, is enough to extend the battery's capacity for several days. However, for most users, considering the possibility of cloud cover and trees blocking the sun's rays, a larger system 3/4 or higher 3/4 is a safer choice. This is especially true if the refrigerator is not your only electrical device.

Buy PowerFilm 120w solar panels

The independent temperature setting range of each compartment of SnoMaster means that you can also manage power consumption through these controls. From 50F to -8F, their dual-compartment models let you decide whether one compartment or two compartments need to store frozen food, or whether their temperature setting can only ensure that the temperature of cold drinks and perishable food is set to 35- 40F. In addition, both the Classic and Expedition series have power settings, allowing you to select automatic, high or low modes. Auto is the default setting, and High is used for operation at high temperatures or when the 120v AC power supply is turned off. Low is suitable for situations where battery capacity needs to be considered. This setting and others are visible on the remote control and the LED screen of the refrigerator. The latter is located on the side of each refrigerator and can be easily read when installed on a sliding rail or even in a cabinet shell.

When it comes to controlling these temperatures, we start to like the convenience of the remote control that comes standard with every refrigerator. It is convenient in size and easy to read (at least two temperatures), and since its rear panel is a solar charger (also has USB charging), it will never be powered off. Each remote control is coded to its refrigerator and allows you to control and monitor the refrigerator compartment. Equally gratifying is the battery voltage status it lists. Although I found that this number varies from 0.1 to 0.2 volts compared to a monitor directly connected to the battery, it is accurate enough to give you an idea of ​​upcoming lows. But more importantly, both refrigerators can easily keep frozen items solid throughout the compartment.

What is the difference between these temperatures? We monitor the temperature every 15-30 minutes during prolonged driving and camping, as well as testing in full sunlight on the driveway. It is clear from these readings that the compartment temperature is indeed different from the selected temperature setting. A fluctuation of about 3F above or below the set temperature can be expected. At higher temperatures, or if the power is set to low, the range may be slightly different.

Classic and Expedition models are equipped with all accessories, including a zippered travel case with foam insulation and reflective lining to reduce radiant heat, and internal LED lights.

Convenience is a key factor in refrigerator design. SnoMaster makes it easy to access compartments and data. The lid uses a velcro flap and a tough #10 coil zipper, even though the desert dust still maintains smooth operation. The double cover has a sturdy spring latch, which can be locked for easy access. What's less likable is the well-built but annoying lid hinge. While allowing removal of each lid, based on our experience, when the user opens the lids under any lateral pressure, they may loosen (it is easy to do when crawling around inside the truck and getting food). Please note that neither model will fully open inside most SUVs, but if you open the lid, they can be opened for food.

The space in each refrigerator is easy to use and deep. The smooth white interior is easy to clean, including the bottom drain, and is illuminated by a built-in LED light when night falls. If you are looking for items below, a sturdy trash can can be very helpful. In Classic 56D, they are also slightly narrower than some standard items (such as 6-piece packs). This requires more planning on how to arrange content. The larger size of Expedit in 67D makes this no longer a problem. Either size is a great choice for a multi-day trip for 2-5 people. However, for some buyers, the 40L model may be more than enough, while also saving space and cost.

In order to protect the passengers and your refrigerator, the gear must be firmly installed in the car. Due to their quality, the refrigerator is more convenient to use in combination with sliding trays. Tembo Tusk is a California company that produces slide rails to fit the most popular refrigerators, even the largest SnoMaster models. Their heavy-duty frames are made in the United States, and the trays are made of stamped steel and painted with a matte black finish. Ball bearing guides and rigid frames allow users to easily slide the largest refrigerators, which can weigh more than 120 pounds when loaded. All Tembo Tusk slides use a simple lever to lock or release the tray. With side pull or front pull configuration, slide rails can be ordered to meet different installation and access needs.

Tembo Tusk provides basic mounting holes on the base of each slide, but custom holes can be drilled to align with vehicle mounting points. At least (4) 1/4" bolts should be used. In some vehicles, it may be necessary to use a larger mounting plate, which is independently bolted to the floor/bed of the vehicle to ensure that the sliding bolts are fixed to a firm base On. Use Tembo Tusk's Extreme Duty Fridge & Cargo Tie Downs to quickly and easily fix the SnoMaster to the slide. The end result is that the ease of access to the refrigerator is significantly improved when camping or parked by the trail.

Buy Tembo Tusk Slide

Entering the refrigerator without a slide is challenging in two ways: opening the refrigerator lid, and working around the loaded rig. The Tembo Tusk slide allows you to move the entire refrigerator out of the car. Dual slide rails allow 34 inches of travel. Even with the largest SnoMaster model, this means that we can slide the refrigerator out of the rear and open the two lids due to the overhead gap. Accuride slide rails are rated at approximately 500 pounds, are smooth, quiet, and easy to reach for occasional lubrication. [Regardless of which model you use, be sure to check whether the length and gap of the power cord are suitable for the moving range. ]

Whether it's (re)loading or removing content, the convenience of the Tembo Tusk slide makes it easy to use the refrigerator. This slide rail weighs about 40 pounds and also allows a refrigerator to be placed in the outer shell, which is essential for making full use of the limited cabin space. Tembo Tusk takes its advantage further by providing accessory cutting board components. Optionally installed under the slide rails, this hidden workbench is a good addition to the system. Only resulting in a moderate increase in the height of the refrigerator, the cutting board provides users with a 12-inch x 18-inch food-grade plain for food preparation.

In just a few years, SnoMaster has won a large number of followers with its well-built and fully functional refrigerators. The hottest pair in two years, I recommend it without hesitation. With personalized customer service and a wide range of models, SnoMaster makes it more difficult to choose a refrigerator. SnowMaster's quiet, efficient refrigerators have a rare five-year compressor warranty and include enough performance characteristics that it is difficult to absorb all of these characteristics when researching their website. With the support of leading aftermarket brands such as Tembo Tusk, using SnoMaster refrigerators in remote areas is an important way to extend and realize travel. If you are going to add a refrigerator to your adventure gear, SnoMaster should be one of your considerations.

About Gear Doctor: Dr. Sean Michael has been designing, abusing and testing outdoor equipment since the 1980s. He started to comment on Off-Road.com in 2000 and now lives in the North Wasatch Mountains. He is a professor of outdoor product design and development at Utah State University. Follow his travels and equipment on thegeardoctor on Instagram.

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