My BougeRV 30QT Fridge setup in frunk

[Sgt. Carter]

I have the same Bouge RV cooler and the Yeti Roadie 32. Took both on a 2 week trip to Maine. Bouge cooler plugged into an outlet and worked like a champ - we took it out of the frunk when we were at VRBO’s. Yeti was strapped in the bed and kept things nice and cool as well, using ice packs that needed to be refrozen from time to time. The combo worked great for us.

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[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Nice.
It fits well in there, and is color coordinated, too!
Now all I have to do is come up with reasons "we" need it to tell my wife...

I took the chance and just ordered ... If I fill it with her favourites, get them all nice and cold and show up at just the right moment at the end of a hot day...I think the cooler will get a thumbs up !

- taking the 12 volt cover off while parked with the cooler running seems like it may help to allow heat to dissapate. I think putting the cover pack on for dust control while driving may be required.

 

[BSull]

My 23 quart version is being delivered tomorrow. Great Prime Day purchase. When I road trip, which isn't very often, it's only my wife and I. Suitcases in the frunk, cooler in the back seat area with the seats folded up.

 

[Madtroniks]

Thanks for sharing your experience and the photos of your setup. Looks like a solid setup with the tiedowns. I love the PRO series from BougeRV.

I would take advantage of last day of Prime Sale or go with direct sales with a coupon from BougeRV.

Bouge RV Portable Fridge - Save $$$ (Use code "WELCOME")

BougeRV Portable Fridge for $182 after discount Energy Efficient Powered by DC / AC / Solar / Battery for Camping / Off-Road with Ford F-150 Lightning

 

[Jackdforme]

Thanks for sharing your experience and the photos of your setup. Looks like a solid setup with the tiedowns. I love the PRO series from BougeRV.

I would take advantage of last day of Prime Sale or go with direct sales with a coupon from BougeRV.

Bouge RV Portable Fridge - Save $$$ (Use code "WELCOME")

BougeRV Portable Fridge for $182 after discount Energy Efficient Powered by DC / AC / Solar / Battery for Camping / Off-Road with Ford F-150 Lightning

So far so good. Not a bad idea on the 12V battery cover and that actually got me thinking of direct feeding the 12v connection to the battery or to the jumper point.
It would solve my PPOB shut-off issue as well.

 

[Wendy]

Like it was an oem option. I can even still use the ice chest.

This pro power shut down thing is annoying to those of us that have the factory capability of turning the vehicle off and keeping PPOB live. I don’t have an electrical device that would pull a constant or intermittent within 5 minutes 90+ watts without generating its own heat. Annoying. I guess I could keep the truck running with the climate off but why would I want the screens up and the truck moveable.

@ford here too I guess. Let PPOB stay on with vehicle off until reserve is met period. Stop sensing for a bunch of draw.

I see that it's a 12v fridge with an AC converter ... does the 12v connection draw from the small battery vs. the Pro Power (and thus would draw down that battery)? Seems like it would be more efficient to go 12v to 12v, perhaps while you are driving? Or maybe that doesn't make any difference since the truck has to convert the HVB to 12v (to the cooler); or HVB to 120v (to the cooler adapter).

 

[Jackdforme]

I see that it's a 12v fridge with an AC converter ... does the 12v connection draw from the small battery vs. the Pro Power (and thus would draw down that battery)? Seems like it would be more efficient to go 12v to 12v, perhaps while you are driving? Or maybe that doesn't make any difference since the truck has to convert the HVB to 12v (to the cooler); or HVB to 120v (to the cooler adapter).

Always better to not use inverters if possible. Ideally running the cooler on a 12v would be ideal and reduce the numbers of points of failure. If that would run down the 12v in this very sensitive to 12v problem truck, who knows. Plus, I love plugging in AC outlets in a vehicle. Crap I wish it needed 240v!

 

[Nikos]

Very nice! Appreciate the pictures and write up. I was close to pulling the trigger on one of these before our trip over the 4th weekend, but was torn on the best size for the frunk. That looks like it fits really well.

The 30 quart fits fine but the 44 or 60 quart won’t. I have a 44 quart one which fits fine at the bed of the truck, covered with a tarp. Adequate ventilation even in the hot summer days.

 

[Vulnox]

The 30 quart fits fine but the 44 or 60 quart won’t. I have a 44 quart one which fits fine at the bed of the truck, covered with a tarp. Adequate ventilation even in the hot summer days.

Thanks for the added info. I was trying to do some dimensions comparison, hoping there was a 44-ish that was roughly the same height but maybe just a bit wider.

I looked back at OPs pic, and man that 30 was like it was made for that spot, I didn't realize at first glance that it also just barely didn't cover the under-frunk door storage.

I may just have to go for bed storage like you mentioned. I have a hard tonneau, so just need to make sure I measure what my clearance is for that.

 

[broncoaz]

I have a 37 quart ARB fridge that fits in the frunk. On my last trip to VT I connected the 12v to the small 12v battery (yes, on the outside of the current monitor) and plugged the 110V into the frunk power outlets. The fridge will use 110v when available and 12v other times. It worked fine for the trip, but if I were doing it again I’d consider adding a Ctek 3 amp charger plugged in to the frunk outlets to properly recharge the 12v battery when the truck is on and has 110v available.

The 12v battery system is the Achilles heel of these trucks. The tiny battery is one mistake, the other is that the truck won’t charge the 12v battery when the truck is off. I had an issue with a dashcam killing the 12v battery to the point I had to replace it last month. Fortunately the tiny battery is only $130 from the dealership. Adding a second independent 12v battery charged by a Ctek is probably my best solution for fridge usage.

I ran two different ARB fridges, a 50 quart then later this 37 quart, when I was long range commuting for a week at a time in AZ/NV/NM from 2016-2020. I carried all my meals for the week about 25 weeks per year. I installed a second battery in my Passat TDI, but the other vehicles I was just using the stock battery. The fridge has a voltage monitor inside and will shut off to protect the 12v. Running these inside of an enclosed trunk or under the tonneau cover of my Dodge 2500 in AZ summers where the car interior temps were exceeding 160 degrees, I never had an issue with the ARB fridge overheating or melting down. They do work harder and draw more amperage at those temperatures.

 

[Nikos]

Thanks for the added info. I was trying to do some dimensions comparison, hoping there was a 44-ish that was roughly the same height but maybe just a bit wider.

I looked back at OPs pic, and man that 30 was like it was made for that spot, I didn't realize at first glance that it also just barely didn't cover the under-frunk door storage.

I may just have to go for bed storage like you mentioned. I have a hard tonneau, so just need to make sure I measure what my clearance is for that.

If it fits in your frunk then it will fit under your tonneau. The 44 or 60 won’t.

 

[I <3 My Lightning]

I think there should be enough of a bump out under the hood to clear this one... I don't need it up against the back wall. Thoughts?

BougeRV CRS 42QT 12 Volt Portable Car Fridge

https://www.bougerv.com/products/12-volt-camp-fridge

(28.0*19.6*17.1in.)

 

[broncoaz]

I think there should be enough of a bump out under the hood to clear this one... I don't need it up against the back wall. Thoughts?

BougeRV CRS 42QT 12 Volt Portable Car Fridge

https://www.bougerv.com/products/12-volt-camp-fridge

(28.0*19.6*17.1in.)

The 17.1” height is about the same as my ARB 37 quart. I found it’s best to put something like a kneeling pad behind the fridge to push it forward so it clears the back of the frunk lid better.

 

[I <3 My Lightning]

The 17.1” height is about the same as my ARB 37 quart. I found it’s best to put something like a kneeling pad behind the fridge to push it forward so it clears the back of the frunk lid better.

Thank you... I have netted to the back wall an old school 12v jumper pack that uses a sealed agm 18ah and has a 12v port and built in AC charger. That should bump the fridge out enough and also can be a back up power supply.

 

[TooManyToyz]

We plug ours in to a unit with a battery and sinewave inverter, similar to a Jackery. It charges off of the truck while driving, then automatically switches to its own internal battery when the truck is off. This keeps the refrigerator powered up at all times.

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