Refrigerators vs coolers in the trailer

BasicPatrick · 05-09-2012, 10:16 PM

Greetings,

I am setting up a small 6x10 comp trailer. I have set aside the room for a prep table, shelving, the FEC, the treater and assorted other stuff.

Since I already have a battery/inverter on board and I pull the trailer with a motorhome that has uber generator, I have been thinking of swapping a small fridge instead of the cooler. I can age Briskets between comps and then pack it up and plug it into the inverter for the ride to the comp.

I found a 24"x24"x35" unit on close out at Sears and it will fit in the trailer.

IS anyone else using a fridge in a small trailer? If not what do you do as far as transporting meat to comps. I have a few vending and party gigs this summer and I have to be serve safe legal as well.

Any thoughts on cold storage of meats between, in transport and at comps are welcomed.

thanks

BBQchef33 · 05-09-2012, 11:20 PM

have been using a 15cf fridge in my trailer for years.

if its been off, i start the fridge on monday-tuesday and let it get down to temp for a full 2 days at least. DAy before travel, I load up the bottom drawers with cold drinks.

For travel, i put the COLD meats in it the night before and set it to 28-32 degrees a few hours before leaving. Once unplugged, it will stay cold for 10-12 hours at least. ... just in case, i will also put some blue packs under the large cuts. I have had bags of ice in the freezer in a pan that is still frozen when i arrive 6-8 hours later. I keep the external gauge on it and even after 10 hours, its still below 40 degrees.

at comps, i run off a honda 3000. the fridge is big enought to hold ALL the meats during prep, and its much easier than dealing with coolers... the coolers are for the drinks.

rksylves · 05-10-2012, 10:27 AM

My daughter didn't want her dorm-size fridge anymore so I installed it in the trailer. I use it to hold everything non-meat that needs to be cold (injections, sauces, drinks, sandwich stuff, etc.). A bungee cord keeps the door closed while underway. Someday whenever I get around to buying a generator, I'll just run it while traveling to keep the fridge running if it's a long drive. So far I've been able to go 6-8 hours if I keep the door shut.

All comp meat goes into one of those 150 quart coolers that is then packed completely full with ice. It will go days before I have to worry about it.

At the comp I use a Cambro with a full pan of ice in it to hold prepped meats before going into the cooker.

Russ

pat · 05-10-2012, 10:31 AM

I have an under-counter commercial fridge that holds 4 full pans. Go buy one already!

Rich Parker · 05-10-2012, 11:54 AM

I have a 11cf in my trailer with a 2cf freezer and it is so much easier than messing around with coolers and ice.

I set the fridge to the coldest setting a few hours before i leave and then put two 1 gallon milk jugs frozen solid in the fridge just before taking off. In Westmont, IL last year, it took me 4 hours with stops to get there and my fridge temp was 33 when i pulled in.

Teamfour · 07-30-2012, 03:32 PM

Has anyone ever installed a small RV refrigerator that runs off of propane and 12v power?

crd26a · 07-30-2012, 04:46 PM

Got basically this model in the trailer

http://www.wdcappliances.com/Product...kABQ#DAR1102WE

Its perfect for the competition - can get 2 briskets, 6 slabs, 2 shoulders chicken and sauces & injections in there, plus garnish. It is TIGHT when it is all in there, but it does fit. The big thing is to get as much in it early, get it cooled down cold, and then use some ice in it. It will hold just like an ice chest and runs cold - the back frost plate will freeze meat touching it. Its a great setup in a small trailer if you have the room and avoids trying to dig things out of ice when doing meat inspection.

05-09-2012, 10:16 PM	#1
BasicPatrick Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-29-11 Location: Hyannis, MA on Ol'e Cape Cod Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Refrigerators vs coolers in the trailer Greetings, I am setting up a small 6x10 comp trailer. I have set aside the room for a prep table, shelving, the FEC, the treater and assorted other stuff. Since I already have a battery/inverter on board and I pull the trailer with a motorhome that has uber generator, I have been thinking of swapping a small fridge instead of the cooler. I can age Briskets between comps and then pack it up and plug it into the inverter for the ride to the comp. I found a 24"x24"x35" unit on close out at Sears and it will fit in the trailer. IS anyone else using a fridge in a small trailer? If not what do you do as far as transporting meat to comps. I have a few vending and party gigs this summer and I have to be serve safe legal as well. Any thoughts on cold storage of meats between, in transport and at comps are welcomed. thanks __________________ The Basic BBQ Team FEC100 Traeger Texas 075 26.75 Weber OTG 2 x 22.5 WSM w/Pitmaster IQ 110 Camp Chef Pro 60 Wicked Pissah Super Fast Basic Blue Thermapen 32' Fleetwood Bounder (Motorhome). NEBS, KCBS, KCBS CBJ "Rub Some Sunshine on Your Face"--Richard Pryor

05-09-2012, 11:20 PM	#2
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	have been using a 15cf fridge in my trailer for years. if its been off, i start the fridge on monday-tuesday and let it get down to temp for a full 2 days at least. DAy before travel, I load up the bottom drawers with cold drinks. For travel, i put the COLD meats in it the night before and set it to 28-32 degrees a few hours before leaving. Once unplugged, it will stay cold for 10-12 hours at least. ... just in case, i will also put some blue packs under the large cuts. I have had bags of ice in the freezer in a pan that is still frozen when i arrive 6-8 hours later. I keep the external gauge on it and even after 10 hours, its still below 40 degrees. at comps, i run off a honda 3000. the fridge is big enought to hold ALL the meats during prep, and its much easier than dealing with coolers... the coolers are for the drinks. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

05-10-2012, 10:27 AM	#3
rksylves Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-28-09 Location: Melbourne, Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My daughter didn't want her dorm-size fridge anymore so I installed it in the trailer. I use it to hold everything non-meat that needs to be cold (injections, sauces, drinks, sandwich stuff, etc.). A bungee cord keeps the door closed while underway. Someday whenever I get around to buying a generator, I'll just run it while traveling to keep the fridge running if it's a long drive. So far I've been able to go 6-8 hours if I keep the door shut. All comp meat goes into one of those 150 quart coolers that is then packed completely full with ice. It will go days before I have to worry about it. At the comp I use a Cambro with a full pan of ice in it to hold prepped meats before going into the cooker. Russ __________________ Lead Cook 'Second Star BBQ' using a Big Orange 'Prince', 22 OTG, SJS FBA & KCBS CBJ

05-10-2012, 10:31 AM	#4
pat is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 01-21-08 Location: Des Moines, IA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have an under-counter commercial fridge that holds 4 full pans. Go buy one already! __________________ Smokers Purgatory Have you tried Simply Marvelous Rubs yet?? Backwoods Party Ole Hickory CTO Large Big Green Egg WSM X 2 Weber Performer

05-10-2012, 11:54 AM	#5
Rich Parker Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-20-09 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have a 11cf in my trailer with a 2cf freezer and it is so much easier than messing around with coolers and ice. I set the fridge to the coldest setting a few hours before i leave and then put two 1 gallon milk jugs frozen solid in the fridge just before taking off. In Westmont, IL last year, it took me 4 hours with stops to get there and my fridge temp was 33 when i pulled in. __________________ WSM and UDS - iBQ'n BBQ Team owner TheBBQSuperstore.com

07-30-2012, 03:32 PM	#6
Teamfour is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-13-12 Location: Sterling, VA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Has anyone ever installed a small RV refrigerator that runs off of propane and 12v power? __________________ BWS Party \|UDS\|Great Outdoors Propane Vertical\|Bar-B-Chef Offset \|Maverick ET-73 \|Maverick ET-732 \|Super Fast Orange Thermapen \| BBQ Guru DigiQ \|Two 100 QT crawfish boiling rigs \| LEM Meat Grinder \| Grizzly Sausage Stuffer KCBS CBJ

07-30-2012, 04:46 PM	#7
crd26a Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-16-09 Location: Olathe, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Got basically this model in the trailer http://www.wdcappliances.com/Product...kABQ#DAR1102WE Its perfect for the competition - can get 2 briskets, 6 slabs, 2 shoulders chicken and sauces & injections in there, plus garnish. It is TIGHT when it is all in there, but it does fit. The big thing is to get as much in it early, get it cooled down cold, and then use some ice in it. It will hold just like an ice chest and runs cold - the back frost plate will freeze meat touching it. Its a great setup in a small trailer if you have the room and avoids trying to dig things out of ice when doing meat inspection. __________________ Border War Smokers - "BBQ worth killin' your neighbor for"