That intro is not a mistake, the 60-litre single-zone Companion fridge/freezer we have in the back of the 4X4 Australia D-MAX will work when not plugged in to power thanks to a built-in lithium battery.
I’m rather blown away by how many features the Companion fridge has, starting with the previously mentioned lithium battery pack that is built in to the fridge. Simply charge the fridge via the supplied 240V adaptor or via 12V while travelling and you’re away.
Companion says this battery pack (which has two USB points built in, and can be removed for use as a portable power pack) will run the 60L fridge for approximately 16 hours – impressive, but in ideal conditions, I’ve had it run for as long as 40 hours when used at home as my office beer fridge.
You can also connect a solar panel or blanket directly to the fridge, to charge this lithium battery for a true off-grid experience. We’ve not had to do this yet, as our fridge is powered full-time via our 100amp Invicta lithium battery, with Piranha battery tray and DCDC charger behind the back seat of the D-MAX.
With that much lithium power shared between the battery in the fridge and the D-MAX’s auxiliary battery, there’s no chance of warm food or drinks on our watch. However, if you don’t have a full-time dual-battery system, solar could be a solid option.
Other notable features include in-built bottle openers and extra USB points built in to the fridge, so you can charge devices while chilling at camp. The fridge/freezer arrived with a variety of cables too, so you don’t need to see a sparky to wire in an Anderson plug; it comes with that option already.
I also really like the digital touchscreen, which – once you understand how to operate it (read the instruction manual, folks) – has plenty of features and is easy to use. If power is an issue or it’s cold outside, for example, you can select an Eco mode which draws less power, and you can set the fridge to the exact temp you want.
Something I really appreciate about the design of the unit is how versatile it is. The lid can be opened from either side, making for a simpler installation. There are two sturdy carry handles, which also act as tie-down points, so it’s easy to move or secure the unit. You can also power it from the front or the back of the fridge, which is a great addition, making cable runs cleaner with less chance of damage to the cable. Smart thinking!
The SECOP compressor is nice and quiet in operation, and it has proven to be extremely quick and efficient at cooling warm drinks. Built-in internal LED lighting is another neat touch when looking for that last chocolate bar at the bottom of the fridge before the photographers find it.
I also love the internal basket, which allows you to pack for big trips simply and easily, or to remove everything when lifting the fridge out of the vehicle without busting your back. The 60L fridge/freezer weighs in at 26kg empty for those playing along at home.
We’ve mounted the fridge to a set of brilliant MSA 4x4 drawers and on an MSA 4x4 Drop Slide, to ease access and provide a super-sturdy mounting system. So far, everything fits like a glove and looks perfect, especially covered in red dust from our recent run out to Cobar.
AVAILABLE FROM: companionoutdoor.com
RRP: $1569.99
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