If you’re into Overlanding, you’ve probably seen the constant discussions of what works best for long term travel. There are arguments for and against rotoformed coolers. There are arguments for and against Chinese knock-off fridge/freezers. And there are arguments for and against super expensive, high-line fridge freezers that can be $1000 plus.
Enter the NewAir 80 qt. dual zone fridge/freezer (NPR080GA00 is the product ID). The NewAir beverage fridge checks all the boxes. Here are some highlights:
- Dual Zone, independently controlled fridge/freezers-Want to take ice cream or ice as well as refrigerated meat or beverages in the same unit? Then this is the one for you!
- Reversible lids-So you can decide which way you would like the lids to open based on your application.
- Runs off AC or DC power-Throw it in the back of your truck or SUV or use it as a beer fridge in your basement.
- Rugged construction-Means that you don’t have to worry about breaking the fridge due to cheap construction.
- LG compressor-Compared to many of the cheaper fridges I’ve used or heard horror stories about, this fridge is built to last.
So, as far as size goes, this thing is massive. For an Overlanding build, you’ll want to check your dimensions of your slider or rear storage area to ensure it fits. If you have a truck with a bed, then this may be a really great solution for you. Thanks to the ruggedness, handle, and rolling wheels, you could pretty much just put this in the bed of your truck and then slide it out whenever you need it. No fancy, expensive fridge slider necessary!
Another really great feature of the fridge is the ability to run it directly off your solar system. In the case of my build, I’m going to be switching my solar around to keep my Odyssey AGM battery topped off at all times, so I would run it off of my starter battery and let the sun keep it topped off. However, I love that you have options.
I did notice something when I was watching someone else’s YouTube review, and that’s this secret compartment.
I’m not 100% sure what the intended purpose of it is and I didn’t see it anywhere in the product documentation, but the video I watched mentioned that it may be a place to keep the cord you’re not using. At any rate, it’s just nice to have a little access panel to the compressor and/or a secret storage compartment for your keys, wallet, etc. if you wheel this thing out to the beach, for example.
My family recently went on Spring Break and we went to the Smoky Mountains where we rented a cabin with friends. With multiple families hanging out for a week, our main refrigerator was immediately overfilled with food and adult beverages. However, since it was such a long drive, we brought the NewAir beverage fridge with us to keep stuff cold on the trip. We simply unplugged it from the vehicle, carried it inside, and then plugged it into AC power where it was used as a beer storage fridge for the entire week. It worked great and the flexibility to plug into AC or DC was a lifesaver for the trip.
So, overall, I’m really impressed with this fridge. The combination of all of the benefits listed above make it a very competitive entry into the Overlanding space. You either have extremely inexpensive fridges that may or may not last a year or extremely expensive fridges that will last quite a while, but are cost prohibitive for many people. For the price of one of the smaller name brand, Overlanding fridges on the market, you should consider the NewAir 80 qt. fridge if you’ve got the room for it in your vehicle!
If you want to pick one up yourself, click HERE and use the code ALL_THINGS_OVERLANDING for 10% off! Thanks for reading!