My granddad bought his first camping fridge at the turn of the 20th century and at the time, it was the best you could have. It was able to work on 12V and gas, but because of the gas, the fridge had to stay outside. So, while camping at Third Bridge, my uncle was woken up in the middle of the night by weird noises coming from the fridge. He peaked out of his tent and spotted a hyena meandering away with it firmly in its mouth. This was quite the feat considering the total weight of the fridge and the gas bottle! With a weight of only 15.7kg, making off with a DAG 50-litre single-door fridge would be much easier, but fortunately it can easily fit in a trailer or bakkie.
Camping fridges and dual battery systems have come a long way since these cumbersome gas/electric systems. The DAG is the perfect example of the modern camping fridge. The 50-litre single-door unit has been on a couple of trips with us and has even been used at home during loadshedding. It is made out of a durable and shockproof plastic hull and will work perfectly in temperatures of up to 45°C. The temperature can be adjusted to -20°C, and the LG compressor allows for superior cooling.
There are a some exciting features on this fridge. There is a built-in Bluetooth monitoring system which is in particular is a favourite. It connects to your phone via an app, allowing you to control the temperature from your phone. It also shows the fridge’s current temperature and monitors battery levels. In addition, it also has a detachable 12V lithium battery pack that offers 24 hours of power to the fridge, depending on the conditions and usage. There’s even a small plastic cutting board inside the lid, which is very convenient and big enough for a decentsized steak.
On the flipside, we did find that when the compressor was working hard, the sound was noticeable but certainly not at a level that drove us crazy. With a recommended retail price of R6 499, this fridge offers an affordable alternative to some bigger brands whilst still providing excellent service.
Key Features
- LG compressor for superior cooling.
- 3-stage battery protection to prevent damage to your vehicle’s battery.
- Suitable for vehicles and home use (12V & 220V).
- Detachable DAG 12V lithium-ion battery pack that lasts for 4 to 12 hours.
- Shockproof for the toughest terrain.
- Includes storage buckets, drain plug and LED light as standard.
- Can handle a 45-degree angle when overlanding.
- Power supply: 12/24V DC, 100 – 240V AC
- Total capacity: 50 litres
- Rated current: DC 5.0A/2.5A AC1.2A/0.5A
- Rated power input: 60W
- Fridge/freezer: -20 to 20°C
- Dimensions: 600mm (L) x 400mm (W) x 505mm (H)
- Net weight: 15.7kg
- Gross weight: 16.5kg
- Noise Level: <45db
- 3-year standard warranty, extendable to 5 years (for an additional R999)
