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Old 05-11-2018, 09:13 PM   #1
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Taking a cow on the bus (freezer question)

We have a cow in the field and 10 cu ft freezer on the porch. We're moving, and thought we might process the cow and take it along in the freezer.

The freezer says "5 amps" - that comes out to about 600 watts, presumably with substantially more than that when starting. Seems as that would be easy to run on a 2000W inverter off the alternator/starter batteries while driving, and turn off the inverter when stopped. (For reference, a full freezer, unopened, will likely last "a day or two" without power.) We plan to do more driving than parking, though our plans might change...

Thoughts? Should I get a generator instead and run it when we're parked?
1000w surge inverter generator, 56db $200
2000w surge generator, 65db, $160
4000w surge generator, 69db, $250

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Old 05-11-2018, 10:44 PM   #2
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Will the beef be frozen already when you start your trip?
How many days is the trip
What is the high/low temp average
How many hours per day do you plan to drive
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Old 05-11-2018, 11:18 PM   #3
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Brutal. Well freeze it all first and that will give you much more longevity. If your math is right I'd do just as you said and keep it cool while driving. I'm sure a good freezer will last unplugged overnight while you sleep as long as you get going in the morning again.
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Old 05-12-2018, 03:10 AM   #4
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The RV fridge in our travel trailer died dead.

We replaced it with a 110-VAC only apartment sized fridge.

When we are on the road it is not running.

We found that after almost 40 days on the road with about 30 of those days travel days the fridge would keep things cold enough that the ice cubes in the freezer stayed frozen.

We were not going through Death Valley at 110* but we were going across I-80 with temps in the 80's and 90's.

I think that if you are going to keep it running while you are driving and leaving it off over night that it won't warm up enough to thaw out anything. If for every hour at night you have the fridge running at least one hour during the day I think you will keep your beef frozen until you have a chance to put the freezer where it is going to live.
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Old 05-12-2018, 09:11 AM   #5
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On most of our travelling early season hunting trips we would bring a genny and a freezer on the trip. since weather is unpredictable late Aug thru early Oct. With the meat frozen before departure, and sometimes with a not fully freezer (hunting, not shopping) the meat has shown no signs of thawing after 10 plus hours of driving in 20 deg C heat and not being plugged in until reaching our nightly stop.
So if your running the freezer the entire time your driving you'll be fine. especially if you bus is running cooling than the outside air temp.

Should you get a genny..... I would get one, but not just for this trip, just to have in general.
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Old 05-12-2018, 12:52 PM   #6
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make jerky out of the whole thing. (lighter weight, and no fridge needed!) but damn, that would be a lot of jerky. my jaw is sore thinking about it....
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Old 05-12-2018, 01:36 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovobay View Post
make jerky out of the whole thing. (lighter weight, and no fridge needed!) but damn, that would be a lot of jerky. my jaw is sore thinking about it....
hahaha, awesome
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Old 05-12-2018, 09:13 PM   #8
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Don't bother with the generator.
If you run the freezer off your inverter during the day your Beef should stay frozen during your move.
We have used a home type refrigerator in our bus this way for years.
You could make room for the cow to ride in the bus if she isn't ready for the freezer yet.
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