Yeti Cooler vs Norcold Freezer

AustinHealey
AustinHealey Member Posts: 66
in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

So the 2020 Boondock Lite comes with a Yeti Cooler instead of the Norcold refrigerator. Found a 2019 Boondock edge with the norcold, and awning for $1600 more. That’s $1600 for a year older model but with norcold 12 volt cooler and awning. How well do you guys like your Norcold fridge? Or would you just as soon have a Yeti cooler? Also, how well do you like your awning? Or does it and the rack just make more wind resistance and decrease your gas mileage? I will be boondocking some and on the road some. Yeti cooler just sounds simpler since I will have to buy some kind of solar panel to keep the battery charged enough to run that refrigerator. Thanks for your input!

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Comments

  • WilliamA
    WilliamA Member Posts: 1,309

    Just my 2¢, but I couldn't be happier with my Norcold. It's been perfect for me. Cooler? No thanks....

    WilliamA

    "When I am in charge, Starburst brand fruit chews will get their own food group....and where are all the freakin laser beams? There should be more laser beams..."

    2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
    2017 T@G XL
    Boyceville, Wi.

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  • CampHub
    CampHub Member Posts: 113

    Very happy with my Norcold as well. It is very nice not having a bunch of water in the bottom of the fridge.

    All the calculations show it can’t work. There’s only one thing to do: make it work.

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  • JamesDow
    JamesDow Member Posts: 750

    Also very happy with Norcold. Electrical use is totally acceptable, especially with solar. Use cooler also for beverages. Freeze Gatorades, water in bottles and attempt to stay away from ice if possible. Only problem I have experienced with Norcold was returning from trip down a dirt road. Five beers got bounced around to the point that they busted open. I was not traveling fast. Just need to remember to pull drinks or pack so they do not bounce. … or drink them before I leave.

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  • Jay
    Jay Member Posts: 76
    edited April 2020

    Very happy with the Norcold, I don't have to waste space with ice that melts, or ice runs every two days, love how a bottle of wine stands up and stays cold for those who like white, even when it is 100F outside. Don't have to be in fear that the meat has spoiled because it became too warm, or the eggs get rotten for the same reason, I could go on and on...lol, I love the Norcold, but that's juts MY 2cents

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  • Coulter
    Coulter Member Posts: 10

    We're new owners and looking forward to using the Norcold fridge but I keep wondering why the fridge uses electricity instead of gas. Seems everyone agrees the 20 lb l.p. tank is to big for just the stove usage so why not use the excess for a fridge and save the batteries for other things? Is there a safety issue here?

    TV = 2016 Highlander
    TD = 2017 T@G

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  • AustinHealey
    AustinHealey Member Posts: 66

    Anybody know if this is norcold 35 or 45?

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  • AustinHealey
    AustinHealey Member Posts: 66

    Two questions: Why did Nucamp switch from Norcold to Yeti cooler. 2. How hard would it be to wire a norcold freezer in a 2020 unit that came with a yeti.

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  • Duce95
    Duce95 Member Posts: 21
    https://teardrop-trailers.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/7415#Comment_7415

    Do you have a 12v plug behind the cooler. I think I saw pics of a socket behind it.

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  • JamesDow
    JamesDow Member Posts: 750

    2018 T@G MAX My Nocold is NRF 30. I would much rather have an electrical Norcold over propane. For one, you have no safety issues driving with electric. The electric can function up to a maximum angle of 20 degrees. Using solar I do not concern myself with my propane supply. One major issue that I could also face with desert camping is the better efficiency with a compressor style refrigerator. Gas powered refrigerator are more subject to ambient temperature swings.
    Why did NuCamp switch, I do not know.

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  • DaveB
    DaveB Member Posts: 101

    We have a 2020, all of the wiring including 12v outlet for the Norcold is still there. So switching back to the Norcold would be fairly easy, you would really only need to modify the tray that holds the Yeti. I recall seeing somewhere in here a thread where someone did that.
    I wish I knew why they moved to the Yeti, it seems like a big step backwards, at a time when almost every other change is a forward thinking list of improvements. Many of them inspired by the creative solutions found on here and other groups of loyal owners.
    Perhaps after a few years of feedback they will go back to it, or maybe Norcold has plans to cease production of the NRF30, they are becoming increasingly hard to source. At least here in Canada, and when you can find one the price is steep.

    Toronto, Ontario Canada
    2020 T@G Boondock Edge XL

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  • lipcio
    lipcio Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2020

    +1 for Norcold + solar charging for trips > 2 days

    If we don't know why NuCamp did this it was most likely about money. There is a lot of posts on many forums about people having issues with fridge, multiple errors, battery discharge, etc. Maybe they got tired of it :-) It looks to me like they should have at least fridge as an option.

    They obsoleted wooden sink cover for the same reason - too many issues with wrapping and cracking.

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  • ontheroad
    ontheroad Member Posts: 190

    Love our Norcold..while visiting NuCamp this winter, Austin said they had too many complaints..he said we were of the very few minority that actually love ours... expectations vs reality...@lipcio as to the wooden sink cover...the person that originally was making them retired...

    2021 T@B Boondock CS-S
    Former owner of 2017 T@G MAX XL
    2018 Nissan Pathfinder

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  • lipcio
    lipcio Member Posts: 41
    edited April 2020

    @ontheroad said:
    as to the wooden sink cover...the person that originally was making them retired...

    I'm trying to find one and I can't (don't ask why I just want to have it). We bought our t@g with sink cover missing. Do you know by any chance how to get to this person? People still do stuff to kill time or for fun when retire... or maybe he has hidden stash somwhere :bee:

    sorry for off topic question

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  • HikinMike
    HikinMike Member Posts: 400

    I love my Norcold. I even took it out of the trailer when we went on vacation without the T@G. We rented a TeePee and used the Norcold as our fridge. We were also able to stop several places on the way back (10 hour journey) and pick up cheeses and other stuff needing to be refrigerated. No way I would get rid of my Norcold.

    2019 T@G Boondock Edge 5W
    2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
    2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4xe

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  • ontheroad
    ontheroad Member Posts: 190
    edited April 2020

    @lipcio ..sorry no idea ..maybe @Verna might know ...

    2021 T@B Boondock CS-S
    Former owner of 2017 T@G MAX XL
    2018 Nissan Pathfinder

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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 696
    edited April 2020

    Is the TaG sink the same size as the TaB clamshell sink? @lipcio, what year TaG do you have? Maybe a picture of the sink? We have a clamshell TaB. Might have a wood sink insert.

    Sharon - Westlake, Ohio | 2017 TaB CSS - 

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  • SueBHunny
    SueBHunny Member Posts: 135

    I have extra love for my Norcold right now. When I anticipated the "stay at home" order in my state I turned on my Norcold to create extra freezer space (my T@G is in my garage) and filled it with frozen veggies, berries, and chicken. The extra freezer space has been very helpful!

    Sue
    State College, PA
    2015 T@G Max
    2012 Subaru Outback

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  • lipcio
    lipcio Member Posts: 41

    Not sure... they may be the same size however in t@g (we have 5' model) faucet is located in the corner and cover is curved and trimmed to match this shape. Thank you for asking!

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  • Duce95
    Duce95 Member Posts: 21
    https://teardrop-trailers.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/7430#Comment_7430

    Maybe someone could trace theirs and send you the tracing so you can cut your own.

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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 696

    Sorry @lipco - the TaB faucet is centered.

    Sharon - Westlake, Ohio | 2017 TaB CSS - 

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  • poliver
    poliver Member Posts: 33
    62D2BA89-B582-4DA5-ADD0-9ED72F2F2222.jpeg

    We just purchased a 2021 T@G XL and had a Norcold 12v front door fridge with a small top freezer installed. Camped the past three weekends and I must say we love the fridge. Last weekend was 90 degrees and very humid. Everything was cold and the freezer kept ice cubes flowing all weekend. Highly recommend a fridge.

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  • sylvesterii
    sylvesterii Member Posts: 5
    https://teardrop-trailers.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/8164#Comment_8164

    That looks great. Could I ask what it cost to source and have it installed?

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  • poliver
    poliver Member Posts: 33

    As we all know the 2021 model year doesn’t come with a TV and fridge. So, I had a 12V TV and the fridge installed for $1500.00 Canadian by my dealer. So happy with both.

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  • sylvesterii
    sylvesterii Member Posts: 5

    Thanks! I have a 2021 as well.

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  • Landpaddler
    Landpaddler Member Posts: 32

    What size Norcold fridge did you buy? We have the 2021 Tagxl but the dimensions of the fridge on the current Norcold site are too large. Thanks!

    2021 Tag XL Boondock
    Chevy Colorado ZR2
    Subaru Outback

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  • poliver
    poliver Member Posts: 33

    I believe it is the Norcold NR 751.

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  • tlfods75
    tlfods75 Member Posts: 2

    Are you sure it’s not an NR740?

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  • tlfods75
    tlfods75 Member Posts: 2

    @poliver could you please confirm the model of norcold fridge. According to the measurements on norcolds website the NR751 is 18.5” wide but I believe the cabinet area where the cooler resides is only 16.5” wide. Is the overall width of the fridge 18.5” which would include the frame that would overlie the existing wood frame surrounding the cooler space.

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