ARB Zero Dual Zone Portable Fridge Freezer

by

Words by Jason Tansem

There are a few things that you know about us. We like to be off-road and off the grid. We like to get dirty and sometimes wonder if we will get out of some predicaments. And like many of you, we also like cold beverages and to eat well when we are on the trail.

We caught wind of the new ARB Zero Fridge Freezer and had to get our hands on one to try it out. This cooler has two compartments that can be individually controlled so you can have a fridge and freezer simultaneously, or have the unit act as one large compartment. When you hit the trails for an extended amount of time, it is nice to be able to freeze some of your supplies or even make ice when you are away.

The 96L option will hold up to 144 beverages nicely and keep them extremely cold – even frozen if you choose. The cooling capacity is between -22 to +10 so you can be flexible with the temperature and adjust it from the control panel on the side. For extra convenience there is a front AC inlet and a USB charging port. We ran a test when we got the unit and were able to plug it in and completely freeze a bottle of water in under three hours with the “boost” feature. Very impressive.

One feature that is extremely helpful is the free app that can help you monitor things while you are away from camp. There are few things worse than returning to base camp to find your cooler kicked the bucket or having all of your food spoiled because of an outage. Nobody wants to be forced to go home because their food spoiled due to faulty cooling.

We have tried nearly every cooler on the market and this is hands down our favourite. What we like above everything else is the durability and dependability.

Key Specs of ARB Fridge/Freezer

  • 96L (144 x 375ml cans)
  • External Dimensions:(L) 935mm x (W) 548mm x (H) 509mm
  • Internal Dimensions:Upper Compartment: (L) 354mm x (W) 403mm x (H) 209mmLower Compartment: (L) 176mm (W) 403mm x (H) 180mmRear Zone: (L) 354mm x (W) 403mm x (H) 389mm
  • Weight: 36.6kg
  • Cooling Capacity:-22°C to +10°C
  • Power: Built-in 12/24V DC and 100-240V AC power, Integrated battery protection system
  • Current Draw: 3.1Ah * DC12V set at -15°C zone 1, 3°C zone 2, 32°C ambient temperature
  • Bluetooth connectivity allows 2-way communication on your mobile device
  • Three-year warranty from date of purchase
  • DUAL COOLING ZONES – The 96L model features fixed compartments with ANTI-CONDENSATION TECHNOLOGY
  • DRAIN PLUG – convenient drain plug for simple cleaning
  • INTERNAL BASKET SYSTEM – Versatile, removable internal basket system with provision for tall items/bottles.
  • LED INTERIOR LIGHT – Low power draw LED interior light
  • WIRELESS MONITORING & CONTROL – Wireless monitoring & control via compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices.
  • STEEL OUTER CASING – Tough, durable steel outer casing.
  • COMPRESSOR – Highly efficient, variable speed compressor.
  • FULL-HEIGHT CORNER MOULDINGS – Full-height corner mouldings for added protection.
  • QUICK-RELEASE INDIVIDUAL SIDE OPENING REVERSIBLE LID – with non-slip glass/bottle provision.
  • CARRY HANDLES – Recessed carry handles with integrated tie-down points.
  • LED DISPLAY – Easy view LED display.
  • BOOST FUNCTION – Boost function for rapid cool down.
  • USB OUTLET – Convenient USB 5V, 3,000mA outlet for charging phones & USB powered devices.
  • FRONT AC POWER INLET – Front AC power inlet for quick home or powered site connection.
  • DUAL DC POWER INLET – Dual DC power inlet located at opposite ends of the fridge for customised installations.
  • INTEGRATED TIE DOWN KIT – The ZERO Fridge Freezer tie-down system includes stainless steel fridge mount brackets, quick-release buckles, heavy-duty polyester webbing straps and fridge slide mount brackets. This system is compatible with all ARB ZERO Fridge Freezers.