Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-08-2010, 07:52 PM
atregent's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 69
atregent is on a distinguished road
Dual Batteries

I'm looking to install a second battery somwhere in my X and was wondering if anyone else had done so.

We go camping a bit, so I'm looking at powering a fridge and some other bits and pieces. Admittedly, I haven't had too much of a poke around the back yet, but I was thinking about where the subwoofer goes as a potential location. There also seems to be a bit of space under the cargo area floor, but haven't pulled that apart yet to confirm.

I'd be getting an AGM battery, so it doesn't need to be vented and can be mounted on any side, which should open up some more options.
__________________
Cheers
Anthony

2005 X5 3.0d Sport
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 05-16-2021, 12:18 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Calgary
Posts: 872
Bmwe5320023.0 is on a distinguished road
I'm looking to add a fridge as well for camping.
I think there's little point in adding a second battery.
What I'm wondering about, is whether to get 12v fridge or get an invertor and 120v fridge instead.
If going with an inverter, what brand / capacity?

Has anyone installed a fridge in their X5??
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-16-2021, 04:10 AM
EODguy's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Saudi Arabia/Philippines/USA
Posts: 3,830
EODguy is on a distinguished road
I haven't installed a fridge or dual batteries but I do occasionally use a stripped down Coleman fridge/warmer to transport flat nosed beef across the border into Saudi Arabia, so if you just got the Coleman and used it normally then the only thing left is to carry a power brick emergency jump pack you should be golden without any issues.

Don't know if that would work for what you need but it's a thought.

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk
__________________
"When the Team Chief said.... You're trapped in a hole with nothing but a goat and a slinky, what do you do? Stubby said, I'm not sure but it won't end well for the goat...." ~(Overheard) Last day, Phase 3, Q Course
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-16-2021, 07:10 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,376
Clavurion is on a distinguished road
Do you have airbags or coil springs on rear suspension, so is there air compressor or just empty space under spare wheel?
__________________
E39 530dA -02 M-Sport Messing metallic
E53 X5 3.0dA -06 Sport Stratus grey
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-16-2021, 07:37 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Calgary
Posts: 872
Bmwe5320023.0 is on a distinguished road
EODguy
Thanks for the idea man!

No air compressor, lots of empty space!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-16-2021, 03:13 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 1,109
Bdc101 is on a distinguished road
Unless you just want one of those small coolers with a 12v cooling unit built in, I think a small propane fridge might be more along the lines of what you are looking for, unless you are only doing 1-night trips or something. I think you can buy a fridge similar to what comes in a camper trailer, but portable. Never looked at them myself but propane fridges are definitely out there in a variety of sizes, and will last weeks on a regular tank of propane. An electric fridge would on a second battery... I don't know, maybe one night? Depending on how big it is, and how hot it is where you are going.

The other thing to consider is that it if you don't vent the heat out of the car, it will turn your car into an oven. The heat you reject from the inside of the fridge has to go somewhere. In a trailer, this heat is rejected through vents on the outside of the trailer. But even if you just get a cooler with an electric refrigeration unit on the top, make sure to take it out of the car or it will heat the inside of the car up overnight.

Lastly, if you do go electric, make sure you get a deep cycle battery. It would be a very bad idea to power this from the car because you'll drain the battery quickly, and car batteries don't like getting drained.
__________________
2003 3.0 5MT Topasblau
Purchased in 2016 and surprisingly still running
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-18-2021, 12:25 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Calgary
Posts: 872
Bmwe5320023.0 is on a distinguished road
Propane fridge sounds interesting, never heard of them!
Doesn't seem to be much choice in canada...
Any model suggestions?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-18-2021, 12:29 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 1,109
Bdc101 is on a distinguished road
There are a lot of residential-style propane fridges of varying sizes that are made for off-the-grid cabins where the only electricity is a generator, and may not be available for extended periods of time. That's probably what I would look for. I've never dealt with a residential-style unit though. There may be trailer-style units as well. Camper trailer fridges can work on 120vac, 12vdc (for a very short time) or propane, so there might be something based on a trailer fridge that is portable.
__________________
2003 3.0 5MT Topasblau
Purchased in 2016 and surprisingly still running
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-26-2021, 06:32 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PNW
Posts: 32
kspark is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bmwe5320023.0 View Post
I'm looking to add a fridge as well for camping.
I think there's little point in adding a second battery.
What I'm wondering about, is whether to get 12v fridge or get an invertor and 120v fridge instead.
If going with an inverter, what brand / capacity?

Has anyone installed a fridge in their X5??
The overlanding trend has made 12v car fridges super reliable and cheap. They're also super efficient, so if you need to keep something frozen while the car is off, it won't drain your battery quickly. Added plus is you can attach a solar panel when camping.

I have a cheap "Alpicool" that has been working well for about 4 months now. I bring it inside the house and keep it running 24/7 and so far no issues.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-26-2021, 07:06 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Calgary
Posts: 872
Bmwe5320023.0 is on a distinguished road
I couldn't find any suitable propane fridges online in Canada.
I will look into 12v fridges. Solar panel sounds interesting!
Any recommendations on the solar panels? I'll check Amazon
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:13 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.