Alternatives to Whirlpool Gladiator Freezerator?

[TWX]

Hey. We're buying a house with a 24' x 38' inside dimension detached garage and I'm looking for a combination freezer and fridge. Wife wants to keep extra meats and other bulk purchases in the freezer and I want drinks in the fridge part. So far, the ONLY unit that I've found that has a big freezer and a small fridge is the Gladiator Freezerator. It's pricey. I can probably find a new one in the $800 range if I bide my time, but I haven't found any other comparable products. Are there any? I'd really like to stay with only one unit if at all possible, as I'm going to fill this garage up plenty with the shop stuff and vehicles.

BTW, this is Phoenix, but the garage has HVAC and I plan on cooling to ~86F and heating to ~60F when I'm not there (lowering or raising thermostat when I'm actually working in there), so there shouldn't be too many problems with the ambient air getting out of range for any given refrigerator/freezer to stay working.

Thanks,

 

[jclem40c]

Buy wife a new freezeer and then hit craigs list or yardsale
it and find yourself your very own beverage storage
unit. will save you testy moments with SWMBO later.
Trust me this is experance speaking.

John

 

[heathkiks]

Wow, I just had this discussion the other day and would love to know an answer as well. Seems as if they would sell quite well.

 

[...]

I ended up putting a small Rockstar fridge that I scored from a rep in the garage for beer/drinks and getting a large freezer to put in the other garage for storage.

 

[Guitarbug]

I am also in Phx. I have seen a few of the Gladiator fridges on Craigs list. I think the most recent one was about 600...could still be there.

 

[cowboyjosh]

I have the Whirlpool Gladiator fridge, its flipping awesome! Well worth the $$ and isn't exactly that expensive compared to other fridge / freezer options.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd buy the wife an upright freezer and then buy yourself a mini fridge (w/o a freezer)for the garage.

 

[jduffle]

You give her an inch (fridge/freezer access) she will take a foot (storing other stuff in your garage)!!!!!! HaHa

Seriously though, buy the whirlpool brand, you will be happy you did, I worked in the appliance parts industry for years so I know the problems the rest of them are giving (or were when i was out there)


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Jim

 

[JerryTX]

My father in law has one of those Gladiator fridges. They're junk just like everything else Whirlpool produces. (Sorry, but I bought their top end Gold appliances for my house and they all required major service to the tune of $200 each just outside the 1 year warranty period. And my KitchenAid blender caught fire the first time I used it to make margaritas.)

I bought an old side-by-side from a neighbor during a yard sale for like $50. Works fine and I can store meats on one side and my beer (and kegs) in the other. Worst case scenario if it goes out... I have to buy a $200 deep freezer and move my beer into the house before it gets warm. Still cheaper than spending $1,000 for a fridge with a gimmicky plastic diamond mesh on the front.

I should also mention I keep this regular fridge in my garage in Texas and it works just fine.

 

[cowboyjosh]

My father in law has one of those Gladiator fridges. They're junk just like everything else Whirlpool produces. (Sorry, but I bought their top end Gold appliances for my house and they all required major service to the tune of $200 each just outside the 1 year warranty period. And my KitchenAid blender caught fire the first time I used it to make margaritas.)

I bought an old side-by-side from a neighbor during a yard sale for like $50. Works fine and I can store meats on one side and my beer (and kegs) in the other. Worst case scenario if it goes out... I have to buy a $200 deep freezer and move my beer into the house before it gets warm. Still cheaper than spending $1,000 for a fridge with a gimmicky plastic diamond mesh on the front.

I should also mention I keep this regular fridge in my garage in Texas and it works just fine.

Are you sure your talking about Whirlpool and not Sub Zero, Viking, or Dacor?

Sub Zero, Viking and Dacor all give me a headache, there isn't one house that I haven't had a warranty issue with any of the 3 above brands. On the Sub Zero fridge the homeowners woke up to the smoke alarms going off at like 3 a.m., they called the Fire Department cause they couldn't figure out where the smoke was coming from, the FD used their heat camera and found the compressor on the 6 month old Sub Zero was the culprit. No smoke damage to the house, it was like a light haze but Sub Zero fought the warranty claim until they were threatened with litigation.

 

[Voi]

Any more input from anybody using a Freezerator? I have half a two year old buffalo coming next month and need to put an upright freezer where our current garage fridge is. The Freezerator is expensive but really fits our needs perfectly. It's worth the upcharge to not have to have a separate beverage fridge elsewhere.

I read a lot of really bad reviews on this unit a few years back. With the call about the buffalo this morning I looked it up again and there seems to be a lot more favorable reviews compared to last time.

 

[mike_s]

Any more input from anybody using a Freezerator?

I have two appliances in the garage.

a SEARs full size Fridge with freezer on top
and a SEARS Full size upright Freezer.


After having all that extra fridge space, I couldn't image going to the small fridge of the Gladiator.

why? because regardless, the garage fridge will become the "Overflow fridge" from when the house fridge is full. especially like this weekend being THANKSGIVING.

plus bigger fridge means you can have bigger beer selection.


I have a 3ft tall mini-fridge at work. It gets full once I put 5-6 bottled waters, 4-5 cokes, and that days lunch in it. no way I'd want something that small in the garage.