Bouge RV Aspen Pro 40: Budget Friendly Performer

Bouge RV has sponsored us in the past with the CR30QT. It functioned so well over the past 3 years that when they reached out to work with us again that we were more than happy to accept. The Aspen Pro 40 with lithium ion battery was provided to us free of charge. Bouge RV also provided Car Revs Daily readers with a 25% discount off all fridge. Use AFF25 at checkout.

What is the Aspen Pro 40?

Bouge RV makes a variety of RV, car camping, and traveling accessories. Aspen fridge/freezer units are true dual zone units with two individually controlled zones. Available in 30, 40, and 50 quart sizes, there are options to fit a variety of needs. The zones can be set from -4°F to 68°F in normal mode. A bonus feature is the ice cream area in the S zone. When enabled the temperature will stay between -10°F and -0.4°F. When in this mode the other zone, zone L, will have adjustability between 37°F and 68°F.

The Aspen Pro 40 is powered from 12-volt, 120-volt, or 240-volt sources using the included power cables. On the outside of the unit is a mounting location for the optional battery. The battery can even be charged and discharged at the same time. What this means is that power to the fridge/freezer won’t be lost for most road trip stops. This allows time to see a site, go for a hike, or grab some food, without having to manually switch between the battery and vehicle power sources.

Additional features include 2 large metal handles for carrying the 40 pound fridge. When on harder surfaces the longer handle and wheels can be used to roll the Aspen Pro 40 instead of carrying it. Included inside the Aspen Pro 40 are 2 wire baskets, 1 for each zone, and a plastic container with lid for ice cream storage in the bottom of the S zone. There is also a mount for attaching the battery to the fridge externally.

How The Aspen 40 Actually Performs

While we have only had the unit for a little over a month at the time of writing, the unit has seen almost non-stop use and traveled over 2,000 miles. We took it high into the Utah mountains for overnight camping, across the Nevada desert for road trips, and even spent a day on the beaches of California. It’s been used in temperatures ranging from below 50°F to over 100°F. 

Performance Testing

Once the package arrived we couldn’t wait to begin testing. It was a struggle to leave the unit upright for a day before firing it up, which is a great idea for all refrigeration equipment. During this time we opted to read the supplied user manuals and get familiar with the Aspen 40. A few notable items are:

• Designed to be used in ambient temperatures between 50°F and 110°F
• Cool down time from an ambient temperature of 77°F to 0°F takes ~69 minutes
• If power is lost or disconnected the heat up time from 33°F to 40°F takes over 40 minutes in an ambient temperature of 77°F (tested with a unit full of water bottles)
• 2-year warranty
• 45 decibel noise rating

Controlled Environment

Testing began almost immediately after the rest period from removing the unit from its packaging. This was done inside a temperature controlled room that was 74°F. We plugged the unit in, set the desired temperatures for each zone, and started a timer. Both zones in the unit cooled to the set temperatures quickly slightly besting the manufacturer’s times of 67 minutes.

Aspen 40 at Elevation

After spending a week running off a constant 110-volt outlet it was time for some real world testing. We loaded up the Aspen 40 and headed for the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. At over 7,000 feet, the campground was a good place for an inaugural run. With lows in the mid-50’s, the fridge was near its lowest rated operating temperature. Running off the supplied battery, the unit kept the temperature at the set value of 32°F for over 14 hours. 

Hot desert

Crossing Nevada in the dead of summer means dealing with temperatures well above 100°F. In this case we plugged the battery into our SUV’s 12-volt outlet, and plugged the Aspen Pro 40 into the battery. As expected, making short stops for fuel wasn’t an issue. There was alos a longer stop for dinner where it’s very likely the temperature inside of the vehicle was above the 110°F rating of the fridge. When returning to the vehicle after approximately 1 hour, the fridge was still operating at the set temperature and the battery showed 68% remaining. Good enough for stops of a couple of hours without issue. 

Beach

Once in California, the Aspen Pro 40 continued to see use with zone S set to 0°F and zone L set at 28°F (more on this later in the temperature accuracy section below). This included pool parties and a trip to the beach. Having handles and wheels made transporting the unit much easier, for most situations. At the beach the wheels weren’t large enough to float over the sand, but we didn’t expect them to be.

Running on the supplied battery again, with both zones set to 28°F (actual temperature 32°F-33°F), the unit lasted just under 5 hours at the beach before the battery died. Powering on the unit revealed  temperatures of 36°F for the S zone and 38°F for the L zone. Ambient temperatures were in the mid 80’s and we kept the fridge under shade most of the time.

Temperature Accuracy

Agter a few days of first plugging the fridge in, the water bottles inside still felt as if they were warmer than the set temperature of 33°F. To check the temperature of each zone we added 2 thermometers, one in each zone. Over the next few days we found that the set temperature, the temperature displayed on the unit, and the actual temperature measured by the thermometers inside the unit all showed very different values.

Comparing the set temperature to the thermometers in each zone we found that the unit was 5°F-6°F warmer than what the fridge was displaying. Easy enough to solve, we simply set the fridge section to 28°F. This kept the unit right around 33°F. However, when setting a zone as a freezer, it would be very difficult to keep the unit at or below 0°F.

Beyond that the compressor generally doesn’t turn on until the temperature displayed is 3°F-4°F warmer than the set temperature. This indicates that there could be temperature differentials of up to 10°F compared to the set temperature. Luckily, that’s not what we found. Temperatures inside were more stable. Checking the temperature at the exact moment the compressor turned on resulted in closer to a 5°F temperature swing vs the coldest temperatures seen at about 3 minutes after the compressor has shut off.

Aspen Pro 40 vs CR30QT

As mentioned early on we were quick to accept the offer from Bouge RV based on our previous experience with the CR30. We’ve used the CR30 for many years without issue. Here is a link to our original review of the CR30 It’s been above 10,000 feet in elevation and at sea level. We have used it from freezing temperatures to well over 100°F. The unit even fell out of the back of an SUV about 3 ft high onto concrete. Through all of that, it stayed cold without issue.

Compared to the Aspen Pro 40, the CR30 QT’s strengths are:

• Lighter weight at 23 lbs compared to 40 lbs for the Aspen Pro 40
• Smaller profile
• Option for single large area
• Temperature display on unit is more accurate
• Lower cost at $269.99 for the non battery version
• Offered in many colors

The Aspen Pro 40’s strengths are:

• Larger 40 quart size (is offered in a 30 quart as well)
• True dual zone setup
• Battery option, CR30 doesn’t have a battery mount, but Bouge RV now offers the CR30 Pro with a battery location
• Ice Cream area
• Quiet operation, both units are rated at <45db, however the CR30 is noticeably louder than the Aspen Pro 40
• Wheels for easier transportation
• Tie down slots for running a strap through the unit and securing it in place

Both are great units and both have their strengths depending on what a customer needs. Based on the reliability and durability of the CR30, we have no reservations in using the Aspen Pro 40.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, coming in at under $500 ($659.99 with lithium ion battery) the Aspen Pro 40 offers more features for less money than the competitors. Based on our years of experience with the Bouge RV CR30, we fully expect the Aspen Pro 40 to be a reliable and durable long term solution. We will continue testing for years to come, but so far we are impressed with the Aspen Pro 40.