which fridge between 50l -80l to buy?

[unr33l]

looking to buy a compressor fridge / freezer , looking for 50l min as have 3 kids and 2 adults to feed and prob 80l max. leaning towards waeco 50l duel zone (47l with dividers in) anyone got one? any good? is there any others around 50l worth a look for around same coin? can pick 1 up with a bag around 1100. did a search and most recomend engle 40l, but bit small and 60l too much coin. would rather get weaco 80l for that much. weaco 60l is a no as its a bit 2 tall and i might mount in camper, not 100% yet. cheers

[poojero]

i had a waeco 40L in my truck for 2 years and had nothing but trouble from the electrics. Engle is the only way to go. But in the end go for as big as you can while still getting quality.

[bogged]

How long do you want to be away for??

EG how much do you expect it to hold?

[trains]

We got a 47lt evakool, and a 20lt icecool icebox.
Works out as freezer, fridge, and crisper.
Transfer frozen 1.25lt bottle every day or 2nd day into the icebox, and also the days chilled beers are still chilled the next day in the icecool.

Great for space, and excellent on power usage, 2.5 amps/ hr as freezer/ fridge.
Their usable space inside is also excellent.



Trains

[Chucky]

I've got a 110L weaco.
Had it for 6 years, never had a problem. And it's been all over the place.
On big trips we use it as a freezer and transfer what we need each day to a evacool esky. Shorter trips the food in the weaco, and drinks in the esky works fine.
I only paid $1100 for it back then with bag, 240v power supply etc. We store it at the in laws when home as they have more space and they run it 24/7 as a freezer as well. It also comes out for the big family BBq's etc. It's been dropped, fell onto, bounced out the back of a ute and the only problem has been a broken hinge which was replaced under warrenty (After the warrenty ran out too, I rang up to buy one and they sent it out for free)
I have 3 kids, so the wife fills up the fridge, dont matter if we are gone a weekend or a month, it all still seems to get eaten.

Off topic, have you notice that with kids, it doesn't matter if you are gone two days or 6 months, you seem to take the same mountain of crap out with you?

[+dj_hansen+]

Unless you REALLY need the freezer space (cryovacced meat will last 6 - 8 weeks in the fridge) go for fridge only models.

The methodology suggested by trains is the best by far, vegies and bread in an esky, just cycle through chill packs everyday (if your in the desert, utilise the nice cool nights as free cooling ability ) only put 6 cans/stubbies in and refill in the morning at breakfast etc.

You could make a 40l work if you realy wanted to. Have a look at the bushman fridge as it has interchangable lids and collars to allow you to adjust the space required, and also had the best current usage in the recent 4wdaction fridge comparo (16 a/h per day).

[ludacris]

We have a waeco 50l and have had no problems. make sure the fridge has good ventilation if keeping it in the camper.

Cris

[luxoflex]

I have a 50ltr Waeco for a fridge and a 35ltr Waeco for my freezer on long trips more economical than the 80 or 110 ltr waeco's power wise Had no problems with either.

[strom80]

I know this is a little of the topic. I'm thinking of buying the new 80L three zone waeco. just wanted to know how much power they use.

[HeathGQ]

Engel 60ltr.... fridge only model.

[Wozza244]

Well i cant go past my Evakool 70L Fridge/freezer it has been through 2 rollovers, and 2 yrs of punishment.

Its nothing short of excellent. The sidewalls are average 45mm thick and it holds temp overnight when turned off to conserve power.

Came with a 240v-12v power pack which doubles as a battery charger.

The only thing i faulted was the fuse setup, but i replaced it with an inline fuse it took me 10min and $5.

[unr33l]

cheers for info guys.
will mostly be for long weekends away but looking to get a few long trips in, like the cape mid next year.
will be also using an icebox for longer trips as we always seem to eat and drink every thing we take away.
dj_hansen, why only fridge models? i will be checking out bushman soon as i find a dealer in syd. curious though that when you add larger lid and collar if its as reliable as you are increasing size a fair bit with same compressor? anyone got one? also have to check heights.
will also check out evakool.

[JWB]

A 32lt or 60lt engel is a good fit (height wise ) in a standard soft floor camper I believe.

the 40lt units are too tall. If it's a fridge only unit, you can still put frozen
cryovacced meat etc in there and it will keep for ages!!

cheers

[unr33l]

just checked out bushman site and amazed that you NEED 2 x AA batterys to run thermostat and digital display on top of 12v supply, can't run fridge without them. wtf ???? have enough problems with kids toys running out of batteries. think i'll pass on the bushman....

[lump_a_charcoal]

Autofridge Euctectic... best there is.

[midi73]

just checked out bushman site and amazed that you NEED 2 x AA batterys to run thermostat and digital display on top of 12v supply, can't run fridge without them. wtf ???? have enough problems with kids toys running out of batteries. think i'll pass on the bushman....

Have run one in a coffee van pretty much non stop (24/7) for at least a year, and haven't had to replace the battery's yet. Plus they come with a bypass switch so you can keep the fridge running if the unthinkable happens. The only negative with this is that it keeps running so will freeze everything.
I find them to be a very good fridge.

[pigletracing]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.
$899 gets you
# 60lt evercool (the new style)
# fridge bag.
# 240 - 12 wat inverter.

$799 gets you the same deal for a 50lt

$699 for the 40lt deal..

that leaves you enough spare for a fridge slide, or an awning.

for more info call me at work. YES freight can be arranged.

"PIGLET"
Ian McClenahan
TJM COOPERS PLAINS (Brisbane)
0411444897
(e) piglet@4x4megastore.com.au

[frp88]

Go waeco I have had my 40 liter for 4 years no drama and it does use a lot of amps and it has a plastic body no rust. That and the price was the reason I went for the waeco plus it was fitted with 12/24 and 240 v.

[trains]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.
$899 gets you
# 60lt evercool (the new style)
# fridge bag.
# 240 - 12 wat inverter.

$799 gets you the same deal for a 50lt

$699 for the 40lt deal..

that leaves you enough spare for a fridge slide, or an awning.

for more info call me at work. YES freight can be arranged.

"PIGLET"
Ian McClenahan
TJM COOPERS PLAINS (Brisbane)
0411444897
(e) piglet@4x4megastore.com.au

Wow, I can see a group buy happening quickly on this one.
There good prices.

Trains

[mrw82]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.

I take it the new style are the plastic ones, like the waeco. the fibreglass ones have much better insulation and therefore draw less power, but they run the same compressor. (same compressor as waeco's too).
the fibreglass model has a removable divider so you can run it as all fridge, all freezer, or fridge/freezer split.

I have recently brought a fibreglass evakool (got it second hand). only really used it on one trip and very happy so far.

[bogged]

http://www.getawaeco.com.au/

Factory seconds on Wakos... Cheap, and usually only scratched or a small dint in em.

[nicbeer]

Autofridge Euctectic... best there is.

:) I have one and goes good.

Do you have one? if so what size and what connectors do you have on it.

Mines a 39 i think and pulls 5amp cont (when running it during day) and keep killing plugs... using spade lugs at moment.

[ludacris]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.

I take it the new style are the plastic ones, like the waeco. the fibreglass ones have much better insulation and therefore draw less power, but they run the same compressor. (same compressor as waeco's too).
the fibreglass model has a removable divider so you can run it as all fridge, all freezer, or fridge/freezer split.

I have recently brought a fibreglass evakool (got it second hand). only really used it on one trip and very happy so far.

Not quite the same compressor. It is a chinese knock of but just as good.

Cris

[DAVESGQ]

go Engel. not made from plastic (waeco)that will crack and warp, better hinge design, better motor, if it needs repair its easier to send a way and get fixed cus the waeco fins are glued to the side which means that if something fails the whole unit needs to be sent away.

[pigletracing]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.

I take it the new style are the plastic ones, like the waeco. the fibreglass ones have much better insulation and therefore draw less power, but they run the same compressor. (same compressor as waeco's too).
the fibreglass model has a removable divider so you can run it as all fridge, all freezer, or fridge/freezer split.

I have recently brought a fibreglass evakool (got it second hand). only really used it on one trip and very happy so far.

true that... the F/glass are the way to go if you have the coin.
the new plastic ones look like a Waeco but all the body panels are 5mm
thicker all the way round (for better insulation) & they have a turbo fan set up to push & pull the air threw, rather than just the draw 1 way style...
sold truck-loads over the last 3 months, & not 1 return with a fault or issue so far.

[trains]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.

I take it the new style are the plastic ones, like the waeco. the fibreglass ones have much better insulation and therefore draw less power, but they run the same compressor. (same compressor as waeco's too).
the fibreglass model has a removable divider so you can run it as all fridge, all freezer, or fridge/freezer split.

I have recently brought a fibreglass evakool (got it second hand). only really used it on one trip and very happy so far.

Not quite the same compressor. It is a chinese knock of but just as good.

Cris

I understood that all the evakools ran the danfos bd35 and bd50 in all their range of fridges.
just that the plastic section of the fridge is made in china, the fiberglass is still made up in the factory in qld.
Thats was was told to me by Rod Miles when I visited the place earlier this year.

Trains

[-Scott-]

Autofridge Euctectic... best there is.

:) I have one and goes good.

Do you have one? if so what size and what connectors do you have on it.

Mines a 39 i think and pulls 5amp cont (when running it during day) and keep killing plugs... using spade lugs at moment.

I have a 39 litre and no problems. I've never measured the current draw, but I only need to drive it every 2-3 days to keep it running on an 80Ah second battery.

I have a Merritt plug on the end, and it's been working fine for about 4 years. But I installed a dedicated socket in the rear of the 4wd - I'm not using the vehicle's original cigarette lighter socket.

My father and brother have them too. My brother had some problems with the in-line connector combo, but no trouble with the plug on the end of the line. Again, neither use a cigarette lighter socket.

[unr33l]

hey piglet where can i find some specs, photo, dimentions, etc on the evakool's your selling? i was on the evakool site and they only have details for fiberglass models ( rfe 47 & 60 ff look the goods) or the fridgemate range. would they have them at seven hills tjm?

[mrw82]

hey piglet where can i find some specs, photo, dimentions, etc on the evakool's your selling? i was on the evakool site and they only have details for fiberglass models ( rfe 47 & 60 ff look the goods) or the fridgemate range. would they have them at seven hills tjm?

autobarn are selling these too. not sure on their prices.

[ludacris]

TJM Coopers Plains have 60lt evercools on special.

I take it the new style are the plastic ones, like the waeco. the fibreglass ones have much better insulation and therefore draw less power, but they run the same compressor. (same compressor as waeco's too).
the fibreglass model has a removable divider so you can run it as all fridge, all freezer, or fridge/freezer split.

I have recently brought a fibreglass evakool (got it second hand). only really used it on one trip and very happy so far.

Not quite the same compressor. It is a chinese knock of but just as good.

Cris

I understood that all the evakools ran the danfos bd35 and bd50 in all their range of fridges.
just that the plastic section of the fridge is made in china, the fiberglass is still made up in the factory in qld.
Thats was was told to me by Rod Miles when I visited the place earlier this year.

Trains

Yes they run the Danfos in all there fridges except the new waeco looking ones (cheaper ones) which run the chinese built motor. They are still a very good fridge and way cheaper than the competition. Evakool also have an even newer fridge on the market. TJM coopers should have these aswell...

Cris