What Fridge ? Real Life Reports Please

[*BESTY*]

Have searched for comparison between fridges. (your search returned no results)

What do people have and what problems have they encountered.

What are your thoughts on the 2 comparted fridges (fridge/freezer) vs standard one comparted fridge ??

I like the idea of the 2 seperate compartments, but wondering of the practicalities for 1-2 week camping trips......are they worth the extra expense.

What size is a good size for trips of 1-2 weeks.....will a 40L be sufficient or should I pay the extra $600 and get a 60L ??




Yes I did read the comparo in the Aust 4x4 Monthly magazine and am tending towards either 40L/60L Engel +/- Two Zone extension OR the Dual zone EvaCool 47L OR the Bushman 40L or Waeco ??

[bogged]

We have an engel 40, and it worked for 2 adults and baby easily for 4 days..

Problems, with a lifted 4b, and rear storage, its impossible to see inside the fuckin thing without climbing up on the step.

Awill worked out a fridge slide that comes out, then you pull a lever, and it leans backwards so you can see in the fridge. 100% top idea!!!

[Slunnie]

In my opinion, the 47-50L are ok for 2 weeks, but it'll be full. I'd be inclined not to get the duel zone fridge freezers based on there already not being enough room and yo being forced to take the divide. Mind you some of them have a movable divide which is a good idea, and its basically an insulating barrier. I think a single compartment is the go, and the stuff you want frozen goes next to the chiller plate. , the stuff to be kept refridgerated goes in the centre or next to the motor. Its just flexible.

The other things to consider are:
External dimensions and the fit into your vehicle.
Usable space
Depth in comparison to height - how deep do you have to dig
Insulation to keep the cool in
Power use if on single battery
The way the lid opens - an possibly in relation to the motor position

I ended up getting the EvaKool ED50 which is a good unit, though expect to replace the power plug from the cig outlet to something better - as with all fridges.

[Utemad]

I've got access to 3 fridges and have used all of them on various trips.

The first is a 32L Engel which I find way too small for anything longer than a weekend. Especially since I have trouble with my wife when she insists on using these big half empty tupperware containers. Although she is finally starting to see the light in regards to the containers. You can't even stand up 2 litre soft drink bottles in these things. Fairly power efficient compared to the other 2 fridges though.

Next up is an Engel stainless steel fridge/freezer combo. This thing would be best suited as a boat anchor. It weighs 50kg empty and has a non removable divider. So you have a very tall yet narrow fridge of about 32L (you have to stack stuff on top of bottles so you need to unstack the fridge when you want a drink) and a nice big square freezer of about 44L. Whenever I use it I generally just keep the thermostat turned down low and use the freezer compartment as a fridge. It is too inefficient to use as a fridge freezer unless you have heaps to freeze and little to cool. Such as a fishing trip perhaps to freeze your catch. Not a good camping fridge in my book. I think they stopped making these. Ours is 2 years old and we bought one when it first came out. Guess no one liked them.

Next is a Waeco 80L. I love this fridge because of its practicality. It weighs in at 25kg and is also a fridge/freezer combo. However the divider is removable. So you can have a fridge and freezer or just one or the other. With the divider in you get appox 17L freezer and a 60L fridge. That is a guess but the freezer is small and the fridge is big. When used as one big compartment you still have the two baskets which is good for keeping things seperate but you can remove them both to fit long/big things. We did this for a cake once.

So in case you couldn't tell my pick is for the Waeco 80L out of these three. It is so much more practical than the others. As for power consumption the 32L is the lowest of course but the two 80L are about the same I think. Although you get more food in your fridge for the same power with the Waeco in my situation.

The two Engels are owned by work and I had used both of them extensively before I settled on my own Waeco.

[Bingham]

i use i think it's a 40 or 50l fridge freezer evakool.... it runs all day everyday in my work truck and has not missed a beat.... fridge freezers are handy as and i would get again..... a 2nd would cost you from caloundra factory direct about $1000 and an extra hundred i think for 60l which i use amates occasionally if a big group going away and beers in evakool esky...

the fact they are simply an icebox with a compressor on them keeps consumption down if nothing else......

bingham

[andrew e]

i dont know why but in the fridge tests in magazines they rarely include trailblaza's. Made in qld from 3mm alloy i know 7 people who have owned them for about 10 years and treat them like crap without so much as a blown fuse. They are (or were) 60 litrea minimum which means you have to stay until you get more fish to fill it . I bought my 70 litre 4 years ago 2nd hand for $900 and it has a 240 plug on it too, so i used it as a chest freezer in the house for 6 months.

2 different sections would be handy, but i have a little wooden partition that i put in and whatever is below it freezes and whats above it chills.

Andrew.

[mavzilla]

I have the 60l trailblazer as stated alloy and tuff
never missed a beat and you can stand on it to get to the roof
it is a genuine 60l . i think the engel 40l is only a 36 litre if you measure real space but t blazer is a genuine 60l
only trouble is they cost more than its cheap arse plastic comparison fridge any way my 2 cents

[dirtyGQ]

i use i think it's a 40 or 50l fridge freezer evakool.... it runs all day everyday in my work truck and has not missed a beat.... fridge freezers are handy as and i would get again..... a 2nd would cost you from caloundra factory direct about $1000 and an extra hundred i think for 60l which i use amates occasionally if a big group going away and beers in evakool esky...

the fact they are simply an icebox with a compressor on them keeps consumption down if nothing else......

bingham

Exactly i believe you can't go passed them (evakool) i have a dual zone 60 litre and they are the best insulated fridge on the market i know of. Definitely change the plug and run 6 mm wiring just to run the fridge. It is so handy the kids can have ice creams at the beach and when we shop we don't have to tush home.

[beretta]

Couple of my mates have got Waeco fridges and they rave about em, one of em have been in an airborne rig that came down very hard and its survived no dramas! Thats the flying pink pig! Where are ya Uncle Chompy? His Waeco fridge was the only thing that held his seat in place after it ripped the mounts out of the floor on impact! So they must be pretty bloody tuff! So they're a safety feature as well (or so I keep telling my missus!).

The other mate has his Waeco running 24hrs, 7 days a week in his car and it has never missed a beat. They also have a lot of features other brands sell as extras.

Waeco's have 5 year compressor warranty and 3 years on the rest, pretty good warranty.

I've put an order in with the misus for my 30th for a Waeco . I could be dreamin tho, cos I keep getting the old "we're not spending anymore money on 4wding"........bullshite!

[MUD000]

Engel without a doubt mine has had a canning & still works great
Mine is about 6 years old first of the 40 ltr & has been out in the rain for nearly 4 years
Can i email someone photo's to put on for me

[LuxyBoy]

Any of you guys running the 3way power (LPG/12v/240v) fridge/freezers?

All of the Waecos that i have seen in BCF (twice) had broken lids, assuming that is because they are plastic?

The engels look tuff but being all metal will they rust? Will any of the internals on any of the brands rust if used on the beach in windy type weather?

The Chestcold are like the evakool esky type ones but does anyone know what the motors are like?

Sorry for all of the questions but it is alot to fork out and i have to justify it to the missus
Thanks guys

[dirtyGQ]

evakool are now bringing out the plastic version of their fibreglass model which i heard will be cheaper, i don't think anything is as well insulated as 2 fibreglass pieces sandwiching high quality inulation foam. I have had mine airborn and not broken anything on many occasions (except bundy stubbies).It keeps everything cool for 8 or so hours even switched off as it as said is just a big eskie. The only other option i would ever go for is a trailblaza dual temp. But any fridge is going to be better then none.

[turps]

Birdy took a 25lt Waeco to the OBC and feed it a steady diet of mud, rocks and dirt and then cleaned it with a fire hose a couple of times and it is still going strong. Think it has even fallen of the back of a ute since.