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stay cool
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:55 pm
by mabsydney
slightly off topic i know, but as people just seem to talk sh#t in the general discussion forum i thought i would get a better response on here.
what fridge would people recomend as being best value for money and rugged enough to stand outback travel? im not looking to spend a fortune. i would expect to fit a second battery too so i can run the fridge 24x7.
thanx
martin
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 7:15 pm
by RV80
have a look at waeco fridges
www.waeco.com.au
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:59 pm
by stuee
We've got a 60ltr waeco and found it to be great. Prehaps a bit to big for the back of the disco but having a cold drink anywhere in the bush is worth it
In terms of value for money its heaps better than the engels and ARB's (the same fridges). Its also quite common so when the time comes to fix it hopefully spares will be readily available. If your after a real bargin wait till your local 4wd/camping/boat show as their is usually a number of different vendors (including waeco themselves) that are selling all the models at reduced prices, also with stuff like free insulation bags, power inverters/converters etc. The waeco has been pretty reliable so far and I can't see it failing anytime soon.
I honestly have no idea or experience with any other brands of fridges sorry. You also say that you want to run it 24/7, I'm hoping you mean just on trips because I have a feeling these portable fridges have motors/compressors that have a life much shorter compared to your normal house fridge.
Hope I helped
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:25 pm
by mabsydney
Thanx guys, will take a look at the waeco's.
I had previously looked at ARB fridges, but was horrified at the price so I didnt get anything.
Stuee, yeah I mean I want to run the fridge 24/7 on trips, not all year round
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:46 pm
by Maggot4x4
My Engel runs 24/7 all year round. It's 8yo now. Has had the crap bashed out of it and still runs sweet. Well worth the money. A mate has a 20yo one that has lived on the back of his 40s tray back and had not a cent spent on it.
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:57 pm
by TuffRR
I've had my dad's hand me down Engel for 6 years now. Before I had it, he'd had it for about 8 years or more.
In those 14 years, it has not skipped a beat. Its down all the desert crossing, heaps of high country trips and lots of hard day trips so its really copped a beating.
Can't go wrong with an Engel in my opinion.
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:29 pm
by uninformed
my engel is 28-30 years old(don't know when my dad bought it) i have had it rebuilt once for $300. it is used as a beer fridge ALL the time when not tripping. check out your local trading post, plenty of people buy them, use a couple of times and sell
cheers, serg
Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:48 pm
by 110 TUFF
I highly recomend a snapper freezer, they are fully custom made to any size or shape and are made out of the highest quality components you can get i have a 100 liter ( 60 L freezer/ 40 L fridge ) that replaces the middle seats in my defender. I have looked all around queensland and theses seirously shit on anything elese avaliable. do a search under Snapper Fridges or Marine Refrigeration and Electrical ( MRE ) there situated at the scarbrough boat harbour in brisbane where the barge departs to Morten Island. Mine runs 24/7 in my truck and i use twin 80 watt solar panels to run it ( not needed ) but i run fluros and other gear off them. the engles are good but are like chalk and cheese compared to a snapper fridge youll have a snapper freezer for life. temprature drops in mine, from 25 degrees to 0 in less then 1 Hr thats on its half way setting. Totaly indestructabe as there built for life in boats an pro fishing craft. made of fully welded stainless steel aluminium, and fiberglass, powdercoated in white, all stainless fitting, twin lids etc Best investment i ever made.
Drew
fridge
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:21 am
by aloa9061
I've got a 50ltr waeco with transit cover ans 240v adapter for 750 neg if you are interested. 1 yr old.
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:58 am
by stephen
If you are fitting in a Disco then I reccomened the engel as it will fit in length ways to the side extremely well, the waeco may do if you are not planning on drawers or a shelf but if it sits on drawers as does mine, forget the waeco the engel is the only fridge that will fit and still be able to open the lid without sliding the fridge right out.