Author Topic: camping fridge/freezers  (Read 6406 times)

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Offline bluejay

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camping fridge/freezers
« on: January 28, 2012, 03:42:21 PM »
Hi all im in the market to buy a camping fridge/freezer for around the $1500 range it can be a 12v/gas /240 or just 12v/240 what would be my best choice i know every one will have a different view im just trying to get a overall idea although i do like the gas component idea very muc.
thanks
Bluejay

Offline Muso

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2012, 04:29:42 PM »
If your looking for a portable one, we use the Waeco 50L Dual Zone. It has a freezer, fridge and crisper all in one. On minus 10c it starts to freeze a bottle of water overnight.
Cheers Glenn

Offline bluejay

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2012, 04:53:20 PM »
MUSO  YES A PORTABLE ONE WE CAN TAKE CAMPING

Offline griz066

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2012, 05:07:06 PM »
Buy once buy Engel :cheers:
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Offline Jenko67

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2012, 05:34:36 PM »
Buy once buy Engel :cheers:
x 2.

I have had a couple of 80 litre waecos in the past and they were ok.... i wasn't really impressed with the fact that they had a separate transformer for the 240volt... they are built in these days (I think), we recently bought a 40litre engel... love it....

I also had a Dometic 35litre 3 way.. they are great on gas but draw heaps of power on 12volt....

I have a dometic in our jayco swan and it is great on gas also....

Also, buy when Anaconda/Rays Outdoors have the big sales... can get up to 26.5% off at Rays on occasions... bought ours from anaconda and saved 25%...

my 2 cents worth...

Regards

Scott
« Last Edit: January 28, 2012, 06:44:00 PM by Jenko67 »

Offline rodsswag

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2012, 05:54:14 PM »
x 2.

I have had a couple of 80 litre waecos in the past and they were ok.... i wasn't really impressed with the fact that they had a separate transformer for the 24volt... they are built in these days (I think), we recently bought a 40litre engel... love it....

I also had a Dometic 35litre 3 way.. they are great on gas but draw heaps of power on 12volt....

I have a dometic in our jayco swan and it is great on gas also....

Also, buy when Anaconda/Rays Outdoors have the big sales... can get up to 26.5% off at Rays on occasions... bought ours from anaconda and saved 25%...

my 2 cents worth...

Regards

Scott

X3

I have had a 40 and 60 litre Engel.
The 60 had a two zone to make it about 84L and worked great. The only reason I sold it was, it was way to big for just my son and I.
The 40 is excellent never missed a beat and still going strong  :cheers:

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Offline discoteddy

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2012, 07:31:59 PM »
Buy once buy Engel :cheers:
no arguement from us, we run two 40 litre engel's the first of which is 10 years old, great bits of kit :cup:

Cheers,

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Offline Aussie Blue

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2012, 07:43:46 PM »
Buy once buy Engel :cheers:

Had a long chat to our local portable fridge repair shop awhile back.
He has been in the game over 20 yrs and he only has engel at home and when he goes camping.

Speaks volumes  :cup:

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Offline cheif carlos

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2012, 08:09:36 PM »
need to also look at size we are looking at a 110lt evacool - cause it will fit but I think an 85lt is around that price may be a little more.

if you are to sleep next to it need to look at how noisy it is. you don't sleep well next to a bushman (borrowed from outlaws). But I can sleep well next to our ARB fridge - only a 47lt but if the evacools are noise will get a larger ARB, only problem pricy for what they are.
Need to get the backside into gear and get out camping

Offline RebsWA

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2012, 08:20:06 PM »
I have 2 waecos, a CF50 I use as a beer/drinks/food fridge (in that order) and a CF35 used as a freezer. Had a blade fall of the condenser fan on the CF50 once but other than that no problems. Would buy the same if I had to do it again.
In the (jayco) camper is a three way dometic 90 litre fridge. Ideal when bush camped on gas, no batterys to fret over. Ideal in caravan parks on 240v. Great when travelling on 12v - if the fridge is set up right. Yes they do consume a fair bit of power on 12v (15amps for my 90 litre) but so what the power is from the alternator. They are not designed to be run standalone off a 12v battery.
Best of both worlds for me.
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Offline Smokey2.8

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camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2012, 10:48:57 PM »
Had Engels (died), Explorer (DC85) too big but great fridge freezer.
Now have a ARB 47L for last few years. Fantastic fridge with nation wide support. Has plenty of features incl low power consumption. Plus stable temps in all conditions.
Won't go wrong.
Plus comes in 35L, 47L, 60L and 78L
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Offline Crisp Image

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2012, 12:17:38 AM »
I have the evakool FM55 fridge freezer and my sister has the 85 white one. Both do really well. How long are you going to be away for at a time and do you really need a freezer. I was away fro 2 weeks and only used a fridge after vacpacking food.
This is my 5cents worth (because you cant get 2c anymore)
Regards
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Offline Fun Police

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camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2012, 06:41:38 AM »
We would always have a freezer as wife precooks food and puts it in the takeaway containers.

Does anyone run a dual system? Eg a 30L freezer and a say 50L fridge, to keep the two separate (?).

Pros and cons of this? Just crossed my mind last night
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Offline wholehog

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2012, 07:17:35 AM »
Engel arnt what they used to be.....
Having said that i probably would have bought one only that it wouldnt fit under the hard cover of my ute.....So
I opted for the ARB 60 litre which is lower in height...... sems to be working a treat...with a nationwide backup
 :cheers: Wayne

Offline Jenko67

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2012, 07:27:04 AM »
This is my 5cents worth (because you cant get 2c anymore)
Regards
Crisp Image

Hey Crisp, I will pay that one.. but I have some 2 cents hidden in the cupboard... they might be worth something one day.... ;D

Offline bluejay

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2012, 07:39:34 AM »
Thanks for the replies ,i went to check out a repair shop for portable camping fridges he showed me a room with 47 waceos waiting for parts and beside the waceos were 34 engels waiting to be repaired as well but i guess there are more out there working than waiting for repair,so i went to annaconda who had 60 lt fridge/freezeers for $1100 great price so it is now home with me.The reason for the cheap price is because they have lost the engel range to another large chain store?/so they just want to clear the last of the stock on their shelves.
Cheers

Offline Jenko67

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2012, 07:48:26 AM »
Thanks for the replies ,i went to check out a repair shop for portable camping fridges he showed me a room with 47 waceos waiting for parts and beside the waceos were 34 engels waiting to be repaired as well but i guess there are more out there working than waiting for repair,so i went to annaconda who had 60 lt fridge/freezeers for $1100 great price so it is now home with me.The reason for the cheap price is because they have lost the engel range to another large chain store?/so they just want to clear the last of the stock on their shelves.
Cheers

Great stuff.... I might have to go and buy another..... :laugh:

Offline GU_Thomo

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2012, 08:15:09 AM »
We would always have a freezer as wife precooks food and puts it in the takeaway containers.

Does anyone run a dual system? Eg a 30L freezer and a say 50L fridge, to keep the two separate (?).

Pros and cons of this? Just crossed my mind last night

We run a 40l Engel as a freezer and a 73l Eutectic Autofridge as a refrigerator.
Engel sits in the back of the Patrol and the Autofridge is in the camper.
This system works very well for us on our annual 3 month trip.

Having the occasional ice cream in the middle of the desert is heaven ;D ;D

Cheers
Parry



Offline griz066

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2012, 10:01:31 AM »
We run a 40l Engel as a freezer and a 73l Eutectic Autofridge as a refrigerator.
Engel sits in the back of the Patrol and the Autofridge is in the camper.
This system works very well for us on our annual 3 month trip.

Having the occasional ice cream in the middle of the desert is heaven ;D ;D

Cheers
Parry

X2 for using the 40 lt engel as a freezer they are brilliant. I also had a 60 lt combi in the camper we just sold and it was awesome as well.
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Offline cewilson

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2012, 12:49:20 PM »
If I had to buy new now days I'd get the ARB fridge.


I've got a 80 litre and 32 litre Waeco's and the both work fine.  I use Engel's for work and they too work fine.  To my mind any of the 3 brands will do the job that you want, it all comes down to what size you want and price.
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Offline Kit_e_kat9

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Re: camping fridge/freezers
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2012, 02:45:33 PM »


We have a 65L Evakool.  We got it because it uses what the others use (danfoss), but the company are local to us (Caloundra, Qld).  It's 12V & 240V, but we do have an old fridge that's gas as well which we've only taken with us once before we had the Evakool and once after (as a freezer).  We've found the gas fridge doesn't work as well on 12V and the amps draw is ridiculous (but it's old).

One day we'll buy a second Evakool for the vehicle.  It will contain drinks, keeping the other for food as a fridge / freezer (love my drumsticks & he likes ice in his drinks). 

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