Evakool RF60 fridge/freezer

[stufly]

hi folks

I know this topic has been raised numerous time but I can't find any feedback on this particular question.

I am usually an Engel user but I am in need of buying a fridge/freezer combo like the Evakool RF60.
In the Engel fridge, the cooling plate totally surrounds the fridge space, so cooling is even throughout.
In the Evakool model, the cooling plate is only in the Freezer section with wall divider between fridge space.

My concern is, does the fridge get cold enough and does the fridge space suffer from a "warmer zone" the further items are away from the freezer side?
(I like my "end of the day" beverages COLD !!!)

Cheers

Stu

[KingBilly]

If the RRF60 is the white fibreglass job, I have one.  We only use it as a fridge with the divider located down the end.  It cools all the fridge space well but we tend to pack the meat and items like milk and cheese down the coil end as I assume that gets the coldest (but have never tested it with a thermometer).  Only run it on 1 or 1.5 as a fridge.  Had it a year and very happy with it's performance.  Uses very little power.

KB

[JayD]

If you like the engel products, why not go for something like the MT60FCP Engel, which is a fridge/freezer combi unit?

[letsgo]

Hi Stu, we have this fridge/freezer. Mainly used it as a freezer which works really well. Have used it as a combo and the fridge end does get cool enough. Of course it would make sense that the further way from the cooling plate the warmer it will get. The insulation is really good, so I that helps keep the fridge end pretty cool. Do find this to be noisier than any Waco we have.

[KingBilly]

Do find this to be noisier than any Waco we have.

That's interesting as I thought the Evakool and older Waecos used the same compressors.

KB

[letsgo]

We  think its a noisy fan. We have a waeco in the trailer and the evakool in the Ute. At home the evakool comes inside as a second fridge in one of the spare rooms, you can hear it turning on and off if you happen to walk past at that time. Also we have taken it with us when visiting family and its been in the same room as us doesn't keep you awake but its certainly noisier than the waeco in the trail that we sleep above. But it does work really well, have no complaints about how well it works.

[elle.mac]

We have one and have used it as both fridge/freezer and a freezer. My husband likes decent chilled drinks (ie colder that what a shop selling bees from the fridge) and is happy with how chilled they stay in the fridge.

You can on hotter days lift the divider up a little to let more cold air across to the fridge zone.

[muzza01]

If the RRF60 is the white fibreglass job, I have one.  We only use it as a fridge with the divider located down the end.  It cools all the fridge space well but we tend to pack the meat and items like milk and cheese down the coil end as I assume that gets the coldest (but have never tested it with a thermometer).  Only run it on 1 or 1.5 as a fridge.  Had it a year and very happy with it's performance.  Uses very little power.

KB

I have the 90 lt yellow one. I know it is a little different to the one in question. I agree with KB, it is a very economical fridge especially for 90Lt.  I have only used it as a fridge on 12volts.  Used as a freezer on 240V without problem.  I did have a temp guage in the fridge and from memory it was around 3-4 degrees on a very low setting.  It has a danfoss compressor that I have found to be very quiet.

[stufly]

Thanks all
that is starting to make my decision a little easier and it sounds like the white evakool "fridge space temp" issue is not a big deal.
Thanks again.
Stu

[Brutus]

Thanks all
that is starting to make my decision a little easier and it sounds like the white evakool "fridge space temp" issue is not a big deal.
Thanks again.
Stu

Looking at the same fridge at the moment myself, look very similar to the waeco and about $400 cheaper. We only camp down here in Tassie through the summer and I am keen to ditch the esky and ice idea.

Keep us informed with what you get and how it goes.

[2010banditsa]

Ive got one and use it occasionally as a combo, plenty as a fridge.... worked well even in summer and as other poster said, chuck a cpl of 10 or 20mm packers under the divider to aid with cool air movement.
I have a mate who stuck an over ride switch into his to turn off the noisy fan at night

[mrw82]

I brought one second hand a few years ago. For the weekend trips that we do we didn't have any real use for the freezer. And having it set at a good temp for food/drinks in the fridge side, anything in the freezer would well and truly freeze. Never had any issue with 'warm spots' in the fridge.
I have heard of people adding a 12 volt fan (from a computer) mounted into the divider to give some air circulation, but from memory it was more for less differential between fridge and freezer, not so much because of one end of the fridge side warmer than the other.

Because we really didn't need the freezer and the fact that evakool are only 30 mins away from me, I put it in and got it modified so it is now either all fridge or all freezer, it has 2 baskets no divider and the element covers 3 walls of the fridge. Cooling is even and consistent.  Haven't used it as a freezer but with the thermostat dial at 2.5 the temp sits at -1 degree. Which is perfect for chilled drinks.

Would I buy another one? Absolutely.


Mark.

[Brutus]

I brought one second hand a few years ago. For the weekend trips that we do we didn't have any real use for the freezer. And having it set at a good temp for food/drinks in the fridge side, anything in the freezer would well and truly freeze. Never had any issue with 'warm spots' in the fridge.
I have heard of people adding a 12 volt fan (from a computer) mounted into the divider to give some air circulation, but from memory it was more for less differential between fridge and freezer, not so much because of one end of the fridge side warmer than the other.

Because we really didn't need the freezer and the fact that evakool are only 30 mins away from me, I put it in and got it modified so it is now either all fridge or all freezer, it has 2 baskets no divider and the element covers 3 walls of the fridge. Cooling is even and consistent.  Haven't used it as a freezer but with the thermostat dial at 2.5 the temp sits at -1 degree. Which is perfect for chilled drinks.

Would I buy another one? Absolutely.


Mark.

How is the power drain?

[Barrabart]

G'day Stu,

Mate i own a RF60, reckon it's great. Like others have commented, i also use mine as all fridge, though have run it also with the divider in and fridge/freezer combo...... Certainly no issues with hot spots in the fridge.....
My suggestion is a little planning, if the beers from the fridge aren't cold enough, stick 2 in the freezer section, chop some wood and get a fire going...... take out a now very cold beer and replace it with another from the fridge, repeat as required till either satisfied, unconcious or naked and dancing, which ever comes first.

[Captain]

Hi Stu,

I have the Evakool 82L fridge freezer and I find it suffers from a variable temp in the fridge section, especially when filled. I have had cans of softdrink that were placed near the freezer plate freeze (and leak!) while the furtherest side was only cool.

To overcome this, I installed a temp controlled fan, here is a link to that post on Myswag answering a similair question to yours.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=18998.msg292791;topicseen#msg292791

Cheers

Captain

[stufly]

Will do Brutus.
And if you haven't purchased before approx Dec 2013/Jan 2014, I'll let you have a beer from my new Evakool as we should be in your neck of the woods around then !!!

Looking at the same fridge at the moment myself, look very similar to the waeco and about $400 cheaper. We only camp down here in Tassie through the summer and I am keen to ditch the esky and ice idea.

Keep us informed with what you get and how it goes.

[stufly]

I love the idea, spoken like a true Qld'er
Go Qld !
Cheers

G'day Stu,

Mate i own a RF60, reckon it's great. Like others have commented, i also use mine as all fridge, though have run it also with the divider in and fridge/freezer combo...... Certainly no issues with hot spots in the fridge.....
My suggestion is a little planning, if the beers from the fridge aren't cold enough, stick 2 in the freezer section, chop some wood and get a fire going...... take out a now very cold beer and replace it with another from the fridge, repeat as required till either satisfied, unconcious or naked and dancing, which ever comes first.

[Kit_e_kat9]

We have one and it keeps everything cold and doesn't keep us awake at night although you can hear it if you are awake but it's not overly loud (say like your partner using the water pump to make you a coffee and effectively waking you up).  Yes, they run very economically - we have 2 batteries to keep all of our 12v items happy - incidentally we have run the fridge for almost a week off both whilst it was parked at home ... someone forget to plug the lead in ... but at least it was switched on so that's gotta mean something ... but we only found this out after we pitched camp for a long weekend.  Love those solar panels I bought from Jetcrew!

He likes ice in his rum and this is the reason we upgraded from the blue esky.  We like to keep the mixers up against the divider and we've had no complaints so far ... except when he grabbed a hottie instead of a coldie ... but lucky he's got ice then hey.

Kit_e

[Brutus]

Will do Brutus.
And if you haven't purchased before approx Dec 2013/Jan 2014, I'll let you have a beer from my new Evakool as we should be in your neck of the woods around then !!!

I should have my new fridge by then but always keen to have a coldie so let us know when you are down this way 

[mrw82]

How is the power drain?

I find it really good for power usage, I run a 100ah deep cycle battery and have no problem with 2-3 days away with no driving/charging the battery. Not sure how many days I can get before it cuts out. We spent a week on Fraser island and never had an issue, but we were driving nearly every day which would be recharging the battery

In terms of performance I think evakool, Engel, waeco would all be on par.  It's more of a matter which size, style, shape suits your needs best. And budget, that's the biggest consideration for most people.

[Taz64]

I have a 60l Evakool Fridgemate and it's been great.  When not camping I use it as a fridge/freezer under the house to keep the dog food in when I don't have enough room in the main freezer/fridge and it's never let me down.

I find as a fridge it can be set to between 1-3 and keep things icy cold.  I've used it as a freezer with divider removed so the entire box is a freezer and it will freeze 12 kg of dog meat in 24 hours from warm while set to between 6-8.

I have run it as a fridge over a 6 day, 5 night period from a 110AH battery with no problems (forgot to switch charger).

It's a great value for money fridge/freezer compared to some of the more popular 'brand' name options.  The only thing I recommen checking is the clearance measurements for where you want to use it in your Tug or CT.  Mine fits under the top rail on my soft floor CT, however the standard models are too high for most soft top CT's once fitted to a slide.

[Brutus]

Power drain sounds good then.

Rays have 60ltr for $699 so off there tomorrow and then get 100ah battery which should last my three to four day weekend away trips this summer

[Wezza]

Power drain sounds good then.

Rays have 60ltr for $699 so off there tomorrow and then get 100ah battery which should last my three to four day weekend away trips this summer

Looks like a good price......... does anyone know if BCF price match?

[Sawed-Off]

Power drain sounds good then.

Rays have 60ltr for $699 so off there tomorrow and then get 100ah battery which should last my three to four day weekend away trips this summer

You probably need to camp out overnight and be first one in. Last time I tried to buy something in store at a Rays sale it was "stock in hand only, no back orders".

[KingBilly]

Looks like a good price......... does anyone know if BCF price match?

Yes, BCF and Rays are same company and price match each other.  I have done it.

KB