Author Topic: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please  (Read 13478 times)

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Offline Axl

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Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« on: July 18, 2013, 08:00:03 PM »
Has anyone got one of these units? I am after some feedback on them please. My dad brought one last week at BCF on special for $699 http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Engel-MR40F-Eclipse-Fridge-Freezer-38L.aspx?pid=165924#Combo seems like a good price but he is yet to use it.

I have been considering fridges for a while now looking at all the major brands as well as the cheaper units and I am now thinking that going with a proven brand such as this unit might be worth me doing.

I can get a Techni Ice 45lt delivered for $584 and whilst I am sure that there is nothing wrong with these brands I am now thinking it may be worth the extra $115 for the Engel what are your thoughts on this?
« Last Edit: July 18, 2013, 08:11:02 PM by Axl »
Cheers Axl

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Offline corynmelnkids

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2013, 08:50:52 PM »

We have one that lives in the back of our prado works well. We use it when we go shopping and also when we go out on day trips. I would buy another one no problem at all.
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All set now for a big trip just need the money
and time off work.

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2013, 09:55:00 PM »
Had one for a year or more, it has bounced around the country a bit, and when not in the truck it sits inside as a drinks fridge.  Heard/read somewhere that they will last longer if left on all the time.  It works fine and has always kept my drinks and salad stuff cold.

The only annoying thing is that the temp is controlled by turning a nob.  The nob is black, and the little indent on the nob to tell you how far you have rotated it is also black.  My mod was to put a dab of white paint into the indent so I can now see from a distance how far the nob is rotated!

I also have a 50l Waeco that I use at around -4c to keep meat and chicken and ice cream semi frozen and I have noticed that the Engel seems to cycle on and off more often than the Waeco.

Offline Axl

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2013, 05:12:03 AM »
Thanks for the feedback, I am away working and I wont be home till after the BCF special ends so I have asked my dad to pick me one up, hopefully I have made the right choice.

Everything Ive read and heard about the Engel range is positive and from what I can tell they are the best units when it comes to power usage which when I start camping away from powered sites will be usefull.




Cheers Axl

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Offline speewa158

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2013, 06:38:31 AM »
Axi l have 2 of this type ,when l travel it's 1 to freeze & 1 to Chill ' Fresh meat for the BBQ & salad   &   :cheers: after a big day of doing whatever works for Me .  ??? At that price jump on it as quick as you can . You won't have any regrets    except " Why didn't l get 2 at that price ??? "  . If you have only 1 battery in the tug you might think about putting in another or at least 1 in the CT . When parked up for a few days the fridge after being flogged for coldies will take its tole on the start battery . Enjoy  :cheers:
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Offline achjimmy

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2013, 07:43:08 AM »
Is this the plastic engle?  If so its got the same running gear as the metal ones I think.
Here for a good time, not a long time!

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Offline kalex

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2013, 08:08:49 AM »
Awesome fridge, i've had one for 4 years and it's never missed a beat.
It has the same internals as the metal cased Engels and for that price you can't go wrong.

Offline Axl

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2013, 08:46:44 PM »
Axi l have 2 of this type ,when l travel it's 1 to freeze & 1 to Chill ' Fresh meat for the BBQ & salad   &   :cheers: after a big day of doing whatever works for Me .  ??? At that price jump on it as quick as you can . You won't have any regrets    except " Why didn't l get 2 at that price ??? "  . If you have only 1 battery in the tug you might think about putting in another or at least 1 in the CT . When parked up for a few days the fridge after being flogged for coldies will take its tole on the start battery . Enjoy  :cheers:

Thanks for the feedback speewa 158, the oldman went out today and brought me one of these units and for the price I am more than happy. I am slowly (as funds permit) setting myself up to be self sufficent power wise, as for the dual battery for the tug I brought a 105amp/hr Blue Apple Thumper for exactly this purpose (got it of a cousin at a very good price) a set of solar panels is next to charge it whilst we are away and a good 10amp 240v smart charger for when I get home, power to the rear of the tug then on to the trailer via a VSR and anderson plug system (Projecta kit from fleabay) and simple battery box with cig sockets a deep cycle AGM battery on the trailer to come :cheers:

Is this the plastic engle?  If so its got the same running gear as the metal ones I think.

Thanks for the info achjimmy, yes it is the polypropelene unit and it does have the same internals as the $1299 MT45FP metal one but at $699 it is nearly half the price for a difference of 7 litres capacity :cup:.

Awesome fridge, i've had one for 4 years and it's never missed a beat.
It has the same internals as the metal cased Engels and for that price you can't go wrong.

Thanks for the feedback kalex, I am looking forward to many years of service from this fridge. I was/am a bit worried that it may be a bit small however it is only the wife and myself and the fridge is purely for food, the refreshments will be on ice as per normal and no more wet tucker ubeauty  :cheers:
« Last Edit: July 19, 2013, 08:50:13 PM by Axl »
Cheers Axl

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Offline speewa158

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2013, 08:56:41 PM »
Axi  Have a chat to Mandrake  or Jetscrew about Solar . I have l did & its Great . There is no BS its the good oil . Trust them , believe them enjoy the product . l do  :cheers:
You can go your own way . Treg Up & Make Dust

Offline GeoffA

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2013, 09:53:04 PM »
Axi  Have a chat to Mandrake  or Jetscrew about Solar . I have l did & its Great . There is no BS its the good oil . Trust them , believe them enjoy the product . l do  :cheers:

Same here....
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Offline monbeg

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2014, 04:46:04 PM »
Reviving this topic and just wondering if anyone has any further positive or negative comments.
At this price they seem to be value for money, I am comparing with the Waeco CFX40 which is $989 at Anaconda.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-store/products/Engel-MR40F-Eclipse-Fridge-Freezer-38L.aspx?pid=165924&menuFrom=1021966#tab-Reviews

Offline Nomad

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2014, 04:58:56 PM »
Very happy with mine.
It has lived in the back of the Prado since the day I got it and runs 24/7.
Its done plenty of work and been on plenty of rough roads and not missed a beat.

Good luck for the money I would take it over a comparable Waeco anytime.



Offline monbeg

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2014, 05:34:43 PM »
...
Good luck for the money I would take it over a comparable Waeco anytime.

Thanks for that Nomad, that's what I am thinking. I can stock it up a few times for the price difference  ;D

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2014, 06:07:42 PM »
Yep, another year down and mine has bumped and bounced around some pretty gnarly tracks and is still keeping my beer cold.  (So is my now 11 year old Waeco 5ol!)

Offline monbeg

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Re: Engel MR 40F Eclipse fridge feedback please
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2014, 05:30:23 PM »
Credit where it is due.

Bought the Engel on Monday and took it for an overnight that night, seems to do the job nicely.

Had a query about the relationship between the settings scale and actual temp so I sent a query via their site.
About five mins later I got a phone call from Engel with the answers to my query.

That is product service and support  :)