Fridge Advice

[jfella]

Hi All

I know these sort of topics are always a mixed bag as its all opinions but I am going ahead any way....

I am looking for a smallish fridge and have narrowed things down to a Engel Eclipse 38L or a Waeco CFX 35L.

I like the both fridges, like the engel cause its an engel but like the CFX as its easier the clean with the flush element.

Price wise they are close, I can get an the engel for $800 (normally $900), and the CFX for $860 (normally more $1100) like but I can also get a second hand CFX for $650.

What do you reckon is $650 a big enough savings to go second hand?  If going new is the any real difference in the engel and the CFX as just surprised there was so much difference in the RRP?

Cheers

[Green rv]

hmmm very hard to knock back a bargain 2nd hand fridge
but for the extra you get warranty included
hard decision engel vs waeco both work well
i use waeco in cf80dz (approx 9 years old) and cfx 50 (new this year) and both have been faultless

 
Adam

[sharkcaver]

Well my thoughts is get the biggest fridge you have space and finances for. You will be surprised how quickly you can chew up that space. That may well be the 38L eclipse or CFX35? in your case.

On that, I just saw a catalogue from BCF this morning with 25% off waeco fridges. In all reality, this just probably brings their pricing in line with other competitive sellers. So do some research there. Seabreeze on ebay and a few others tend to have sharp pricing.

I purchased a CFX50 18 months ago. It has become my weapon of choice over the engel 40 I have. That said, the engel still has its place on smaller trips away.

The CFX to me has been bloody brilliant - disclaimer - I haven't used either as a freezer-. If I thought originally that the engel was the most power conservative fridge, that has now been surpassed by the consumption of the CFX, mainly due to waeco's use of variable speed compressor drive VMSOII.

I have had an ongoing post about some brands relative power consumptions. I don't think I've actually added infield results on the CFX50 (I know I have that data here somewhere) so I will have to update that.

http://sharkcaver.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/generation-of-engels.html

As to new or second hand....a hard call I can not answer for you.

Good luck with it all and let us know how you get on.

 

[Bullant4x4]

We're fishing?

[ronmac]

I have an 40lt engel bought in 1984, Not one problem with it, how long have these other fridges been around. cheers Ron.

[sharkcaver]

I have an 40lt engel bought in 1984, Not one problem with it, how long have these other fridges been around. cheers Ron.

How long will they be around should be the question??

Here comes the engel V waeco debate. Hang on for the ride.

[weeds]

 Bushman seem good value for money...too high for my new application

I have three Engels.....the 2 x 40L's are too high and the 32L is a bit on the small side

Just purchased a 60L evaKOOL, ticked all boxes and good savings on the factory seconds.

[Bullant4x4]

In the tinny

[jackriley]

Just for your info, I recently picked up a CFX50, cover and wireless battery monitor at Anaconda for $900, they price match and beat by 10%. I used the Tent World sale to get my price. Grab the price from the current BCF sale and use that as a further discount at Anaconda.

If you've got the space, I'd increase from 38L to 50L.

My CFX50 has been running non-stop for the last 6 weeks without fault.

[Bird]

Bushman seem good value for money...too high for my new application

I have three Engels.....the 2 x 40L's are too high and the 32L is a bit on the small side

Just purchased a 60L evaKOOL, ticked all boxes and good savings on the factory seconds.

sadly the bushman is too tall for most people once you fit up the extra space gadget...
my 40 engel is too tall for inside my trailer too but fits in the front box with its newly fitted up power outlet
I like the idea of a lower wider fridge for just accessing stuff that isn't buried.... you can see inside contents easier. that's the downfall of the Engel 40

[jfella]

Take your points on the size issue.  The reason I was looking at around the 40L ones is that I have a 3 way in the camper and a also an older waeco 25L that the thermistor has gone on.  I am planning on fixing the 25L and keeping it for a freezer for longer trips but was looking for something a bit bigger for shorter trips when we tent it. 

$900 bucks for the CFX50 with extras is pretty dam sharp though!

[whitey001]

Just for your info, I recently picked up a CFX50, cover and wireless battery monitor at Anaconda for $900, they price match and beat by 10%. I used the Tent World sale to get my price. Grab the price from the current BCF sale and use that as a further discount at Anaconda.

If you've got the space, I'd increase from 38L to 50L.

My CFX50 has been running non-stop for the last 6 weeks without fault.

As long as you're in QLD.  Anaconda's conditions on their price match is that the competitor must be in the same state/area

Al.

[Pete79]

As long as you're in QLD.  Anaconda's conditions on their price match is that the competitor must be in the same state/area

Al.

I used Snowies online price to get a deal on my last Turbo tent.
Purchased from Anaconda in NSW, competitor in SA.

Just saying....

[Bullant4x4]

With worms or squid

[Pete79]

Snowys are the best to deal with! Used both (tentworld) and snowy is 100% better in price and PR

No question, but I doubt Snowys would have let me use my Anaconda store credit to get a tent.

I guess my point is if the OP is looking to price match their new fridge at Anaconda it really comes down to the individual they're talking to at their store.

[Champin]

If it was strictly between engel and waeco, I would go engel without a doubt. I have had both and the engel I have have absolutly no problems whatsoever. Where as the waeco...well, don't even go there. But in saying that, we also have  primus dual zone in the camper and so far pretty bloody happy with it. Nice to have icypoles on a hot day Plenty of good advise from great people here so good luck with whatever you go with.

[Lochie0811]

Have a 60ltr Evakool and very happy with it.

[Muckinhell]

I myself would look at second hand in either brand but for simplicity I vote for evakool as well and my that i mean there original fiberglass models with simple electronics etc. they also come with a normal econ switch wich is invaluable for 12v use difference in my 40ltr evakool normal about 5 apms and econ about 3.5.

I orginally had a 60ltr trailblazer wich was an absolutly brilliant fridge albeit in the size and weight dept, now with 2 boys on the scene it wasnt cutting it, so i sold it and bought 2 ED40 evakools for more capacity and ease of movement and packing. They come with wire baskets so much easier to move around when full etc. also when they were both emptying down i consolidated to one fridge and switch the other off to save power.

now i have a jayco with a 3 way im selling one of the evakools so see gumtree if your in qld for a good deal.

[peterkb]

As long as you're in QLD.  Anaconda's conditions on their price match is that the competitor must be in the same state/area

Al.

A friend bought a cfx50 from anaconda using an online website to price match. It might just depend on the store.

I have used engel, waeco and now have an Arb. All are fabulous. We loved the engel but it didn't fit the camper sadly. It also did suck up a bit more battery (marginally) then the waeco and ARB and the manual control is less automatic than the digital controls.

I would suggest buying the biggest you can possibly fit and afford. You won't notice the $100 in 6 months.

Or just buy the one you love. They all work fabulously.

[Pete79]

Or just buy the one you love. They all work fabulously.

Finally someone said it!

Man that brand name crap gets annoying after a while....

[GBC]

Finally someone said it!

Man that brand name crap gets annoying after a while....

More often than not the brand/shape/space of your car or camper will have the biggest influence on the brands you can buy. Always has for me.

[rossm]

More often than not the brand/shape/space of your car or camper will have the biggest influence on the brands you can buy. Always has for me.

Looking at fridges now. First question is "will it fit?"

A 40l Engel probably won't, a Bushman might. A waeco probably will.  I am sure I will be happy if I have to pass on the Engel.

[Isuzumu]

Evakool Glacier 45 fridge or freezer $718, have had a 75 Lt Glacier for 2 years and a great fridge, brought as a second for $750, $80 for a cover.

[Bird]

in 2011 I threw this together when I was looking to upgrade, but I cant fit anything else in the space in my rear storage in patrol without total reconstruction
Some similar sizes vary little some are quite different.


Note these specs were done in 2011.. might be different these days, but doubt it

[whitey001]

A friend bought a cfx50 from anaconda using an online website to price match. It might just depend on the store.

I have used engel, waeco and now have an Arb. All are fabulous. We loved the engel but it didn't fit the camper sadly. It also did suck up a bit more battery (marginally) then the waeco and ARB and the manual control is less automatic than the digital controls.

I would suggest buying the biggest you can possibly fit and afford. You won't notice the $100 in 6 months.

Or just buy the one you love. They all work fabulously.

Definitely depends on the store.  Two local Anaconda stores and neither of them would price match for two different reasons.  One said the product was different as the competitor included a cover and stand so it was a package and they only match on an individual product.  Other store checked the "actual" competitor website and that was not updated with the special price.  Showed them the Ebay site that listed the physical retail store down the road from them and could pick up.  Nope, not on their website, no price match.

Thought about arguing the point but couldn't be bothered.  Even the salesperson at both stores agreed I was correct and it should be matched but was overruled by their manager.

Not in a hurry for the fridge so will just wait for a price to come up that I'm happy with.


Al.