DARREN replied:

This is one of those Toyota vs Nissan or 3.0 vs 4.2 Patrol debates, but speaking from my experience. I have a 60l Engel permanently in my Patrol and think it is fantastic. 3 mates have the same fridge and have no complaints.

Wombat replied:

I saw the new Narva 3 way, 40 litre fridge yesterday and if you have the capacity to carry a gas bottle it looks like a real alternative to the brand names. It is basically the same fridge which Repco are advertising at the moment but has a beefed up compressor for more performance.

Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) replied:

HERE WE GO!! Oh well I will start it off I got an engal because I had seen them used alot for exploration and to me they were the proven product as I had no experience with others. A search through the archives will show people are happy with any of the 00s of brands coz they all keep the beer cold

Member - Chrispy (NSW) replied:

I know that you are abour to decide whether to spend a lot of hard-earned on one brand or the other. You will, in the process, stir up a conversation that will be no more conclusive that whether Toyota or Nissan, petrol or diesel are better.

I'd suggest you just do a search here - you'll find several hundred replies to this very question already.

Oh... Engel by the way

Why? Because I have one ;) (which is why most people will push the one they've got - not because they can give you a proper answer)

Drew - Karratha replied:

Waeco or Engel - whatever your friends have otherwise they will bag it. I went through the same thing whe I bought mine (ended up with an Engel Combi Box). Most of my friends have Engels and swear by them. A few have Waecos and they too swear by them. The Waeos are A LOT lighter when empty (and cheaper). I think you will be happy with either. I ended up deciding on the heavier and more expensive Engel because my Grandparents had one that my Dad now has and it works as good now as it did 20 or so years ago when they bought it.
Drew

Mad Dog (Australia) replied:

Engel are the best

Member - ROTORD replied:

Either , unless you later wish to buy the separate top section in which case it must be an Engel .

Member - MrBitchi (QLD) replied:

Do a search. It's been done to death 98725987623497 times before.....

Member - Geoff M (Newcastle) replied:

Hello Hilux Ute,
I have a 20 odd year old Engel of about 40 litres, still going strong. I bought it as a factory second, had some paint scratches and the top panel around the thermostat was slightly bent. But it's never missed a beat, can recommend it.

I also have a 110litre Waeco. Another top fridge. If I had my time again I'd get the 85 litre quite simply because it's a little smaller to transport.

My opinion on the 2 brands would be, shop on price and pick whichever is the most suitable size for you.

Geoff.

cuffs replied:

Engel (6 yrs)
P.S. Never had beer long enough to get warm

Nudenut replied:

I wont tell you all again...the best one made is the one I made

Moose replied:

Talk to those that repair them - then you'll find out which is best.

lc42003 replied:

the response to wombat was unkind and unnecessary.

i regard the forum as an information source.

if we respond exactly to the question asked and nothing else then important information might not be conveyed.

example

question: what is the road like between a & b?

answer: good road surface - no problems.

the fact that the bridge is out was not conveyed as it was not specifically asked for.

this is not the way i see a forum such as this operating.

flappa replied:

Neither.

Get an EvaKool

mfewster replied:

Seeing evryone is talking about everything in this thread, lets go back to discussing the Repco (and maybe the Narvana?)
Repco does have what they say is a new technology fridge which is different to anything else I have seen. Its threeway but also has a jacket that has to be kept filled with water. Comes in a couple of different sizes. The blurb reckons it will drop below ambient temp enough to be able to freeze in all but really extreme conditions.
A couple of us and the reoco dealer got one out of the box, had a good look at it and read the manual carefully. It doesn't say it has a compressor in it, bit two of the inerested crowd thought they could see something inside that was a compressor. None of us had seen antyhing like it or could figure out how it worked. Everyone wanted someone else to buy one and try it.
Check your local Repco dealer out and post your opinions (but make sure it is the "new technology" model you are talking about as they have plenty of regular tech varieties as well.

Member -Dodger replied:

Whatever you do buy a compressor type if you intend to travell a lot.
Absorption fridges are the pits when you are constantly on the move.
Yes I have both and I wouldn't go anywhere without the Engel.
It's had a hard life in the last 10yrs and has not missed a beat.
Only bitch is the beer keeps disappearing.....bugger?

Alloy c/t replied:

Hilux .,what a can of worms you opend, I have and use both brands ,an 80lt Waeco and a 15lt Engle , also a 40lt Chescold and a 70lt Bailys esky ,so no real bias to one or the other of your choices , The Waeco is light compared to an engle of the same size and only 50% of the cost ,uses about the same amps in the real world ,, The Engle is a very good as well and as some have pointed out are well proven long term ,they forget that Waeco has an even longer history in Europe and the USA ect , Whatever you decide on ,look at it as a long term proposition and get the biggest you can as you can never have " too " much refridgeration when the fish are " on " and the amber is flowing.

ChrisGU replied:

We've got an 80L weaeco combo fridge/freezer. Never had a problem. Plenty of room. It's been over some rough roads and it just sits back there doing it's thing. It's a few years old now and doubles as the backup fridge at home so gets a bit of use.

It's also nice having the freezer for those longer trips outback where you can stock up before leaving home with the meats etc you like from a place you can trust, and then just stick them in the fridge the day before so they defrost some before using them.

I think you'll find both are as good as each other (Engel or waeco) with similar warranties etc as well.

G-wizz replied:

I've got an 80L Waeco which is marginally too big for my purposes but is reliable and efficient.