Fridges

Waccos are certainly cheaper. There is quiet alot of good stuff around second hand for $600

Patrick

The bushman has to be the best value for money in 40lt size.

Same compressor as the weaco, digital readout built in, and when you set the temp, the fridge maintains it, no 1/2/3/4/5 settings to juggle etc.

The digi box is a 2 phillips screws to remove, and is about $36 to buy, if the fridge is out of warranty, and you can bypass it with one connection, should you need to ever do repairs in the bush.

Try the archives, if you dont get 100 matchs to Fridge, you aren't tryin.

Goona,
if you want the "best fridge bang for Buck" price bracket (new) around 40Lt, concider the following two fridges.

35lt
Compressor: Danfoss BD35
NEW Price $699

60lt
Compressor: Danfoss BD50
NEW Price $899

link text

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G'day Goona

Depends on where you are going, and what you want to keep....

I travel/camp throughout the top end, high ambient temperatures, I use an Evacool 80 litre (they make 40 lite too) due to excellent insulation quality - try leaving a block of ice in each brand in the sun, measure which one holds ice longest - I do not run in freeze mode as I get meat cryovac'ed then it lasts 3 weeks or more at about 3 degrees - which by the way is setting no 1 of 8 of the evacool!!

As for ampere hours depends on temp and duty cycle to maintain temp... eg mine at 35+ degree ambient, cycles at about 33 % (ie runs 20 min per hour) and starts at 4.5 amp then settles at around 2 amp to run, with solar panels and dual battery get looong time before battery gets discharged

IMO they are not the cheapest but definitely the better....

Also try http://www.fridgeshop.com.au/
several here have dealt with them b4

Whadda ya know, this is like the question we had about wine the other week: What's the best wine?

As truckster says, SEARCH

Although I havent heard of a bad 12 v 40 L fridge, it took Waeco to crash the prices off Engel; enough for me to buy a Waeco about 3-4 years ago. No probs with current draw off main starting battery overnight, at least.

Cheers

No one has mentioned the 3way fridges. I dont have one, I have a 45l Waeco which is fine for me however the 3way can work for long periods on site on gas very cheaply without battery worries if stopping for a while in one spot.
What am I getting at???
Repco have a new catalogue coming out about 19th with a 3way made by Brown & Watson. Saw one today, looks fine, its 35l seems well built & insulated & the good news is its $399 in the catologue.
_Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx 6.25amps on 12vdc, bit higher than waeco/Engel etc but OK on road or for o/n stops.Definitely worth a look if the size suits.

Goona

If your interested Waeco sell some of their stuff direct at discount prices. Usually shop worn etc. See http://www.fridgeshop.com/ .
Just a comment of 3 way fridges. There are pro's and cons. Good if your camping in one spot for days because they are very economical on gas eg. 4kg bottle will last a week or more. However, they need to be kept in the shade, out of the wind and be level to work at their best. I have put mine in a tent but not really recommended unless you can keep flaps open and a bit of a nuiance of you have to go into the tent to get something. Use a lot of 6V power but will work overnight - again best kept level inside the vehicle or on the ground.

Regards