Fridges, coolers & Cape York, Ice availability

Submitted: Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 at 00:00
ThreadID: 1575 Views:4255 Replies:8 FollowUps:3
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Which to take a fridge or a cooler box such as a Evacool to Cape York. Fridges are a bit expensive and would rather the cheaper alternative such as a Evacool cooler box - though will they be sufficient to be away from ice stops for 3 days or so.

Is block ice available all the way up or is it party ice ?

If a fridge is the way to go which do you recommend ?
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Reply By: peter - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
beddo, i took a 47lt evacool to cape york last year. it performed well ice kept for up to 3 days even opening it many times a day. availability of ice was not a problem, most caravan parks and servos stock it but not always block. i found that even with the smallest amount of ice the evacool stays cold throughout. we would often buy ice in the morning after all the ice had melted overnight without spoiling food. hope this helps.
AnswerID: 5156

Reply By: DUNCAN - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
For our trip to the cape we hired a 39l Engel, it cost around $230 for
4 weeks. I had it running of a small car battery and had no problems
with it for the whole trip.
AnswerID: 5157

Reply By: Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
I find a good quality ice box fine for all our trips. Freeze your food before you go, pack it in layers for your daily meals and you will have no problem. We also use cryovac for our meats and dry ice on extended trips. Cheers Rob.
AnswerID: 5158

Follow Up By: Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
Escapee ice boxes are available here from Lotus Glen Prison in Mareeba, they have proven to be the best and most effective available anywhere. All aluminium constuction 50mm insulation and a plastic inner tub. The prisoners also make fantastic swags. Cheers Rob
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Follow Up By: Troy - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
Rob,

can you pls furnish additional information about these Lotus Glen products ? (Swags etc). Where do u get more info on them ?


thanks mate. tw
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FollowupID: 2200

Follow Up By: Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Monday, Jul 29, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, Jul 29, 2002 at 00:00
Give Simmo a ring 0412 511 842 or 07 4057 6209 Mention my name and he will look after you. Cheers Rob
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FollowupID: 2236

Reply By: Nigel - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
EvaKool is the way to go for either esky or fridge.

Once the kids accidentally turned our evakool fridge off and it was off for 7 hours during the day in far north queensland. The milk was still cold.
AnswerID: 5159

Reply By: Guy - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
Beddo, the easiest and cheapest way is a good quality fibreglass eski around $100.
The food inside last about 8 days to a temperature of 2 degrees centigrade. Make sure you use BLOCK ICE and NOT PARTY ICE.
Party Ice has air in it and does not keep very long (3 days max). Your meat must be CRIOVAC in daily portions and most butchers
will offer this crio-vac(Vaccuum at freeezing temperature) service or tell you where to get it done.
If you use your eski, use it only twice a day and do not constantly look inside.
I do not like fridges because they are expensive and they can also run down your batteri(es) without a minimum voltage protection system, which could be a problem if you go in remote areas alone.
Dry ice is not necessary in the eski, block ice is the secret. Remove the excess water regularly (drink it if it clean).
AnswerID: 5172

Reply By: Axel + Karen - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
Beddo,,if you are not in a position to obtain an Engle or a Chescold ,a Evercool/Bailys is the way to go,,,,we have had a 70lt Evercool for 5yrs and can only say that there is none better,,we use 2x 3lt plastic bottles [originaly berri orange juice] full of OLD ice ,old ice is the key,,the water / ice in our bottles is now 5yrs old,,lasts up to 7/8 days depending on opening eski,,,also remember to pre cool the eski and only fill with pre chilled items,,,,,it takes a 3kg bag of party ice to chill a 6pack of stubs to drinking temp,,,,,,Axel + Karen,,,
AnswerID: 5177

Reply By: Andrew - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
Beddo, if ya can, go buy a fridge, always cold, get one with min voltage protection, we ,4 people, just spent 2 months round cape york with a Waeco 50 litre, no probs, and always frozen and cold stuff inside..
Have only 1 big battery in the 4wd, runs 2 days on the fridge no probs, and still plenty of zippo left to crank and go.
Usually if we were stationary for a while I ran the motor at a fast idle for 25 min each day if we didn't drive, to recharge the batt.
Met plenty of people with esky's, always running to a shop for ice, and at around $4.00 a bag, every day or 2, it gets expensive.
AnswerID: 5183

Reply By: Beddo - Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00

Friday, Jul 26, 2002 at 00:00
Thanks all for your advice, looked at the Waeco fridges, heard good reports on them and they are priced well with a 5 year warranty. Anyway after all the prep work on the vehicle will go for an ice box such as the Evacools (save some money for the trip). Like the idea of ice in bottles and dry ice for long extended trips. Also noted that you can buy fridgeration units to fit the ice boxes - which may be an option in the future. Cheers thanks again Beddo
AnswerID: 5184

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