Warm Beer

Why not hook the Chescold up to gas for the night??

By the way, was there a boat on the rocks at Rainbow Beach ?

Cheers

Have a look at the "Specials" at the Fridgeshop site.

I got sick of exactly the same problem, sold the Chescold to someone who lives down south for $500, bought an Engel (60l Combi Box) and now enjoy beer that is about 1degree...

Hi Troll81

For overnight........maybe this is for you?
http://www.colemanaustralia.com.au/Product,1125,6270-707G.aspx?page=2
The son has one and he's impressed with his.

Cya
Tripp'n
:)

Yep - I use a chescold only - know where you are coming from- runs very well on 240 and gas - the one big issue is what to do when its in the car and you are not there. Flattening the battery is bad for the battery's health - to be avoided. We have been able to resist the move to compressor fridge to date, but you have highlighted the big weakness in 3 way use. Compressor fridges have a couple of issues to deal with too - people are prone to smashing windows and stealing them - if you stay put for a couple of days, you have to power up the supply battery by one means or another - usually going for a drive ! Or just run the car and you top up via the alternator. I would have changed to compresor by now but SWMBO won't hear of it ! The Engel 40 L Anniversay special is $999 in SA at present (would be my pick) - I don't follow Waeco pricing.

Troll,
Bite the bullet and go for a compressor type fridg and you will never look back. They are ideal when you have the dual battery system,they can run up to three days in moderate weather without charging. I have had an Engel 39ltr since 95 and have had admiral service. Beer always cold.
Hint, get a cheap indoor outdoor thermo and do your temp adjustments with it then put a paint dot where the setting is best on the control and bobs your uncle.

Hey Troll

Its a pain - we had a Chescold for almost 15 years - could do our own repairs, great on gas and 240 jolts, but marginal at best on 12 volt. We always somehow organised to have it plugged in to the power right up till we left, and generally got away with 12 v on the road, gas overnight.

The big bonus was when we did a week at Coburg Peninsula. Everyone else was moving solar panels around chasing the sun because we were in among tall trees, and giving up and going for a drive. We just had a cold fridge running on gas.

But, we gave up and got a Waeco a couple of years back for the long hauls, where we were driving most days. It was just going to be for that type of trip, but when we found we simply did not want to use the poor old Chesy at all, we got rid of it.

And to answer your question - Waeco is advertising some real good value packs on the back of the current 4WD monthly eg CF-40 AC for $899 - about $100 less than we paid.

And they seem just as good for battery life as the Engel which we rented once.

For what its worth
Max

No Troll81. I can't help with cheap fridges sorry.

G'day Troll,

I was just wondering if it was worth spending the dollars on buying one just for a 1 or 2 trips before you leave and then sit in the shed for 6 months, I have an engel 21lt or 40lt I can lend you if you wish, till you leave and then worry about comparing and hunting for a bargain when you come back.

Avagoodn
Pezza

Troll,

I bought a Chescold in 94 and found it great for extended camping, but like you found it to have its limitations.

Got a 39L Engel in 2000 and kept the Chescold, "just in case" and never used it.

I then found the Engel too small so upgraded to a Waeco 80L in 2004. This posed a further problem of it using too much power so I added a solar panel. Now I'm in seventh heaven. A $98 generator (running through a battery charger) to top up your battery is another option.

My only advice would be don't buy a fridge that is too small. A 40L fridge may seem great today, but it may soon have limitations. Guess it depends on how much "stuff" you like to take. Some swear by the smaller fridges with judicious selection of contents. I like to take plenty of everything.

You can get a Waeco CF80 from the fridgeshop for $980. That's a bargain.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Jim.

PS My Chescold is still sitting in the garage collecting dust.

I think someone out there is going to buy a nice second hand chescold soon when I get back from the states....thanks for all the input