Fridge/freezer

I have owned a 39L AutoFridge for some years now - main disadvantage is that you must leave 2cm space on either side to let the air circulate, as the sides have the plates for the condenser. I have fitted a 12v computer fan in the enclosure to push air thru. The Autofridge control box has an output for a fan, so it comes on when the fridge comes on.
Autofridge has a eutectic plate, allowing you to turn off the fridge overnight. I don't generally bother, and the fridge hardly runs at night.
Engel has the advantage that you can run it off 240v (many others need a 240v adaptor - more money). Handy when you pull into a caravan park. Its latest compressor has quite low current consumption, and the chiller plate on the 40L goes right to the bottom, unlike earlier ones.
Both Engel and Danfoss compressors are efficient and reliable, but also check out the thickness of the insulation - this has a big effect on efficiency. 40mm+ is a good starting point. Engels generally have less insulation than some other brands.
Good hunting
Gerry

Also meant to add:
Consider what you are going to use the fridge/freezer for. If you need the freezer to put your fishing catch in, then fine, but if you just need to keep meat frozen, the perhaps you might be better off considering cryovac (vacuum-packed) meat. This will allow you to run the fridge at about +2deg and represents a significant power saving. Without the need for a freezer, you have a bigger range of fridges-only to choose from. The meat keeps for at 4-5 weeks this way. And being sealed, there is no blood to leak out into the fridge.
rgds Gerry

You will never keep the batteries up to a Reefer (was Liemack) fridge. We tried them in the buses and could not get a set of batteries to last overnight. The compressors are not designed for mobile use like the Danfoss and consequently compressor failure was also an issue. I heard the reason why Liemack went into liquidation was because of warranty claims and returns due to large battery drain.
Camping tour bus operators have tried every brand available in Australia and the majority have now settled on Evakool because of quality and low battery consumption. Another brand gaining a foot hold is National Luna which is similiar to Evakool but their sizing suits some Nissan bus chassis better. An Evakool is priced between Waeco and Engel. At the show today there were around 10 brands of fridge with Evakool doing the lions share of the business. What commercial operators use is a great guide to quality.

Sorry to hear that Scott, you say that you "could not get a set of batteries to last overnight" my liemack only turns on a few times of a nite for only about 15 mins each time, maybe the problem was in your battery system or your wiring as I don't have any problems. I read here in the forum most people only get max of a few days out of the Danfoss units, I can be camped on a beach without starting the vehicle for at least 4 or 5 days, then it is only to go and get some more fish, food or water etc, NOT to recharge the batteries as a 80 wt solar pannel does that for me. Maybe I have good batteries, good pannel or good wireing, there are too many possibilities of right or wrong, my vehicle was wired up to suit the Liemack fridge and solar pannel combination as directed by Liemack and all I know is it works fantastic for me....

Hi Ozy, sorry , i didnt read your post. I own a Liemack (now Reefer) silly name really, i have posted below, I travelled for six weeks in the northern territory 4 years ago with my Liemack 90Litre fridge in october, was getting hot then, i used it with one battery, the original Patrol GU battery. Two batteries is a breeze,, Yes it is a little power hungry BUT when you can freeze water in the freezer in an hour. It really a matter of managing it properly. There is a multitude of knockers of this fridge but once you have had one , there really is no other choice Cheers Michael.

ooops Brian, Forgot to mention that you can use all for fridge or all freezer, whatever you like, with all steel cabinet. Has voltage cut-out so you dont need a solenoid,and a 300 watt 240volt inverter, so you can run a huge soldering iron or charge video and the like batteries , worth looking at. Cheers Michael

Michael it is not often I would like to say bull manure, but that is exactly what your reply is. There is absolutely no necessity to freeze the stuff you want frozen in the freezer with Evakool or Waeco or any other brand of compressor 12v/240v fridge.
The Liemack fridges went broke because they had so many failures of compressors and nobody wanted them due to the massive amounts of power they consume due to being so inefficent. The Liemack now Reefer by another name would be the most inefficient fridges available on the market. They run an inefficient invertor to make 240vAC then run a compressor that is not efficient. Then you have to worry about all the claims you are going to have on the compressor units as they are a compressor unit designed for a stationary kitchen. Being a tour bus operator Liemack or now called Reefer fridges failed consistantly like no other fridge on the market did.
A Reefer is not worth touching let alone look at. Just looking at a Reefer is enough to cause many operators heart failure.

Buy a quality fridge like an Evakool and have an enjoyable experience for a long time.

Hi Scott, i wasnt looking for an arguement, nor did i mention names of fridges regards freezing food before you place in in the car fridge. I ACTUALLY said SOME. I also said it was a little power hungry and did a trip with one battery with a few hiccups, later trips are no problem with 2 batteries. I also said its probably not for everyone but it works for me. Believe me if it was a heap junk, i would be the first to bag it and make sure more people didn't buy one. I'm extremely happy with mine and if anything happened to it I would be on the phone to order another. Best regards Michael

Paul a Liemack or now called Reefer will not freeze water in an hour. As you correctly say your domestic Kelivinator will, but there is definitely no 12v/240 fridge that would.
I know four tour bus operators that had so much pain and failure with Liemack/Reefer they would cry at just hearing the name again. I think you find the reason Danfoss powered units and in particular Evakool rule in the tour bus industry is RELIABILITY RELIABILITY RELIABILITY.
You will not find an Engel or Liemack/Reefer fitted to any tour bus kitchen.

Paul,
the Liemack/Reefer, I believe, has heaps of copper tubeing coiled around the fully enclosed Stainless steel inner body of the fridge/freezer and with a mutch larger capacity compressor than the Danfoss they can pump more refrigerant gas in a mutch shorter time, even our liemack knocker, 'OzyExplorer' has stated that is true, so you can bet it is !!!

All fridges do fail for a reason, the only variable appears to be the Batteries and the way the fridge is wired to the batteries, so anyone who has a complaint won't admit that they have not wired it up correctly, they only blame the fridge, remember Scot has stated, he could not keep the battery power up to his fridge overnite, is funny as my Liemack only runs 3 or 4 times each nite for 15 mins each time, with no battery problems...