Need some help with car fridges..

hmm I am not sure$500 will get you into a decent fridge i think there are a few budet ons around that price I think Waecos are the cheapest fridges of reasnable quality. Engals start at cose to a grand. and waecos i think arund $700
another option could be to trawl your trading postfor a 2nd hand 3 litre engal

look for a second hand waeco. we have a cf-50 and its great...plenty of roomfor meat , milk, food and drinks....it depends on how much you need to have in the fridge depends on how big to go...if your a week from shopping then the 50lt is great but if your only a day or 2 away then i think you an get a 35lt but im not sure...

you'll be right with a dual battery -as long as its a deep cell one..

good luck finding one.....asking a fridge question here is like starting w w 3!!! different people - different opinions....

Laura

Hi,
Rays outdoor have what seem like a real bargin which may suit.
Page 20 of their current catalogue -Nylex 40 lt fridge / Freezer +12 to - 18 degrees for $150. These units actually look OK.
Hope this helps.
Catalogue can be viewed on net google - Rays outdoor

Well, lets try to avoid WW3:-)

If your budget is limited to $500, then a second hand, or a "seconds" fridge is what you will be able to buy. (nearly)

Have a look at Fridge & Solar for some comparitive prices of the Waeco range of fridges.

Just bear in mind these fridges are "seconds" and only have a 12 month warranty as apposed to a 2 year warranty for a brand new fridge.

Having said that, several forumites have bought a fridge from F&S and are happy with their purchase.

I'm surprised you have not had 1200 replies yet on this one! In reality either Engel or Waeco will work fine. There are others but I'm not in a position to comment on them. More important is that they are slightly different shapes and the lids open different ways. You need to work out how much room you need in the fridge and where it is going in your car. You will be surprised how much room things may take in a fridge. They don't always pack well and you don't want to spend 20 minutes doing some sort of chinese puzzle so you can get the lid to close again. Make sure you get an insulated cover as this helps reduce power usage. The other point is to use the 240 connection whenever possible. You may get a good deal at the show but $500 may be a stretch. The Waeco's tend to be a bit cheaper for a similar size than Engel. You may find the camping shops not at the show have good prices at the same time.

Steve

Fiona
The only thing I would add to the replies already received is to keep a close eye on the plug if it is a cigarette lighter type. They can easily rattle loose on the road and the fridge is not working when you think it is.
You can get more positive type plugs that will not rattle loose, not hard or expensive to install.
Ohterwise, you'll find a fridge to be a great investment, not only in the vehicle when travelling, but alos in the shed as a second fridge at home.
Cheers

I agree with Tuck 01 about the plugs also check your wiring to the back make sure it is at least 6 amp as the standard wiring is only about 2 or 3 amps and could burn out with prolonged use good luck

Reinforcing the comment about power supply - the cig plugs can rattle away from the contacts as mentioned ......now power no cold ! And also as mentioned, the cable for the power supply to the cig outlet may not have the capacity you need. Once you decide on a fridge, you can ascertain how many amps it may need when its working hard - you can then assess if the wiring to the plug will handle that. Would guess that you should expect to get a good used 40L Waeco for $500.
I have a CF60L which has been very good so far.

A camping fridge is a long-term investment. Since your kids are young, you'll be using it for the next 20 years. Engels have been around since the year dot. Waecos are popular and have been around for about 10 years. Don't get tempted buy the cheap no-name fridges. Extend your budget to $1000, and you'll be able to buy a 40litre Engel on a show special, or probbaly get a waeco for a bit less. These are both compressor fridges which are much more efficient than any other type of fridge on 12 volts.

The Waeco shop is selling 25 litre Fridge Fressers for $570 (I belive these are not second) you should ask them the questions on waranty ect.

Rgds
Ian

Try www.fridgeshop.com.au for Waeco seconds.

Cheers