Evakool Esky and Waeko cf25
Submitted: Monday, May 21, 2007 at 00:25
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UFC
Just want some input as to if this is practical or not. Been using a 65lt evakool for 5 years now and its been great but planning some longer trips away and moving from vic to qld so figure that I will need a fridge/freezer. I have a new model extra cab hilux and wondered if a waeko cf25 set as a freezer would do the job of keep some food frozen and be able to keep ice up to the esky for all the other stuff. Plus I like to be able to just carry the esky down to where I am camping without the worry of keeping power up to a fridge. I would just get a larger fridge but I dont have a canopy and dont think a fridge would like being on the back of my ute out in all the elements. Looked at all the fridges on the market and there are plenty that will fit in the back but not leave much room(making girlfriend not happy and bringing pain and suffering to me). but the cf25 will sit in the middle of the back
seat and let both front seats fully recline and still give me plenty of room in the back for other gear. I no its small but if it will do the job why not. will get plenty of use on day trips to
the beach without getting in the way as
well. Planning a few 2 week trips away. And guess the esky will need some ice after the 4th or 5th day.
Reply By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Monday, May 21, 2007 at 00:46
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 00:46
Hi UFC,
I have an engel 40l sitting on the back of the ute. It has been there for the past 4 years. It has been on for 24hrs a day and has never missed a beat. It is now bolted down to the Nav and also padlocked to the rear backing plate.
As for using it when on a long journey, I keep it on freeze. Have 4 Batteries to power it if I am not moving for a week.
Also take an esky, have 6, 2 litre milk containers filled with water. I keep 3 in the freezer and 3 in the esky. They last 3+ days in the esky but it usually takes 2 to 3 days to refreeze the others. Next trip I think I will swap them over daily as it will be more efficient.
AnswerID:
241325
Follow Up By: rbt - Monday, May 21, 2007 at 08:03
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 08:03
i also have a 40l engel and i do pretty much of what is above...
I use a mix of 3 & 2l milk containers
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Follow Up By: UFC - Monday, May 21, 2007 at 09:28
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 09:28
I have been using the milk containers in my esky for a while now to, they work
well and no mess. So your engel is just out in the open on the back of your ute. What happens when it rains and what about all the dust from being out in the open.
FollowupID:
502300
Follow Up By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Monday, May 21, 2007 at 18:19
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 18:19
When it was in the back of the Hilux for almost 3 years it was just sitting there and if it rained, it rained......... If it is dusty, it is dusty. It now sits under a tornea but part of it is still under the elements. It has the custom insulation bag only.
You could not get a better fridge. Runs 24hrs a day and has never missed a beat. Only prob I have had is the battery not handling all the other accessories.
The fridge is the best, in fact this afternoon when I finished work I had a cold beer. mmmmmmm
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Monday, May 21, 2007 at 08:12
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 08:12
Sorta had that idea here UFC , got CF25 and fitted it between front seats of Patrol which makes for a very effective use of space and allows for sleeping from rear seats forward, as we have wagon not ute.
The CF25 has better cooling capacity than some bigger fridges in this mode because it has same compressor as most but less surface area.
Worked with our high performance esky, it takes about 1/2 of a fridges capacity
to make enough ice to cool it, hence fridge is on more than off, running
at average consumption of 1.8 amps/hr.
However - Not into taking anything that spoils easily like meat and when
really thought about it have very little need to actually freeze anything.
Things like milk etc, find it better to have just one opened long life
carton at a time and its in fridge with others in boxes etc.
So with careful packing and doing things like just keeping enough drinks
etc for a day at a time in CF25 we settled into a routine of not needing to
take esky as
well as a fridge and are quite happy, to the extent that
CF25 is usually not quite full.
Our CF25 is now only set on 3 which means it is just enough to make few ice
crystals in coke etc if left in all day, and runs an average of 0.9 amps/hour.
With doing a few things along this line have negated the need for dual batteries etc
and overall camping is less cluttered and less hassle.
Robin Miller
AnswerID:
241351