Yet another Fridge Question

Have a look at Trailblazer as well.

Cheers Kev

I have a waeco 80l fridge/freezer combo for about 18 months. Works a treat with three kids. Freezing compartment works no worries and cool air overflows into fridge compartment and has no worries keeping other items cold without freezing when the dividers are in. Waeco not so good if you want to use as fridge only or freezer only with dividers out. The cool air comes from the freezer end and maintaining a constant temp through the whole unit is a problem. Not a problem to me because I dont use it this way. We like the dairy compartment and use it only that way. I think it was a good use of space because i think it sits above the compresser.
Does the 75l engel have a divider? My oulaw has one that is less than 12 months old and it is one compartment with no dividers. As a whole freezer or whole fridge it works well at keeping a constant temp through the whole unit as the cool air comes from all sides. If you want split compartments like my waeco you cant do it. Engel may have different models that do this now. My outlaws engel doesn't have a dairy compartment as the compressor runs to the top of the unit.

Sorry to throw this one at you but...I have a 35l waeco and was looking at the 80l waeco at the Melbourne 4x4 show for camping with the whole family. The sales rep said if I already have the 35l to stay away from the 80l waeco and buy the 50l or 60l and I would be happier that way. Something to do with control and efficiency being much better. It made sense to me. I wonder if anyone can second that here.

Regards Boris

Boobook2,

We have the 50l Waeco. When we were looking we looked at the 80L Waeco, it's size and weight was a concern for us. Although the extra room inside the fridge would come in handy at times!!
I would like to get a 40L Waeco to either use as a freezer or as a second fridge. This would give us more versatility in what we do and how we do it. Plus 2 small fridge/freezers are easier to move for one person than one big one, and if one dies then at least you have the other to get you through.

Ours has the dairy compartment as well, and we find it great for storing the things you don't want and need to that cold.

Others out there include Explorer, National Luna, Trailblazer, Evacool.

Good luck with your purchase.

Greg

Check out Evakool as well. They are an excellent product particularly in the tropics. They have the traditional evakool fibreglass fridge/freezer and the have a Fridgemate range which is moulded plastic type compound. I have the Fridgemate and have had no dramas so far.

Hmm the evacool do look interesting. Does anyone else have good / bad experiences with them and the difference between the Fridgemate and RF series.

Hmm the evacool do look interesting. Does anyone else have good / bad experiences with them and the difference between the Fridgemate and RF series.

We have had our 80lt Waeco for around 4yrs , used as freezer+fridge , just gotta love that icecream miles from anywhere when out scrub , never a problem but be aware of the power consumption that the 80 uses , average of 64amps per 24hrs when used as freezer and fridge.

We have a 75L Fridgemate (made by evakool), it have done the cape a couple of times and works fantastic as a fridge/freezer or fridge. It also has the next size down Danfoss compressor than the Waeco 80L and uses much less power

As has been said above by others, the w 80 is a good unit. I have found the temperature difference between the three compartments is greater the higher the ambient temperature....eg in say 25 degrees ambient, you may have -15 in the freez., 4 in the frig, and 7 in the dairy. In 40 degrees, you may have -15 in the freez, 6 in the frige, and about 10 in the dairy.

We always crank the freezer while the car is running to get a good 'cold sink', and defrost anything like meat etc in the dairy compartment to help cool the fridge bit.

While used as a frige only, the freezer end is set at about 0 deg.....the beer goes here.....and the rest of the stuff goes in the usual frige section and is around the 5 deg mark. Interestingly, as a frige only, our battery flattens quicker, probably due to freezing everything to -20 in the freezer while the engine is running, and changing the temp to -15 while stationary.

Cheers Andrew

Just to throw another BRAND into the equation

. . . . National Lunar

I looked at them at the Perth 4x4 show last weekend & was impressed with the finish detail and their electronics package.

They also use the German made Danfoss compressor as do Waeco and other mentioned fridges.

However they are Stainless steel inside and out, so will take some knocking about.

Available with individual Fridge & Freezer sections and both areas are temperature monitored.

Maybe best to talk with present owners to get reliable info first...



Yet another BRAND to check out
. . . . Bushranger

(see I'm not biased at all)
You will find advantages and disadvantages for each brand nominated, some are expensive and stainless steel some are 'less' expensive and only plastic and some are just plain cheap

Not going to enter into the debate about which one, but I noticed at the Perth show on the weekend that Waeco now do a clip addition to increase the fridge capacity like Engle have for a while. Also every man and his dog wer flogging the Sth African National Luna fridges nice looking unit but at twice the price of a Waeco (eg 40L Aluminium single door Fridge/Freezer - $1850 & SS $2190) I don't think they will be selling too many in a hurry.

Boo,

I have owned a CF 80 for 4 years.

The most versatile fridge on the market IMHO.

Jim