Which is the best Chescold?

we are about to get the 40 lt thing with the camper trailer we are buying...going to use it as a freezer as we have a waeco 50lt for a fridge....but dunno what type it is...just know its a 3 way...

Laura

Good luck, had one and unless you used a spirit level to makeit flat then it would not cool, got caught twice and got rid of it ASAP.
Chescold!
GN

Gday,
Every one to there own,
I personaly wouldnt buy one.
Stack your esky right and you will get the same affect.
Ive owned a few , but havent had one for years and I know technology changes!
BUT I have a mate who has one (two actualy) and every time we go bush $%#@ ......the same story....it would have worked if it was level....it would have worked if he had enough gas.....it would have worked if........
If you budget doesnt have a fridge in it .......get a good esky and pack it right.
Just Me

Cheers

Not sure if they have changed the way they make them, but when we had one about 15 years ago, they worked well on 240 volts and gas, but were useless on 12 volts and used a lot of battery power.

As most of our travelling was in the 4WD, we needed a fridge that performed best on 12 volts. So have been using an Engel for the past 15 years and it is still running.

We miss the gas option, but have found running a 2nd battery solved that problem for a 2-3 day stop.

Hi Ozwasp

Absolutely swear by our RC1180, take the divider out and you have a 50lt freezer. Sure they struggle on 12v but so does everything else, 12v should only be used when driving.

We were making ice in ours during a week of 40 degree heat last year while running on gas.

Regards
Rocky

I had one for about 10 years (the blue one with the separate fridge / freezer sections) and for the first couple of years I swore by it - we could camp for 2 weeks and it wouldnt use a full cylinder of gas, we would freeze fish fillets and make ice in the freezer section and the fridge section would keep everything nice and cool. Then.... it started not working so well - it wouldnt hold temperature on 12v, the gas kept going out and wouldnt freeze things even when it was going, I was drinking 40oC beer from the fridge etc. I tried turning it upside down, using a spirit level, taking it in to a service agent to check it for faults, etc, etc, but in the end sold it and bought a 57L Engel Combi Fridge / freezer. I now have to take a generator with me if I am camping in the same spot for a few days, but it works - always.....

Drew

>Which is the best Chescold?

The one which best suits your needs.

I have owned a Finch for some years and found that to be excellent but it won't freeze.

Recently (12 months ago) I bought an RC1180 (the blue Chescold - the F400 is the green one) and have found that to be excellent too. are you sure it's not intended to freeze the whole compartment? It has a removable divider and the biggest problem I am having is keeping the fridge section _warm_ enough!

afaik the F400 and RC1180 have the same cooling unit (I'm basing that on the fact that Chescold quote the same gas consumption for the two units) so, given that the F400 is smaller, I assume it would be able to reach lower temperatures? Therefore, if all you seek is a freezer the F400 may be a better buy but the RC1180 has the ability to perform both tasks which is why I chose it.

To the 3 way detractors: 3 way fridges are poor on 12V - they don't work very well and they use lots of power. If your lifestyle is that you will be driving every day don't buy a 3 way buy a compressor fridge.

However if your lifestyle is that you will be camped in one place for 3 days or more then either buy a 3 way and a gas cylinder of buy $1k+ solar panel (and hope the sun shines) or a generator (which will run for a few hours each day) and a $200+ 100Ah battery.

Me...? I'll stay with my Chescold thanks - chilled wine _is_ essential for a bush stay :)

Mike Harding

Hello William.

I own the green 40 litre tropical version (is that the F400?). I've had it since 1996 and its still going strong. I took it on a 3 month trip through the NT and QLD in constant high 30's heat. (we tented) I used it as a fridge with vac meat. I had to keep the temp dial down at about 40%. Any higher and the beer froze. Ice crystals in the beer in the tropics was just majic. I have it running in the car via 6mm wire direct from vehicle battery through a relay to prevent flattening the batt. It runs fine in the car, bearing in mind its off when the ignitions off. Runs great on gas & 240V. Pilot can be blown out in windy conditions. I try to shield it then. I do try to place it level. Use it allot, even last weekend. Working fine. Never used it as a dedicated freezer. Must give it a go at home.
Regards: Grant.

RC1180 suits our style also. I found it was fairly mediocre on 12v until I installed 2 computer fans inside the back cover to circulate air over the fins. My wife also made up an insulating cover. Since these mods it now ices up nicely on 12v.

Greg..