Chescold Firdge Freezer

I used to have one of these and ended up getting something else after about 12 months. For me it was a hassle to take the fridge out of the car when ever we got to our destination hook the gas up make sure it was level and then pack it all up the following day. IMHO they are only good if you are staying somewhere for a long time! Why don’t you get a good battery setup and run a compressor type fridge?

I have never looked back at the change

We have one.

In all but very hot conditions it was fine with the freezer side keeping stuff frozen and the fridge side keeping it cool. It is brilliant on gas, good on 240V and so so on 12V.

If you live in Adelaide it is yours for $250 as we bought a Waeco 2 years ago and take that now.

Cheers

Pete

I cant comment specifically on the Chescold, but admit to being a longtime fan of 3 way fridges. My 25 year old Finch 40L got a bit tired on 12v, so I now run it on 240v via an inverter. Works just fine, & change to gas when not travelling. I leave it in the wagon
all the time, & just add a small gas bottle at night, ventilated of
course. I have no problem with all electric jobbies except cost..
extra batteries, solar panels, back up gennies ,all cost a Motza,
add weight to the rig & so on. Correct wiring is vital to both
varieties if efficiency on 12v is required. Gas is the cheapest & simplest solution for extended stays as you are aware.
cheers...oldbaz.

We have a Chescold 3 way. Don't know model number but we bought it new in 1992. It has been extensively used over that time, has done more than 200,000km in the back of the Hilux, then Defender, been hauled in and out of the vehicle all the time on trips, because we run it only on gas. It has survived the Cape, Simpson, Kimberley x 3, lots of time in the Gulf - all over, really. It has needed a new thermostat once and re-gassing (3 times I think). Still going strong - only use it as fridge, not as freezer - though i know from a few accidents that it would freeze if I wanted (anyone know a use for frozen celery?). The key is to get it level!! We carry small spirit level and door stop wedges etc. If it ever goes terminal, don't think we would look beyond another Chescold.

Hi!
We have the blue one wtih the freezer and the fridge we find it fine it has been to the Cape. It suits our style of camping as we tend to find a good spot and sit for a week or so. When it is really hot we just use common sense and try to keep it in the shade and put some insulation around it. Hope this helps
barb

Mate if you've got a 3 way that freezes, you should keep it

I thought Chescolds were the only freezing 3 ways, so which model primus is yours (or some description)?

The Chescolds are the best 3way as they can freeze, depending on what setting you have the thermostat on. I'm surprised yours doesn't have a thermostat control for fridge or freezer function!! Perhaps the thermostat is malfunctioning and you should get it fixed??

A lot of people say the RC1180 is the 3 way fridge to have, as its got a fridge and freezer in one. But if you don't need to have both, just get the F400. The F400 is designed to be a fridge or freezer, unlike the RC1180 which is designed to be a fridge AND freezer or only a fridge. The RC1180 is also about $300 more and really is just a bigger version of the F400.

So if you don't need a freezer, just get the F400 and save yourself $300

I have both a 13 year old Chescold 3 Way Fridge/Freezer RC-1180, which is very good and reliable and have no issue with freezing up, I only use it when long term camping with the family in one spot and as said by others great on gas and 240v (also runs all year at home as a beer fridge), but only just copes with the trip on 12v.

I use an Engel 60lt combi for touring which is great for extended trips but my 115amp hour second battery can only support it for 2 days with out traveling. I have looked at a solar system to power the Engel when fixed camping but this would cost me more than I could get selling the Chescold. At the end of the day it depends on what kind of camping you do, I am lucky enough to have a choice.

Me too! i have the 1180 and for camping it is brilliant on LPG. as stated 12v is ordinary as it _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx a constant 8 amps so it is not that practical, 240 and gas are its forte, keeps frozen stuff frozen up till low 30 degree days then unless it is in the shade or kept cooler it starts to struggle but to date it has served us well. for travelling i have a supercrap fridge that i have done a few mods to and it also has been unstoppable. cheers Paul

Hi Nigel,
We have a Chescold 50lt grey one. Just recently had the jet and thermostat replaced. Works like a new one. Very happy with it. It keeps the five of us going for a week. We also take a 65ltr ice box just for drinks, saves having the kids in and out of the 3 way just for drinks.
In our experience of owning one, I would recommend one.

We once borrowed a friends Chescold as we were camping in the one spot for a week and not doing much driving. Silly thing drove me insane because the pilot light was always blowing out so we put it inside in the camper with us but then it made inside the camper hotter (not what you need during summer).

Also anything at one end would freeze solid and the other end would be lukewarm. Considering the friend that we borrowed it from there is a good chance it wasnt working properly.

We made sure we got our Engel back off him and have never had the need for a gas one since. There is a 3 way in the Ultimate now and it also drives me insane as doesnt work properly on 12volt and on gas takes nearly 24hrs to cool down and then freezes everything overnight and then heats up to 12 degrees during the day even with a fan running over the back of it. We have pulled it apart and spent money on techs looking at it but they all say its working fine. We now only turn it on if staying somewhere more than 48hrs or use the Engel in the back of the 4wd.