50(ish)L Fridge - what to buy?

[topic97 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close topic97]

I have known quite a few people who have issues with Waeco's, but never met anyone who had an issue with an Engel.

Cheers Andrew

Yeah that last line is what I am pretty much starting to see a pattern in.

And looks like I can add Evakool & ARB to that list

As Spilsy alluded to, I dont think I will go wrong with either one of the above!

[antpower Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close antpower]

+1 for the 40L Engel, runs 24/7 either at home as beer fridge or in the back of the Prado for last 6 years. Also have small Waeco CDF-11 (11L Compressor) as either between the kids as armrest fridge for long runs or small freezer for longer trips. With Waeco a couple of times it seems to confuse itself and not turn on, there is a thermo override to force it to run, works but bit of a pain. Pay the extra and get the Engel you won't regret it.

[mal58 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mal58]

Just to throw another option, I have a Bushman fridge.

You can get it with collars that give different sizes. See the following link,

http://www.bushman.com.au/

Ours is getting on for 16 years old and has been pretty reliable.

Recently we had to get a rattle fixed which turned out to be a bracket that had broken.

This was fixed by the manufacturer for quite a reasonable cost ($90).

I can recommend them.

Cheers,
Mal.

[djlingard Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close djlingard]

I've just purchased a CFX50 Waeco at a bloody cheap price, brand new 5 year warranty, waeco cover, car mounting brackets and waeco straps as well as a waeco fold out stand for $1280. Couldnt knock that deal back and thats from a Waeco bloke between Brissy and Gold Coast. Have only used it once for a long weekend camping trip, so barely been used but set at 5oC it chews bugger all power from the car and perfect temperature. I think for the price and as a weekend use fridge with the 5 year compressor warranty I couldn't walk passed it.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Just to give a bit of balance.

I love my 4yr old Waeco 50L Dual Zone. Its worked flawlessly in 47C temps in the Simpson and over rough terrain in the Vic Highlands. My Icecreams didn't melt. It won't rust either, which bothered me with the Engels.

[Bear63 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear63]

I have been looking for one this size as well recently , i am leaning towards the Ironman due to its warranty,price and i have a mate who has had one for 5 years now and it lives 24/7 in the back of his ute in all weather (yes it isnt covered up or anything and totally abused )and is still powering along

[Goggo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Goggo]

I have Engel firdges and wouldn't have anything else. There is a camping store near my house that has an Engel running and it is 35years old give or take and it is still as cold as the new ones. I believe they are the best value for money because you buy it once and enjoy it for a lifetime. Cheers

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Just to throw another option, I have a Bushman fridge.

You can get it with collars that give different sizes. See the following link,

http://www.bushman.com.au/

Ours is getting on for 16 years old and has been pretty reliable.

Recently we had to get a rattle fixed which turned out to be a bracket that had broken.

This was fixed by the manufacturer for quite a reasonable cost ($90).

I can recommend them.

Cheers,
Mal.

My 4 yo Bushman started playing up, intermittently not restarting when cycling off. Called their head office this morning and explained the problem. Paul immediately posted me a new thermostat and also a heavier duty cable, no questions asked, and no charge. What great service. With 2 different size lids and a 50mm removable collar you have 4 different capacities in one fridge. Also comes with free insulated cover and 240V transformer. Not many dealers or service centres around though but he says they're working on it.

[Drift Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drift]

I run a CFX50. Been a fantastic fridge and has put up with plenty of rough use in tough conditions. Pretty easy on the power use too.

[topic97 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close topic97]

I've just purchased a CFX50 Waeco at a bloody cheap price, brand new 5 year warranty, waeco cover, car mounting brackets and waeco straps as well as a waeco fold out stand for $1280. Couldnt knock that deal back and thats from a Waeco bloke between Brissy and Gold Coast. Have only used it once for a long weekend camping trip, so barely been used but set at 5oC it chews bugger all power from the car and perfect temperature. I think for the price and as a weekend use fridge with the 5 year compressor warranty I couldn't walk passed it.

Hmm, where was that from?
I saw a deal a month or so ago on 4wd super centre for a cfx 50, cover & slide for about $1300

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

The ARB units are made by Dometic and the Waeco units are made by... Dometic.

If you look closely at the control panel, wire rack insert, drain plug, wireless fridge thingy etc you will see a distinct pattern!

Main difference now appears to be that Waeco wont use the Danfoss compressor since it was sold to Secorp but ARB still do.

I like the idea of the Engel for reliability but understand they're behind the pack with their electrickery.

[topic97 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close topic97]

Hmm, I thought I'd email 4wd supacentre to see if they still had the deal with the cfx & they emailed me straight back.
So cant fault their customer service there.

And he said they still have the deal available
So 50l CFX, 50l waeco cover & waeco fridge slide with straps - $1349 + $50 freight.

Very very tempting.
Kinda making it hard not to get one seeing as its going to cost me a smidgen under $2k for the smaller Engel equivalent with cover & slide......

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

The ARB units are made by Dometic and the Waeco units are made by... Dometic.

If you look closely at the control panel, wire rack insert, drain plug, wireless fridge thingy etc you will see a distinct pattern!

Main difference now appears to be that Waeco wont use the Danfoss compressor since it was sold to Secorp but ARB still do.

I like the idea of the Engel for reliability but understand they're behind the pack with their electrickery.

The problems I have seen with the Waeco are more related to lids buckling, hinge pins breaking that sort of thing.

Cheers Andrew

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

I'n not suggesting any of the brands are perfect - just highlighting the similarities in design between the ARB and the Waeco CFX range.

I've no doubt ARB thought of many of their features first but as with anything in life, once you get it right everybody else then has the opportunity to copy it!

With any of the most recent 'brand' names in fridges you probably cant go too wrong I think.

[sunchaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close sunchaser]

Engel use the sawafuji swing compressor which only have one moving part.
I've had two 40l Engels (one as a fridge and one as a freezer) bouncing around in the back of my car on all sorts of trips for around 15 years now with not one problem ever. I wouldn't trust anything else
Just my two cents
Cheers Gaz