Esky's/Coolers

[Troyziee]

ok so its coming up on christmas, and I've decided i want a decent cooler/esky.

having never had/dealt with a cooler I'm not sure what to get....

got my eyes on the Waeco TC-35FL

WAECO mobile solutions

i definitely dont want/need a fridge freezer, fridge is ample! and i want one that can still be used (somewhat) as a normal esky when not plugged in, ie: still hold its cool temp when outdoors (well insulated) and isnt too big and heavy!

35 ltrs sounds fairly decent.. but someone might tell me thats way to small...?

anyone with waeco knowledge give us your thoughts, might tell me a different model i havent seen.

[greenacc]

I'm no expert on Fridges but used plenty of Esky's.
It depends what you will be using it for. If you are going on camping trips longer than 3 days a fridge is ideal. Less than that and it's probably a waste of time. Weekend BBQ's a fridge is definitely a waste of time. They take a while to cool down so for short term use you are better off with a bag of ice in an Esky. Go camping for a week with a regular esky and it will turn into a sess pool by day 4 with the butter floating upside down and the tomatoes drowning in the water.
If you buy a fridge get a 3 way unit that can run off 12V, 240V, and Gas. They are awesome. From what i hear Engel is the best. A 44 Litre Esky is big enough for camping with 2 or 3 people if you are close to shops and Ice. 35L fridge would be a 2 person job.

[CapriciousWL]

I have a Waeco 35 (same body and workings, different brand) and it is great. Fire it up on 240 a few days before you need it, run it on 12 for the car trip and then back to 240 for the time camping. It is a three way fridge so it also runs on gas. The gas cooling is not as efficient, but ok if you keep the fridge well shaded (under the camper trailer etc).

We have used it for 3 weeks straight and had it freezing up when the temperature drops. Feeding a family of 5 out of the fridge and the esky is no problem.

The thing to remember is many of these items can not cool too far behind ambient temperature. If the temperature is 40 deg C where you are, the fridge shown will get to 10 deg C.

Test them thoroughly and don't be afraid to take it back if it is not what was promised.

Waeco have an outlet on the Gold Coast that sell run outs and seconds.
WAECO mobile solutions this is the 3 way unit.
WAECO mobile solutions this is the outlet location.

[Ed]

I have a 100L Techni-Ice esky, if you make the ice blocks yourself in ice-cream containers the ice is still there after a week of constant opening/closing (BEER ESKY) so if you don't want the cost of a Waeco or a fridge, try one!

[CapriciousWL]

I'm no expert on Fridges but used plenty of Esky's.
It depends what you will be using it for. If you are going on camping trips longer than 3 days a fridge is ideal. Less than that and it's probably a waste of time. Weekend BBQ's a fridge is definitely a waste of time. They take a while to cool down so for short term use you are better off with a bag of ice in an Esky. Go camping for a week with a regular esky and it will turn into a sess pool by day 4 with the butter floating upside down and the tomatoes drowning in the water.
If you buy a fridge get a 3 way unit that can run off 12V, 240V, and Gas. They are awesome. From what i hear Engel is the best. A 44 Litre Esky is big enough for camping with 2 or 3 people if you are close to shops and Ice. 35L fridge would be a 2 person job.

Mostly right - the fridge in a 35 capacity is easy to move on your own.

The trick with the esky is to pre cool it. Each morning, drain the liquid out and top up the ice (split a bag of ice with the person in the next camp site).

As for what is best, I suspect it comes to the price you are willing to pay - my fridge cost $35 (slab of beer) and the only thing that needs to be one to it is get an insulating sleeve.

Fridge and esky are the same - you get what you pay for.

[Crisis63]

I and all my mates have run Engels for many years. I have had a 42 LT and now a 60LT. I have heard some stories of Waecos breaking down outback and there not being parts. Engel is pretty well represented all over Australia. Then again we have never had one break down. They cost more for a reason. Personally I have no reason to try anything else.

[gopher]

I have a 100L Techni-Ice esky, if you make the ice blocks yourself in ice-cream containers the ice is still there after a week of constant opening/closing (BEER ESKY) so if you don't want the cost of a Waeco or a fridge, try one!

i think techni ice coolers are shit
there must be something wrong with mine
i'm lucky to get 2 days out of a block of ice and that is with minimal opening and closing

[vkberlina]

Engel all the way normally with ours I will check a few ice bricks in it which helps cool it down, on hot days if ice is available putting in 1/2 a bag of ice in a tupperware container helps heaps also. Its enough to keep butter rock hard and beer ice cold
The engels tend to be more durable construction, I know someone who used to work for Australian 4x4 monthly and the prop waeco fridges what they used to use were always falling appart with catches and latches breaking, I found it funny that he could have gotten a free waeco but he bought an engel

Scott

[discomat]

[Troy711]

Don't forget, Esky is a brand. You will soon learn this if you have a smart arsed mate like mine. At a party a bloke asked where the VBs were to which my mate said "in the Esky". The bloke opened up one of the coolers that were sitting on the ground and found no VB. When he said that they were not in there my mate replied "I said the Esky, that's a Willow you dick head".

[GRPABT1]

Engel>waeco just ask on any 4wd forum.

As far as ice boxes go, got myself a techni ice one off ebay and it's fantastic.

[Troyziee]

alright cool guys, can anyone suggest some Engel ones for me?
around the 35ltr mark, and something that is somewhat portable (able to carry it by myself) but still a fridge as i want to pretty much tie it down in the back of the wagon and then whenever im going on a holiday/cruise just plug her in.

[Crisis63]

alright cool guys, can anyone suggest some Engel ones for me?
around the 35ltr mark, and something that is somewhat portable (able to carry it by myself) but still a fridge as i want to pretty much tie it down in the back of the wagon and then whenever im going on a holiday/cruise just plug her in.

Not sure what all the sizes are. Go check them out a a camping store like Snowys. They are portable but I wouldn’t like to carry one full of tinnies very far by myself. Fine for the back of a ute. They have various accessories, one being a spring base that I use which id ideal for running around in the back of utes etc. You need to see it and get an idea if the size suits you.

[DLFHUB666]

Here you go: Engel Australia - Portable Fridge-Freezers
I hope you dont need me to go though it for you.

[Drawnnite]

just dont leave it in the car running on 12v for too long (like a whole day) while the engine if off.
or if you do make sure you have a jump starter pack.

however on the last camping trip we had a fridge and it was awesome.
not sure how good this brand is anymore... "Chescold"
but this one has lasted like 25 years, and is still going strong.

[Troyziee]

Here you go: Engel Australia - Portable Fridge-Freezers
I hope you dont need me to go though it for you.

I'd appreciate it

Lol nah cheers guys, I'll try bcf again on the weekend, last time I went in there esky section was just a mess

[Crisis63]

just dont leave it in the car running on 12v for too long (like a whole day) while the engine if off.
or if you do make sure you have a jump starter pack.

however on the last camping trip we had a fridge and it was awesome.
not sure how good this brand is anymore... "Chescold"
but this one has lasted like 25 years, and is still going strong.

Engels will slaughter you battery. They will cycle on and off until there is no juice left. I have dual batteries in my Landcruiser so it runs off a deep cycle. If you don’t you can run a in line voltage regulator that will cut out before you battery goes flat. Some other brands will turn off if the voltage drops but this can be a worry if you are not monitoring it as everything in the fridge will get warm.
Engels seem to run very efficiently off 12V so you will get around two days out of them off a car battery but it is obviously dependant on the air temperature, not being in the sun and how often it gets opened. They also run when off centre i.e. rocking around in a car. Some others will not.
I have heard some people do not rate Chescold at all but I have not had one so cant confirm.

[Tom_1569]

Engel FTW.
I have a 60L and I get 5 days out of the battery in 30 degree heat not starting the car at all in that 5 days. Optima D34? battery.
I would also recommend the 40L Engels are seeing them go through absolute hell and keep going.

As for Ice Boxes, the Techni Ice ones are very good value for money, if you want a really good one the Tropical Ice Boxes are the go, but more expensive.

[vicarious]

just dont leave it in the car running on 12v for too long (like a whole day) while the engine if off.
or if you do make sure you have a jump starter pack.

however on the last camping trip we had a fridge and it was awesome.
not sure how good this brand is anymore... "Chescold"
but this one has lasted like 25 years, and is still going strong.

i think thats why you can get battery pack, the outlaws have permanantly have one set up in the sportwagon running
WAECO mobile solutions

[Troyziee]

Do the fans/coolers on these things get warm? and whats the insulation like?

as in if you've driven somewhere with it plugged in keeping everything nice and cool, and then park and take it outside, is it going to hold its temperature and keep the things cold, or as soon as its unplugged does it loose all its coolness(?)

[Drawnnite]

yeah our chescold one (which is older then me) runs average on 12v. (ok but only for driving)
on 240v it was good (we ran it on this a few days before to cool it right down)
but on the gas it is legendary.

but then again now that things have changed it may not be as good of a brand it may once have been.

[dumpedvs]

My old man bought an Engel fridge a few years ago brand new, I cant remember the litres it is but easily holds over a slab

He did pay abit for it but I think its defiantly worth it this one has ran for 15+ days no problem on long camping trips in the summer, there's no reason why it shouldn'tlast you 20+ years.
If your worried about using up all of your battery its not hard to rig up a portable solar panel that you can just sit on your roof or whatever.

[Crisis63]

Do the fans/coolers on these things get warm? and whats the insulation like?

as in if you've driven somewhere with it plugged in keeping everything nice and cool, and then park and take it outside, is it going to hold its temperature and keep the things cold, or as soon as its unplugged does it loose all its coolness(?)

No if you unplug them they get warm fairly quick. They are not lie eskys, they are like fridges. You can buy insulated covers which help keep them cooler but don’t think of them as an esky when unplugged. Remember eskys have ice in them to keep cool.

yeah our chescold one (which is older then me) runs average on 12v. (ok but only for driving)
on 240v it was good (we ran it on this a few days before to cool it right down)
but on the gas it is legendary.

but then again now that things have changed it may not be as good of a brand it may once have been.

From what I nave heard that is the case. They are perfect for sitting down for a few days or so and running on gas. That is were they work best. Excellent camping fridge. Very efficient.

[LittleMissVE]

I would pick Engel over Waeco any day of the week.

Hubby had a Waeco originally, POS shat itself on the drive home from Carnarvon to Bunbury.

Same thing happened to a family friend - Waeco died on a long trip. Both have Engels & never looked back.

My old man has had the same Engel for 20+ years and never had an issue.