12v Car Fridge made in Australia

[Kandy]

Searching for a 12v car fridge made in Australia. Not easy, very sideways info like "Australian Owned "etc. Main desire is to not buy china made even if our oz company has sold out to the devil. Will keep looking but cant believe the reluctance to say EXACTLY where the manufacturing occurs. Not buying to a price but a principalled belief in quality and support.

[Homestar]

Don’t think you can buy an Aussie made fridge any more but I could be wrong.

Even if the fridge is made here, the compressor won’t be. The Sawafuji is made in Japan and used in Engels but the fridge is made in Thailand.

Anything new claiming to have a german Danfoss compressor will now be the SECOP compressor also made in China like the bulk of fridges are.

I hear where you’re coming from but with fridges you’ll have to pick China, China or Thailand from what I can tell.

I think Bushman used to be made here but they are built in China now as well - great fridges and aussie owned company but not made here - it’s probably as close as you’ll get.

[W&KO]

We run an evaKOOL……assembled in QLD, pretty sure the fiberglass components are done in AUS.

Trailblazer would be another that is assembled in AUS.

[cjc_td5]

Autofridge used to be Australian, Botany in Sydney from memory. Don't know if they still are.

[DiscoMick]

Jaycar makes some claims about Australian content in its 12V fridges, but I can't find a clear statement of how much or which parts.

[austastar]

Hi
+1 for Evakool. Good service and warranty fix when ours had a thermostat not working as it should,
Cheers

[101RRS]

We run an evaKOOL……assembled in QLD,

My evaKool was made in China.

[Homestar]

We run an evaKOOL……assembled in QLD, pretty sure the fiberglass components are done in AUS.

Trailblazer would be another that is assembled in AUS.

They use a locally made body with a SECOP compressor from China bolted to the back.

[W&KO]

My evaKool was made in China.

Not sure mine was called infinity when I purchase, for some reason I thought the fiberglass was done in AUS. could be wrong.

60L FIBREGLASS INFINITY FRIDGE/FREEZER (https://www.evakool.com.au/60L-FIBREGLASS-INFINITY-FRIDGE-FREEZER)

[101RRS]

Not sure mine was called infinity when I purchase, for some reason I thought the fiberglass was done in AUS. could be wrong.

60L FIBREGLASS INFINITY FRIDGE/FREEZER (https://www.evakool.com.au/60L-FIBREGLASS-INFINITY-FRIDGE-FREEZER)

Not all evaKool are fibreglass - that is only one of the many models they sell. Mine has a fibreglass liner, metal case and plastic lid.

[Gav 110]

My evaKool was made in China.

Fibreglass Evakool and there new range Australian made (as Homestar says, with Chinese secop compressor)

[martnH]

If you pay more surely someone will sell you a rebadged I.e. assembled in Australia fridge

[dfendr]

Have a look at Bushman fridges
I have 2 and they work very well

[drivesafe]

These are Australian made and are that good they sell to the Yanks and Canadian.

Home | Ozefridge (https://www.ozefridge.com)

[Slunnie]

Evakool for me also, the white full fibreglass version. It has a Danfross compressor though.

[BradC]

Main desire is to not buy china made

The problem as I see it is every low voltage compressor I've seen in recent years was made there.

[Slunnie]

The problem as I see it is every low voltage compressor I've seen in recent years was made there.
I think that will be the reality of it when purchasing a 12v fridge too.

[Homestar]

The problem as I see it is every low voltage compressor I've seen in recent years was made there.

Are the Sawafuji units still made in Japan or have they moved production to China as well?

[SpudHeadTed]

This Australian made convo always strikes me as a bit odd considering Land Rovers are not Australian made…just sayin 😇

Engel makes the best fridge, like Land Rover makes the best 4x4.

[rick130]

This Australian made convo always strikes me as a bit odd considering Land Rovers are not Australian made…just sayin [emoji56]

Engel makes the best fridge, like Land Rover makes the best 4x4.Engels are dead reliable, but a few others are more efficient, ie. much, much better insulation values.

I have an Engel and an Evakool esky, the Evakool holds ice, depending on ambient, for multiple days.

Both are in service with a friend atm as they are down a house fridge awaiting parts.

[BradC]

Are the Sawafuji units still made in Japan or have they moved production to China as well?

Good question. I have an old Engel somewhere (think it's in Dads garage) that has a "new" r134a unit that replaced the seized R12 jobbie a couple of years ago. I'll see if I can dig it out and have a look.

[AndyRevill]

I've got one of these - awesome fridge, handmade in Australia (probably not the compressor though?). Used as vaccine cabinets so pretty efficient.

NORCOAST REFRIGERATION COMPANY PTY LTD - WWW.NORCOAST.COM.AU (https://www.norcoast.com.au/)

Andy

[Homestar]

Good question. I have an old Engel somewhere (think it's in Dads garage) that has a "new" r134a unit that replaced the seized R12 jobbie a couple of years ago. I'll see if I can dig it out and have a look.

Mines about 15 years old and has been running most of that time since purchase either while camping or in the garage keeping excess items cool - best money I ever spent on camping gear. May not be the most efficient by today’s standards but I’ve never had any power issues running it - it just does it thing, rain hail or shine. Has been left in driving rain outside while running and still works fine. Seems pretty much unkillable.

[scarry]

Mines about 15 years old and has been running most of that time since purchase either while camping or in the garage keeping excess items cool - best money I ever spent on camping gear. May not be the most efficient by today’s standards but I’ve never had any power issues running it - it just does it thing, rain hail or shine. Has been left in driving rain outside while running and still works fine. Seems pretty much unkillable.

We have an Engle as well,around 1985 model,it has never missed a beat,and is never out of the car,done hundreds of thousands of K's all around the country.
Its not on all the time,when not touring,but is still used for days out,shopping if we have cold stuff and dont go straight home,etc.

Anyway,the compresser is getting noisy,as all old Engles seem to,but it still works well.
SWMBO also give it a bit of TLC and a paint a few years ago,so its a bit more pleasing to the eye.[biggrin]

We will probably have to replace it in the next couple of years,with another Engle,or Waeco,probably.
The newer ones are apparently more efficient,that is use less power,which will be good.

[SpudHeadTed]

I’ve had two Engels in 20 years, but only because the first one was bloody stolen 7 years ago. Both have been exceptional. …my understanding is that the motor lasts longer if you keep it running all the time, on either 12v or 24v. Will run for three days minimum on 100ah battery even in hot weather. They’re also rock solid (although I noticed they have a cheaper plastic model to compete with Waeco et al.