ebay car fridge... dodgy?

[eddiec]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new fridge. Been doing the usual checking out of Waeco or Engels (we don't need something huge.. probably 25-50l maybe).

And in checking out 2nd hand stuff on ebay, stumbled upon this:

55L CAR PORTABLE STAINLESS STEEL FRDIGE/FREEZER 12/24V - eBay Portable Fridges, Food Storage, Camping, Hiking, Outdoors, Sport. (end time 23-Aug-08 19:40:04 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/55L-CAR-PORTABLE-STAINLESS-STEEL-FRDIGE-FREEZER-12-24V_W0QQitemZ150284586546QQihZ005QQcategoryZ161889 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Now, given that the price of $550 looks too good to be true, I'm assuming it is and there's some hideous catch to this.

Anyone had any experience or any knowledge about what's likely to be a problem with this? There's a few rattling around in various guises on ebay, which always makes me nervous, despite what they say about feedback and guarantees.

Cheers

Eddie.

[weeds]

two things

return to base warranty........where do you need to send it
the ad does not mention what type of compressor

i have not heard of the brand so i have had no idea on reliability....

re: engle, i have two and have had no problems

[Outlaw]

worth finding out what sort of compressor is used for relaibility... looks good though.

Personally i'd be looking at the evakool fridgemates if you want a good fridge cheap, just pity about the colour :D
EvaKool - Fibreglass Ice Boxes and Portable Fridge Freezers (http://www.evakool.com.au)

[V8Landy]

You buy one and do a report on it in a few months then we might do a group buy:D:wasntme:

[Camo]

Just go an engel

evokool and waeco if buying on price.. sorta like buying a Lada over a Landrover... with fridges you get what you pay for

Camo

[Outlaw]

Not sure about that Camo... buying an Evakool is more like buying a Landy... hard working and honest, not given enough credit, ugly bastards to some, more versatile... Yep go a Fridgemate ;)

[waynep]

Actually looks quite good for the price ... I'd like to see one in the flesh though.

[Stewie]

I've just bought an Engel 45 ltr and its awsome. Fits in the back of the DII perfect with the cargo barrier in. All I need now is the slide and racking system and i'm set.

Have you seen the new Engel ECLIPSE 38 Litre Chest Fridge / Freezer. Not a bad price.

[Camo]

I've just bought an Engel 45 ltr and its awsome. Fits in the back of the DII perfect with the cargo barrier in. All I need now is the slide and racking system and i'm set.

Have you seen the new Engel ECLIPSE 38 Litre Chest Fridge / Freezer. Not a bad price.

Can't beat an Engel

[NCF 110]

anybody using a Bushman fridge ( THE BUSHMAN 12 VOLT FRIDGE FREEZER FOR CAMPING & FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (http://www.bushman.com.au) ) seem very good quality and price , but the evakool is great as well . I bought a 65lt Evakool ice box and the ice I put in last Saturday is still frozen .
stewie :)

[McDisco]

I dont know about the quality of the ebay brand, but you get what you pay for with fridges. I have had my engel for 12 years and have NEVER had a problem with it. It run too well in fact.

You might buy this fridge and find it is very good, there is a chance of that. But if you can get 15 years out of an engel...that is really good value. Waeco's are from what I hear less reliable, but my dad has run one for 6 years without a problem.

Angus

[The ho har's]

uuuhhhmmm

JLK Technology is a recycling company in Glen Waverley in Vic. :confused:

Go the evakool ours is over 10 years old never missed a beat. Our new one in the camper is an explorer fridge/freezer it never missed abeat for 6 weeks

Mrs ho har:D

[EchiDna]

ahh the old fridge debate - brings out as many passions as landy vs pootrol vs toymotor.

personally I'm saving my pennies for an aussie owned designed and built trailblazer from NORCOAST REFRIGERATION COMPANY PTY LTD - WWW.NORCOAST.COM.AU (http://www.norcoast.com.au/) - yes I am a luddite and yes I am proud of it.

Engel is 100% non-australian - they work well, but I'd rather support an Aussie.

[Disco44]

I have a Evacool 60 litre .Owned it now for 3 years and never had a problem.I have worked it as a full freezer and as a fridge/freezer.It has survived the cape trip ( old telegraph track ), remote parts of West Oz and the NT in temps up to 48c in WA earlier this year.My mate has an engel .In my opinion the only difference between the two are price .The Evacool is much cheaper.

[bblaze]

I have one of the $550 ebay ones, jad it for about 12 months. Seems to be fairly well built. Maintains the preset temp ok, has fridge/freezer by opening a slide. Comes with an insulated cover. Dont know what type of compressor is in it though. I give it a run when I think about it when sitting in the shed. Been out a few times when camping and it has performed well. Maybe the down side is it maybe a little power hungry but I have not compared it agaisnt others, if it is this may well be to do with the insulation quallity or the amount of times its open and shut.
Would I buy another one.
The simple answer is yes going on what mine has been used for the the frequency of use I feel it is value for money.
Would I prefer a brand name one, yes, but at about 3 times the price for a simular size I would need to test my sanity I think.
I will also point out when this purchase was made it was never about the dollars being spent because when I need to buy high quality for over inflated prices I do. I think we need to think outside the square sometimes with purchases. I wont run chinese bearings in car/trailer because they are not value for money, but a chinese fridge ?
enough of my ramblings and we will see how we are going in another 12 months with our fridge
cheers
blaze

[lokka]

I have one of the $550 ebay ones, jad it for about 12 months. Seems to be fairly well built. Maintains the preset temp ok, has fridge/freezer by opening a slide. Comes with an insulated cover. Dont know what type of compressor is in it though. I give it a run when I think about it when sitting in the shed. Been out a few times when camping and it has performed well. Maybe the down side is it maybe a little power hungry but I have not compared it agaisnt others, if it is this may well be to do with the insulation quallity or the amount of times its open and shut.
Would I buy another one.
The simple answer is yes going on what mine has been used for the the frequency of use I feel it is value for money.
Would I prefer a brand name one, yes, but at about 3 times the price for a simular size I would need to test my sanity I think.
I will also point out when this purchase was made it was never about the dollars being spent because when I need to buy high quality for over inflated prices I do. I think we need to think outside the square sometimes with purchases. I wont run chinese bearings in car/trailer because they are not value for money, but a chinese fridge ?
enough of my ramblings and we will see how we are going in another 12 months with our fridge
cheers
blaze


Im with you on this one Blaze :D:D

I have the same fridge purchased from JLK have had it just on 12months and i cant fault it its spent most of that time in the back of the rangie and its gets used most weekends and shoping days and hasent missed a beat ..

As for the compressor its the same as the danfos in the waeco tho it has a different name which i cant remember at the moment as for the quality its fine i set it at -5 and it keeps stuff frozen i have a divider which i use and keep all the frozen stuff below it and the beer and other goodies on top and it works a treat keeps the kids happy as they get to eat ice creams while away camping ....

As for the get what ya pay for coments well i got what i payed for a good freezer/fridge thats easy to use and works great at a verry reasonable price :D:D:D

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I think the key issue here is intended use. We tend to go on long trips in remote areas. At times we have been away from a shop for 10 days. The question is, if the fridge failed on day 4, what would you eat from day 5 on?

If the answer is at the very least it would spoil your holiday then I'd say a bit more for an engel would be money well spent.

If you just go camping at the local beach, and a fridge breakdown would be a minor inconvenience only then definitely take the chance on the cheap one if you like. :)

[lokka]

I think the key issue here is intended use. We tend to go on long trips in remote areas. At times we have been away from a shop for 10 days. The question is, if the fridge failed on day 4, what would you eat from day 5 on?

If the answer is at the very least it would spoil your holiday then I'd say a bit more for an engel would be money well spent.

If you just go camping at the local beach, and a fridge breakdown would be a minor inconvenience only then definitely take the chance on the cheap one if you like. :)

Yep well first trip away with the elcheapo we spent 9 days in the bush day 7 seven of 9 i pulled a frozen chook out of elcheapo and it still took nearly all day to thaw so i could cook it that night in tha camp oven ..
My elcheapo has seen a few long run trips and plenty of over nighters up tha beach and hasent missed a beat :D:D:D

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Yep well first trip away with the elcheapo we spent 9 days in the bush day 7 seven of 9 i pulled a frozen chook out of elcheapo and it still took nearly all day to thaw so i could cook it that night in tha camp oven ..
My elcheapo has seen a few long run trips and plenty of over nighters up tha beach and hasent missed a beat :D:D:D

Oh well..I'd rather you take that risk than me, but good luck with it ! :)

[Outlaw]

Personally have heard a few horror stories with the Engels too (including on aulro)... all comes down to quantity i guess... more buy engels so more stories... doesn't necessarily make them better or worse than others, just need someone willing to take the chance on a new product. I assume there would have been similar discussions when the engels were first released ;)

Guess that's why i also am wrapped with Evakool fridges... they're a qld company, well tested and proven in the esky market; who then made them 12v :D And if it ever buggers up then it is a well insulated esky as well :D:D:D

[weeds]

Personally have heard a few horror stories with the Engels too (including on aulro) where's the links;)... all comes down to quantity i guess... more buy engels so more stories... doesn't necessarily make them better or worse than others, just need someone willing to take the chance on a new product. I assume there would have been similar discussions when the engels were first released that was so long ago your would nearly call them pioneers of fridges much like land rover is to 4wd's ;)

Guess that's why i also am wrapped with Evakool fridges... they're a qld company, well tested and proven in the esky market; who then made them 12v :D And if it ever buggers up then it is a well insulated esky as well :D:D:Da guy from work brought a qld made fridge......could have been evakool, up sunshime coast way, it failed at the start of his desert trip 'like just after they stocked up nad left a major regional town', he reckons it was the most expensive esky he had ever owned but got through using ice, credit to the manufacture as they made every effort to get a new one to him on route unfortunitly they always just mssed each other.....they gave him a brand new one on his return

i run two engel's......just incase one breaks down;)

the waeco boys are quite.....probably out using there fridges as we speak....or are they in being repaired:wasntme:.......;)......:p

[Outlaw]

i run two engel's......just incase one breaks down;)
Now that's faith :p

[weeds]

Now that's faith :p

my boys will be happy when i hand down my two engels to them in 10+ years time....might just prove the engel knockers wrong:p





seriously......ever heard of all you eggs in one basket, all your water in one bottle, all your fuel in one tank, all your gas in one cylinder:angel:....nah neither have i

must have had rocks in my head when i brought a 32L engel, it was all i could afford and as it served me well it was a no brainer to when i was in the market to buy a second fridge

[Outlaw]

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/cga0348l.jpg

So bought the ebay fridge yet??? ;)

[Tank]

Engel have a new car fridge out called the Eclipse, it is a 38L cap. and has a plastic body like the Waeco, it has the same compressor as all the other Engels, has a 3 year Warranty and is retailing for $889.
I would be wary of "cheap" fridges on eBay, I would ask the seller to provide some pics of the working parts, compressor, etc., I did this earlier this year and the pics showed why it was cheap, everything was held in place with "wire ties" and I reckon one trip on a rough road and it would be in pieces, as with all things eBay, Buyer Beware, Regards Frank.

[Rosscoe68]

thats pretty much teh same as the one i bought
mine s a big chilli cooler from BIG CHILLI COOLERS : Manufacurer and distributor of plastic & stainless steel coolers, ice boxes, fridges, freezers from Australia (http://www.bigchillicoolers.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=36)

works a treat. havent tried it out in super hot yet, but going up cape york in a few weeks so will let you know how it goes.

rosscoe

[Poida4x4]

Here's a Waeco owner. Got it as a used factory second, it's one of the cheapie ones they discontinued. It's been great. The thermostat knob can move around with vibrations. I found this out when it froze my cucumber. Bit of gaffa tape to hold it place sorted it out...

Mum's got a 20-odd year old Engel. It's great too.

These eBay jobbies are probably fine. Just as likely to break as mine or my dear old ma's is...

[Camo]

Personally have heard a few horror stories with the Engels too (including on aulro).

What are the horror stories? Ive never heard anything.. keen to know what happened to the Engels

Camo

[eddiec]

Thanks for the feedback... Still intrigued by the cheapie fridge I must admit, especially given the good (short-term albeit) reports given..

However, we luckily stumbled on a recent second-hand 50l Waeco for $500 or on ebay which we nabbed quickly. Pleased with that!

Now just to wait for traxide's battery thingamy to arrive, buy some AGM batteries, and off we go!

[George130]

I have a cheapie.
Cost me $90 had been used twice. Only reason it was being replace was the catch was broken. $2 for a strap to go over the lid and it has been great. Even survived being thrown around the back of the try (Forgot to secure it one trip).

[loanrangie]

I was in Kmart today and noticed a fridge on sale, close inspections shows its made by Waeco and uses a compressor and i dare say its a danfoss unit, 40ltr 12/24 V with S/steel interior and steel body/ plastic lid. On sale for $499 reduced from $649, could be a goer- branded as Mobicool.

Just found this - http://www.getawaeco.com.au/products.asp?id=423&catId=6