Thread: Off to buy the engel

Originally Posted by robert42

Hi All, I like all small fridges that work AND are easy to fix, with out dought the Engel covers that with ease..And Im sorry , is the best on power use. and that is a fact. you can fix any part of a engel fridge. not so with a waceo..and that bit between the inside and the vap. is because it makes it twice as good at cooling ,, twice the area to take in heat..and when it needs replacing is easy to do..the waceo is a tip job..like all fridges with in built vaps and that is a fact. And as far as weight they all are weavey when full... And as we read this, waceo have gone to a cheep Chinese compressor .. yep a copy of the very good danfoss... and dont leave the waceo out in the sun or the lid wont fit... the danfoss is by far the best comp.bd35 uses 4.5 to 5 amps.. and the bd50 on the bigger ones ,is a little bit up from that.....The best fridge by far is the luna and that is a fact and so is the price... just love your little fridge and let it breath and it will love you.. I know I fix them.....Bob

My first engle (39 litre) developed a gas leak when it was 20 years old. I went to the authorized agent in Shepparton only to be told the whole refridgeration unit has to be changed which includes the compressor and the evaporator inside the fridge.

The cost was $600 (around 2005) which was about half the price of a new one. If I had chose to do this I would almost have a fridge as good as new, mechanically speaking.

The reason I chose against this was because the older one used 4.5 amps, and with the overhaul would still be the same.

The newer engles only use 2.5amps and I did not even hesitate on buying a new one.

I did not even consider a waceo having looked at ones friends had got, reading opinions on forums, talking to salesman from shops that sell both(not that you can take a salesmans advice with a grain of salt) etc.

I bought an engle without hesitation.

Having said this there is probably nothing wrong with waceo or some other brands, it is personal choice and if you are happy with what you bought that is all that matters.

In closing I will say this; you get what you pay for and when I am ready to do the BIG trip, and will be wanting a second fridge I will be having a very good look at the National Lunar

Dave.

i did not buy on preference of brand or on price. I bought on SIZE and something that would last as long if not longer than the Disco. I would have bought a Explorer or a Trailblazer or National Luna, but they dont fit very well is a Disco. I am very happy with my purchase, my fridge runs a dream and the 1.5 setting is spot on (thanks guys and gals). I also bought it because it was not plastic. I hate plastic! I am your average Aussie male, I am clumsy as all get out! I want something that I can drop every now and again and be okay. I can dint metal, but you cant dint plastic. I would break a WAECO. I could see it now. hey honey come and check out this great fridge that we just spent $1000 on... oh no, wait a minute, scratch that, I broke it. I am sure that they are great fridges and I am sure that there are a million people out there who are happy with them. At the end of the day, it just didnt add up for me. I am sorry for starting a WEACO ENGEL debate. Get over it, it is just a fridge.

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Why no body like the Trailblazer, a great ozi fridge and the only good enough for the army

I vaguely remember a few years back reading in 4X4 Australia magazine they did a comparison on a large range of fridges.

The Trailblazer came out on top. This was due to the fact it had very thick walls for insulation. 50mm comes to mind but I'm not total sure here but still very thick.

This makes for a very good fridge but the big downfall is it's size. If size is not an issue it is probably the fridge of choice although at the time of the mag test National Lunar weren't around or included.

Dave.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

I vaguely remember a few years back reading in 4X4 Australia magazine they did a comparison on a large range of fridges.

The Trailblazer came out on top. This was due to the fact it had very thick walls for insulation. 50mm comes to mind but I'm not total sure here but still very thick.

This makes for a very good fridge but the big downfall is it's size. If size is not an issue it is probably the fridge of choice although at the time of the mag test National Lunar weren't around or included.

Dave.

Insulation is everything.. especially when it comes to a 12v fridge.. but I am very happy with the Engel and a transit bag

[QUOTE=I am sorry for starting a WEACO ENGEL debate. Get over it, it is just a fridge.[/QUOTE]

No apoligies needed as this has made an interesting read.

If we keep going we will beat the "
Come On Let Beats The "Skulls blocking radiator air flow??" Thread.. "

Dave.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

No apoligies needed as this has made an interesting read.

If we keep going we will beat the "
Come On Let Beats The "Skulls blocking radiator air flow??" Thread.. "

Dave.

That thread is amazing... but crap. when are they going to delete it?

Originally Posted by cookiesa

Nope ARB specific

Yes, specifically made in China!

I could have made this comment in several threads I have read over the last few years, so I hope the people who made the observation here will not feel that I am having a go at them.

"You get what you pay for" is a cliched throwaway line.

It may well be true, but sometimes what you are paying for is:

• reputation (whether the reputation is justified or not)
• a bigger advertising budget
• higher manufacturing or distribution costs
• more expensive, but not necessarily superior materials
• a range of extra features that you don't need
• bigger retail markup

Paying more for a product does not automatically guarantee that you will get a product that will be better for your needs than a cheaper unit.