Thread: About to buy a fridge...

Originally Posted by Ranga

Hmmm... I had forgot about them! Definitely a fair competitor with the ARB. Now to find out how much they cost.

The only Bushman stockist we found in QLD was

Gas and Portable Refrigeration
Unit 1, 1 Cahill Court
Burleigh Heads, Qld.
Ph: (07) 5593 4066
Fax: (07) 5593 5447

Helpful people and worth a call before buying anything else. The Bushman website provides details/specs. Good luck anyway.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Isnt the ARB a rebadged engel ?

Not anymore.

Check out the Queensland Made Evacool.I've Had one now for 6 years all over OZ with temps up to 53c fridge still under 5c in fridge section,freezer remained frozen.Also very economical and reputed to have the best insulation on the market.To some they might not like the outer as it's fibreglass but as tough as old boot leather.
Cheers,
John ( disco 44 )

Check out the Queensland made Evacool( Made in Caloundra) My 60litre fridge/freezer is 6 years old now with not a problem.Across the Nullabor last year the temp outside was 53c the fridge compartment 5c. They can be run as a full freezer or fridge/freezer. They are reputed to have the best insulation on the market but have a fibre glass body but it is as tough as old boot leather .Mine has been to the cape twice and nearly around the whole of Oz .They have the danfoss motor and are very economical.
John Disco 44

Got a bushman about 18m ago @ the Bris Tackle and tinnie show...paid $950 for the full works...collar/high set lid/bag etc expands from 35 -52L depending on the lid/collar combination...which means I can also put it in the boot of the ASTRA or Commodore set on feeeeeezing (-20 degC) in a 35degC ambient - when I go to the supermarket for buy up on frozen foods... no heat shock on way home...

I've examined the compressor in depth on the Bushman...its performance can be altered by a computer app. and it will power a fridge up to 200L apparently...so 52 L is no great shakes...

It spent last summer on the back deck running off the 240V /12V transformer...the beer was ALWAYS cold

Bit of a worry when the QLD Bushman distributor doesn't answer the phone

I spoke to the head office, and they sound like a genuine mob. I think the Bushman has become a genuine contender for my hard-earned!

Originally Posted by Ranga

Bit of a worry when the QLD Bushman distributor doesn't answer the phone

I spoke to the head office, and they sound like a genuine mob. I think the Bushman has become a genuine contender for my hard-earned!

After three National 4x4 Shows and research, I've decided to go with the Bushman. I think the compressor is proven and you can't argue with the power consumption figures and duty cycles in the 4WD Action comparo. Only downside I see is the bag isn't setup correctly needing most of it to be unzipped to get to the lid. Note however at the Nat 4x4 Show in September, they said they were designing a new bag; see if it's available.

Not to complicate things...

I'm 90% convinced on the Bushman also. It seems a good product, comes with the extra collar and lid, bag, 240V adapter all well under $1200.

The 70L Fridgemate is just too big to lug around, and won't fit a conventional Fridge slide (particluarly not the Fridge Slide slide, which I like).

I have a good quality esky, and agree that it's easy enough to make ice on the run and use the esky for 'wet' items like drinks, and use the Bushman as a freezer on longer journeys.

Thanks everyone for the info - I'll let you know how I go.

BTW, the other option is still an ARB.