Thread: Caravan Fridges

Sorry to hear of your past experience`s with gas fridges
If it helps next time we are in the same location on a warmish day im more than happy to toss you one of my very cold beers out of my Dometic Gas fridge if that helps

Good to hear you're replacing the gas/electric. They are very sensitive to level (and that may have been your problem), the manufacturer's instructions (Electrolux) on mine suggested you have to level the vehicle if stationary for more than 20 minutes and I neglected that overnight and blew the coil. I replaced it with an Engel, but can't give you feedback on comparisons, other than the Engel was slightly larger dimensionally to the Electrolux so I had to modify the cupboard receptacle.

Originally Posted by rangieman

Sorry to hear of your past experience`s with gas fridges
If it helps next time we are in the same location on a warmish day im more than happy to toss you one of my very cold beers out of my Dometic Gas fridge if that helps

I’ll take you up on that even though I normally have my 38 litre Engel in the back of the mighty Hilux just for beer cooling purposes . . More modern ones are better - if you get a tropical one they can even cut it above 35 but I’m not going to the trouble and expense of putting another gas unit in. No point when a modern 12 volt unit is more efficient and I’ll have oodles of power to run it. A new tropical rated 3 way unit is also more expensive too so another reason not to.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Good to hear you're replacing the gas/electric. They are very sensitive to level (and that may have been your problem), the manufacturer's instructions (Electrolux) on mine suggested you have to level the vehicle if stationary for more than 20 minutes and I neglected that overnight and blew the coil. I replaced it with an Engel, but can't give you feedback on comparisons, other than the Engel was slightly larger dimensionally to the Electrolux so I had to modify the cupboard receptacle.

Thanks for that. Always had it level and they have always worked ok, but both my current unit and the one on my ‘new’ van are over 40 years old so basic old design, old age, no insulation or decent venting. Yes most of these things can be addressed but it will be far easier to bung in a new 12 volt unit. There is enough room to fit one too, but yes a few things will need to be trimmed .

So that’s 2 people I know with the Engel versions.

My Engel is 12-24V + 240V I was considering changing the voltage of the camper to 24V because of green radios, but am leaving it at 12 for the moment.

Just been through a similar exercise with the Oka. Have had an Engel MF35 with Cool Zone 'topper' and an MF17 as a freezer for years without fault. I wouldn't touch a 3 way with a forty foot pole, as you say absolute crap when the going gets tough. I had a look at Vitrifrigio which I thought were pretty good, on some models the compressor can be mounted remotely which can give more fitting options but in the end opted for an EvaKool upright. The clincher here was the insulation thickness which leaves all others behind. The idea here is that thermal efficiency should be superior to the rest for better power consumption efficiency. I opted for the 146 litre and after looking for around 12 months found a new 2nd hand one for $1K which is pretty good value My only concern is noise level (I'm still at installation stage) but it doesn't seem any noisier than a pair of Engels, only time will tell. The EvaKool is 12/24v only (no 240v) which is not a problem for me. There's some pretty good older Dometic compressor fridges that come up from time to time, particularly the stainless marine types but they always seem to be interstate and get snapped up pretty quickly. The newer Dometic/Waeco compressor uprights seem pretty crappy/plasticy by comparison which I guess is why the older BD35 types are snapped up.

Deano

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

My Engel is 12-24V + 240V I was considering changing the voltage of the camper to 24V because of green radios, but am leaving it at 12 for the moment.

OK, I'll bite .............................. ex military ?

Deano

Originally Posted by DeanoH

OK, I'll bite .............................. ex military ?

Deano

Got it in one.