My ever shrinking short list is now down to four, the Bushman, the Explorer, the Waeco CF50AC and the Engel.


* The Bushman SC42 / SC35 looks robust and seems well insulated and well finished.   Reminds me of an Engel but with a Danfoss compressor.
Although assembled in China (same as the Waeco) there is a good deal of design input from the Australian importer who are qualified refrigeration people and this shows.    
The compressor runs at a leisurely 2000 rpm and the protected evaporator is a real plus.
I rate the protected evaporator lines very very highly and could overlook what I consider the minor shortcomings that I mentioned earlier, all of which could be rectified very easily after purchase.
(The aluminium evaporator with integrated refrigerant lines as used in domestic fridges and almost all other portable fridges is very easy to damage with resultant loss of refrigerant leaving you with a very expensive ice box, hence the mandatory use of the wire frame guard.)
Their web address is http://www.bushman.com.au/bushman_features.html
June 06
The latest Bushman SC42/SC35 soon to be on sale will have the new ACC CD30FDC compressor.  Like the Danfoss, this is a variable speed multi voltage unit.
A quick look at the specs reveal a higher refrigeration capacity than the Danfoss BD35F, almost double, with the ability to operate from 1500 to 3500 rpm with current draw of 1.9A to 10.8A at 12VDC (compared to 1.5A to 6.5A and 2000 to 3500 rpm for the BD35F) with almost identical efficiency.   Operating parameters can be programmed via a serial connection.
There may be other changes to the Bushman but we will have to wait until August/September when the latest batch arrive.
I will keep you posted..........

* The Explorer DC56, with its' rugged marine grade aluminium construction and huge 75mm insulation, separate mechanical thermostats and Economy & Power switch (runs the compressor at 2500 & 3500 rpm respectively) this would be easily the best performer in this group.
This what I would classify as an expedition fridge, it is really in a different class to the others but if you want the best and have the room, it would be very hard to beat.
And it's Aust made too.
As much as I like this fridge, I would have to make different in-vehicle mounting arrangements due to its size, but if I can work out how to squeeze it into the space available in the back of the Jackaroo, this could be the one but at the moment it misses out by 55mm.
They do a 70 and 95 litre as well, their web address is http://www.explorerfridgefreezer.aunz.com/
Their reply to my email was most helpful and informative, good to see they are active 4x4 owners out regularly testing their products.


* The Waeco whilst being one of cheapest in this group has a number of very useful features and would be the best choice for many.
On a cost/performance/features comparison, they are on their own.
Even putting cost aside, their good performance and many features (excellent control panel, fast cool down intelligent "turbo" switch, 3 position low battery cut-out, error code display, built in auto switching DC & AC operation and good range of accessories) still leave them on their own in the Danfoss powered fridge category.     They really are the complete package.
Don't be fooled by some of their competitors advertising, these and the Engel are very good performers.
They have a large range of models from 18 to 136 Lit
They also have a good range of accessories.
Their web address is http://www.waeco.com.au
Their replies to my emails were also very helpful and comprehensive.


* The Engel "looks the part", enjoys a good following and has a well earned reputation that the rest can only dream about.
You couldn't go wrong with any Engel fridge.
It should be kept in mind though, that I believe the MT45Fs' compressor is roughly 20% down in oomph and has thinner insulation than the others featured here so performance in extreme temperatures will not be quite as good. 
The MT60F Combi is unique in that it has a separate fridge and freezer with a thermostatically controlled fan circulating air from the freezer to the fridge section.
It also has an excellent slide mounting accessory. 
Their web address is http://www.engelaustralia.com.au
I was disappointed with the response to my questions when I tried to contact them - there wasn't any, none at all.     If that is how they regard a potential customer, I wouldn't like to be trying contacting them with a problem.  


* The Evakool enjoys a good following and the RF47, on paper, should be a useful unit with its fridge and freezer compartments.    However going by the test results, while the freezer section performs well, the same can't be said for the fridge section with a single evaporator in the freezer section only when the ambient temperature gets up.
This arrangement of using a common partitioned box with freezer and evaporator one end and "fridge" section at the other end is used by some others, with the same short comings which reveals themselves in higher ambient temperatures.
The Explorer do not have this problem with evaporators in both fridge and freezer compartments and the Engel Combi by use of a thermostatically controlled fan circulating cold air from the freezer section the the fridge section.
My lower overall rating for the Evakool is mainly due to the fibreglass construction which for me is a drawback, although I know many will disagree with me and they apparently have many happy owners.
It is also Aust made. 
Feb 06 - As mentioned on the previous page, I have just spotted an RF47 type in moulded plastic selling for about $100 less than the fibreglass model which actually looks better then the f/g one except for the colour, yellow.
Now, if they would do an ED50 in the same material in a neutral white or grey, I'll be very interested.
They have a large range of models from 50 up to 130 litres.
Their web address is http://www.evakool.com/dualtemp.shtml


* The Indel B should be a good combination of ruggedness and hot weather performance.
  Its' overall dimensions compared to the 50 lit capacity indicate generous insulation.

Jan 06
  Evakool, the only supplier I could locate, advise that the TB50 is no longer available 
  and they couldn't advise of any other supplier.
 

 

All other things being equal, buy Australian made products. (If you can find any)

  

Some words of warning . . . .

Although these units are called fridge/freezers, their temperature range is -18 to +10 ºC and from a food storage and preservation point of view, they do not meet the minimum universally accepted standards. A genuine freezer temperature should be at least -18ºC ( 0ºF ) and preferably much lower.   Most of these portable fridge/freezers can barely attain -18ºC when empty on a warm day.   Fill them up and on a 35ºC day and you will be lucky if they can get down to 0ºC. So, don't load your new portable fridge/freezer up with a hundred $$$ worth of steak or prawns and expect it to keep anywhere as long as it does in your home freezer.    Your steaks should keep 6-9 months when stored below -18ºC but only a couple of weeks at -5ºC. The trick is not to pack the freezer too tightly, allow air to circulate. (Even our trusty Kelvinator two door fridge/freezer can maintain -29ºC with a full load at 30ºC ambient.) If you really need genuine freezer performance maybe you should consider the Reefer PR series which use a 240VAC Mitsubishi compressor driven from a DC>AC inverter, providing you have the battery capacity to drive it (you don't get something for nothing).   http://www.refrigerationresearch.com.au/portable.htm Also, invest in a digital thermometer (simultaneously measures fridge temp and ambient temp, records minimum and maximum temperatures with alarm for $25-30), cheap insurance against spoilt food and you will quickly learn how your fridge performs.    Waeco, Engel etc sell them. * * * * * * * Beware of stores selling superseded model fridges at current prices. Two of the retailers I visited selling Waecos were passing off superseded models as current models.   In the case of the CF50 this meant 12/24VDC operation only, no built-in 100-240VAC with auto change over capability.   (In this case, you would be looking for a CF50AC not a CF50.) In the case of the CF80 it meant the older control panel without digital temperature display. * * * * * * *

Also, check to make sure the unit you are purchasing (if is not an Engel or a Reefer) has a genuine German made Danfoss compressor. There is a Chinese made unit shown on the right which is available in South Africa that is rumoured to soon be available here.  It also is a 12/24VDC variable speed unit, approx 1 Kg heavier than the Danfoss and having a refrigeration capacity almost identical to the BD35F. I am not implying that there is anything wrong with this unit, by all accounts it works OK, but if you think you are buying a Danfoss, best to make sure it is. * * * * * * * There is a proliferation of cheap portable fridge/freezers out of China.     Do think very carefully about your decision to purchase one of these. Always ask the retailer who the authorised repairer is.   Also ask what will happen if the fridge fails after six months, if the answer is that the fridge will simply be replaced, be very cautious.   This almost always means either the fridge is not repairable or no spare parts are being imported.   If this is the case, when the warranty period has expired, your fridge is a throw-away. It will be much cheaper in the long term to purchase a quality fridge with a Danfoss or ACC compressor of an Engel and leave the half price rubbish alone.    Nothing spoils a holiday more than warm beer and rotten steaks. * * * * * * * Finally, read the product brochures carefully and if necessary ring or email the factory or importer for information, you can't rely on the word of the majority of salesmen. I have found that while displaying an air of confidence, their lack of knowledge and for many, their willingness to deceive is absolutely breathtaking. Be sure to read brochures and on-line material very, very carefully, sometimes they are misleading such as quoting test statistics selectively or out of context. If the references to tests and comparisons are a bit vague, be suspicious, they probably don't want you to read the whole report. Sometimes things aren't what they seem to be. For example, one manufacturer makes vague reference to tests done by a leading consumer magazine and makes the claim that their product achieved the fastest cool down time and achieved the lowest temperature of all those tested. An independent test by a leading consumer magazine that I read tells a more interesting story.     It reveals it was far from the best performing one tested. I don't know which consumer magazine test they are referring to because they don't specify the magazine or edition but I suspect we are talking about the same magazine and the same test. If they are going to advertise on the basis of an independent test, they should let us have this information so we can read the whole story unless of course they need to selectively edit the results and hope we don't learn the rest of the story. Their fridge did achieve the lowest temperature but in the small freezer section only, temperatures recorded in the fridge section were the worst, in fact at 43ºC it could only record +7ºC whereas the opposition, a Waeco, recorded -10ºC closely followed by a Bushman -7ºC and an Engel -6ºC. Likewise cool down time (to go from 40ºC to 0ºC at 43ºC ambient) was marginally the quickest but again measured in the small freezer section but in the fridge section it was the slowest taking nearly 3 hours against 1 hour for the best. Also, the average power consumption was double that of the others on test and the internal temperature variation with varying ambient temperature was the worst by far, varying 13ºC against 2.5ºC for the others. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether their advertising is misleading or not. Another example, a fridge "maker" has the words "Fridge Freezer" in their name/logo and displays it on a compressor type fridge/freezer which is OK. The same label is also attached in a very prominent position on another fridge but this time it is a thermo-electric type. ( It is NOT Explorer Fridge Freezer, they are a reputable family business who build an excellent product.) This clearly gives the impression that this thermo-electric fridge is a fridge/freezer which of course it is definitely not. Even the salesman at Repco where they were on display was convinced it was a fridge/freezer.     In the 30 minutes I was in the store I managed to save two potential customers from wasting their money. It beggars belief that it did not occur to them that was going to mislead many into thinking this was a fridge/freezer. Once again, you can draw your own conclusions as to whether their labeling is misleading or not. The same company proudly boasts on its' web site that it makes fibreglass ice boxes with "marine grade fibreglass".     Hmmmmm...... I am presently looking into what a "non-marine grade fibreglass" might be, no luck so far. * * * * * * *

Also see Battery, Solar, Batteries & 3-Way Fridge Problems and Generator pages.
Portable Fridges Pt 1