Fridge & Freezers

Hi Bruce, Jaycar have the 60L Brass Monkey Single or Dual Zone Fridge/Freezer with Removable Zone Divider out for $349.00 at the moment, I paid $599.00 a few years ago.

You could buy 3 or 4 of these for the price of one Luna.

Stick with an Engel, the original and best car fridge in Australia

Before the other jump in to criticise me…tell me another brand will give you 40 years of service

Going by the number of 4 year old car fridges in for repair, you may be better off staying with the oldie. As a point of note, the fridge repairer told the reliable German manufacturer of the Danfoss compressor was sold to a Chinese company . Say no more !

I'm sure the National Luna are a good fridge. Might be worth also checking out the Trailblaza. Made by Norcoast Refrigeration....Sunshine Coast I think.
I've had a 40lt fridge only since '96 and hasn't missed a beat.
Not saying they are better, just another option.

I wouldn't buy a bigger sized Brass Monkey. They are a budget brand. We have a 25L unit ($169 on a one day special) just for weekends and grocery shopping for our Sedan. It's good for that purpose but reviews overall are average over the entire range. I'm thinking about replacing my 25yo 90L Liemack Fridge with something around 70 L and after much research, I think I may go for a 75L KickAss Fridge freezer. They have had them made for some years in China with a few issues in the earlier model but the latest model seems sound with a 5 year warranty. Around $1000 with a H/D slide. Do your own research, I'm sure there are plenty of other good fridges around. When it comes to fridges, you definitely get what you pay for. Michael

Another option to consider is the Australian made Evakool range

Hi b1b,

I would choose an Engel, yes they are expensive, but they have so far outlasted most other brands. I have a 60 Ltr. Engel that is over 20 years old, lives in the back of my wagon, and a 35 Ltr. Waeco that is over 15 years old, which I use as a freezer from time to time.

If price is the issue, Waeco/Dometic is a less expensive option than an Engel, another one with a long history of operating in harsh conditions in Australia. My Coolman fridges are another less expensive brand. They are designed and manufactured in Germany and if you think they look like a Waeco you would be correct, the designers used to work for Waeco. Both these brands manufacture dual zone fridges in various sizes. Personally, if changing from a single zone to a dual zone, I would be looking at a 90 Ltr.

Macca.

Bruce

12 volt fridges are like wives - some blokes end up with a good one requiring no maintenance, no issues and last forever. Other blokes end up with a troublesome one requiring constant maintenance, expensive to run and never ending problems !

When I ran my outback tour business I had three fridges - 60 litre Engel, 60 litre Trailblazer and a 40 litre Engel. The 60 litre Engel needed workshop repairs four times in ten years the 40 litre went to the workshop twice and the Trailblazer just happily lived permanently on the back of my tray top in the elements.

One trip in the deserts there were seven different brands of fridges in the group and when the temperature hit 40 plus degrees the only fridge that kept its contents at it's set temperature was the Trailblazer. Only problem with the Trailbazer is it's size compared to other fridges.

I also have had the same 50 litre Waeco in my last two space cabs behind the passenger seat for 20 years with only one visit to the workshop needing a new control panel - I'm happy with it.
I also have a 60 litre ARB fridge in my Landcruiser wagon that has performed extremely well without issue but I've only had it seven years !


Good luck with whatever you purchase.

Cheers
Gazz

Our National Luna 60 litre unit has been going strong for ten years, we only use it as a freezer. We run it for 9 months a year at -18 degrees without any problems.

Another for waeco, have had four waeco/dometic units, two upright 80Ltr freezer fridges and two portables all have worked ok.

The thermsotates in the uprights can be tempremental in cold climates which does seem odd for a unit coming from Europe.

The portables run ok but I have found if you add an additional cooling fan they run more efficiently at the expense of some added noise.

I will add to the fridge debate..
I have three 12v compressor fridges.
My original I got back in 2007, I call Kevin07, because we got that $750.00 cash payment, so with that in my cold clammy hands, I went and bought a Bushman 35-50ltr fridge at the Brisbane Caravan Show. That fridge is still going strong in 2024...I've had that fridge in the back of the Paj in East Arnhem Land, during days of 34c 80% humidity out in communities..the Bushman did not miss a beat..it uses 4-5amps on startup and about 4amps running @2c with the fridge set up at 52ltrs.
So for $750.00 for a Bushman 35-52ltr compressor fridge in 2007, whilst an Engel 40ltr was $1200, the Bushman proved its worth.
Just in passing, interestingly last week, I have noticed a couple of the NSW Health Pathology vehicles having Bushman Fridges in cargo compartment of their Rav4's.
The other fridge is an Evakool 80ltr which I have in the Campertrailer, bought it from Tentworld on a $200 off sale, it has been very good and after 5 years has proven to very reliable and keeps both compartments at their maintained their temps very well.
When we were in Western NSW / Qld during some hot weather, the Evakool maintained both compartments at their individual temps and the power draw was only 5-6amps on start up and 4amps running.
I bought the Evakool to replace the 80ltr Engel dual compartment as it was quite noisy when cycling and due to its' design flaw was not keeping the fridge compartment below 5c, sometimes it would read 8-10c.
National Luna do have a good reputation but as you have noted they are expensive, but I find reliability V's cost of purchase is "within the eyes of the beholder", as there are so many permutations.

b1b
I bought an Engel 39L long ago and found it to be noisey with the Solenoid gas pump. No SWING motor as they claim. Nothing swings at all, simply reciprocating. It was either made with LOW gas or they don't like hot weather, as it is VERY slow to cool the internals, struggles in hot ambient weather and always has been that way. Engel dealer in Alice tested it and said ALL OK. but it isn't really.
I fitted fans to it LONG BEFORE ENGEL ever did with later models. My opinion is the insulation while claimed to be space age isn't particularly good. With fans and a heavy insulated cover, I mean HEAVILY Insulated it works acceptably.
For ANYONE wanting a fast cool down fridge to drag the temp of contents to 4C or even freeze it takes ages. I have a small Waeco and an OLD small Engel and both cool or freeze fairly quickly.
Even if you have the Engel tested by a Professional, doesn't mean it is actually working properly.

My small plastic case Engel I received from a dealer and it wouldn't work. Someone had butchered the circuit board for some reason. Fixed t but I was shocked to see this one dealer had a great pile of DEAD ENGELS out the back, and although the term. "you couldn't jump over the pile" is commonly used. This was the case. I have never seen so many dead fridges of one brand. Luckily mine still works. Son in law had a 40 L Engel on back of ute. After a lightning storm it was Cactus.

Keep using the one you have as either a fridge, or a freezer if it gets cold enough! A small one as a freezer would be my preference and if one fails you always have a backup/emergency. An all in one means total loss when it won't work.

It's always a hard question to get the answers you are looking for isn't it? I looked up some reviews and they don't seem any more reliable than any other brand.
Maybe if your going to be doing some travelling around a bit picking a brand that is available for easy access if you have issues and can be replaced under warranty straight away instead of a brand that might have you out of action for an annoying length of time it's a hard one.
I currently have 4 different brands of fridges the oldest a 20yr old Evakool pretty reliable with the old dial thermostat and has less electronics to play up like digital display fridges in saying that 2 of my fridges have digital display. I have a Kings centre console fridge which is a bit over 3 yrs old and has been good and they have outlets around the country so can hopefully be replaced fast if issues arise. Sorry for the odd reply but as said it's a hard one we have our own experiences lots seem to like the Brass Monkey I had one and never again it worked good while sitting still but played up half an hour into a journey. Each shop deals with customers differently they doubted me and tested the fridge incorrectly overnight on a factory floor then had to keep it for a 2nd day to test it in a travelling vehicle then they reluctantly refunded me because the didn't have a replacement fridge but still saying they found no fault with it when I knew it had an issue so that put me off the brand.

Hi b1b
So far in my travels I have used Engel, Trailblazer, Waeco and Evakool. Each have their own benefits and I would buy any 3 of the four again. I had a Waeco upright and it was the most power hungry fridge I have ever experienced. The Engel I had for 13 years and sold it to buy the Trailblazer as I needed a larger fridge to complete the Canning Trip I had planned. The 70l Trailblazer is now 24 years old and still running like the day I bought it. Used as a fridge freezer combo with bottom half freezer top fridge. Two of us can fit 3 weeks worth of frozen food in the freezer and run two trays in the top, 1 for drinks and 1 for other fridge items.
Recently got a new camper that has a 70l evakool with fridge and freezer compartments. The freezer sits at -13 constantly and on trips we are able to make ice for our afternoon cocktails.
Ultimately your choice but from experience the Trailblazer or an Wvakool are worth considering.

I have had an Evakool ED70 fridge for 23 years which is still going strong. It does use 3.5 amps (cycling) to maintain zero degrees.
My son in law has a newer 110 litre Evakool which only uses 2.5 amps to maintain zero degrees.
Engel has a very good reputation but is also priced at the top end.

Daniel

G’day All, long time lurker but finally needed to ask something sensible :)

I am interested in the same question as the OP. In my case it will go on the fridge slide in the Cub.

Product reviews of National Luna are not inspiring. Engel seem to get mixed reviews, and hammered for the cost of repairs to newer fridges. Evakool get hammered. Bushman seem to come out best, but essentially they only make one somewhat adaptable camping fridge.

Trailblaza seem great but are bulky (for good reason) and heavy. Although they might customise one exactly for the space and are expensive.

I will put the links into another post due noob posting limitations.


I appreciate that with the above reviews you get limited insight to the real proportions of happy and un happy customers as obviously not everyone writes in.

There is some sense in getting the best insulated and therefore with least current draw but it comes at the price of storage volume. You are guessing to some extent with ability to recharge batteries (need to have a plan B) but you should at least know how long you will be away from mains power I hope.

Anyway it seems to me that the aftersales service and repairability costs with modern PCB electronic fridges is at least as important and perhaps more so than the upfront cost. Your recent experiences in this regard are most helpful.

Regards

G’day All, long time lurker but finally needed to ask something sensible :)

I am interested in the same question as the OP. In my case it will go on the fridge slide in the Cub.

Product reviews of National Luna are not inspiring.

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/national-luna-fridge-and-freezer

Engel seem to get mixed reviews, and hammered for the cost of repairs to newer fridges:

https://www.productreview.com.au/b/engel

Evakool get hammered:

https://www.productreview.com.au/b/evakool

Bushman seem to come out best:

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/bushman-original-fridge

But essentially they only make one somewhat adaptable camping fridge.

Trailblaza seem great but are bulky (for good reason) and heavy. Although they might customise one exactly for the space and are expensive.

I appreciate that with the above reviews you get limited insight to the real proportions of happy and un happy customers as obviously not everyone writes in.

There is some sense in getting the best insulated and therefore with least current draw but it comes at the price of storage volume. You are guessing to some extent with ability to recharge batteries (need to have a plan B) but you should at least know how long you will be away from mains power I hope.

Anyway it seems to me that the aftersales service and repairability costs with modern PCB electronic fridges is at least as important and perhaps more so than the upfront cost. Your recent experiences in this regard are most helpful.

Regards

.
In evaluating fridges we all have differing criteria thus asking for recommendations is somewhat futile. Each fridge has its own factors of price, convenience, reliability, running economy etc. etc.
So all you can do is to view the market and apply your priorities to the available range, then bite the bullet and make your choice. Most seem to provide fair value for their price so set your main factors and buy to your budget. Of course, the bloke camped next to you will tell you that his model is the only one worth having. Just smile and tell him how wise he is.

Hi,

We are very happy with our Busshman 130lt.

Small freezer but.....

My new build motorhome will get a 200L+ 240V fridge/freezer that will run on a small inverter.
Inverter motor, very energy efficient. New under $400. I bought a second hand one for $180.
You can now buy a 120L version for $350 new (plus $50-$100 for an inverter).
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

What is the capacity of the Luna compressor?
After having spoken with a fridgie that specialises in car fridges there are no longer any imported fridges any more with a 3 or larger cc compressor, all have a 2cc at best, one of Dometics changes to the Waeco range so they struggle at 35 degree plus temps. They don't care about our market just North America.
His statement, no new fridge that he has seen has a larger compressor than 2cc.
He never mentioned Engel.