WAECO or ENGEL

VK3FEMT · Senior Member

WAECO or ENGEL

dave06 · Guru

I only use engel. have done for the last 20 plus years in the harshest environments that australia has to offer

ours is the 40 ltr, never had a problem, never let me down and never flattened my battery, we also have the insulating cover for it

I have not had the waeco so cant comment on it but the engel is good enough for the likes of malcolm douglas, colonel les hiddens and the leyland brothers just to mention a few, so it is more than good enough for me

tonyd · Guru

Just pondering the same question (not to mention all the other brands out there, and there are many).
My other query is why these little buggers cost as much as they do.
I've bought full-size domestic fridges (second hand) for about half as much, and they are 10 times the capacity.
Trailblaza look good, but they are NOT cheap. I'm leaning Engel-wards at the moment becos I like the idea of all-metal construction and the opposition plastic ones look a bit cheap and nasty.
Cheers, Tony

xina · Guru

If you guys check out the Cape Yorker.com.au site, you'll find all the info you need.
Cheers,
xina.

leajoy · Veteran Member

Hi
We have both an Engel and a Waeco 40l fridge - the Engel wins hands down. We do not have one good word for the Waeco. We have one of the new ones with the digital read out and are on our third - all replaced under warranty and this one is currently in for repairs for the third time. None of them have been able to keep things cold enough when going by the digital readouts with up to 8 degrees difference between the digital readout and a thermometer placed inside the fridge. Now the digital readout has gone crazy and jumping all over the place.
The Engel just keeps on going and we never even have to think about it, only making very minor adjustments to the dial in very hot/cold conditions. Our opinion - do not buy a Waeco.

Cheers

Wombat 280 · Guru

In a word Engel

mike and Judy · Guru

60l engel for the last 9 years, no worrys at all and it been knocked about a lot

lized · Veteran Member

Hi!

We thought long and hard re Waeco versus Engel and eventually went for the 40 litre Engel and its just great. Its sturdy and requires very little adjustment.
Friends bought the Waeco and they think that they made the wrong decision.
All the Best Liz and Ed

twobob · Guru

I have repaired many Engels. Mostly physical damage, but some dead ones. All of the dead ones were because the owner did not allow sufficent air gap to the unit, and the compressor seized. This is most important in hot climates (obvious).

They can be repaired, but at the time I was doing it, it was economical to replace. Though I did, as the unit was given to me, and away they went for another lifetime.

As they add more complexity to these units ie digital read outs, etc, they will have more problems.

The thought of the old drovers comes back to me now. No fridge at all. Months on end on the track. If a beer was available, it was cooled in the creek, but spirit was the most consumed tripple (no need to cool). Here we are concerned with the digital readout not being accurate. Life has changed a lot.

Does anyone remember those "ice packs", that were dry product (sodium something) in a plastic bag, where you just added water. I believe they were taken off the market, as the product was a bit deadly.

dave06 · Guru

yep when we first started our only method of cooling food was a hession bag dipped in water and draped over a timber frame and for cold water well the water bag on the front of the vehicle was it,

as for cooling a bottle down, if we were beside a creek or river then we'd tie a string to it and find the deepest part of the water and chuck it in there for half an hour

we used our engel on the strezlecki track and along the cooper and the tablelands well basically all over aus. many times I must admit to packing "stuff" too close around the thing but luckily I never had a problem, YET!!!!

we bought the 40 ltr simply because it is a good size for two and if one wishes to expand then the fridge extension can be employed, we dont have it so I cant comment on that

the digital thermometer on the engel is very accurate and very robust, I trialled the accuracy with a commercial thermometer and it is very reliable

there is now an option for a "plastic" cased engel. I know nothing of these I prefer steel simply for durability but I HATE the weight, but quite possible that the plastic one would be good

as for why they are so dear well anything with rv or boat or caravan automatically hikes up the price astronomically

but they are a damn good fridge, we use ours at home as well, just as a drinks fridge or an extra freezer,

best to run them at least once a week if you have one and it is not used much

there are a lot of others coming on the market and some are bound to be very good but one must be very carefull about

(1) parts availability

(2) reliability

(3) longevity

(4) actual, not proclaimed, power consumption

I have seen some that "appear" to be a very good fridge and all the paperwork "seems" to look correct but I'm not sure if I would pack one up to the hilt and head off on a six month jaunt into the centre of aus. which we have done many times

they may perform admirably but what if they dont???

Cruising Granny · Guru

You're all making me regret I bought the Waeco 60 litre.
However, I have had no trouble with it in 2 years. I use it as a deep freeze for my pre-cooked, pre-packed meals, bread and other food I store.
I just can't be buggered peeling a spud, cooking a spud, eating a spud, washing up after a spud every day, so I cook a big pot of something good, and freeze in meal-sized containers.
The Waeco has been easy to defrost and clean, hasn't caused me any trouble, yet, and I'm very happy with it.
When I was shopping, I did query the plastic casing vs the steel of the Engel. Happy with the response I bought the Waeco and insulated cover. At the time there was very little difference in the price between the 2 brands. I didn't even consider any others.
So I make the best of what I have. If it lets me down I may go Engel next time, but the inside cooling panel put me off a bit because it took up space, and makes it hard to clean out thoroughly.
Stay cool. Chris

Cupie · Guru

This is another of the subjects that keeps popping up every couple of months.

It is yet another subject that Dave06 & I always agree on.

My 10yo 39L Engel doubles as a bar fridge & goes 24/7.
My mate has a 20yo one (cream painted) that he fires up only when he goes off on a trip.
Neither has missed a beat. ... except when mine was struck by lightning at The Entrance last year ... new power supply on insurance & 100% again.

Despite this my Daughter has recently purchased a large Waeco ... great warehouse price!!! So far so good.

In my opinion ... only a Engel.

ps. When said Daughter recently returned a loaned esky (only 15yo) she put a beaut Engel promo baseball type cap in it! Was she trying to say something? Did I try too hard to sell them on the Engel option?

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 23rd of April 2009 08:41:29 PM

mikeody · Veteran Member

Interesting debate.
Like cruising Granny we have a 60L Waeco [since last Christmas]. We liked the 'mostly freezer' option as we have the 3-way fridge with a not very big freezer compartment and spend most nights in caravan parks.
Has been going without a hitch so far [been on the road 3 months now] but I agree with whoever said there is a significant difference between the indicated temperature and the thermometer temperature. Mind you everything freezes rock solid.
Sorry but have had no experience of Engel so cant offer a recommendation.

VK3FEMT · Senior Member

dave06 wrote:

I only use engel. have done for the last 20 plus years in the harshest environments that australia has to offer

Sounds good enough to me.
I was a bit, how can I say? Cautious re the Waeco simply by the way the sales dude simply dismissed the Engels (obviously cheaper or less commish for him) and said the Waeco's were the only way to go and then rambled on about their 'qualities' and the now (it seems) famous digital readout, I couldn't give a rats dinger about digital readouts, as long as the damn thing works.

I want a freezer type model, as it will be mainly be used for that reason, I believe most of these units have a small fridge section as well, enough to whack some butter n stuff in whilst moving along.

Thanks all for the responses, much appreciated.

dave06 · Guru

I was talking to Darrin our local camp shop owner about why the feller would push waeco over engel. his response was simply that there is a greater profit margin on waeco than there is on engel even though engel is a bit dearer than waeco, but they often come out on special, watch for those

also if you go to engel's website you may find "factory seconds" one's with scratches or whatever on them, these are out a greatly reduced price

I dont want to dismiss waeco as a peice of junk here, that is not my intention, the original question was a choice between the two, I use engel, my choice,

I think the waeco "kompressor" fridge freezer is a very good fridge and not to be dismissed out of hand, I would choose the waeco before a chinese one

both of these models can be used as either a fridge or a freezer, larger models have both combined, I have no experience with these so I cant comment

I can only say with 100% conviction that our engel has been absolutely heaven on a stick with no problems anywhere that we have taken it

Jackos · Member

We have had a waeco for over 8 years and not had problems, one thing is if you have a problem it is guaranteed and you always will get a replace while yours is fixed. They ship it to wherever you are. Also we have a mate that has 3 waecos all different sizes, and he hasn't had a problem.

dave06 · Guru

I couldnt find the site for engel "seconds" but I will, but I did find the site for waeco "seconds" it is here

http://www.getawaeco.com.au/products.asp?catId=6

the site is self explanitory and the savings can be quite big

tempestv8 · Veteran Member

I have a Waeco CoolMatic CF-40, one of the very first Waecos sold in Australia, and it is manufactured in Europe.

Has served me very well and very quiet Danfoss compressor. Interestingly, it's got metal sides but plastic top and bottom.

Likes: Lid easy to open and shut, and remove. Cools down very quickly, efficient on power. Has been extremely reliable despite 4x4 driving on severe corrugations and abuse. No maintenance required other than cleaning.
Dislikes: No carry handles that can serve as tie down handles. Requires an external AC power pack to convert down to 12 volt DC if using domestic power (another thing to carry around). The condenser fins are not protected.

Prior to Australia Day 2015, I purchased an Engel 45 Platinum

Likes: Temperature display, grab handles, the LED light inside the fridge.

Dislikes: Heavier. The compressor emits a high pitch sound and can be clearly heard. The metal clasp that holds down the lid is fiddly to use, but maybe good as a child deterrent. The little LED light inside the fridge never goes out even when the lid is shut.

I was hoping that the insulation on the Engel would be better than the Waeco but at the highest setting to enable ice cream storage, the Engel's compressor never stopped running just like the Waeco.

Overall, the build quality on the Engel is really evident. From the way the unit is assembled, to the choice of materials, Engel fridges seem to be head and shoulders above the latest crop of Waecos.

-- Edited by tempestv8 on Tuesday 3rd of February 2015 01:53:27 PM

JackoFJR · Senior Member

My 23 year old 39lt Engel is still going strong , plenty of Mates bought Waeco's , I think most of them have problems 2 of em have sold their Waeco's and now have Engels

My Engel has one switch , on , settings 12345 and off

Don't know about the new plastic Engels with all the digital stuff , don't recon ya need it .

aussietraveller · Guru

I hate to spoil the fun for all of you engle guys, we have a Waco cf 60 and it has travelled all around the country with us for the past 6 years and has never missed a beat the main advantages I see are
It is more economical to operate
Easy to clean as it doesn't have cooling fins exposed inside the storage area
Almost unbreakable Lid can be reversed or taken right off with ease
Has dual cooling zones at different temperature
Makes a great freezer
A versatile seat that doesn't bend the lid when used
Usually a much better price

Ours has had many many hours of use and has operated in some very hot climates and it always delivers the goods

-- Edited by aussietraveller on Tuesday 3rd of February 2015 06:55:03 PM