Best Fridge for Mexico?

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SR.GRINGO

SR.GRINGO

Joined
Jun 18, 2004
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So I live in Mexico and drive up to the U.S. 2x per year. I like the Aidells apple sausages at Costco, along with Ben Jerry's Ice Cream and would like to bring them back to Mazatlan--thing is it can be pretty hot outside sometimes. Sounds like the Engel is popular. I would also use it wheeling some.

Any thoughts on a fridge vs. a 12k winch?:doh:
 
Well--I use the fridge all the time, and I use the winch like, twice per year.....
 
can't go wrong with the Engel or ARB -- they are essentially identical and manufactured in the same plant in Japan.

love our ARB for what it's worth,
-db-
 
I like the Waeco's features such as low battery detection with 3 settings and over ride.
The themostatic control also works well. I took mine into the desert for a week and it kept things at what ever settings I put it on
I ran mine off a single car battery and with the driving I did each day it never went close to low battery.
Mine is the Waeco CF50 litre,I guess thats about 45 quarts
 
photogod said:
X2... I got my Engel last month and I have used it more than I have used my winch since I got the rig. :o
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X3! When I first got my Engel the CFO (wife) wasn't amused, until the first time we went to Costco, loaded it up for with meat/cheeses, then ran a bunch of errands in the hot Texas summer and got home with everything colder than when we bought it. Since then, she's an advocate, to the point where I've considered buying her one of the smaller ones!
 
Exiled said:
X3! When I first got my Engel the CFO (wife) wasn't amused, until the first time we went to Costco, loaded it up for with meat/cheeses, then ran a bunch of errands in the hot Texas summer and got home with everything colder than when we bought it. Since then, she's an advocate, to the point where I've considered buying her one of the smaller ones!
Click to expand...

We do this too. Load up with meat at Costco, spend the rest of the afternoon running errands and other chores, then unpack when we finally get home. Great minds think alike, I guess!
 
Exiled said:
X3! When I first got my Engel the CFO (wife) wasn't amused, until the first time we went to Costco, loaded it up for with meat/cheeses, then ran a bunch of errands in the hot Texas summer and got home with everything colder than when we bought it. Since then, she's an advocate, to the point where I've considered buying her one of the smaller ones!
Click to expand...

Great selling point! My CFO is pretty tight with the money unless it involves food. I see an Engel in my future for those long Saturday drives to the fish market.:bounce:

May have to leave it in her car so that she thinks it is hers.;)
 
Waeco X2. If you're making cross-border run for the Costco, the 50+ quart unit is the way to go!
 
My Norcold 60 qt is the single best truck investment I ever made. Scan the net for scratch and dents at RV stores. I got mine as a refurb for $425!

Norcold, Engle, ARB all the same thing in different packages.
 
norcold, engel, or arb.

waecos are good too.

get the fridge...you will not regret it.
 
NorCalDoug said:
norcold, engel, or arb.

waecos are good too.

get the fridge...you will not regret it.
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Is the waeco vs. norcold, engel, arb quality the same? The engel 43 appears to be a bargain. Is the slide tray from engel any good--it is $70. Also does the bag make a big difference?

Anyone seen the Engel 84 qt for cheaper than $1,028 shipped or the 60 for less than $949 shipped?
 
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SR.GRINGO said:
Is the waeco vs. norcold, engel, arb quality the same? The engel 43 appears to be a bargain. Is the slide tray from engel any good--it is $70. Also does the bag make a big difference?

Anyone seen the Engel 84 qt for cheaper than $1,028 shipped or the 60 for less than $949 shipped?
Click to expand...

from what I've read, the waecos are the of equal quality to the others. the price seems to be a bit higher.

the $70 slide-lock is crap. the $200-something slide-tray is good.
 
I am another satisfied Waeco CF50 owner. I have had it for about one year, and have really enjoyed having a cold drink on hand at at all times. Australian 4WD monthly ranked Waecos the best last year based mainly on lower energy usage, and lower cost per capacity. Also, the additional fridge cover is about $60.00, not $140.00 like the ARB. The Norcold, Engel, ARB variety do have a better word-of-mouth reputation. They have a Sawafuji compressor, which has a very bulletproof reputation, but is somewhat exotic. The Waeco uses a Danfoss compressor, which if needs be, is available at my local HVAC supply store. Whichever model you choose, you will be doing yourself a huge favor!
 
Exiled said:
X3! When I first got my Engel the CFO (wife) wasn't amused, until the first time we went to Costco, loaded it up for with meat/cheeses, then ran a bunch of errands in the hot Texas summer and got home with everything colder than when we bought it. Since then, she's an advocate, to the point where I've considered buying her one of the smaller ones!
Click to expand...

Cruiserdrew said:
We do this too. Load up with meat at Costco, spend the rest of the afternoon running errands and other chores, then unpack when we finally get home. Great minds think alike, I guess!
Click to expand...

I'm making notes here, watching Spressomon pull goodies out of his all week set the wheels in motion. If I can throw a couple of ideas like this out :princess: will be the one that insist we buy a fridge.
 
I also use my Waeco 50 with the AC adapter at Thanksgiving/Christmas/Holiday time when we have more groceries than our house frig can handle. And for summer parties on the patio it comes in handy for cold beverages!
 
I got my Engel a couple of years ago and have never looked back. By far the best investment for my Runner while taking long trips where cold food storage is a must. You will not be let down. Like the old saying goes, You get what you pay for but you have to pay for what you get.
 
Waeco has plastic body like a regular ice cooler while the ARB/Engel/Norcold has all steel exterior construction. Both are stong, but Waeco is much lighter!

The Sawafuji is a recipricating compressor that works at almost any angle, so it is very well suited for vehicle/expedition usage. The Waeco uses the Danfoss compressor, which is like a regular fridge compressor that is modified to work so that it doesn't have to be leveled. The Sawafuji works in extreme conditions while the Danfoss is more efficient and cools down faster.

I've had both and prefer the light weight and more efficient cooling of the Waeco fridge although my travels mainly consists of malls, homes, and grocery stores :(
 
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