Hi All, just logged in, well Jen and I hit the road on 21/5/12 and can`t wait. my questin is this, we have a good sized fridge in our van,(crusader tourline) but was wondering if we should get a waeco fridge as well, being new to this lifestyle, I am not sure if we need it or not. I have seen other people with them, but I am not sure if we would just be lugging around extra weight for the heck of it
As for the fridge, its a personal choice I guess. We have a Waeco in the tug, and its indispensable if we head out bush with the tent, leaving the caravan behind. If you arent going to do this, then think about what would you use it for? some people use them for their beer/wine, others use them as a freezer for their fish. If you dont already own one its another expense and more weight to carry unless you really want it.
I agree with Gerty, see if the need arises before committing yourself. I have a "Bushman" (similar to Waeco or Engel) that I carry in the tug and find it very useful, however my van's fridge is only a small one and I've owned the Bushman for several years prior to purchasing the Goldstream van (in my profile picture).
Unless you only stay on powered sites you would need to install an auxiliary battery system in your tow vehicle or at least power it from your van's battery when not actually on the move if you do not have an second battery in the tug.
We traveled with a small Waeco in the Landcruiser in our travels & didn"t regret it. It was a handy standby when the old 3way van fridge struggled in the hot weather. The Waeco can be used as a fridge or freezer, or both in the case of the larger ones.
Also we often went for day trips & when it was a hot day the fridge was handy to keep lunch, snacks & our water in.
Also we used it when shopping. You may be camped a fair way from the nearest shopping centre so will need to keep perishables cold till you get back to your van.
If you are unsure whether you need one or not then the easy solution is...don't get one yet. They are available all around Australia so, like many other items, decide after you are on the road.
Drive carefully
Cheers
Jon
ps: It was indespensible when we needed more fridge space after stocking up on all the extra goodies for our 'on the road' Christmas.
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Home is where we hang our hats - Home now in Yamba NSW
I agree with most comments so far. That was what we did when we started caravanning. We considered other uses too like we live 70 km from the nearest major shopping town so in summer it is great to be able to keep the frozens frozen and the cold stuff cold for the trip home.
Our 80 litre Waeco now lives in the back full time and always has cold water in it and a couple of soft drinks.
would not be without one these days as it is also a very handy back up for the 3 way.
We are getting ready for our first BIG trip and I have just filled up the freezer section with enough food for a week or more that was in our freezer at home.
If you are in two minds then ask a few people in cvan parks while you are tripping around, you can't beat the experience they have already had
hope this helps
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
hi barina,we carry a 60litre waeco in the back or our jackaroo. next time you are talking to your brother,we would love to know the size of his waeco and the solar panel size he uses..just as a sideline,how does he find the jackaroo for a tug.we have a 2002 model and it is very comfortable but heavy as with petrol. cheers miffy
Hi and welcome from us, we had a Bushman in the back of the landcruiser when we spent two years on the road doing the "Big Trip" towing a Crusader also, we included it because we already had it in our camping equipment and had been using it for some time for smaller camping/picnic/etc trips. we found it a great asset especially for drinks/extra meat that had been on "special" (didn't need it immediately but too good a bargain to pass up) etc. Have a Prado now and the Bushman has been replaced by an Engel, still an essential for any trip. As previously mentioned it comes in very handy for day trips or if you leave the van and go off road for a few days.
Enjoy your big trip, we are purple, green and all other colours with jealousy!
I wouldn't be without my Waeco. Brand is personal choice. I use mine in the car or the annexe to store pre-cooked meals which I freeze in serve-sized containers for future use. The van fridge is ok for basics, but it doesn't freeze very well. I'm not a big drinker, nor do I drink very much, so it isn't a priority. Call me "sacreligious", but that's life. An additional fridge for cold or frozen storage is invaluable if you're going to travel off the beaten track or for any length of time.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I have a Waeco that has been on all of our trips and like Cruising Granny we store frozen meals in the main area and a beer or two in the other section, our Waeco has a digital temp read out and a turbo boost but haven't used that yet the Waeco are very sturdy ours has been dropped off a shelf at head height and survived with no damage, the Waeco is also the easiest to clean internally as there e no elements in the way just smooth walls and base it works extremely well as a freezer and we wouldn't be without it.
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Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
I have a Waeco that has been on all of our trips and like Cruising Granny we store frozen meals in the main area and a beer or two in the other section, our Waeco has a digital temp read out and a turbo boost but haven't used that yet the Waeco are very sturdy ours has been dropped off a shelf at head height and survived with no damage, the Waeco is also the easiest to clean internally as there e no elements in the way just smooth walls and base it works extremely well as a freezer and we wouldn't be without it.
