Autofridge no more. What else? (they service but don't sell)

[Alan Loy]

I just found out that Autofridge Australia are not making their eutectic fridges anymore. 

Does anyone have any other suggestions apart from the obvious Waeco/ARB/Engel.

Quite like the Bushman but not sure of the price/value

[peter01]

Alan,
we have ordered the attached package
http://www.techniice.com/car-fridges-1/fridge-45l-ic-adp-40l-6hdr.html

[AdrianLR]

That's a shame but not surprising. Still happy with our 39L after almost 10 years.

The new camper came with a 90L National Luna fridge freezer. Very nice unit. Quiet, efficient and solid. Very expensive to buy though.



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[Supersi]

X2 for the National Luna

[wholehog]

have a bushman and an ARB,both very good,both very tuff....bushman lives in the tub of the hilux an it cops a flogging and still works a treat.

[DaveR]

Trailblaza.
I'll be very very very unhappy if they go under. 23 years of abuse, and still going very strong, 100 liter fridge - freezer, that uses same amount of power as a 35 liter waco. I've done a test.

[Jason B]

I just found out that Autofridge Australia are not making their eutectic fridges anymore. 

Does anyone have any other suggestions apart from the obvious Waeco/ARB/Engel.

Quite like the Bushman but not sure of the price/value

That explains why they are no longer on the KK list. I went to the factory about 12 months ago and dropped an old fridge off to Leon for spares. He indicated then that it was hard to get and keep reliable staff and that he simply couldn't keep up with demand. He mentioned that he was over it and ready to retire.

I wonder if this is what he decided to do or if other factors came into play.

Jas.

[Barry G]

Very sad to hear that. Love my old 39 litre!

If I hadn't found my Autofridge on e-bay my research was leaning towards a Bushman package, with the waisted lid, extension collar and insulation bag, to give greater flexibility.
Another plus down here is that they are distributed from Melbourne.

If money, and spac, was no issue I would probably go a Trailblazer, but probably a bit OTT unless doing long extended trips in the tropics.

[cloakle]

evakool

[blackie66]

EVAKOOL ! Aussie made danfoss compressor.
Don't know about the bushman, nearly bought one glad I didn't .

[Kiwijohn]

X2 for Bushman.
I have one and my brother has an Fibreglass Evakol.
See both working before deciding as there are positives and negatives for both, it depends what you will use it for.
I would be happy with either for camping but my brother and I wanted different features when not camping and thus made different decisions.
We brought them within a week of each other and 2 years later are both happy.



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[Alan Loy]

Which Evakool guys, there are a few different types

[muzza01]

Here is a link and a pic of mine Alan. It is pretty big (95lt) but it is very economical. It can be used as all fridge, all freezer or fridge and freezer. I normally use it only as a fridge and when we go up the cape foe two weeks we cryovac the meat.

The fridge is pretty tough poly plastic and the insulation is built in. The fridge is very very economical on 12 volts.


http://www.portablefridgesonline.com.au/portable-fridges/evakool-95-litre-fridgemate-fridge-freezer.html

[Alan Loy]

Thanks 

[allan.kidd]

And here I was thinking of dropping mine to get it checked out.

Does anyone knows who can service these - preferably in Sydney?

[KingBilly]

Which Evakool guys, there are a few different types

I have the white fibreglass model.  Same setup and electrics as the Mate muzza posted a photo of.  Only difference between the Mate and mine is the Mate is poly and mine is fibreglass construction.  Both don't need a cover as they are well insulated. And agree 100% with muzza, very economical on 12V.

KB

[michael h]

And here I was thinking of dropping mine to get it checked out.

Does anyone knows who can service these - preferably in Sydney?
Moorebank Marine in Helles rd Moorebank was where I last took my Evakool fridge
They also converted an old 140l Evakool Esky into a Fridge/Freezer for me

Cheers Michael

[Jason B]

And here I was thinking of dropping mine to get it checked out.

Does anyone knows who can service these - preferably in Sydney?
Moorebank Marine in Helles rd Moorebank was where I last took my Evakool fridge
They also converted an old 140l Evakool Esky into a Fridge/Freezer for me

Cheers Michael

It a pretty straight forward set up. The components are standard danfoss. They only terminal issue with them can come if the copper piping in Eutectic fluid (saltwater) corrodes through as this feeds salt water straight into the compressor. This isn't that uncommon with the older 39l ones (15-20yo). Leon took steps to prevent this from happening in the later models.

This is what happened to my 39l that I returned to him for spares (lid, hinges etc). When I depressed the gas valve on the fridge unit, salt water came out instead of gas.

Anyone that can service a fridge with a Danfos compressor will be able to help.

Jas

[Jason B]

Guys having dealt with Autofridge for many years I emailed Leon to find out the facts behind the closure of the factory. Please find his response below. The business is still operating and you can get service and spare parts. Unfortunately manufacture of the fridges in the future may move off shore. 


Hi Jason,

The factory complex where we built the fridges was sold for redevelopment and we had to vacate much earlier than anticipated.
The manufacturing unit closed up in August and we had not found a suitable alternative location at that time.
It is most likely that the product will not be built here and will eventually be built overseas, although no decision has been made as yet.
The Autofridge business is still operating and parts and service will be OK.
There a few stories floating around as to what happened, but these are the facts:
The whole area where the factory complex is located was rezoned for apartments.
The site we were on had not been purchased until six months ago and we were told that it would be a couple of years before anything would be done with the site.
The developer paid for the site in August and demanded vacant possession by the 4th October. (The factories on the site have already been demolished.)
That gave us very little time to set up somewhere else and it was decided to ‘moth ball’ all the manufacturing equipment until we found something suitable.
It now seems unlikely that the product will be built here in Australia and discussions are being held as to where we will build the fridges.
When I have more info, I will let you know.
 
Regards,
Leon Dewbery,
PH: 0418 977 040

Email : autofridge@bigpond.com


Regards

Jason

[Barry G]

Guys having dealt with Autofridge for many years I emailed Leon to find out the facts behind the closure of the factory. Please find his response below. The business is still operating and you can get service and spare parts. Unfortunately manufacture of the fridges in the future may move off shore. 


Hi Jason,

The factory complex where we built the fridges was sold for redevelopment and we had to vacate much earlier than anticipated.
The manufacturing unit closed up in August and we had not found a suitable alternative location at that time.
It is most likely that the product will not be built here and will eventually be built overseas, although no decision has been made as yet.
The Autofridge business is still operating and parts and service will be OK.
There a few stories floating around as to what happened, but these are the facts:
The whole area where the factory complex is located was rezoned for apartments.
The site we were on had not been purchased until six months ago and we were told that it would be a couple of years before anything would be done with the site.
The developer paid for the site in August and demanded vacant possession by the 4th October. (The factories on the site have already been demolished.)
That gave us very little time to set up somewhere else and it was decided to ‘moth ball’ all the manufacturing equipment until we found something suitable.
It now seems unlikely that the product will be built here in Australia and discussions are being held as to where we will build the fridges.
When I have more info, I will let you know.
 
Regards,
Leon Dewbery,
PH: 0418 977 040

Email : autofridge@bigpond.com


Regards

Jason

Good to know.

Any idea of what the changes in the later models were, and if they can be made retrospectively to the old 39 litre models?

[Jason B]

Good to know.

Any idea of what the changes in the later models were, and if they can be made retrospectively to the old 39 litre models?

No mate I don't know the specifics. My understanding is that the salt water Eutectic fluid came into contact with the copper pipes in the early models. Eventually the fluid corroded through the pipes and into the compressor. I believe the latter models were protected from this somehow by the way the pipes were run. The fridge I took back to Leon for spares was about 17 years old or more.

His email is attached to my post above, shoot him a mail I am sure he will give you the details and wether a preventative fix is available.

Regards

Jas

[GeoffA]

Good to know......

It is indeed. Mine's still under warranty. Hopefully it won't be needed...

[wholehog]

Don't know about the bushman, nearly bought one glad I didn't .

Why?

[turbojoe]

X3 for the National Luna

[Barry G]

Guys having dealt with Autofridge for many years I emailed Leon to find out the facts behind the closure of the factory. Please find his response below. The business is still operating and you can get service and spare parts. Unfortunately manufacture of the fridges in the future may move off shore. 


Hi Jason,

The factory complex where we built the fridges was sold for redevelopment and we had to vacate much earlier than anticipated.
The manufacturing unit closed up in August and we had not found a suitable alternative location at that time.
It is most likely that the product will not be built here and will eventually be built overseas, although no decision has been made as yet.
The Autofridge business is still operating and parts and service will be OK.
There a few stories floating around as to what happened, but these are the facts:
The whole area where the factory complex is located was rezoned for apartments.
The site we were on had not been purchased until six months ago and we were told that it would be a couple of years before anything would be done with the site.
The developer paid for the site in August and demanded vacant possession by the 4th October. (The factories on the site have already been demolished.)
That gave us very little time to set up somewhere else and it was decided to ‘moth ball’ all the manufacturing equipment until we found something suitable.
It now seems unlikely that the product will be built here in Australia and discussions are being held as to where we will build the fridges.
When I have more info, I will let you know.
 
Regards,
Leon Dewbery,
PH: 0418 977 040

Email : autofridge@bigpond.com


Regards

Jason

Mods,

Given this info, the title of this thread needs changing.