Engel 35 or 45, can't decide

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Author Message   alhang Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 04:54 pm:    Which one to get? Both similarly priced, does anyone have pics of the 45 in a disco or other vehicle? I've seen the 35 pics on the EE site, just curious about the extra capacity.   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 05:09 pm:    damn, boy, it's 4" taller cant figure that out? can't use the pull out thing on the disco. go big or go home al rd   alhang Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 05:13 pm:    what can i say i was bored today...   Eric N (Grnrvr) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 05:26 pm:    Those engels are pretty sweet. I would probably never use the thing though. maybe use it to hold my lunch when out on the trails but, that would be about it except for the occasional camping trip but, for only a weekend a cooler works just fine. I really do like them though. Very nice.   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 05:37 pm:    i think it's like power windows and door locks. you lived for years with out them then you get them and everycar there after must have them. i can remember when all i wanted was intermitent wipers a tape deck and cruise controll... same with the engle, you find uses for it, you begin toting around ice cread and deer stakes, i dont have one yet, but i've fantisized myself into it. rd   James F. Thompson Jaime (Blueboy) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 06:24 pm:    Al, We have the 35 and had it on a week long camp trip. Liked the lower profile as the back of the RR isn't that big and usually there is bunch of stuff crammed into it anyway. Plenty big to hold the items you normally want kept cold including a bottle of the bubbly in our case. Rob is right - it basically is just a cooler, yet, once you start using it, you start getting and carrying the stuff you wouldn't normally think about. Worked really well. Jaime   Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 06:24 pm:    I had the same dilemma, finally settled on a 35. And Rob is right, once you get one, there is no turning back. Back in April, on day 3 coming off Hole in the Rock and others pulled soggy sandwiches and warm soda out of their coolers, mine was still nice, dry and cold.... The other thing is, you don't loose half of your cooler space to ice anymore, either. It's a great product, and well worth the cash.   Moe (Moe) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 07:21 pm:    As Ax says, it's day 2 when the Engel really shines. I would like the 35, as it seems to fit better in the back of the Disco. It's been a few years since I've used an Engel but remember them being very sturdy units that will cool drinks in scorching heat. Al, visit Engel USA for the complete range of models. If you were considering building a platform in the loadspace area, maybe an MR40 flush mount would work.   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 07:24 pm:    you're talking storage for 54 or 60 cans of "soda"....shit, go for that extra sixer   Moe (Moe) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 07:57 pm:    The extra cartons can be stored in the back and thrown in at the end of the night before you and go to bed.   Kyle Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 08:14 pm:    Go large.....the 45 is nice..... I have the short rear seat out and it fits perfectly right there.. Kyle   Barry Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 10:03 pm:    Al, Just ordered the 45 from John at EE. I Almost went conservitive with the 35 thinking it might be easier to lug around. But, as John pointed out, it will most likely be used from inside the truck to keep it powered. Have we ever been camping and wished for less cooler space? ... will also remove the 1/3 rear seat. Then, no big deal if the 45 is 4" taller than a 35. I have a bad feeling this purchase is going to lead to dual battery$$$$$$$$.... -Barry   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 11:27 pm:    yes, ax... i noticed how my food went to shit and the butter melted onto everything and all you fuckers had fresh goods. i was jeolous rd   Ho Chung (Ho) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 11:44 am:    al, this is the 45 in the back of the disco:   Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 11:52 am:    So let me get this straight. This miracle product runs off your battery and will keep crap frozen. And in this time it will not completely drain that same battery or overload the electrical system? I can use this thing for long trips? If so, that's pretty damn cool. Pardon the pun. Paul '00 pig   John Lee Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 11:56 am:    I prefer the 45 for most uses. The 45 is the same length and width as the 35 so it really doesn't take up any more space than the 35 does. The 45 is just 4" taller. The capacity specs can be a bit deceiving. The 45 holds only six more cans of soda or beer than the 35, but I think the 45 has much greater overall utility than the 35. The extra 4" of height is useful when when you are storing tall bottles, such as a bottle of chardonnay or Pelegrino or whatever uptown drink that usually comes in tall bottles. The 45 also makes a better seat for most adult-sized people, if this even matters to you. The difference in price between the 45 and 35 is not significant. If you're dishing out $600 for a portable fridge, that's serious money and the extra $35 really shouldn't factor into the decision. That would be, dare I say it, niggardly to think like that. The only reason I would recommend the 35 over the 45 is for those people who want to put the fridge in their cargo area and then cover it with the sliding cargo cover. The 45 is tall enough that the Disco's cargo cover won't fit over it.   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 12:02 pm:    you boys need to design up a lift kit for the cargo cover. rd   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 12:04 pm:      alhang Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 12:05 pm:    yeah paul, the engels run for long periods (days). Ho, Kyle, or Axel can tell you better since they own them. They have metal shells and run for years even when used on boats or as second freezers. The engel site listed above is littered with comments like, "I've had my Engel for 14 years" and such. Don't confuse them with the little coleman thermoelectric frig's at wal-mart, Engel's use very little power and are able to freeze.(I always wanted ice-cream on a trail)   Kyle Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 12:11 pm:    Mine is out in the truck running right now...lol.. Its nice to be able to reach back and get a nice ice cold beverage anywhere , anytime.... Kyle   Rob Davison (Pokerob) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 12:19 pm:    i was thinking it would be sweet if they made a unit that was say 36" x 29" x 6" tall. with a drawer. you could lay down meats and pop and things and still have tons of cargo space on top. i guess the disco is a little less a problem then a RR. you follow what i'm saying though. rd   Gregory W. Davis (Gregdavis) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 12:57 pm:    I have the ARB 41 quart(made by same people I think). It's GREAT. Nothing like keeping everything cool and dry. It will run all day and night and my rig still fires right up. Only running one Champion 4x4 battery as well. Not sure if the DI and DII sides are a different height or not. My 41 qt. will still allow my DII cover to operate, but only about an inch of clearance. Had I known about the Engles, I would have bought that in lieu of the ARB name as they are less expensive. That's not being TOO niggardly, is it John?   Steve Andrews (Sillybus) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 01:45 pm:    Haha, he used niggardly correct in a sentence.   Mike Rupp (Mike_Rupp) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 03:45 pm:    A practical question: Do you guys that use the Engels leave them on overnight? Will it run the battery down? Or do you use two batteries and isolate one for the fridge? Thanks, Mike   Kyle Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:00 pm:    One regular ole battery , engel running 24X7 Kyle   Peter Carey (Pcarey) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:02 pm:    Hmmm....I'm starting to see the light. Now I just have to plan a trip across the country or down the Coast to justify the cost. My wife and I took a 2 week camping trip down the PCH and only had a cooler....it should be an easy sell. Considering all things equal, how many days would you say it would take a 45 to drain your battery to the point of needing a jump? Anyone willing to test this? pwc   Eric N (Grnrvr) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:05 pm:    Ya, now that would be some good info. Use a Redtop   kyle Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:06 pm:    It takes 4 days...... Kyle   Peter Carey (Pcarey) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:11 pm:    That is impressive and extrememly handy. Thanks Kyle. pwc   Blue (Bluegill) Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:22 pm:    4 days? you mean let the disco sit for 4 days with ice cream in the freezer without starting & running the disco at all? if you routinely run the disco (every day or so), do you just let the engel run full-time? also, what you guys doing for power connection - just extending the cig lighter wiring to the back?   Kyle Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 04:44 pm:    Yeah , I wired a plug into the trailer harness.. Yes , frozen for four days... The ambeint will affect it I am sure as it will run more the hotter it is. Kyle   Barry Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 10:24 pm:    IT'S HERE! Once again, outstanding information and service from Expedition Exchange...thanks John! Only took 5 days from FL to CA. The Engel 45 is one serious refrigerator/freezer. Forget any notion of slinging THIS cooler around with one hand. Yes, it really does hold SIXTY twelve ounce cans. To make sure we don't get stranded in the middle of Death Valley (At least not from a dead battery) I'm installing a Low Voltage Disconnect from www.surepower.com The LVD will have to do until I'm ready for a dual battery project. -Barry   Kristian Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 12:21 am:    Yes, after 4 days with the Engel plugged in and no driving, my redtop was dead. This was the week after Memorial Day. Outside temps were probably in the 70's. A quick jump from the LRSV, and all was well again. Someone should check it after 3 days.   John Lee Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 12:15 pm:    Barry, Forget that damn Low Voltage Disconnect. Just plug in the Engel, fill it with goodies, and then hit the trail. Unless your battery or alternator is jacked, you won't run out of juice unless you don't run your vehicle for a few days (how often does one do this on the trail?). If you sleep in your vehicle, you'll find that the Engel cycles only a few times at night anyway because the ambient temperature is so low. If you're paranoid about draining the battery, you can boost the fridge's setting to "3" in the late afternoon while you're still driving and then lower it to "1" before you hit the sack. Just don't leave the fridge on "3" for a long time (such as overnight) or your sodas will explode. If you do this, I think you will find that the fridge won't even cycle once the entire night. I tried this once to satisfy my curiosity, but I just leave the fridge at a little over "2" all the time. This is cold enough that I get ice chips in my sodas and Corona when I pop them open. Enjoy the fridge!   James F. Thompson Jaime (Blueboy) Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 12:31 pm:    And to second that motion - we did exactly the same thing on our last trip by just leaving it on "2" all the time without any battery problems. Plenty cold enough. Jaime