Expedition Portal: Expedition Vehicles and Equipment

Images and Text by Equipment Section Editor: William Kuhns

Overview
Imagine not needing to stop for ice, no more water logged food, or while in town running to the grocery store in the middle of summer day and on the way home wanting to stop to see a movie at the nearby theater. It is possible with an Engel fridge/freezer unit. The Engel MT45 was tested to hold true to is reliability and published efficiency. In comparison to a good ice chest the Engel is a luxury item that becomes a necessity for overland travels.

Selection Research
The selection of an Engel Fridge/Freezer unit is simple, with just one moving part and it's low power consumption (compared to thermoelectric units) it is easy to see that it is a valuable tool for expedition travel. Engel’s durable powder coated steel casing withstood just about everything we could throw at it (except scrap metal). Weighing in at 52.9 lbs, the Engel drew an average power consumption of 1.65 Amps. The Engel was able to keep ice-cream frozen during typical 110 degree summer days in Phoenix, AZ. Peak temperatures in the vehicle reached 143.5 degrees and the Engel continued to work flawlessly showing off its insulating high density polyurethane walls, and well designed latch and lid seal.

The Engel’s Swing Motor is properly ventilated through numerous vents along the aft sides and rear of the unit, however, produces minimal noise (measured in at 34 db) and minimal heat.

With a dial ranging from 1 to 5, the temperature control is easily accessible. It would have been nice to see a more complex user interface panel with a built in thermometer, but “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.” A dial with a temperature specific thermostat control may be more useful for controlling the exact setting of the unit.

The four rubber feet secured on the bottom of the fridge provided vibration dampening and do not interfere with any of the mounting solutions provided by Engel. A good recommendation is to remove the feet and reinstall with a thread locking compound. After about 3,000 miles one of the feet rattled almost completely off during vibration testing. When properly installed, the unit does not rattle, even in the most extreme trail conditions.

Using the supplied plugs switching from AC to DC (12v or 24v) power was a breeze with the automatic switch, simply plug it in and walk away. This also makes the Engel unit right at home in the vehicle or even the garage. At some point during the testing stages, the AC power cord was lost, and replaced with a PC power cord with no adverse effects. The unit has a grounding point for when radio interference is encountered, no interference was encountered during testing

The deep interior basket makes upright bottles easy to store. Overall the unit’s outside dimensions are 25.5” long, 14.3” wide, and 20” tall, while still providing ample space to store 60 - 12oz cans, the interior measures in at 15.4” long, 10.8” wide and 16” deep. The exterior handles act as both carrying handles and anchoring points to secure the fridge/freezer to the vehicle.

Running the fridge/freezer unit consistently for 1 month it encountered no problems. After the month long run the unit was shut off for 1 week and then turned on and off (alternating days) with out any flaws over the next several weeks. Utilizing the AC cord makes a seamless operation and allows for plugging the unit while in the garage with out removing the Engel from the vehicle.

The Engel was put through numerous conditions such as high dust, high humidity, extreme heat, and performed flawlessly. In high humidity the Engel produced a decent amount of condensation, if not cleaned after powering off, the base mat produced mold. The mold encountered on the base mat would not wash off, even after a three day soak in bleach water. It is recommended to clean the Engel prior to storage and store in a ventilated position with the lid off or a sponge holding the lid open.

ARB / Norcold / Engel Fridge/Freezers
	MRFD-015/ MHFD-015	MT15	MT25	MT35	MT45	MT60
Power Consumption	0.9 – 3.9 Amps	0.9 – 3.1 Amps	0.9 – 3.1 Amps	0.7 – 2.5 Amps	0.7 – 2.5 Amps	1.4 – 3.6 Amps
Volume	14 qt.	16 qt.	22 qt.	34 qt.	43 qt.	64 qt.
Weight	23.5 lbs	35 lbs	35.3 lbs	46.3 lbs	52.9 lbs	68.3 lbs
Inside Dims	13.75” x 7.5” x 7.5”	11.5" x 8" x 10"	7.9” x 11.4” x 13.6”	15.4" x 10.8” x 12.4"	15.4" x 10.8” x 16.4"	20.1" x 14.9” x 12.4"
Outside Dims	17" x 11" x 14.5"	21.2" x 12" x 13.7"	21.2" x 12" x 17.3"	25.5" x 14.3" x 16"	25.5" x 14.3" x 20"	31.1" x 19.3" x 17.4"
Freezing Ability	From 45°F to 0°F	From 45°F to below 0°F	From 45°F to below 0°F	From 45°F to below 0°F	From 45°F to below 0°F	From 45°F to below 0°F
Temp. Control	Variable Thermostat	Variable Thermostat	Variable Thermostat	Variable Thermostat	Variable Thermostat	Variable Thermostat
Exterior Material	ABS Plastic	ABS Plastic	ABS Plastic	Powder coated steel	Powder coated steel	Powder coated steel
Refrigerant Gas	CFC free -134A	CFC free -134A	CFC free -134A	CFC free -134A	CFC free -134A	CFC free -134A
Input Rating	DC12V - 3.9A	DC12V - 3.1A	DC12V - 3.1A	DC12V - 2.7A	DC12V - 2.7A	DC12V - 4.1A
12V Lead	9' detachable	9' detachable	9' detachable	9' detachable	9' detachable	5' pig tail

Pros:	Cons:
Efficient	Pointless Cup holders on lid
Quiet	Weight
Doesn’t produce much heat	Size
Easy sliding lid for cleaning and loading	Lack of temperature reading on unit
Parts and repair facilities around the world	Keeping it clean, with lots of use

Transit Bags. (Look for upcoming transit bag review ) Waeco, ARB, Engel, and Norcold offer transit bags, of which the latter three are interchangeable. Transit bags offer protection of your unit, by adding and extra layer of padding and insulation. Typical transit bags are made of a heavy duty canvas outside layer with a reflective layer on the inside. Transit bags should include proper ventilation for your specific fridge/freezer.
Thermometers. (Look for detailed Thermometer Review) There are many solutions for monitoring the temperature inside your fridge/freezer. When selecting a thermometer ensure that it is rated to match the temperature range of your fridge/freezer.
Mounting Solutions. [See Below] There are numerous solutions to mounting a fridge/freezer. Units made by Sawafuji Products have two additional installation solutions produced by Engel, the Engel Slide, and the Engel Slide-Lok.	Images: Engel USA
Expansion Options. [Look for detailed review soon] TwoZone Manufacturing PTY LTD in Australia currently makes expansion units that add 21 or 40 Liters with out increasing the footprint of your fridge/freezer, by adding an extra compartment to the top of your unit.		Image: TwoZone
Mobility Options. Some companies produce wheels that add to the mobility of the unit and can ease the loading and unloading by utilizing wheels, such as the Ezy-Move.		Image: Ezy-Move
Accessories. Engel has developed and hinge locking system to prevent the lid from accidentally sliding sideways when opening. This fits the Engel 35 and 45 models.		Image: Engel USA

Installation / Mounting Solutions
Every expedition vehicle is different, and with that the mounting solutions are different. It is important to install the fridge/freezer in a location where it is clear of the elements, and easily accessible. Engel, ARB, and Norcold units have a few pre-manufactured mounting solutions available such as the Engel Slide, and the Engel Slide-Lok.

The Engel Slide is a strong low profile steel slide that extends out 80% allowing access to the Engel freezer in confined spaces. The fridge/freezer is placed on the slide and secured by attaching turnbuckles to the tabs attached behind the handles. The slide has sealed roller bearings, and a safety latch.

Image: Engel USA

The Engel Slide-Lok [Link to Slide-Lok Review] is a simple mounting solution where the rubber feet of the fridge/freezer are replaced with included feet that attach to the Slide-Lok, thus locking your unit in place.