Engel Portable Fridge-Freezer and TwoZone Compartment Review

Engel is a legendary name in 4wd Expedition circles.  They have been producing portable fridge freezers now for over 40 years and their reliability is second to none.  There are stories floating around of them being on the back of utes in the outback for years and even though the external cases have been damaged through weather and abuse they work perfectly inside.

I picked up an old Engel MRFT-530 portable fridge/freezer for a bargain second hand.  It’s capacity is 29 litres and it runs on both 12 volt and 240 volt. This model has been around for almost 30 years now and the particular one I got had a few battle scars from signs of a lot of use but was still running strongly.  I tested it and it got down to -18 degrees Celsius on the maximum setting – this was good enough for me!

Original old Engel MRFT-530

I decided to strip the case back and respray it. I spent some time sanding it back with wet/dry sandpaper and gave it a good wipe down with oil/gum remover to make sure I had the best surface to work with before spraying.

I chose some spray packs of white Dulux Appliance spray paint (for its hard wearing finish) and over the course of a warm day laid down multiple coats.  I chose white to reflect as much heat as possible away from the fridge as it does get warm here in summer.

While I was in the process of respraying it I picked up some new rubber feet for it, some tie down points that mount underneath the handles and some new seals (the old ones looked a bit worse for wear after all that time.

The end result was amazing – for less than $50 I had tidied up the old fridge to the point that it looked new again.  It has handled everything I have thrown at it and I expect it to keep going for a long time.

To extend the capabilities of the fridge I also purchased a TwoZone refrigeration compartment (Model TZ29 – 21 litres).  These compartments are designed in Australia and are made of indestructible polyethylene plastic, filled with a high density refrigeration foam.  To fit the TwoZone you simply remove the lid from your Engel, slide the two zone on and the fit the lid to the top of the TwoZone compartment.  This has added an extra 21 litres of space on top of my existing 29 litres in the Engel.

Engel with TwoZone compartment attached

There are two ways in which you can use the Engel/TwoZone combination.

1.  On longer trips the Engel can be set to freeze.  This way frozen goods and meat can be stored inside the Engel.  The TwoZone compartment can be use as a fridge for day to day use.

2.  On shorter trips I use the Engel to store meat etc. while I use the TwoZone compartment to store all my drinks and things like cheese and some vegetables.

Another great advantage I have found in using this setup over say a single 50lt sized fridge is that it is well divided.  I don’t need to rummage around and move things to get to the bottom of the fridge.  If I want a beer I simply open the lid and grab one out of the TwoZone.  If I want to get some meat out for dinner I simply lift the TwoZone and access the Engel – brilliant if you ask me!

Acessing the main Engel Fridge

Acessing the TwoZone compartment

I have mounted the Engel/Twozone setup in my custom rear storage system.  It is attached securely via turn buckles (I found straps to eventually come loose and really annoy me) to the main storage system slide.  Access to the fridge is a simple matter of sliding it out.  Normally at base camp it is left fully slide out, but while traveling if we want to get a drink or a snack out you can simply open the lid to the TwoZone to access it without needing to slide the fridge out.

To monitor the temperatures I use a TwoZone wireless temperature monitor.  It consists of a unit with a wired sensor which is mounted to the Engel and the sensor is mounted inside.  This transmit the temperature information to another wireless unit that is mounted on the front dash of my car.  This way I can keep an eye on the temperatures while driving and also while at camp parked and setup.  The wireless unit also shows the time and the ambient temperature.

TwoZone temperature monitor and wireless unit

I have been tempted numerous times to buy a new Engel but this system has worked so flawlessly that I can’t bring myself to upgrade.  Overall I highly reccomend the combination of an Engel Fridge and a TwoZone compartment for anyone who likes to get off the beaten track into remote areas and carry enough fresh food to last time some time.

To purchase and for more information visit:

Engel Australia

TwoZone

Note:  Just as a side note I have done some custom modifications to the Engel and TwoZone to make them both perform better.  Stay tuned for a follow up post with details on what I did.