With so many choices and the amount of money being spent, much research is usually done before picking something out.

I personally am very happy with my combination of my old Engel 29lt Fridge with a TwoZone compartment on top (with a few custom modifications).

Custom Engel 29lt Fridge with 21lt TwoZone Compartment

4WD Action Magazine did a huge review of the main portable Fridge/Freezer Manufacturers in Australia and is the most comprehensive review I’ve seen.

The fridges tested were:

* ARB – MT45FARB
* BUSHMAN
* ENGEL MT45
* EVAKOOL RF47-DT
* EVAKOOL RF85-DT
* EXPLORER DC-56
* EXPLORER DC-70
* REEFER DT50
* REEFER ST70
* VITRIFRIGO C41
* VITRIFRIGO C65
* WAECO CF-40
* WAECO CF-80

Testing was carried out at the Australian Defence Industries facility in a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) approved, climate-controlled chamber.  The fridges were loaded with the exact same contents and were all powered with the same custom leads and plugs.

I won’t give away which fridge came out on top but the general conclusion to the article was that you can’t really go wrong with any of them.  They are all slightly different and its really a personal choice to pick which suits your purpose best.

To view the article visit:

The 4WD Action Mega Fridge-Freezer Comparison!

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.

Harvey is about 130km south of Perth and is a sleepy country town famous for its oranges and dairy produce.  During winter the surrounding bush is lush and green and the rivers and creeks swiftly flowing.

We all met at a respectable 11am and after some GPS issues Tristan finally found us and we set out onto the trails a little after 12.  It was easy going along unsealed dirt roads until we came to the start of the Fawcett Trail.  A few muddy puddles and rocky hill climbs later we managed to find an ideallic campsite right on the Murray River and promptly setup camp and cracked out first tinnies.

The night was incredibly clear with the stars visable and a full moon rising.  We all thought it would get cold and we were right.  Sure am glad I took the thermals and my big jacket!  After many shenanigans and drinks around the fire the stragglers called it a night around 3am!

We awoke to a bone chilling 2.9 degrees celcius at 8am the following morning.  Ice had formed on the outside of tents and swags and drinks left on the table had frozen.  It sure was difficult getting up out of the warm swag, and the morning was spent thawing out in front of the fire eating a hearty cooked breakfast.

Vehicles were packed at a leisurely pace and we headed  back out along the trails to Dwellingup.  It’s here we said goodbye to those heading home down south and made our way back to the city.

A few friends have asked me about it so I thought I’d go through my method when I’m out shooting.

Equipment

• Digital SLR capable of bulb mode with a remote shutter release (can be cable or IR). In my case I use a Nikon D40, with a IR remote.
• Tripod – the camera needs to be steady the entire length of the exposure. I use a Manfrotto.
• Lens at its widest focal range – I use a Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm

Camera Settings

• Widest aperture and focal length for your lens – eg. 10mm @ f3.5
• Manual focus mode set to infinite
• Camera set to bulb mode
• Camera set to remote trigger mode if you need to

Method

• For the best results you’ll want little to no moon – you can check out the phase of the moon online before hand.
• I setup my tripod and have my lens facing south using a compass on my watch.
• The camera is adjusted with the settings above and the shutter is triggered remotely.
• I then leave it for 20-30min and come back and trigger the shutter again.

Some of the results are below:

Well I bit the bullet today and finally went out and got myself a dual fuel camping stove. I ended up going for the Coleman 553 Sportster II Dual Fuel model. It’s a single burner that runs on unleaded petrol or shellite/coleman fuel.

I followed the basic instructions outlined on the burner itself, filled it up, went through the steps to light it and it was up and running in no time. I found it to be incredibly hot and it boiled my billy in just over 3 minutes – something gas or butane has never been able to do.

With a large pan over the top it still felt stable but I’d want to make sure things were distributed evenly on it or I was holding it. I might make up a stand to put my camp oven/larger pan on it at some stage.

Taking it on its first trip this weekend and I’ll let you know how it all goes! I look foward to not having to worry about carting around any sort of gas bottle again!

• It’s small – with the lenses I am using it sometimes feels a bit off balance. Plus I think I personally would prefer to grip something slightly bigger.
• It doesn’t have a focus motor in the body which restricts your lens choice (I manual focus one of my lenses because of this)
• It lacks a second dial – which would be handy because I shoot in manual mode mostly

Overall I have been very happy using it. For such a small cheap body is oozes quality

The 18-55 kit lens that came with it has been gathering dust in it’s bag pretty much since I’ve owned it. The three lenses I own and use are:

Sigma 10-20mm Wide – great for capturing wide landscapes. Got to be careful of distortion of objects/people at the wider range of this lens.

Sigma 24-60mm F2.8 – My favourite lens and the one that stays on my camera mostly. I have to manual focus it but with the focus indicator dot I have become used to it and can focus it quickly. Very sharp and a very nice lens!

Nikon 55-200VR – great for longer shots of 4wds offroad or portraits/wildlife from a distance. Gets a bit soft toward 200mm but it’s acceptable. Bargain price for the quality you get. Looking at a 70-200 F2.8 in the future.

The kit gets carted around in a Tamrac sling bag (looking at upgrading to a Lowe Pro DryZone Rover).

Aside from the usual cleaning stuff I carry around a remote for long exposure work, a 77mm ultra thin circular polariser, some Cokin P series filters and filter holder and a Manfrotto tripod.

To see some of the shots I’ve taken pop over to my Flickr Photo Page and have a browse!

In February they sent over there head photographer – Mr Tommy Salmon who shot my car for the magazine (along with some others from Western Australia). Photos in this post were all taken by Tommy and they are fantastic (wouldn’t expect anything less).

Issue one of Australian 4wd Custom Action was on the shelves May 2008 and I can say I’m very happy at the multi-page spread my Mitsubishi Challenger.

I feel privileged to have made it into the magazine and hopefully can inspire some others to have a go at modifying there own 4wds themselves without it having to cost a fortune.

I decided to give it a go on this trip. The equipment used was an old Canon G3 on a tripod, hooked up to an old IBM laptop both powered from a generator. My friend John took the picture below:

Jon setting up the timelapse gear

It was shot over 2 days and I took over 5000 images (shot every 30 seconds). The resulting timelapse movie is below produced @ 10fps. Enjoy!

Ninghan Station is located approximately 380km north-east of Perth, along the Great Northern Highway. It’s a working station property (sheep and goats) that allows 4wd enthusiasts to camp and explore the property. It stretches over a vast area of land (over 1/2 million acres) and there is no shortage of things to see (you could spend weeks driving around and exploring).

We had an early start to the trip, departing from Ginger’s Roadhouse at 6am. Good time was made and everyone was treated to an amazing sunrise. We took a shortcut before we got to New Norcia and stopped in Dalwallinu for a stretch of the legs. It was then onto Wubin to top up the fuel tanks. Wubin is the last fuel before Ninghan Station (98km away) so it’s a good idea to fill up your tanks and jerry cans here.

The roads become flat and straight from here on out and you know you’re really in the outback once you pass this sign:

A leisurely 98km from Wubin you will find the turn off to Ninghan Station on the right – it is well sign posted so you won’t miss it. The station itself is open between the hours of 8am-6pm.

Be sure to make you way to the station house and have a chat with friendly old Don. He is quite the character and can provide you with a mudmap of the property and suggest where to camp and what to see. Basically the entire property is open to 4wding so follow a trail, find a spot you like the look of and setup camp.

We decided to go exploring and find somewhere to have lunch. We headed out to a large outcrop of granite named Warrdagga Rock. It rises a couple of hundred meters above sea level and has great views of the vast surrounding country side. The more energetic of us hiked to the top and were treated to these views after a quick feed.

With full stomachs and rejuvenated enthusiasm we decided to head to the highest point on the property – Mt Singleton. At 689m above sea level this is the highest point for hundreds of kilometers and as a result there is a Telstra mobile phone tower and Aeronatic antennas at the peak.

The trail to the top is rocky and rough and it’s recommended you let your tires down. The terrain around the station is brutal on tires and you should be running pressures of around 20psi. We were lucky and didn’t have any punctures this trip.

As expected the views from the top were spectacular!

With the day getting on we decided to search fo an appropriate campsite. We headed back past the homestead and explored some more trails. We ended up finding a secluded spot off the trail surrounded by eucalyptus trees with a healthy stash of firewood lying around.

It wasn’t long until camp was setup, the fire was roaring and everyone was relaxing in their camp chairs with a cold beer in hand spinning yarns and excitedly talking about what to explore tomorrow.

As the night progressed I decided to try my shot at some star trails. I read a few tutorials online (there is an excellent one here at NatureScapes.net) and thought I’d give it a shot. I used my wide angle Sigma lens at 10mm, f4 in bulb mode. I triggered the shutter with a remote and left it to expose for about 30 minutes. The fairly pleasing results are shown below:

There were a few sore heads on Sunday morning from the night before (Bec!) and a fully cooked breakfast of bacon and egg burritos was consumed at a leisurely pace.

Once the cars were packed (we setup a basecamp and left some of our gear under cover) we decided to head out to the northern side of the station across Great Northern Highway. After a 20min drive on nice graded gravel roads we came to Lake Monger – one of the large salt lakes on the property. There was water flowing between the various parts of the lake but it was still really saline.

On the way in we passed a trail that we decided to head back toward and explore. Driving along this trail we came across 2 wells with 1 very angry Yellow Belly Black snake down the bottom of one. There wern’t any volunteers to rescue him.

We continued on the trail as it headed toward some hills that looked like an interesting place to explore. We came to a halt following a fence line as the trail in front of us turned into a lake with endless water.

No problems we all thought as the ground was fairly firm and there was no spinning of wheels on the track. WRONG. As I reversed I realised I wasn’t moving. Put a call out on the radio and got a response that everyone else was having the same issue. We soon realised that the ultra slippery top few centimeters of earth had filled out mud terrain tires turning them into slicks and in turn we weren’t going anywhere.

After getting out and scratching our heads we decided to give the 4wds a bit of a push. This was successfully in giving them enough momentum to get moving and reverse out (with a lot of mud flying everywhere).

It was only after we had all managed to reverse that we realised the reason for the deep ruts off the side of the trail where people had obviously tried to turn around!

After that bit of muddy excitement we were all well and truly ready for lunch. We headed back toward the wells and setup on top of a granite platform near buy. A tasty feed of bbq sausages was cooked up and we took the opportunity to take some shots posing on the rock.

It was time to head back toward camp to stoke up the fire in preparation for the camp oven roasts that night. We couldn’t resist the challenge of climbing a smaller hill with no trails. After crossing a creek bed and driving through some scrub we started the ascent which turned out to be rockier and steeper than expected. Nothing that low range couldn’t handle and we were soon taking in the views and relaxing toward the top.

After arriving back at camp and getting the fire roaring to produce some nice coals, we left Jeff, Bec & the kids and decided to go try to find the lookout over Lake Moore that Don had told us about. Kam thought he found it on his maps and we drove around various trails but couldn’t find the turn off. We ended up at some goat trapping yards and decided to call it a day as it was getting dark. The drive back was very dusty and 400w of spotlights were basically useless if you were behind someone else. Andy had a bit of a misjudgement ended up in some ruts slightly deeper than expected. A quick snatch backward and we were on our way back to camp.

We were greeted by perfect Lamb and Pork roasts with all the trimmings – big thanks to Jeff & Bec and Kam for organising the meat. It was melt in your mouth tasty and the perfect way to end off the day around the campfire. Had a few spits of rain for about 10 minutes but it passed and was treated to a spectacular lightning show.

We awoke to another glorious day and hearty cooked breakfast. It was with heavy hearts we started packing up the campsite and vehicles.

We stopped by the homestead on the way out to say g’day to Don and sort out the money owed ($7 a person a night). A fairly easy run was had back to Perth where we parted ways.

It was a great trip with good friends into some spectacular country and I can’t wait to do it again. We might head out this way again in late August when the wildfowers are in full bloom.

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT NINGHAN STATION

Where?

Ninghan Station is located approximately 380km north east of Perth, Western Australia.

When to go?

The cooler months in Perth (May-October) are preferable as the summer is scorchingly hot. August through to September are the prime months for Wildflowers. During this time the countryside is a carpet of native wildflowers.

What to Bring?

There aren’t any facilities at the station so you need to be self sufficient. Be sure to bring:

• enough water for the amount of time you are planning to stay.
• enough fuel to get around the station. The closest fuel is 98km away in Wubin. Be sure to top up your tanks here and fill your jerry cans before heading to the station.
• the usual camping,food, first aid and recovery supplies.
• there is plenty of firewood on the property so no need to bring this

The terrain is fairly brutal with sharp rocks, washouts and sharp sticks/roots everywhere. We didn’t suffer any punctures on the trip but we have heard horror stories. You’ll want to make sure you have a spare tire and tire plug kit.

Contact Information

Give Don Bell a call on +618 99636517

I’ve tried to blog in the past without much success.

Lately I have been feeling creative and have so much information buzzing around in my head that I want to share this with some of you.

You can look foward to trip reports from around Western Australia and the world, gear reviews, photos and just my random rambling.

I hope it turns out to be useful and inspires some of you to pursue your outdoor passions and pursuits.