AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM

Aug 2^nd, 2009 at 6:43pm

Kingsthorpe David Offline
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Attended "The Queensland Outdoor Adventure and Motoring Expo" today at the Toowoomba Showgrounds. Anaconda had a stand but sadly no Cobbs or Camp Chef pots for sale. Dream Pot had a stand.
A huge number of caravans, RV's, boats and camper trailers on display. Came home with a bag of brochures to read up.
I was attracted to the Bushman 35-52 Litre Fridge Freezer displayed by the Qld distributor from Burleigh Heads.
These are supplied with two lids of different depth and an extention Collar, allowing the unit to be either 35 Ltr, 42Ltr or 52 Ltr.
The distributor is an agent for Waeco, Zero, Evercool, Dometic, Consul, Electolux, Vitrafrigo and Engell. But his enthusiasm for the Bushman impressed me. I had never heard of them before.
Has anybody got one and can comment?
See:
www.bushman.com.au

KD

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Reply #1 - Aug 2^nd, 2009 at 8:09pm

hotshins Offline
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KD,

Went the web page and the contents of the fridge look way too healthy.

H

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Reply #2 - Aug 2^nd, 2009 at 8:48pm

sooty Offline
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Some good stuff hidden underneath, not much though Cry

Bushman_004_400p_2.jpg (47 KB | )

I started out with nothing and still have most of it

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Reply #3 - Aug 2^nd, 2009 at 8:54pm

Derek Offline
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What price David????

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Reply #4 - Aug 2^nd, 2009 at 8:59pm

Kingsthorpe David Offline
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Derek wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2009 at 8:54pm:

What price David????

Same as your Waeco CF50, and that includes the insulated cover.
$1099.00 (show special at Tmba expo, $1,300.00 normal).

KD

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Reply #5 - Aug 9^th, 2009 at 6:58am

Thenewme Offline
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Hi David,

Am I right is saying this is only a 12 volt fridge freezer, think 12volt 240 watt would be a better option.

Copied the amount of amps used per hour off their website, personally think it's drawing too much power, if you look at the Waeco or Engles they draw roughly (aroundabout) 1 amp per hour.

Think my Dometic Chescold RC1180 draws about 6amps per hour, on 6 amps it will empty a 100 watt battery in about 16 hours, chewing up 16amps an hour the battery will last roughtly 6.5 hours.

http://www.bushman.com.au/bushman_features.html

LOW CURRENT DRAW
With the refrigerator set @ -4C with an ambient temperature of +24C the BUSHMAN uses a mere 16amp hours per day.

FYI

Cheers
Kate

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Reply #6 - Aug 15^th, 2009 at 11:23am

Rastas000 Offline
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Dave: The only issue I see in the Bushman devices is the extension collars and high lids is a loss of the insulation value of the compartment. The compressor will run longer, and use more of the battery reserves, so this will need to be calculated.

We saw many fridges in use on the trip, and I saw a heap of Bushmans in use. I did hear some complaints about the clips, but they were remedied with a judicious use of pliers and a bit of bending.

We did see a guy with one who was chucking it out at Broome, as he had been plagued by breakdowns with it. He had just purchased an Engle to replace it. I ratted the catches and hinges from his old one for the hell of it, and gave them away over the next few weeks to Bushman owners as spares.

Largely, the comments were VERY positive. On the whole it seems like a well respect4d brand by the users.

A furphy, is Australian slang for a rumour, or an erroneous or improbable story. You would never get anything but the plain honest dinky-di truth here... I promise!!!! Yup, hand on my heart, promise, true blue, uh-huh true dinks, dead set!!

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Reply #7 - Aug 15^th, 2009 at 11:42am

Rastas000 Offline
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Hmmmm, hardwood coals....
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@ Kate:

The interesting thing I have noticed is that many of the fridges on the market these days are using the same/similar compressors...

It is the insulation value of the cabinet that seems to be the real difference in the fridges, and their performance.

You are right in the assessment of consumption surrounding average ambient temperature.

BTW: 4WD Action magazine http://www.4wdaction.com.au/tips_fridge.php did a pretty rugged comparison on portable fridges recently; And Choice Magazine did one a few years ago (2003)

Because of the mechanism of cooling in the Chescold absorption fridges, the 12v current draw will always be consistently HUGE..

A furphy, is Australian slang for a rumour, or an erroneous or improbable story. You would never get anything but the plain honest dinky-di truth here... I promise!!!! Yup, hand on my heart, promise, true blue, uh-huh true dinks, dead set!!

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Reply #8 - Aug 15^th, 2009 at 1:22pm

Kingsthorpe David Offline
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Yahoo! ya back mate, missed your informative posts.
Thats the trouble with hols, over too quick.
Thanks Bushman comments, I intend to buy one when my ATO refund pops up. Will check the 4WD Action link you gave.
Did you take the Trailblazer with you on the trip?
No real news from Kingsthorpe except that my NEW old US Tonka Toaster Jaffle arrived from Canada complete with original cardboard packaging. And the Kingsthorpe Pub is organising a camp oven gig for what would have been a Millmerran Festival date if it was held this year ie. first weekend in October.

KD

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Reply #9 - Aug 15^th, 2009 at 2:08pm

Derek Offline
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Rastas000 wrote on Aug 15^th, 2009 at 11:23am:

The only issue I see in the Bushman devices is the extension collars and high lids

I have seen these extensions for both the Waeco and the Engel yet the manufacturers do not recommend them.

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Reply #10 - Aug 15^th, 2009 at 3:10pm

Rastas000 Offline
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Hmmmm, hardwood coals....
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Kingsthorpe David wrote on Aug 15^th, 2009 at 1:22pm:

Did you take the Trailblazer with you on the trip?

Sure did, worked brilliantly in a fridge freezer mode. Had some 37-38 degree days.. Brilliant

A furphy, is Australian slang for a rumour, or an erroneous or improbable story. You would never get anything but the plain honest dinky-di truth here... I promise!!!! Yup, hand on my heart, promise, true blue, uh-huh true dinks, dead set!!

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Reply #11 - Aug 15^th, 2009 at 3:11pm

Rastas000 Offline
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Hmmmm, hardwood coals....
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Derek wrote on Aug 15^th, 2009 at 2:08pm:

I have seen these extensions for both the Waeco and the Engel yet the manufacturers do not recommend them.

And for good reason.. You can feel the cold wick out of them when in use...

A furphy, is Australian slang for a rumour, or an erroneous or improbable story. You would never get anything but the plain honest dinky-di truth here... I promise!!!! Yup, hand on my heart, promise, true blue, uh-huh true dinks, dead set!!

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