Equipt introduces the Indel B Travel Box Portable Fridge

[Equipt]

The National Luna Fridge line is best of breed. Proven on every continent. If that is what you are after, great! That is the answer. But, as you say, will the Indel B fridge suffice for your needs? I would answer that with a "Yes" as well. It has a great line of features and a really good price. Would I use it to drive around the world? Probably not. A more robust unit would be needed. That is the difference. One is built to withstand anything, and one is built to be a great value.

cheers,

 

[Equipt]

Indel B Travel Box Fridge Test and Comparison

We sent a fridge to Graham Jackson, Technical Editor for Overland Journal, and asked him to test and compare the Indel B Travel Box to the models used in the Summer 2010 OJ fridge comparison. He used the same tests, and compares them head to head. We are very happy with the results. Especially if you remember that this fridge is $700. Please take a look at the thread we start on the test.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ridge-Test-and-Comparison?p=996593#post996593

Cheers,

 

[1leglance]

It really is scary how much it looks like a Waeco....I know they said it isn't but the Chinese are well known to make reverse engineered products. I would be interested to hear/see some side by side pics/comparison with a Waeco and hear from Intel B more about why it is so close in color/construction.
Either way it is always good to have more options on the market. Thanks Paul, Ben & Bev for finding new toys

 

[AmericaOverland]

It really is scary how much it looks like a Waeco....I know they said it isn't but the Chinese are well known to make reverse engineered products. I would be interested to hear/see some side by side pics/comparison with a Waeco and hear from Intel B more about why it is so close in color/construction.
Either way it is always good to have more options on the market. Thanks Paul, Ben & Bev for finding new toys

I would have to acknowledge that it is a valid concern; after all, the Chinese were able to fake an entire Apple store!

 

[Equipt]

I would agree with you Lance. There is no denying the similarities. Reverse engineering seems to be a specialty in China. Even among companies in their own country, not just foreign products. As I mentioned before, they say it is not from the Dometic facility, and that the Dometic tooling is not used. The lid and hinge construction is completely different, but the interior, exterior, controls and mechanical all look very much the same. I am still working on understanding the origin of the Travel Box, and will let you know what I find out.

I guess the real question is, does that matter? I would suggest that it doesn't. Compare this fridge on it's own merits, and see if it has value to you.

Cheers,

 

[benedmonson]

It really is scary how much it looks like a Waeco....I know they said it isn't but the Chinese are well known to make reverse engineered products. I would be interested to hear/see some side by side pics/comparison with a Waeco and hear from Intel B more about why it is so close in color/construction.
Either way it is always good to have more options on the market. Thanks Paul, Ben & Bev for finding new toys

Lance, when we first received the Indel B and Paul showed me pictures I was convinced that it was a Waeco fridge. Now remember that I used a Waeco for three years before getting my National Luna so I know them pretty well. But and I must say this a a big but (no pun intended) after using the Indel B and being around it for several weeks "IT IS NOT A WAECO!!!" The lid hinge is way better than the Waeco fridge. My Waeco lid broke within the first week and I had to bungee it on for the next three years as I could not get it fixed. There was just no support here in the US. There were many things that I liked about the Waeco and that is why I kept it until I could score a National Luna. It seems to me that Indel B took some of the good things from the Waeco and then put there spin on a great budget fridge and here is the good part, you get Equipt's great customer service to go along with it! All for $700!!!

 

[TexGX]

Ben,

Thanks for the reply. All we are asking is what are the differences between the two. You having used both can give educated input. It looks like the Waeco CF 50 is about $100 less then the Indel B 50. I think most people here would prefer to support the forum vendors(I just bought a National Luna Power Pack from Wil at Sierra partly because of your input last time we talked and love it). If all things are equal most will pick the cheaper option, but if you can show an improvement(better lid) or difference then most people I am guessing would prefer to by from Equipt or other vendor sponsors for that little in price. I would hope in the next comparison that the Waeco would be included so we can see all the differences.

Now the question is would the Indel B lid work on my Waeco so we now have a source for parts?

TexGX

 

[Equipt]

I received a little more information on the origin of the Indel B fridge line, and thought I would pass it along with you. I have been corresponding with the Commercial Director for Indel B in Italy. He is pretty busy with year end at the moment, so kept it pretty brief. Here is what he told me.

The Indel B Travel Box series of fridges are manufactured by Zhongshan Wellway Indel B. Enterprise Co. Ltd, a China-Italy joint venture company located in National Health Technology Park of Zhongshan Torch Development Zone, China. They are in no way manufactured by the Waeco/Dometic/Mobicool, which I believe is located in Pinghu, Longgang District, Guangdong China. They are two completely separate entities which compete with each other in this market.

The director also pointed out that while there are similarities in design, there are improvements in the Indel B models. His example was the difference in lid design. The Travel Box lids are made of Injected ABS plastic. These are considerably more reliable and stable than the blow mold lids used by Dometic. The Dometic lids are susceptible to warping in direct sun.

I am certain that there are more detailed differences internally to the two fridges. I hope to hear more about those in the near future.

cheers,

 

[1leglance]

Thanks Paul,
If you get to offer feedback my #1 comment would be to change the color band body to it doesn't look so much like a Waeco and I think that would help them far more than hurt.
Thanks again for the info and my only other concern would be that this isn't a reverse engineering design as I think that is rude Not that it isn't common but I prefer to support companies that try to be original.

 

[upcountry]

Thanks for posting this product, I happen to be in the market for a fridge.

Can you tell me which one of your retailers is selling this product?

I am in Seattle so the closer the better.

For example, is Columbia Overland selling these yet? (Not clear on any of the websites who is selling it and what the price is, or perhaps I am missing something).

Thanks!

 

[Equipt]

Thanks for posting this product, I happen to be in the market for a fridge.

Can you tell me which one of your retailers is selling this product?

I am in Seattle so the closer the better.

For example, is Columbia Overland selling these yet? (Not clear on any of the websites who is selling it and what the price is, or perhaps I am missing something).

Thanks!

The Indel B line is available from us direct only at the moment. The lines we offer through our dealer network are Eezi-Awn, National Luna, Front Runner, and Escape Gear. All other items on our site are available through us.

Thanks,

 

[Dgurley2000]

you get Equipt's great customer service to go along with it! All for $700!!!

I can attest to this. Paul and Ben have been ready to help me resolve my issues with their products.

 

[Equipt]

Thanks David. Much appreciated.

Cheers,