Dometic Fridges on Sale at Camping World

DesertBoater

Adventurer
What's the reputation of these fridges? Do they stand up to the same or similar abuse as the Engel/ARB's with a similar efficiency?

Cheers,
West
 

ntsqd

Heretic Car Camper
Dometic is a very large name in RV and in marine equipment. They funded some R&D effort of my work in pursuit of a smaller, lighter diesel fuel APU (genset) for both marine and RV uses. Unless there is direct evidence to the contrary specific to the unit in question I would have no concerns in buying their product.

I just wish that the sample stainless cased marine APU that we have at work wasn't 50 cycle.....
 

troy

Adventurer
I have a domitec in my pop-up camper. It'll get beer down to drinking temp. Also the camper bounces a lot and is 13 years old, might hint to the quality.
 

locrwln

Expedition Leader
Didn't Dometic buy Waeco? It looks a lot like my Waeco, which has been trouble free and working awesome for over a year now.

Jack
 

SOAZ

Tim and Kelsey get lost..
little late on this response. Dometic's are just rebranded Waeco's. When Waeco replaced my fridge under warranty, it said Dometic on it.
 

MoGas

Central Scrutinizer
What compressor do these run? What is the country of origin?

I've heard great things about Waeco/Dometic, I've just never seen one up close. I don't know that we need a third fridge , either.
 

spressomon

Expedition Leader
What compressor do these run? What is the country of origin?

I've heard great things about Waeco/Dometic, I've just never seen one up close. I don't know that we need a third fridge , either.

Danfoss. And I believe they are made in China. I have an older 50l Waeco (about 4-1/2 years old) and it has performed without complaint. I also bought, for the KK tongue box, a smaller 25l Waeco/Dometic last spring and it has met expectations to date.

I especially like the fact you can have the lid hinge from either long side (35l and larger I believe) or remove it quickly altogether. They also have low voltage protection too.
 

mmccurdy

Adventurer
FWIW, the new-style 47 litre ARB fridge is also a Dometic/Waeco/Danfoss unit from China, so it wouldn't surprise me if these share the exact same guts (though the ARB has some obvious external enhancements, beefy handles, e.g. that make them slightly better suited for chucking around in the back of a 4wd).

If that's the case, the smaller one is a nice price on a slightly larger spec'd unit (52 vs. 47 litres). I have nothing but praise for my ARB fridge which I've been running pretty much continuously since last spring.
 

esh

Explorer
Consider the "new style" ARB is built very similar to the Waeco/Dometic design that has been used and proven for many more years. The handle design is very sturdy (and removable). Accessories are cheaper, $50 for an insulating bag for the Dometic, $150 for the ARB.

Nothing like having a brand name, though...
 

SOAZ

Tim and Kelsey get lost..
I'm sure he's right. Made somewhere like that. Company country of origin is Australia.

For performance check out the overland journal article. I think it cooled down the second fastest etc.

Also, keep in mind that the Waeco's have had features that only the new ARB and maybe the pricey National Luna's have.
-A low voltage cut-off to save your battery that is adjustable depending on how much juice your truck takes to start.
-A digital temp readout with a "set it and forget it" type setting. (instead of some fridges where in Phoenix at 110 I need it on medium setting, but once in the cooler mountains at 75 that same setting freezes everything etc) With these just set the temp you want and walk away.
They have both AC and DC plugs.
And the customer service... FOR WAECO, not dometic, is great.

They even have 5 more liters of space compared to others with the same exterior size.

I think that's all the positives I know.
Negatives are having a fridge that when you mention the brand people say, what kind is that again? Also plastic, if only in your mind, seems less tough than metal.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
189,907
Messages
2,922,053
Members
233,083
Latest member
Off Road Vagabond
Top