Engel MD14 or equivalent - small 12V fridge/freezers?

[toddz69]

I'm a longtime Engel owner/user with a MT45 that I've used on long trips and now I'm looking at something similar, but smaller, for day trips/shorter excursions, etc.

I've checked out the MD14:

Engel MD14 Top Opening 12V DC Only Fridge-Freezer

The MD14 is efficient, portable, and easily accessible. It will keep contents ice-cold (or even frozen) when plugged into your vehicle's cigarette lighter socket. No need for ice, meaning soggy sandwiches are a thing of the past! It's compact and will fit on the floor or seat of practically any...

engelcoolers.com

and I like it but I'm curious if there are other alternatives, perhaps less expensive, with similar performance/reliability that you might have used that you like.

Suggestions welcome!

Thanks,
Todd Z.

 

[mike morrison]

Dometic have a couple of options - this being one of them.

 

[toddz69]

Thank you! Much appreciated!

Todd Z.

 

[Verkstad]

Fwiw,
Offhand I dunno the specific model nr.
But have a big and small Alpicool refrigerators. A budget friendly alternative to Dometic, Engel, ARB,etc.
So far, working fine. About 7 years now of running more or less 1 month on, 1 month off.
One of them, its display still works, but about 1/2 of its LED segments are considerably dimmer than normal.
Btw,
They are the top mount compressor design.
That interferes somewhat with accessing contents. But I sort of like it. The way I load it in the car, its exhaust fan is harder to block.
If I were diehard about them, I would at least ruggedise their electronics with conformal coating and make a protective cover to prevent damage to its display and membrane type buttons.
Also, figure out ahead of time how to 'hotwire' it incase on the road it's thermostat control craps out, I could manually switch it on/off every hour or so if needed.

 

[toddz69]

Fwiw,
Offhand I dunno the specific model nr.
But have a big and small Alpicool refrigerators. A budget friendly alternative to Dometic, Engel, ARB,etc.
So far, working fine. About 7 years now of running more or less 1 month on, 1 month off.
One of them, its display still works, but about 1/2 of its LED segments are considerably dimmer than normal.
Btw,
They are the top mount compressor design.
That interferes somewhat with accessing contents. But I sort of like it. The way I load it in the car, its exhaust fan is harder to block.
If I were diehard about them, I would at least ruggedise their electronics with conformal coating and make a protective cover to prevent damage to its display and membrane type buttons.
Also, figure out ahead of time how to 'hotwire' it incase on the road it's thermostat control craps out, I could manually switch it on/off every hour or so if needed.

Thanks - I'll investigate them as well.

Todd Z.

 

[checkmate]

I have an Engel mt45.
Love the old school look and simple design.

 

[plh]

I have an Alpicool branded as a Vevor 22L. Has lived in the back of my SUV since 2022. No issues with it. I would buy it again. I also have a 45L Whynter that I bought used 10 + years ago and basically resides in my basement as a beer fridge except for camping a couple times a year when the 22L isn't big enough..

 

[86scotty]

I have an Alpicool branded as a Vevor 22L. Has lived in the back of my SUV since 2022. No issues with it. I would buy it again. I also have a 45L Whynter that I bought used 10 + years ago and basically resides in my basement as a beer fridge except for camping a couple times a year when the 22L isn't big enough..

We are on our second one of these, slightly bigger model 54L I think. First one was Domende (?), which is Alpicool (uses their app too), new one is Vevor. All the same.

I bought the warranty with it and got a new one when it died after a couple years of 24/7 Jeep use. They are not as robust as the pricey name brands to be sure but the warranty is good enough for me considering I paid like $250 for the thing and just a few more bucks for the warranty.