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Can I wade in here.

Am looking for a fridge after years of camping with a cool box. I am very taken with the Waeco CAB 40 (silver) but they seem to have been replaced with the RC 1700.

Am I right or am I mistaken?

We are going as far south as Dordogne this year - last year we were at 35 degrees in the Vendee without a fridge so anything will be an improvement!

Anyway, I was set on a CAB40 do now need to know if they still exist and what, if any, are the advantages of the new model.

Many thanks

Hi grumpy.

                Fact is, although the CAB40 is a good bit of kit, that goes to -30DegC below ambient temp, it is still just an absorbtion type cooler, although the WAECO CF range are expensive, they are the real deal, being of the compressor type, we used a CF25 last year in Southern France during July, even in the blistering heat it performed superb, keeping stuff at +4DegC all the time, one thing I like about the CF25 is it's compact size, so takes up little room in the car, my original plan was to hire a fridge on site, but as the CF25 was plenty big enough for us, we just used that all the time.

I think you are right grumpy as when I checked back in at Socal they have stopped doing the cab40 and only have the extremely similar RC1700 and at £160 an extremely similar price too.  Only difference I can see at a glance is the ridged lid!

As Francais says it is huge externally (I would def check these measurements against the boot of your car as even though we thought we had we still gasped when it arrived) but internally only just big enough for a family of 4 on holiday - but it is square so quite easy to pack around providing you leave the vents exposed if you are using it en route.  We did consider the CF models but price put us off & to be honest as the CAB peformed just as you would hope a good refrigerator would peform in temps outside of upto 38 degs (everything was chilled and kept to a good shelf life) whilst packed full of food and milk then I don't think the extra expense is really necessary. 

Straight from Horses mouth (Waeco)

There are no differences between these two absorption refrigertors. CAB-40 is a Waeco product, RC 1700 is a Dometic product.

Great  - thanks.

Now concerned about the size of the CAB 40 esp. as I have just taken delivery of our new Monty 6 awning that is bigger than the tent!

Am not convinced a 25L will be large enough though - family of 4?

Too many decisions to make. Will have to see them in the flesh and decide methinks.

Hi grumpy.

               To be fair there are only the two of us, so the CF25 is plenty, but for 4 folk, I guess you would need the CAB40, thing is WAECO do a compressor version of the CAB40, maybe the CF40, but the price will be silly, going on for £600, I imagine.

Quote: Originally posted by mully on 17/2/2010

We have this one -

http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-1428744-10475506?url=http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/scripts/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eoutdoormegastore%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2findex%2ehtml&WD=kampa%20aqua&SHOP=%20&PN=Kampa_26_Litre_Aqua_Super_Fridge_Freezer%2ehtml%23a2241#a2241

which is cooled with water.  It works up to 45 degrees below ambient temperature.  You can set the fridge temperature eg 3 degrees and it will maintain that temp whatever the temp outside.  It's fab and big enough for plenty of wine!

Kampa also have fab customer service and when my husband accidentally broke the power adaptor, they sent us not one but two replacements, free of charge - one to France and the other to our home!

It's more than your budget but if you can stretch it's worth it especially if you plan to go abroad.

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