OZtrail 80L and 45L fridges

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OZtrail Fridge/Freezer Review – 45L/80L/125L [2023]

Considering picking up one of the OZtrail fridges but wondering whether it’s worth the price tag? Want to know whether it will hold up in Australian conditions?

Well, in this OZtrail fridge/freezer review, I will be looking at their main pros and cons, key features that set them apart from the competition and finally, whether I think that they are a good buy or not!

Let’s take a look.

 

OZtrail 45L Fridge

OZtrail 80L Fridge

OZtrail 125L Fridge


OZtrail 45L fridge
OZtrail 80L fridge
OZtrail 125L fridge

621 (L) x 469 (W) x 485 (H) mm

880 (L) x 570 (W) x 455 (H) mm

915 (L) x 560 (W) x 615 (H) mm

21 kg

30 kg

33 kg

45 L

80 L

125 L

65 cans

150 cans

162 cans

Single

Dual

Dual

-18°C/+20°C

-18°C/+20°C

-18°C/+20°C

2 years

2 years

2 years

Pros + Cons

OZtrail 45L fridge

OZtrail 45L fridge

Pros
  • Reasonably affordable
  • Can set temperature from -18°C to +20°C
  • Can handle ambient conditions as high as 55°C and 90% humidity
  • Accepts 220-240V AC and 12/24V DC power
  • Max and Eco modes available
  • 3 stage battery protection
  • Feels sturdy and robust
  • Thick insulation on all sides
  • Internal wire baskets
  • Can operate continuously at an angle of up to 30°
Cons
  • Only 2 year warranty - many other brands offer 3 years
  • Doesn’t run natively off 240V AC power - steps down AC voltage to 12V DC
  • No water drain plug
  • No USB port for charging
  • No Bluetooth app control

Now that we have a feel for what we like and what we don’t like about the fridge, let’s take a look at it in a little more detail!

Design

The design of the OZtrail fridges bears a striking resemblance to a variant of the Brass Monkey fridges - they even use the same LG compressor (check out my full Brass Monkey fridge review for more info). In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were manufactured in the same overseas factory.

The 45L unit is a single zone fridge or freezer, whereas the 80L and 125L are both dual zone units that can be operated as both a fridge and freezer simultaneously if you desire.

OZtrail 80L fridge

OZtrail 80L dual zone fridge/freezer interior

You can of course operate both compartments as a fridge or freezer at the same time, if you prefer. If you don’t need so much space, you can also switch off one side to conserve power.

All 3 sizes come with a powder coated steel body that feels very sturdy. Both sides are fitted with tough, durable carry handles (these double as tie down points) which is just as well, because these are heavy units.

The 45L unit weighs 21kg, while the 80L units weighs 29kg. The 125L weighs a whopping 33kg. You’ll need a second person to help you move them, especially if they are full of food or drink.

While the heaviness is a pain, it’s for a good reason. The fridge is quite well insulated, thanks to the thick walls that run around the entire unit.

I noticed that quite a few people who purchased these fridges have complained that they are larger than they were expecting, possibly due to these thick walls. Check the external dimensions before you buy to make sure that it’ll fit comfortably in your car.

The lid (or lids, on the dual zone units) are fitted with steel latches to keep them securely shut and prevent them from opening while you are doing some 4WDing. The lids are also soft close, which means they won’t be slamming shut every time you pull out a drink.

Display

80L fridge display, controls and power connection

The temperature readout and controls are located towards the bottom right of the front of the fridge, along with the 12/24V power connection which is located at the base of the right side of the fridge.

There is also a display which shows the voltage remaining in your battery. The table below shows the corresponding voltages for the various battery display indicators.

Battery display voltages

This area is also where the ventilation panels are located, so this is where most of the hot air is expelled from the fridge/freezer.

The OZtrail fridge/freezers are unfortunately lacking some of the features that are common on premium models, such as USB ports for charging mobile devices, and Bluetooth app control.

The lack of a water drain plug is also disappointing. I would have thought that that would be standard by now.

However, it is easy to overlook these missing features when you consider the excellent price (more on that later).

All up, the OZtrail portable fridges seem sturdy, robust and well designed. They are big, beefy units that seem to have been designed more for functionality than looks, but that is absolutely fine by me. A pretty fridge that doesn’t keep your food and drink cool isn’t much use!

Temperature Settings

These units can be set at temperatures ranging from -20°C to +20°C and it will continue to operate at ambient temperatures as low as -10°C and as high as 55°C. It will also handle humidities up to 90%, which is great to see.

Bear in mind that these fridges are set by default to automatically run when the internal temperature reaches 0.5-1.5°C above the set temperature, and switch off once it reaches 0.5 to 1.5°C below the set temperature.

This means that there will be a few degrees variation in operating temp, even when the unit is running properly. Be careful when setting your camping fridge to 1°C if it is full of beer - you may end up exploding a few cans!

OZtrail 80L fridge

OZtrail 80L dual zone fridge

Most users of the OZtrail fridges have said that their unit has no trouble reaching the temperatures they set.

As mentioned earlier, the temperature in the left and right compartments on the dual zone fridges can be set independently, or individual compartments can be turned off to conserve power.

Power Specs

All of the camping fridges in this range can be powered by either 220-240V AC power or a 12V/24V DC power source.

The fridge comes with a 12V DC power cable that includes a cigarette lighter and Merit connection. With this cable, you can run the fridge from your car battery or via a second battery if you have a dual battery setup.

Power connection

It also comes with an AC adaptor, which will transform AC power down to 12V DC power. Accordingly, the end of this adaptor plugs into the same 12/24V socket on the fridge.

According to the OZtrail manuals, both the 45L and 80L units have a rated current draw of 3.75A at 12V. The rated power consumption is 45W for the 45L unit and 60W for the 80L unit.

I can’t find the equivalent information for the 125L unit unfortunately. I will get in touch with OZtrail to see if they can supply this. They also don’t provide any information on typical power consumption over a 24 hour period, so it’s difficult to compare it on this front with the competition.

Like almost all other 12V portable fridges, these OZtrail units also come with 3 stage battery protection. This is especially useful if you plan on running the fridge off your car battery.

By setting the battery protection to MEDIUM or HIGH, the fridge will automatically switch off before it drains your car battery to the point where it can no longer start. LOW is the recommended setting for a dual battery setup, as you will get maximum use out of your fridge before it automatically turns off.

The preset on/off voltages for each of the battery protection modes are listed in the table below. These are pulled from the OZtrail manual.

Battery protection system

Extras

If you do pick up one of these fridges, you might want to consider adding some of these extras. They’re certainly not essential, but they will make life a lot easier while out camping.

Unfortunately, OZtrail doesn’t seem to sell any fridge slides to suit their fridges. If you want one, you’ll have to see if a competitor’s fridge slide will suit the OZtrail units, or make your own one.

Insulating Cover

OZtrail sells separate insulating covers for the 45L and 80L units. The 125L unit comes with a cover included.

The insulating covers are black and made from polyester. They have some extra external pockets which is great for storing cables and any other loose gear you might have on hand.

OZtrail fridge cover

The covers help protect the portable fridge/freezer from getting damaged while in the back of your car or out at the campsite.

They also reduce how much heat leaks from the surroundings into the fridge. This means that the compressor doesn’t have to run so often, which extends its life and means that your batteries will last longer too.

Dual Battery

Running your 12V fridge from your car battery is perfectly fine, but it does come with a few drawbacks.

If you run the fridge round the clock, you run the risk of flattening your battery and not being able to start your car. You’ll spend half your trip checking your battery with your multimeter and idling your car to keep the battery topped up.

If you decide to only run your fridge while your car is running, then your food is likely to warm up and you run the risk of food poisoning.

You can avoid these hassles by simply getting a second 12V battery that you can dedicate to powering your various 12V devices (such as your fridge). However, you need a 12V battery that can handle bouncing around in the back of the car and doesn’t mind getting caught in the weather occasionally.

There’s quite a few options out there, but I personally recommend the Dometic CoolPower RAPS battery. It has a 44Ah capacity and is very rugged and designed for the rough and tumble of an Australian camping trip.

CoolPower RAPS 44 Battery

Solar Panels

If you decide to go with the dual battery setup I mentioned above and plan on being away from mains power for a while, consider investing in some solar panels.

This will allow you to charge your 12V battery during the day, which will then run your appliances like your fridge overnight.

OZtrail recommends using solar panels rated between 60W and 250W with their fridge. Again, Dometic sells 120W and 180W units that are good quality and will do the job for you. If you go camping regularly, they will be a worthwhile investment.

Dometic solar panels

Build Quality & Warranty

On the whole, these fridges seem to be well built and robust. They can handle a fair bit of rough and tumble and will keep ticking away regardless.

I haven’t heard of too many issues with them so far, but I will keep an eye out and let you know if I hear anything.

Known Problems

All of these fridges use LG compressors to run their refrigeration cycle. These are generally considered to be quite decent, but there have been some reports of faulty LG compressors in recent years.

At the moment, these issues seem to just be affecting domestic, upright fridges using LG compressors so hopefully the ones used in the OZtrail fridge/freezers are fine.

Warranty

The OZtrail fridge/freezers all come with 2 year warranties. This is definitely towards the lower end of typical portable fridge warranties.

Brass Monkey, which stock virtually identical fridges, offer a 3 year warranty on their models.

I haven’t spoken to anyone who has had to go through the OZtrail warranty claims process, so I can’t comment on how well they handle these.

OZtrail 125L fridge

OZtrail 125L fridge

Conclusion - OZtrail Fridge/Freezer Review

The OZtrail fridge/freezer range is a solid option for a portable 12V fridge. They are very sturdy, no-nonsense units with solid insulation and good performance.

They lack some of the more premium features like USB charging and remote Bluetooth control, but they make up for this with fast cooling at a low price. Being able to operate at temperatures up to 55°C, humidities up to 90% and a tilt of 30° shows how robust these units really are.

They are best for those who go camping occasionally, for a couple of nights at a time. If you are going away for extended periods (especially if you’ll be on the road for weeks at a time), I recommend that you upgrade to something more reliable, such as the Dometic CFF45, or the Dometic CFX3 range.

Alternatively, you can take a look at my list of the best portable fridge/freezers in Australia!

Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this OZtrail fridge review! If you have any questions or comments, post them below and I’ll get back to you when I can!

Review Summary

Reviewer: Louis
Review Date: 2021-04-14
Reviewed Item: OZtrail Fridge Freezers
Author Rating: 4/5
Product Name: OZtrail Fridge Freezer
Price: AUD $699
Product Availability: Available in Stock


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on not just the , but we have also compared it to out there. We have also read hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of this review is to figure whether this product is right for you, the user. We systematically compare the product to all of the available options on the market, to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

To see which products we compared the to, check out the list below. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

  • Hi Gerard,
    I am seeking your expert advice and guidance please and hope you may be able to help. My brother and I just bought a 45L Oztrail and wondered if it was possible to run them both simultaneously from ONE ONLY battery? and what would be the required attachments.

    • You can run multiple fridges off one battery, just don’t expect the battery to last overnight. The draw current from two fridges is higher due to the majority of the battery loading bein on startup. Depending on your fridges you might be able to source ready made cables for this, however I would expect you will have to make one up, I suggest you ditch the cigarette lighter attachment and hardwire an Anderson plug onto two replacement leads (Anderson’s can be bought at Sca and need only crimping rather than soldering). You’ll then need a battery box for your battery (try kings for a budget friendly option). You’ll need the biggest battery you can find, or if your wallet allows go lithium for longer life. Good luck.

  • Hi, I have a Oztrail 45lt which i have run constantly for the last month as freezer an also fridge. I plan to also purchase 80LT, 1 for camper/1 for car. I live in Darwin, so far I am very impressed. I do not think it is fair to advise people to buy other brands , when you have not received more reliable information about Oztrail. Also there is a local guy for any warranty work , I have been an agent for many brands of fridges , Regards Ian.

    • Well said Ian we have the 45lt aswell and it’s a great investment.also on here I read that oztrail don’t do fridge slides for our fridges.well I went to anaconda yesterday and they had the universal fridge slide which fits all oztrail fridges and paid $179 for it.will be fitting it in the back of forty very soon,cheers.

  • Hi we purchased an 80ltr oztrail fridge freezer in april 2021
    It worked perfectly until 3 weeks ago. All of a sudden i had no effect in trying to set the fridge temp. The fridge took on a life of its own. It changed temp “at will” sometimes freezing things. Oz trail gave me the name of their repair agent, in mackay (we r from newcastle travelling north) as we are here for a week i took the fridge to their agent Yittys theywere mkst uncooperative . I phoned oztrail spoke to Barry who organised for me to pick up a brand nea unit from annoconda Mackay. All people I spoke to (the agent aside) were extremlh helpfull.
    I have now had the eaa unit for 24 hours turned it on am yesterday. I do as directed to set the temp. The freezer control works perfectly the fridge side however wants to revert to minus 4 when i am trying to set it at 5 degrees.

    On the screen the Left freezer “statement” appears however there is no such “statement” for the fridge side.

    We have followed all instructions and can’t get this new unit to respond to fridge settings. I have turned it on and off at the power point twice and turned the fridge side off and restarted it on the panel. All to no avail

    Is anyone out there having a similar problem

  • Hi, So happy with 45lt fridge i have purchased a second, 1 to be used as fridge,1 to be used as freezer. I have constantly run 1 at -18 OK, sometimes showing -22 with 2 if i have a breakdown i have the other and less electronics per fridge, than 80 lt. I live in Darwin with constant high temp, have a good report from local serviceman, so far so good.

  • Hello Louis,
    After reading your review the 80lt Oztrail seemed the best option for me. Yet to field test it but everything works here at home 12v and 240v.
    In my opinion it could do with a longer 12v lead. Don’t mind it doesn’t have usb outlets they are everywhere else. car, battery box blutooth speaker, etc etc.

  • I’ve just purchased a 80 ltr fridge /freezer the fridge has come down to temp but no luck with the freezer still in 17deg I’ve set it to – 8 but nothing happened over 36 hours . Any advice as to why this is not working ?

  • I have had problems with my fridge from the time I purchased it it has been to there technician twice f3 and f4 keep coming up so obviously there is a problem with the compressor overload it’s going to be the last time so I will be asking for a refund or replacement , I’m over it .

  • Have had the 80L one for over a year and use it all the time. Also purchased the 45L one half year ago to keep in work ute. Very happy with both of them. Very rugged, cool down quickly and stay cold. Love the price too.

  • You say if you want to camp for more than a couple of days get something more reliable such as a dometic. What does this say about the ox trail fridge? Is it not reliable?

  • Hi all, I have the 85L oztrail fridge/freezer and im on my 4th 240v cord that I have been buying from anaconda as my cords keep melting where it plugs into the fridge, 12v is fine it only happens with 240v cord, anyone know how to stop this from happening ease.

  • I have had my 80l Dual Zone Oztrail for 18 months now and it has not skipped a beat. It is usually on 24/7 on AC power inside as a spare drinks fridge. I’ve taken it out for family day trips/picnics at least a dozen times and about 5 or 6 weekend camping trips (3 days/2 nights each time) and I run it off a crappy cheap AGM battery and Battery Box from K-Mart of all places! The battery is nearly as heavy as the fridge! On the crappy KMart battery it easily lasts from 5am Friday till I get some at around 5pm Sunday night. I also have the insulated cover.

    The only thing I can nitpick is – when going offroad 4wding to campsites, TWICE so far the cigarette lighter plug has come out of the battery. Luckily it was coming home both times so nothing important defrosted or went warm/hot. I need to see if I can get a power cable with an Anderson plug at one end and the right power connector for the Oztrail fridge on the other end.

    The fridge has been awesome value and I’d highly recommend it.

  • Excellent review – I’m just about to purchase a 40 – 50 L fridge and was completely bedazzled by the number on the market. I am an experienced chemical engineer in refrigeration and the many questions I asked of the different suppliers just could not or would not be answered (one even claimed it was classified proprierty info when it came to disclosing compressor manufacturer and model number so he categorically refused to answer my query.
    My analysis was interesting:
    1. Secop was the only compressor company I could find who published detailed data on the refrigeration compressor loading data (electrical power vs refrig load, evaporating temp and condensing temperature. KIng’s Stayzcool fridge advertising spiel quotes this compressor but I found out that they just dumped it in favour of Huayi branded compressor of unspecified model number. Unfortunately, the advertising page mentions both brands but it was confirmed in writing that they had recently made the change but had not updated the advertising literature. After 2-days, I am still eagerly awaiting confirmation of Huayi compressor model number. The unit apparently has an 85 KW electrical load so it implies it uses a big compressor so should cool down the fridge and its contents in a very short period of time?
    2. The Brass Monkey fridge advertising literature says that they use an L.G compressor (non-disclosed model number) but for some inexplicable reason they forbid operation of the Fridge at an inclination angle above 5 Deg. I phoned one of the sellers and they confirmed this to be correct and that Brass Money manufacturer recommends that their fridge be located on perfectly flat ground? Of course, this simply doesn’t work on 4 WD adventures.
    I also looked at the Geko fridge but gave up on it due to lack of technical data but the glossies did look nice.
    Anyway, thanks for the review, you’ve given me the confidence to go out and purchase the Oz-Trail unit. The data you provided was extremely useful in my decision making process. In 4- weeks time I’m off to Darwin then across to Boome with she who must be obeyed sitting beside me and warm white wine could lead to driver assassination.

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