Engel Dual Zone Fridge Freezer Review

Engel has recently announced that they are adding a new dual zone fridge/freezer to their product line, the MT45FCP. While this 41-Quart size unit is not available in the USA or Europe, we are taking the opportunity to review it’s larger brother, the 60 Quart MT60F-U1-C.

Features of the 60 Quart Engel Dual Zone Fridge Freezer

Dimensions: 1.1 x 19.3 x 17.4 inches

Weight: 85 pounds

Capacity: 34 Qt Fridge / 26.5 Qt Freezer

External Shell Material: Galvanized Steel

Power Consumption: Variable from 0.7 – 2.8 Amps (12V DC)

Power Source: 12V/24V DC & 110V/120V AC

Warranty: 3 Years

Review of the MT60F-U1-C Engel Dual Zone Fridge Freezer

The MT60F-U1-C from Engel is a 60 Quart combi cooler, so it combines a fridge and a freezer in to one unit, making it greatly versatile.

It’s designed to run off both AC and DC power, so whether you are at home or at a campsite having access to 110/220V AC power, or you are out overlanding in the desert with access only to 12V DC power, you will be able to use your MT60F without issues.

Engel has been famous for producing robust fridge-freezers. This unit is no exception with its galvanized, heavy-duty steel casing.

The carry handles are also made of steel. On a rough off-road trail these come in handy as they act as tie down points in a vehicle too.

It is equipped with a digital temperature gauge and a well designed switch to easily set the exact temperature inside.

The combi cooler comes with two separate baskets for the 34 Quart fridge and the 26.5 Quart freezer. Ideal sizes for a longer solo overland trip or for a short family adventure.

Unfortunately, the divider between the fridge and freezer cannot be removed nor its position changed.

The freezer compartment is covered with an additional plastic lid in order to avoid losing cold air when only wanting to access the fridge.

Externally, it is a little bit bulky when loaded into the back of an overland vehicle, and also quite heavy to move it around.

This will not be an issue as with the right setup, most overlanders would not need to remove it from their rig during a trip.

Even though it is a large unit, the power draw is only between 0.7 – 2.8 Amps an hour, which is a very positive attribute if you’re planning to run your fridge-freezer from an external battery or a solar panel while camping for a few days.

On top of that, the power consumption is considerably less when the unit reaches the required temperature inside.

It simply cuts off when the desired temperature is reached and turns on again later, should the temperature increase inside.

One of the features that Engel is famous for is reliability. These camping accessories are designed and tested in Australia in very rough conditions and over the last 50 years, Engel has built a great reputation among overlanders.

The compressor only contains one moving part, therefore, there are very few things that can go wrong while you are away from civilization.

We would actually like to emphasize the quality of the compressor (made by Sawafuji) which makes Engel fridges so unique when it comes to reliability.

You will have the unit’s metal casing scratched, dented, and faded before the compressor gives in. Nevertheless, Engel products come with a 3-year warranty.

Conclusion and Advice – Engel Dual Zone Fridge Freezer Review

With so many choices on the market, not only with different brands but also different designs and features, it can be quite hard to finally decide what kind of cooling unit to use.

Our recommendation would be to choose a regular cooler if you’re only going away for weekends and opt for a 12V fridge for longer overlanding trips and even a combined fridge-freezer if you will be on the trails for a few weeks or months.

Once you made a decision to go for a dual zone fridge freezer, it is not easy to find a better one than the MT60F-U1-C.

Check out those close-up pictures over on the dedicated amazon.com product page now!