Listen to the full episode here:
The quiet achiever of the camping fridge world finally steps into the spotlight…
From wire-on-tube heat exchangers straight out of Nan’s old Kelvinator to a 35L base that expands into a 52L weekend beast — in this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack the quiet achiever of the camping fridge world with the man who’s lived and breathed the brand for over a decade. They dig into why a swappable wiring loom beats a fancy touch panel, how steel construction outlasts plastic in the harsh Aussie sun, and why Bushman would rather you call them about your dodgy DIY mod than void your warranty over it.
Tune in for an hour of fridge philosophy, real-world efficiency tips, and proof that sometimes the most underrated gear is the stuff that just quietly gets the job done!
Shortcuts:
00:00 – Welcome + why Bushman’s the quiet achiever
02:18 – Tommy’s story: 11 years at Bushman
08:00 – The original Bushman: a design that’s barely changed
11:08 – Simple by design: fewer features, fewer failures
14:30 – One fridge, three sizes: the 35L that grows to 52L
18:46 – Inside the compressor: why Bushman picks Secop/Danfoss
19:21 – Only three or four compressors on the spares shelf
20:02 – Built to last: the 7-year (almost 20-year) warranty
20:59 – Single vs dual-zone & the three-basket temperature trick
28:32 – What makes a 12V fridge efficient: insulation, canopies & heat exchangers
36:46 – Chest vs upright, and buying the smallest fridge you can
45:31 – Where Bushman fridges are made
53:47 – Copper vs aluminium: the risk of joining different metals
57:00 – Steel vs plastic, marine rating & weatherproofing
1:04:00 – Reviews, seals & real-world feedback
1:10:54 – How customers modify their fridges
1:12:33 – “Give us a call”: Bushman’s take on DIY mods & warranty
1:23:02 – Solo travellers, backpack fridges & what’s next
Browse the entire Bushman Fridge range online at Snowys here >>.
Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of the Snowys Camping Show Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, or Podcast Addict so you never miss an upload.
If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.
Catch you out there!
From tent pegs and air tents, to setups for summer and one-pot wonders – our gear gurus Ben and Lauren unpack the topics on every camper’s tongue, taking each minute to the limit with how-to’s, destinations, and expert interviews. Be it a swag, tent, or ‘swent’ – set up camp with us!