Bushman has earned a strong reputation among Aussie overlanders, and for good reason. Its fridges are simple, reliable and built to withstand extended off-road travel. 

We put the DC85‑X Upright and DF30‑HD Drawer through their paces on a Simpson Desert convoy. While both kept food and drinks chilled, the Upright proved it was built for serious touring, with the Drawer playing second fiddle as reliable backup storage.

JUMP AHEAD

Bushman DC85‑X Upright: Practical and tough

I’ve never been much of a fan of upright fridges in canopies. They save space, but I’ve always found them awkward to stack efficiently. The Bushman DC85‑X changed my mind.

This unit is an absolute winner: Easy to access, surprisingly quiet, and with a freezer that punches well above its size – though ice can build up if you run it for long stretches in humid conditions. Built with a sturdy steel body, it stands up to corrugations and long-haul travel, proving it has been clearly designed for life on the road rather than weekend camping.

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It’s surprisingly user-friendly in a canopy setup, with large door shelves that fit two-litre milk bottles, space for tall bottles, a plastic crisper tub, and a six-litre internal freezer to keep essentials organised. It also features a reversible door, Anderson plug, and full mounting kit to make installation flexible.

Designed for off-road use, the DC85‑X combines Bushman’s proprietary cooling system with a genuine Secop Danfoss BD35 compressor, which is tropical ‘T’ rated, German-designed, and Japanese-owned. The variable-speed drive compressor draws 2 to 4.5 A, averaging just 1.25 A/hr over 24 hours at 25°C ambient while maintaining 4 C inside the fridge. Extensive ventilation and low-power design ensure efficiency even on extended trips, and a five-year compressor warranty rounds out a package that’s both rugged and practical.

DF30‑HD Drawer: Compact but capable

The DF30‑HD Drawer is compact, tidy, and fits neatly into most setups, but it doesn’t quite have the “premium Bushman” feel you might expect for the price.

It cools well, draws little power, and is a solid, reliable unit – just not especially remarkable compared with cheaper drawer fridges on the market. Small but surprisingly resilient, the DF30‑HD delivers –18°C freezing in up to 45°C ambient temperatures and +4°C refrigeration in 50°C. Closed-cell insulation up to three inches thick, twin cross-flow fans, 100 per cent stainless steel runners, steel hardware, slam latches, and a heavy-duty mounting bracket keep it secure and dependable under rough off-road conditions.

With a seven-year Secop Danfoss HD Series compressor warranty, the DF30‑HD is a trustworthy companion in extreme environments. While it doesn’t match the DC85‑X Upright for capacity or accessibility, it performs well as a secondary fridge.

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Real-world verdict

The DC85‑X Upright is easily the star of the show. Efficient, rugged, and thoughtfully designed, it makes life on the road that much easier. The DF30‑HD Drawer works well, but it doesn’t quite justify its premium badge on its own.

Still, when you’re miles from anywhere, reliability is what matters most – and the Upright delivers on that and more. For touring rigs or canopy setups, the DC85‑X is the fridge you’ll rely on day in, day out. Pair it with the DF30‑HD Drawer, and you have a compact secondary fridge that adds extra capacity and extreme-heat resilience, creating a setup that can handle nearly any adventure.

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Both fridges proved dependable on tough tracks. The Upright stands out for usability, durability, and cooling performance, while the Drawer performs solidly as a backup, offering rugged reliability even in harsh conditions.

One minor gripe applies to both units: if you store metal cans inside, expect some rubbing on the plastic interior. After a few trips, the surfaces can scuff or mark up. It’s not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if you like to keep your gear looking pristine.

Pricing: Upright $1495; Drawer $1480