Convince me....chillers...

[Blaser243]

I've noted many people on here over the years using a wide variety of options for storing carcasses over the years, ranging from bespoke larders through dedicated walk-in chillers to adapted coke fridges, commercial fridges and (of course) dedicated "home use" deer chillers, such as those from Landig.

I've had a couple of coke-type chillers in the past, but they've never lasted that long. I'm in the market to upgrade this season, so I'm weighing up the pros and cons of other options. Typically, I need to store 2 fallow at any one time before I can move them on, but several times during the year it would be useful to have space for up to 5 deer (fallow, roe, mostly). Space wise, I don't have room for a walk-in and so I am thinking either something like a Foster G2 or a Polar/Williams equivalent. Ideally a double if I can find one for a right price.

The Landig 9000 seems to come in at around £2,250 (new) whereas I can get a Foster G2 (in very good used condition) for between £500 and £700 (single) or around £1000 for a double. Having examined both the LU9000 and the LU10000 (wow, that's a lot of deer to break even with one of those), they seem really nice, but I can't see how they are instrinctly any better than a Foster (£4k for a new G3, so a similar price point, like for like). I have no reluctance about fitting either an internal frame or a bar to hang the carcasses from.

The only benefit of the Landig seems to be slightly more internal height, which as others have laid out in other posts, can be got around especially if you hang from the aitch bone.

So - I've not completely ruled out a Landig 9000, but I am erring towards the Foster given I'd be saving £1,000 which can't be sneezed at. Does anyone have any convincing views why I should go one way or the other?

Thanks.

 

[deerstalker.308]

I suppose the other advantage of the landig ones is they come ready made to hang carcasses, depending on your DIY abilities, you’ll need to fabricate whatever is needed to hang deer from in the non-dedicated deer fridges, but that’s not going to set you back enough even if you pay a fabricator to make it to get close to the difference in prices mentioned.
I suppose the other consideration is air movement and whether the dedicated ones have anything different in terms of fans and moisture management (not sure they do but genuinely don’t know).
The other consideration with all of them is height of the unit as if the condenser is on top you need substantially more room to site the fridge, they’re all different so worth bearing in mind (you may have loads of space in which case disregard!)
Don’t rule out small walk in chillers, they are really convenient and come in so many shapes and configurations to suit just about whatever you need and if wanting a maximum of 5 deer is question if any of the normal fridges would be big enough?

 

[deerstalker.308]

The other thing you could do is build your own to fit the space you need, and just fork out for a secondhand monoblock….

 

[Firefly]

I bought a Landig 10000 four years go, every time I open the door it pleases me that I bought it. It’s built for what it’s supposed to do and it does it well.

 

[Pete6.5]

My home chillers are foster g2 double fridges. You can put 5 fallow in easily and fosters fridges are repairable. I picked up this one for under £500 but I'm always looking for more.

 

[Pete6.5]

It's galvanized handrail in it and I twist hooks 90 degrees so the deer fit the right way round.

 

[paulbshooting]

I have the Landig LU10000 and recently added the LU9000 premium. I had converted larder fridges before. As I mostly get fallow i went the landig route to utilse their internal bars and external electric hoist and bar system. In fur go and stay in the 10000, skinned and quartered plus fresh for sale in the 9000. Not cheap kit but works great, well made and no problems so far. 7 years into the 10000 unit. Easy to clean and cools down so quick. Happy i paid what i did and enjoy my setup.

 

[Idlemusket]

May be a waste of time but I have just been looking at an advert on face ache for this company based in North Devon seems like they have lots of fridges and other stuff. never used them so can't vouch for them prices seem reasonable though

AssetGoods Ltd​

 

[Gm81]

I had standard fridges. One played up and I got fed up with it warming up when I had a deer in it. Bought a landig 9000. The design is what you pay for. Loading rail and bar is a back saver. Also not faffing with hooks in a short chiller. Cleaning them is great. No corners all wipe clean no rot plastic. You wouldn't get 5 fallow in it. 2 yes.
My father has a double Williams that has seen a lot of deer. It's played up at times but has lasted. Fallow do sit with the neck on the base. His is old and starting to rot out in the corners. But you can't argue it's done a long time. Awkward to hang deer on the rails if they are heavy. Noisy too.
It's not as purpose built but does the job.
Landig is an expensive investment, but you can see why.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

As above I’m another happy Landig owner, was let down with a drinks fridge and bit the bullet and paid the premium price for a premium product.
I have the LU7000 and added the extra hanging rail and it quickly gets down to the 2’C I run it at.

 

[Long drag]

I had standard fridges. One played up and I got fed up with it warming up when I had a deer in it. Bought a landig 9000. The design is what you pay for. Loading rail and bar is a back saver. Also not faffing with hooks in a short chiller. Cleaning them is great. No corners all wipe clean no rot plastic. You wouldn't get 5 fallow in it. 2 yes.
My father has a double Williams that has seen a lot of deer. It's played up at times but has lasted. Fallow do sit with the neck on the base. His is old and starting to rot out in the corners. But you can't argue it's done a long time. Awkward to hang deer on the rails if they are heavy. Noisy too.
It's not as purpose built but does the job.
Landig is an expensive investment, but you can see why.

Hi what about Red deer, would the Landig work with say 2 or 3 reds weight of 100 to 200 Kg, would it work.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Hi what about Red deer, would the Landig work with say 2 or 3 reds weight of 100 to 200 Kg, would it work.

You would need the larger LU11000 Premium which would cope with 1 or 2 at that size, however if you are regularly shooting bigger bodied Red deer like that you’ll be far better putting your money into the likes of a Fisher , Tarrant or Gamecooler deer larder with a hanging rail winch system and walk in chiller capacity.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Got one from coolgame. Not particularly for the volume I shoot but it just means that you can reliably hang a deer or pigeons etc for a few days over the summer/autumn. Even in winter our temps fluctuate.

Isn’t as exciting as a new scope but well worth it once you’ve forgotten about the purchase costs

 

[Gm81]

Hi what about Red deer, would the Landig work with say 2 or 3 reds weight of 100 to 200 Kg, would it work.

As said above - you're getting into proper commercial grade with these weights. I would hang one, but it would be a shove in and hang 3/4 of it with the other on the floor.
If I was dealing with these weekly I would have a different setup from a 9000. Walk in with winch and rails would be my choice.

 

[SussexSteve]

Landig all day long. I’ve a chiller that holds 25 but I’m in the market for a spare for one or 2 carcasses on an estate and it will be a landig

 

[Tim.243]

As said above - you're getting into proper commercial grade with these weights. I would hang one, but it would be a shove in and hang 3/4 of it with the other on the floor.
If I was dealing with these weekly I would have a different setup from a 9000. Walk in with winch and rails would be my choice.

72" from the rail to the floor 122kg off the floor
Clear difference in a gambrel to my hanger with the same weight Fallow.
The S hook gang would have given up with the Red on their own.

 

[Blaser243]

Thanks for the views so far. I've had a look at a few options in the last few days. A single Foster won't cut it - too small. A double, possibly, but I hate it when deer hang with their necks on the floor so I'm now looking for a second hand panelled chiller and will have to make some additional space for it. At least then I won't have any worries over capacity or hanging height. Looks like I should be able to get one for a similar price to a double fridge anyway. Found something about 2m x 1.2m which should be ideal.

Downside, I presume, is that it will be more expensive to run? But, I'm not planning to have it on all the time, just when required, so hopefully not too much of an issue.

 

[Sheamus]

72" from the rail to the floor 122kg off the floor
Clear difference in a gambrel to my hanger with the same weight Fallow.View attachment 382094View attachment 382095
The S hook gang would have given up with the Red on their own.

Would it make sound like a hater? If I said that red carcass looks no where near the weight you claim

 

[Overlay]

Landig / coolgame I've got the coolgame after much deliberating and its superb, never had a problem with it at all after 2 years of getting it, they ain’t cheap compared to some but they are decent bits of kit

I think Ed at Edinburgh rifles is an agent, might be worth you giving him a call too and see whats about

Cheers
Phil

 

[Blaser243]

Regarding Landig - the comparison now is between paying £4200 for a LU10000 or under £1500 for a dedicated s/h chiller. The 9000 is going to be marginal for size - fine for most of the time, but I'm going to be really annoyed when I have to squeeze them in (or simply can't).

Chiller compressor could fail, being second hand, but a new compressor etc. would still cost less than it would cost for the LU10000 and the chiller will have more space than any fridge.

Never know, I might start renting out space in it to other local stalkers!