12V Oven

Up until recently I wouldn’t have believed a 12V DC oven would be effective.  Your average 240V domestic oven is probably rated at 1000-1500 Watts which means an equivalent 12V oven would be drawing 80 – 125 Amps.  Far too much for your average car battery and alternator.  So when I read the “Travel Buddy” 12V oven had a current rating of only 10 Amps I was rather sceptical. 

After more online research I was surprised to discover the 12V Travel Buddy oven is capable of cooking food and is very popular with 4x4 travellers.

The Travel Buddy is Australian designed and made in Bendigo, Victoria where a small company has been producing them for several years.

Unfortunately for this small company they have apparently become a victim of their own success.  It’s rumoured one of their retailers became frustrated with the inability of the Travel Buddy manufacturer to meet the demand.  He was losing customers and in frustration turned to China finding a manufacturer there.  The result was the “Road Chef”

Which has almost exactly the same specification and approximately the same price. 

You might remember me mentioning “KickAss” yesterday’s post and how they sourced and re-badged Chinese products.

KickAss also have a 12V oven

Doesn’t it look exactly like the Road Chef?  I suspect Australian Direct went to the Chinese manufacturer of the Road Chef and negotiated a re-badged version.  It’s also cheaper than both the Road Chef and the Travel Buddy.

I watched a You Tube “tear down” comparison of the Travel Buddy and the Road Chef.  The reviewer owned a Travel Buddy, but concluded the Chinese made Road Chef was a superior product.  His final comment was despite the Road Chef being superior, he would buy a Travel Buddy as he would be supporting an Australian manufacturer and buying his grandchildren a job.  Whilst I understand his sentiment, I also believe the Travel Buddy manufacturer should be examining competitors products to improve his own.