ARB fridges are some of the most expensive we looked at. You can save a bit of money with other brands, but ARB makes top-quality, rugged, and efficient fridges. You really do get what you pay for with these. Warranty and Reliability We keep our fridge between our front seats in our van, and to reach the control panel on the BougeRV we need to lean all the way over the fridge and adjust the controls upside down. This also makes it harder to keep tabs on temperature. This isn’t necessarily a huge deal, but the controls really should be on the same side as the latch for better usability (or at least oriented towards the latch). You can adjust the temperature to switch the freezer to a fridge, which is favourable for outdoor using. We think the Dometic CFX3 line of portable 12V portable fridge/freezers are the top high-end choice for a vanlife refrigerator. Dometic (or Waeco, as they’re also known) has always made solid fridges, but their newest models are setting the bar for the 12V portable refrigerator class.

The Best 12 Volt Portable Refrigerators for Vanlife, Camping

If you are looking for top of the line cooler that will lasts you for days on an epic road trip, the Stanley coolers is worth buying!Yeah a dedicated 1kw. But ive learned about a hard start capacitor for a fridge. Get one and you can probably either combine a 1kw or go down to a 400w-600w. Amps x Volts (12V assuming you’re running a DC circuit) = Wattage; Wattage x 8 hours (estimated fridge run time in 24 hours) = Wh/24 hours; Wh/24 hours ÷ 24 = Wh; Wh ÷ Voltage (again, 12V) = Ah

Fridge Review: Is This Cheap Vanlife Fridge BougeRV Portable Fridge Review: Is This Cheap Vanlife Fridge

Can you use this as a freezer and fridge at the same time, or does it have to be one or the other? Does it have a separate freezer compartment? This spacious cooler has two zones, both capable of reaching any temperature in the cooler’s range. The ICECO also supports two cooling modes, MAX and ECO, for fast freezing when you need it and energy efficiency when you don’t. The BougeRV fridge looks like a generic ABS plastic 12V refrigerator. However, it seems pretty solid – but doesn’t feel as rugged as our (much more expensive) ARB 50L refrigerator. Note: It can be insanely difficult to find accurate power draw information for 12V fridges. Not every manufacturer makes test data available – and when they do, the test conditions may be different than those used by other manufacturers, making comparisons difficult. We think the 40 Liter Engel MR040 is the best option for vanlife. Designed specifically for marine use, the MR040 features durable plastic construction that can weather the stresses of life on the road. Energy EfficiencyDoes it run on just DC circuits or AC circuits, too? When on the road, you will pretty much exclusively run DC. However, having the ability to run off AC if you’re plugged into shore power or want to take your fridge indoors is a nice perk. Temperature range: And the fact is, the BougeRV fridge does perform well, and it seems to be good quality. Is it as nice as a Dometic CFX3? No. But it’s also much, much cheaper.

ICECO JP40 Portable Refrigerator Fridge Freezer, 12V Cooler ICECO JP40 Portable Refrigerator Fridge Freezer, 12V Cooler

Higher-end 12-volt refrigerators have been getting more and more expensive over the past few years – and while top brands like Dometic, ARB, Engel, etc., make excellent units, the value may not be there for a lot of people. There has also been a proliferation of budget brands using quality components like Danfoss SECOP compressors that are worth looking at. You may be making some tradeoffs in terms of reliability and efficiency with some of these units, but you’ll also be spending way less money. Plus, there are now 12V fridge brands like Iceco that can go toe-to-toe with higher-end units in many respects. One benefit of thermoelectric coolers is they require less power, meaning less cost, but this comes at a great loss of functionality. Price High Quality - SECOP(Danfoss) Compressor, for Fast Cooling (15min to 0℉); Winner of IDEA & Reddot; ETL Certificate; Global Product Insurance；Best buy mini fridge.In this comprehensive buyer’s guide, we’ll help you find the best electric cooler for your specific needs. Using the links below, you can skip to the recommendation that suits your needs, or you can simply scroll down to browse all the high-quality options we selected for this list.

ICECO VL/VL PRO Series 12V Refrigerator RV Refrigerator | ICECO ICECO VL/VL PRO Series 12V Refrigerator RV Refrigerator | ICECO

Whynter offers a short 1-year warranty on their fridges, and there are some real questions as far as consistency and long-term reliability. Some owners have reported difficulty getting their 12-volt refrigerator repaired or replaced if issues pop up. If you buy a Whynter, be sure to get it from somewhere with a robust return policy, just in case. Features and Accessories We suggest do not expose it to the heavy rain, and sure, it get adequate ventilation with the bag on.An ECU program for low-voltage battery protection, EMC anti-electromagnetic interference, and Current overload protection design protects the device while you're on the road. After discounts, the BougeRV fridge is less than 1/3 the price of high end units from top brands like Dometic and ARB, and almost half the price of the equivalent Iceco fridge. Like most fridges on this list, Whynter’s units include all the basic features, such as low voltage shut off, interior lighting, digital controls, and a drain plug. There are few accessories available, but they do offer a transit bag. Bottom Line ARB fridges include all the features you expect, like low voltage cutoff, digital display, interior lighting, removable lid, and drain plug. They also have a ton of accessories available, including fridge slides, tie-down straps, a transit bag, and a remote display. The accessories aren’t cheap, though! Bottom Line