Bottom Line: Chest-style fridges are more efficient, rugged, and practical for most van builds. However, upright-style fridges may fit better into your layout – it all depends on your preferences. Size (Interior Capacity) DUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL. A detachable sensor divider can switch a single temperature zone to two separate temperature zone (Fridge/freezer) in one refrigerator.

Side-hinge lids need less overhead clearance to fully open, and it may be easier to view and reach the contents. But the best lid direction for you will depend on your specific setup. In our first van, we had our rear-hinged ARB Classic fridge between the front seats – so having the hinge at the rear actually made it easier for us to access everything. Standard Features and Extra Features SUPER ENERGY SAVING. Two different modes can be adjusted as needed, MAX & ECO MODE. The refrigerating system will stop operating when the car freezer reaches the set temperature and will restart to operating when the temperature in the box has risen a few degrees Centigrade/Fahrenheit.Never again will you find yourself rummaging through your fridge with the door open. The mini-fridge comes with a reversible door for easy access, an adjustable temperature control, and leveling feet to make sure it stays in place wherever you decide to put it. Energy efficiency: The VL Pro series is fairly energy efficient, but it falls behind our other recommended fridges. The 35L-45L units draw upwards of 1.76A per hour, when most competing fridges draw less than 1.25A on average. Again, not a deal breaker, but you need to make sure to account for this when planning your electrical system. ( Note: Iceco is the rare manufacturer that actually publishes *accurate* consumption numbers, so you can look at the specific power draw of any model you’re looking at).

Energy efficiency. Based on our research, Dometic CFX3 fridges are the most efficient that we’ve found. We were not able to find any publicly available data online, so we called Dometic directly and asked them what they had. According to Dometic’s own testing, the CFX3 45L draws an insanely low 0.68A per hour on average (90°F ambient temperature with the fridge set to 39°F). Owners of this 12V portable fridge generally report power consumption at less than 1A per hour, which is consistent with Dometic’s numbers, so it’s safe to say that this is a very efficient camper van refrigerator.

Compressor fridge freezers, sometimes referred to as "2-way fridges" or 12V fridges, are the ideal solution for your campervan, caravan, motorhome, or boat. They can run efficiently on 12V and 24V DC systems, and have many features that make them ideal, such as rapid cooling, low power consumption, and the ability to operate on an inclination up to 45° and in temperatures up to 40°C. When you’re off-grid, energy efficiency is a huge concern. Batteries and solar are expensive, and the more efficient your appliances are, the more money you can save in capacity. All of the fridges we recommend here are efficient enough for van life usage, but some brands and models are able to achieve greater energy efficiency due to differences in insulation, configuration, and compressor controls. Make sure to consider the average power draw of any fridge you’re considering when you’re planning your electrical system. compressor refrigerators. These camper van fridges are designed for rugged use in 4×4 vehicles and boats, and they’re built with durability and efficiency in mind. Electric compressor fridges feature highly efficient, variable speed compressors that are fast cooling and draw very little power. This is hugely important when you’re running a van or RV fridge on the limited battery capacity of a power station or off grid electrical setup. These portable fridges also come in a variety of configurations, including chest-style, upright, and dual-zone fridge/freezers, and they have the ability to run while at an incline of 30 degrees or more.

Another key difference between compressor and absorption fridges is that compressor fridges do not run on LPG gas, generate high temperatures, or produce noxious gases. This means they do not require external ventilation, although airflow is still important.After testing and using it myself this is worth it. Looking forward to doing some longer travels with it. Features: Whynter FM Series 12V refrigerators have been around for a long time, and many vanlifers have successfully used these budget van fridges in their builds. The FM series is also available in several sizes, including single and dual zone. However, consistency and reliability has been an ongoing concern with these. Whynter does not use SECOP compressors, reports of power consumption have been all over the map, and these fridges only come with a short 1-year warranty. If you’re a full time vanlife couple, you will be best served with a campervan fridge that is at least 45L. A portable 12V refrigerator can really amp up your van life, camping, or RV experience. But these units arenot cheap, and it’s important to know that the 12V fridge you’re getting will fit your needs. We hope all the information we’ve presented here has been helpful – but please let us know in the comments if you have a question or you think we left something out. Energy efficiency: The VL-series is by far the most energy-efficient of Iceco’s fridges, with average power draw on par with the highly efficient fridges from Dometic and ARB. ( Note: Iceco is the rare manufacturer that actually publishes *accurate* consumption numbers, so you can look at the specific power draw of any model you’re looking at).

Price and overall value. ARB refrigerators are some of the most expensive van fridges out there. 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. COOLER & WARMER】Cool up to 57°F (14°C) below ambient temperature, or keep warm up to 149°F (65°C) ，86°F (30°C) -57°F (14°C) within an hour, 86°F (30°C) -50°F (10°C) within 2 hours, 86°F (30°C)-37°F( 3°C) within 3 hours. (Please note: the cooling effect is the best near the innermost part of the fridge) We offer a variety of compressor fridges from suppliers like Dometic, Vitrifrigo, Inlander, Thetford Adventurer, and Webasto. Our fridges come in various sizes and capabilities, and are available as either fridges, freezers, or a combination of the two. An alternative to 3 way absorption fridges?SUPER ENERGY SAVING. Two different modes can be adjusted as needed, MAX & ECO MODE. The refrigerating system will stop operating when the car freezer reaches the set temperature and will restart to operate when the temperature in the box has risen a few degrees Centigrade/Fahrenheit. Make sure the van refrigerator options you’re considering will fit where you need it to go. Some brands have a bigger footprint but are squatter, while others are taller with a smaller footprint. At the end of the day, whether a certain fridge will fit your van’s configuration can be the deciding factor. Weight could also be a factor in your decision if you need to move the fridge around regularly or if you’re trying to stay under a certain weight limit. Energy Efficiency and Compressor Energy efficiency. ARB overlanding refrigerators are very energy efficient, trailing only the Dometic CFX fridges. During an extended power draw test we conducted on the ARB Classic 50-Qt fridge, we measured the average power draw at 0.95A per hour over nearly two weeks. ARB also makes power consumption test data readily available, and according to them the 50-Qt model draws a very low 0.87A per hour on average (based on a 27-hour test in 86°F ambient temperature, with the fridge set to 37°F). In a comparison test with an Engel fridge at 90°F ambient temperature (fridge set at 37°F), the ARB drew a low 1.35A per hour. If you need a fridge for short camping trips, a fridge in the 35L range should be plenty, even for a small family.