How to Choose a Camper Van Refrigerator
Choosing vanlife means giving up a lot of modern appliances (what’s a microwave?). But one appliance most vanlifers consider a critical key to improving the quality of (van)life is a refrigerator.
Picking a fridge for your camper van can be an overwhelming task. Compressor? AC/DC? Amp hours? Absorption? What do all these terms mean?
We’re here to help walk you through all the different types of camper van refrigerators and help you choose the right one for you.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Navigation for How To Choose a Camper Van Refrigerator
Do You NEED a Fridge?
Considerations When Choosing a Fridge for Your Van
Types of Camper Van Refrigerators
Powering Your Van Fridge
Camper Van Fridge Designs
Do You Actually NEED A Fridge?
First things first: do you actually need to buy a fridge for your campervan?
The answer might seem like an obviously resounding “Yes!” but before you jump the gun and make one of the bigger singular purchases of your van build, ask yourself these questions
Are you full-timing or using your van for road trips and weekend getaways? If you’re only using your van for short periods of time, a cooler or no fridge at all is a totally viable option.
Do you like to cook or do you eat out more? Are you just as content with a bowl of oatmeal as a fancy stir fry? Do you eat out a lot? If you don’t actually find yourself doing much cooking, consider how much you actually need a fridge.
What sorts of food do you eat? If you consume lots of meat and dairy, you’re probably going to want a fridge. But if you’re vegan, you might not actually even need one, since vegan foods are often more shelf-stable or don’t need refrigeration.
Do you have a way to power a fridge? This is an obvious one, but if your van doesn’t have a major power system, you won’t be able to handle the demands of running a fridge. Those that rely on small portable power stations like the Goal Zero Yeti (unless you have a 1000+ watt system) also won’t reliably have the power to run an electric fridge. So either propane or no fridge for you!
High-Quality Coolers for Vanlife
If you’re doing vanlife for shorter periods of time, a high-quality cooler may be all you need. Here are some highly-reviewed quality cooler options:
YETI V Series Cooler (stainless steel vacuum insulated, but almost as expensive as a compressor fridge): Backcountry / Moosejaw
Yeti Tundra Cooler: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
Pelican Elite Cooler: Backcountry / Moosejaw
Coleman Vintage Steel Belted Cooler (not as much ice retention as the others, but a bit more budget-friendly): Backcountry / REI
However, coolers require ice and the cost of ice adds up. Consider: If a bag costs $3 on average and you need 2 per week (a conservative estimate assuming you have a good cooler that will hold ice for a whole week), that’s $24 per month and $288 per year! After a few years of that, a fridge pretty much pays for itself, which is why this option is not recommended for long-term RV or van travel.
All that said, do we recommend getting a fridge?
Yes. It’s one of the best decisions we made in our van and we truly love it. However, if dropping $1000 on one appliance isn’t in your vanlife budget at the time, just know that it’s not an absolute necessity. You could always add one later (provided you keep that in mind while planning your van build.
Considerations When Choosing a Camper Van Fridge:
Type of Fridge: Compressor vs. Absorption vs. Thermoelectric
Power Source: Electric (AC or DC) vs. Propane
Draw/Efficiency: How much electricity or fuel a fridge consumes (remember, the fridge pretty much has to run all the time!)
Dimensions: How a fridge fits into your van floorplan and size
Style: Chest vs. Upright vs. Drawer
Dual Zone vs. Single Zone: If you need separate freezer space
Warranty
Now, let’s dive deeper into some of these specifics.
Types of Camper Van Refrigerators
There are three main categories of refrigerators for camper vans, each with its own sets of pros and cons. Compressor fridges are widely regarded as the superior type.
Image credit Dometic
Compressor Refrigerators for Vanlife
Widely regarded as the best type of refrigerator for vanlife or RV life, compressor refrigerators (also called 2-way refrigerators) utilize an energy-efficient compressor to cool the inside. This is also likely the type of refrigerator you have in your home.
Power Source: Electricity only (AC or DC)
Pros:
Tried and true fridge type among vanlifers
Low maintenance
Most energy efficient (if run on DC circuit)
Huge variety to choose from
Do not need to be level to work (this is HUGE for vanlife)
Durable (can handle extreme temperatures and rough roads)
Cons:
Expensive
Can be noisy when compressing (check reviews for specific brands/models about how loud the compressor is)
Examples of Compressors Refrigerators: Norcold NR751BB / SMETA AC/DC Mini Fridge / Dometic CFX Series / Norcold NRF60 / Whynter FM-65G
Absorption Refrigerators for Vanlife
Absorption refrigerators (or 3-way refrigerators) can run off three different power sources and are commonly found in traditional camp trailers and RVs. They work using a gas flow heat exchange that utilizes water, liquid ammonia, and hydrogen gas. These liquids mean the fridge must be level in order to work.
Power Source: Propane or Electricity (AC or DC)
Pros:
Versatile in that it can be run off multiple power sources
Efficient when run on propane
Less expensive
Cons:
HUGE draw if run on electricity (really not a viable option for off-grid vanlife)
Must be level to function
Space, separate fuel lines, AND ventilation required for propane tanks
Harder to install and maintain
Examples of Absorption Refrigerators: SMETA 3-way Refrigerator
Thermoelectric Refrigerators for Vanlife
Thermoelectric refrigerators run off the 12v socket for a vehicle. As such, they are small and simple but effective for short road trips. For long-term vanlife, these are uncommon and not the most ideal choice, but they are still an opinion, especially for those who don’t have much space for propane or don’t have an electric setup.
Power Source: Electricity (DC only)
Pros:
Most inexpensive option
Don’t require either propane tanks or a full electric setup
Don’t take up much space (but also don’t hold much)
Cons:
Are only about to drop the ambient temperature up to 40°F, meaning they don’t get very cold and are not suitable for warm environments
Less efficient than compressor fridges
Examples of Thermoelectric Refrigerators: Igloo 28 Quart Iceless Cooler
Powering an Electric Camper Van Fridge
Choosing an electric compressor fridge is the most popular (and recommended) choice for vanlifers. However, electricity comes with all sorts of nuances, power consumption being the most important.
Of all the things in your van, the fridge is the one thing that must keep running...unless you want a bunch of spoiled food! That means it’s important to understand what powers your fridge and know you will be able to keep it running in a variety of situations.
AC (120v) vs. DC (12v) Circuits: Which is Better for Vanlife?
AC circuits are what power your house and most of our devices these days. However, you probably didn’t know that your household fridge is likely powered by DC. Compressor fridges pretty much all are. That doesn’t mean they can’t run on AC. On the contrary, most (not all, as some RV fridges are now DC only) can run on both.
The only difference is that if you have a compressor fridge plugged into a 120v outlet, it will have to convert that power to 12v, which results in a loss of power. That’s why running a fridge straight off DC is considered much more energy-efficient for vanlife; it bypasses that conversion loss. Not to mention that running a fridge on AC would mean you would need an inverter to also run constantly, which results in power waste of its own.
What Fridges Can Your Van’s Electric System Handle?
A huge part of choosing a fridge for your van is knowing whether or not you’ll be able to power it. When shopping around, pay attention to the draw (in aH) of the fridge. Not all websites will tell you, so do some digging. All Dometic refrigerators plainly tell you the amp hours on their website.
We’ll use ours as an example. The Dometic CFX 55 has a rating of just under 1 aH (amp hour) when run on DC (as we do). Over 24 hours means the fridge alone requires about 24 amps of power.
Now, we have two 250aH batteries cycled together, but since they are AGM batteries, they only have a 50% discharge rate before the battery will start to get damaged (the same goes for lead-acid and gel batteries; Only lithium iron phosphate batteries have a 100% discharge rate). So having two effectively gives us 250aH of usable power.
250-24=quite the wiggle room we have with our fridge.
Compare that to the typical AC mini fridge that has an average draw of 12aH, meaning you would need 288aH of battery life (which is basically our entire battery system without any of our other power draws).
We hope that demonstrates how important it is to choose an energy-efficient fridge that’s compatible with your electrical system.
Improving the Efficiency of your Fridge
A fridge’s efficiency depends a lot on the environment. Even the most efficient camper van fridge isn’t going to run at its best if you keep opening it or have it sitting in the sun.
During summer vanlife, you might notice your compressor running A LOT. First, this isn’t good for the fridge and will wear it out fast. Second, it’s consuming more power, especially at the initial draw phase where it’s trying to power up to that cooling ability.
Tips for Keeping Your Fridge Running Cooler:
Keep your fridge full: The more stuff is in your fridge, the less air space there is to keep cool.
Get an insulated cover: Camping fridges (namely chest compressor fridges) have nearly double the insulation of regular household refrigerators and mini-fridges (yet another reason to avoid a typical AC fridge). However, even that needs a little help sometimes. Dometic, for example, makes one specifically for their CFX55 models, especially for summer vanlife. If that’s not available, you can use insulation, like Reflectix or foam boards.
Park in the shade: Keeping your van cooler means your fridge is also cooler.
Camper Van Fridge Designs
Now that we’ve covered the types of refrigerators and how powering them works, let’s get stylistic and talk about the different designs of refrigerators you’ll see when choosing one for your camper van.
Upright Refrigerators for Vanlife
If you miss your college dorm days of beer in the mini-fridge, these will be a cool blast from the past. Upright refrigerators are the style most people are most familiar with, and that familiarly certainly grants them a place in the vanlife community.
Pros:
Fit neatly within counter space, no extra space above necessary
Cheapest option if going for a regular AC (120v) unit
Easy to organize via shelves
Often have a top freezer space
Cons:
Not portable
Not many run on a 12v circuit
Expensive if DC compatible
Less efficient
Things can shift during driving, leading to leaks and things falling out when the door opens
Not as spacious internally
Examples: Norcold NR751BB / SMETA AC/DC Mini Fridge / Dometic CRX
Chest Refrigerators for Vanlife
Chest-style refrigerators are a popular choice for vanlife because they are rugged, spacious, efficient, and can double as extra seating when not in use. Think of them as an electric cooler!
Pros:
Double as extra counter space or seating when the lid is closed
Portable (when not plugged in, they’re essentially just a fancy cooler)
Most energy efficient (heat rises, meaning cold air is less likely to escape when opening)
Higher capacity than compact upright refrigerators
No risk of things falling out when opened or falling over and leaking/spilling while driving
Designed for such purposes meaning they are durable enough for rough roads and outdoor settings
Cons:
Often difficult to get things out of the bottom
Require space above them so the lid can be opened
Examples: Dometic CFX Series / Norcold NRF60 / Whynter FM-65G
Image credit Dometic
Drawer Refrigerators for Vanlife
Drawer refrigerators provide an elegant solution that builds right into your camper van kitchen counter. However, they can be difficult to find. RV dealers are your best bet, but they won’t come cheap.
Pros:
Space efficient
Elegant
Store like a chest fridge without needing space above to open
Cons:
Most difficult to install
Expensive
Can be difficult to find with far fewer options
Less efficient and lose cold air faster
Examples: Dometic CD-series
Dual-zone vs Single-zone Refrigerators
Single zone refrigerators are those that have all one big compartment, thus keeping everything at the same temperature. A dual-zone refrigerator, then, has two different sections that can be kept at different temperatures (i.e. a fridge and freezer). A nifty concept, to be sure.
However, in our personal experience having a fridge with a supposed dual-zone, the “freezer” doesn’t actually function as such. In fact, ours is the warmest compartment in the whole thing! This doesn’t necessarily mean all brands are like that. Upright mini-fridges often have a top freezer compartment that works but I have yet to come across a chest fridge that truly functions as a freezer.
However, you can get truly dual-zone refrigerators that have two totally separate compartments and lids, such as the ICECO VL60.
Aside from the occasional late-night ice cream cravings, we rarely miss having a freezer and thus we wouldn’t go out of our way for a dual-zone refrigerator. That said, we love our Dometic CFX and would absolutely buy the “dual-zone” again if for no other reason than it’s an easily accessible top compartment for things like eggs.
Before You Drive Away…
If you’re finally set on what kind of fridge you want for your camper van, head on over to our post on the best refrigerators for vanlife in 2021 to take a look at all the best models for each type currently on the market.
Now to you: Fellow vanlifers, what’s your favorite type of fridge and what have you learned about it after time on the road. Future vanlifers, any questions about camper van refrigerators that we didn’t cover? Drop a comment below!
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase something from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.