Campervan fridges
Which campervan fridge is right for me?
Choosing the best campervan fridge for your adventures is really important, and it’s often tricky to know what the best option is. This page aims to showcase a diverse range of campervan specific fridges, all of which have leading efficiency, quality and features.
As with so many products these days, the mantra of ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ comes to mind…although it’s not just the fridge you might need to replace. Choosing an inefficient fridge such as the popular Alpicool range will see you using twice the power of an efficient fridge each day! This means you’ll need a bigger battery bank, larger solar array and increased battery to battery charging to meet its hungry power consumption.
For most use cases, the cost implication of this makes buying a cheap campervan fridge ends up costing more overall than buying a good quality fridge! Unfortunately, most people only come to realise this when using their campervan for the first time and find that they simply don’t have sufficient battery capacity or recharging capability.
If you want to understand more about campervan fridges before you decide which one is right for you, check out our comprehensive article covering the best campervan fridges available. There are also numerous product reviews throughout this page.
Portable top-loading fridge
A portable ‘coolbox-style’ fridge can be really useful. Whether you’re partying outside the van and want to keep your beers cold, or you want to store your fridge below a seat, top-loading ‘coolbox-style’ fridges a great versatile option.
Campervan top-loading fridges tend to be more space efficient, allowing you to cram more food in so you can stay off-grid for longer.
A top-loading fridge can also double up as a table when used outside. As most portable fridges are provided with a long power cable, it’s easy to keep power to the fridge flowing.
Our experience with the Dometic CFX3
Nohma Co-founders Charlie and Dale have been using the Dometic CFX3 45 in their campervan for many years. The powerful compressor technology makes this fridge much more functional than any coolbox they’d used before, and the option to use 230V AC or 12V DC power means it’s incredibly versatile.
With chunky handles and a robust exterior, these fridges are perfect for rugged, outdoor van life. They’re perfect for when you’re hooked up to mains power, but can also be powered from your leisure battery when you venture off-grid.
Freestanding fridges
Just like its domestic equivalent, the freestanding campervan fridge is the most common seen in van conversions. They are designed to fit within the width and height of standard kitchen unit and are often the among the most efficient.
Our range of freestanding fridges all contain shelves and dividers to help you organise your food and keep it safe when you swing your van around a corner too quickly.
Because the freestanding fridge is the most common available, you will likely find that they are the most cost effective option.
Read our full Dometic NRX50 review
Charlie and Dale have used the Dometic CRX50 every day whilst living in their campervan, and it’s been incredibly reliable. It has remained quiet and efficient, even in the heat of summer in the South of France! No wonder it’s the most popular fridge for van converters.
The NRX50 is Dometic’s updated version of the CRX50, with a sleeker, more modern front that looks right at home in any campervan kitchen.
Campervan electrics leaving you confused?
Integrated drawers and top-loading fridges
If you are eager to utilise ever inch of space in your van conversion (and you probably should be!), an integrated fridge in the form of a drawer fridge or top-loader can be a great way to do this.
The drawer fridges benefit from being able to load them from the top which allows you to totally fill the fridge without your pineapple falling out!
Top-loading fridges are even more cunning. If you have an L-shaped kitchen and have wondered how best to utilise the space in the corner, a top-loading fixed position fridge is the one for you.
One person’s food for a long weekend
Two people’s food for a weekend
Two people’s food for a long weekend
Read our campervan fridge articles ❄️
Need help with the rest of your electrical system?
Our electrical system guidebook pages cover everything you need to know about your campervan electrical system ⚡