Best 12v Fridge For Van & RV Life – Top Options
There are many options and price ranges when it comes to selecting the best 12v fridge for van and RV life. Back in 2020, when I built my campervan there were fewer options. I spent hours researching different van fridges before choosing an Isotherm Cruise Elegance for Ford Transit.
Is it possible to use a regular dorm-style mini fridge? Sure, but in this article I’ll explain why that’s not an ideal choice long term, and why a 12v fridge for your van is a better option.
In this blog post:
- The best 12v fridge options
- Fridge styles and configurations to consider
- Pro’s and con’s to different power options (12v vs 110v refrigerators)
I’ll also share which van fridge I’ve been using for the last 4 years and what I’d change.
🏆 Best 12v Fridge – My Choice 🏆
This is the van refrigerator I installed in my DIY campervan and I love it. It’s been 4 years since I bought this and it’s been a great investment. It still works perfectly and is extremely low maintenance (meaning, no maintenance!)
You can read my full Isotherm Refrigerator Review here.
The 5 Best 12v Fridge Options
These are the 5 best 12v fridge options. They’re all top quality that will hold up to harsh conditions, bumpy washboard roads, and significant changes in temperature and humidity as you travel.
- Isotherm Cruise Elegance – Upright, 65L capacity (MSRP $1,506)
- Dometic CRX Pro – Upright, 57L capacity (MSRP $750)
- Dometic CFX3 – Chest, 75L capacity (MSRP $1250)
- ARB Zero – Chest, 69L capacity (MSRP $1,568)
- ICECO ProS – Chest, 60L capacity (MSRP $799)
#1 Best 12v Fridge – Isotherm Cruise Elegance
If you want the highest quality van refrigerator the best upright 12 volt refrigerator for van life is the Isotherm Cruise 65 Elegance (or size up to the 85 liter). This is the same refrigerator I have in my van and love!
I did extensive research before buying this van fridge (it’s a bit pricy) but ultimately decided that the extra cost was worth it.
Reviews for cheaper 12v fridge alternatives often said the compressor failed after a few months, leaving people without a van fridge while traveling and having no easy way to get it fixed or replaced. I didn’t want to hassle with that!
I’ve had this refrigerator for 4 years and have never had a single problem with it! In the long run, this is an investment but you’ll never have to worry about paying for a repair or replacement.
Pros:
✅ Top quality
✅ 2-year parts warranty
✅ 5-year compressor warranty
✅ Adjustable storage organization
✅ Energy efficient
✅ Reversible door
✅ Available in multiple sizes
Cons:
❌ Expensive
❌ Less efficient use of space than a chest fridge
Read my complete Isotherm fridge review
Isotherm refrigerators come with a 2 year warranty and a 5 year limited warranty on the compressor. However, they’re so well made it’s unlikely you’ll even need these.
Additionally, this Isotherm fridge come with the ability to connect to 12v or 110v (household) electric. That means it can also be used in your garage, dorm room, etc. It comes with two different plugs, so depending on how you’re using it (12v or 110v) you just swap the electric plug.
I also love how the freezer compartment is so well insulated that it actually keeps food frozen and not just slushy. Most other van fridge options market having a freezer, but it’s usually not cold enough to freeze things that aren’t already frozen when you put them in, and ice cream tends to be very soft or melted.
#2 Best 12v Fridge – Dometic CRX Pro
CRX 1065E 65L Compressor Refrigerator is available for under $1,000. Yes, that’s still a chunk of change, but 12v refrigerators don’t come cheaply and this is actually a good deal!
Pros:
✅ Under $1,000
✅ Removable freezer compartment
✅ Reversible door
✅ Adjustable storage organizers
✅ Available in multiple sizes
✅ 2-year warranty (limited)
Cons:
❌ Capacity only 57L, not 65L as marketed
❌ Less efficient use of space than a chest fridge
Don’t be fooled by the name though, this refrigerator only has a capacity of 57 liters, not 65 as the name implies.
The biggest benefit to this 12v van fridge is that the freezer compartment is removable – so if you’re not someone who tends to need much ice or frozen food this translates to more refrigerator space for you!
#3 Best 12v Fridge – Dometic CFX3 75
The Dometic CFX3 cooler/freezer has two separate compressors, which means you can control the temperature of each half independently. One can be a fridge and the other can be a freezer. Or, if you’re in need of more refrigerator space you can set both to fridge temps.
If I didn’t have an upright Isotherm refrigerator in my van, this is the chest style I would have chosen.
The benefit to having a chest-style van fridge is how much more food it can hold compared to comparable upright style refrigerators. The downside is that it’s a lot harder to keep things organized.
Pros:
✅ 2-zone storage compartments with independent temperature controls
✅ App for mobile use
✅ USB port to charge mobile devices
✅ Capable of deep-freezes (-22C / -7.6F)
✅ Runs on AC (100V or 240V) or DC (12V or 24V) power
✅ Very durable
✅ Portable
✅ Available in multiple sizes
Cons:
❌ Difficult to organize
❌ Expensive
#4 Best 12v Fridge – ARB Zero Portable Fridge
If you’re looking for the absolute best chest style 12v fridge for van or RV life then consider the ARB ZERO Portable Fridge.
This chest fridge is built like a work horse and has the 5-star reviews to justify the price tag.
Pros:
✅ Premium quality
✅ Dual zone (fridge & freezer capable)
✅ Versatile for multiple use cases
✅ App to control temp
✅ Portable
✅ Available in multiple sizes
Cons:
❌ Expensive
❌ Bulky
❌ Difficult to organize
#5 Best 12v Fridge – ICECO VL60 ProS
ICECO VL60 ProS Portable Refrigerator costs under $1,000. This van fridge also comes with a 1-year parts warranty and a generous 5-year warranty on the compressor.
Pros:
✅ 1-year parts warranty
✅ 5-year compressor warranty
✅ Dual zone (fridge & freezer capable)
✅ Under $1,000
✅ Runs on AC or DC power
✅ Very durable
✅ Portable
Cons:
❌ Difficult to organize
How to Choose the Best 12v Fridge For Van Life
In many ways, selecting the best 12 volt fridge for van life comes down to personal preference and is based on what works within your van layout – how much space/budget/electricity do you have? The primary decisions you’ll need to make are:
👉 Style
Upright (front loading) or Chest (top loading)
👉 Power Source
12 volts, 120 volts or Propane
👉 Cooling Technology
Compressor or Thermoelectric
There are pros and cons to each option – keep on reading for more details!
Styles Options for 12v Van Fridges
There are 2 primary styles of van fridges available: upright and chest.
Upright (front loading) Refrigerators
The leading brands for upright are Isotherm refrigerators and Dometic refrigerators.
Similar to most household refrigerators, an upright 12 volt fridge is front loading. Compared to chest fridges, uprights are easier to install in your van build. They’re also easier to keep organized.
Chest (top loading) Refrigerators
The leading brands for 12v chest refrigerators are Dometic, ARB and ICECO.
Chest refrigerators are also sometimes referred to as drawer or sliding refrigerators. They function very similarly to coolers- load from the top, everything on the bottom gets smushed and forgotten (until it starts to stink).
The primary way chest refrigerators differ from uprights is that they can hold more for the same cubic dimensions (see smushed comment above).
Additionally, some come with a separate freezer section. These freezers tend to be the best out of all other refrigerator/freezer options — meaning they actually work at freezing things and keeping them frozen.
Most upright 12 volt refrigerators include a small freezer compartment. However, the freezer doesn’t have independent temperature controls, which effectively makes the freezer compartment a slightly colder space than the refrigerator compartment. The downside to this is that you may not be able to fully freeze items.
Finally, the last major difference with chest fridges is the install. Most van lifers build these into a drawer – so you’ll want to invest in some heavy duty drawer slides and a good latch, to keep it in place while you drive.
Note: Chest fridges weigh approximately 50 lbs (when empty) so you absolutely need heavy duty drawer slides and they can get pricy ($70+ for hardware) so factor this into your purchase decision.
Power Options for Van or RV Refrigerators
Refrigerators come in several different options for power source: 12 volts, 110/120 volts and propane. In fact, some refrigerators even come with dual power source options, which allow you to toggle between different energy sources.
12v Van Fridge
This is exactly what it sounds like – a refrigerator for van life that operates on 12 volts. Most household appliances run on 110 or 120 volts (or 220v if you’re outside of the US/Canada).
It’s important to note that your van batteries are likely 12v.
Having electrical components that run on 12 volts means you don’t need to convert energy from your batteries into a different voltage – this is great news for you because converting energy means you lose efficiency during the conversion process – a bad bad thing when you’re living off-grid and every drop of energy counts!
More on this in a nerdier post – for now all you need to know is 12v appliances are the best option for efficient energy use if you’re using 12v batteries in your van.
Pros:
✅ Highly energy efficient
Cons:
❌ Expensive upfront cost
120 Volt Van Life Fridge
So you’ve seen the price tag on 12v van fridges (yikes!) and are wondering “Can I just use a 120V dorm mini fridge in my van?” The short answer is yes. But do you really want to? Probably not. Lets discuss:
A 120 volt fridge might be cheaper up front but they’re more difficult to use as an overlanding fridge.
Why? Because your solar panels produce energy that gets stored in your batteries at 12 volts. That energy can be used to power other 12 volt appliances without needing to run an inverter or lose energy in the conversion process (changing 12v to 110v power).
However, in order to power a 120V mini fridge in a van with a 12V battery you’ll need an inverter, or a van generator.
An inverter can convert 12v to 110 or 120 volts but some energy is lost in the transaction (about 20%).
Additionally, you’ll need to run the inverter 24/7 if it’s the only power source for your van fridge.
Consider this math problem:
One 100ah lithium battery costs approximately $1,000. Most vans have at least two 100ah batteries (200ah total) which costs approximately $2,000.
The 20% energy you lose in order to power 120v appliances could push you from requiring 1 or 2 batteries in your van to needing 3 or 4.
That’s an additional $1,000-$2,000 for batteries so you can consistently power a 120v fridge.
Makes you rethink the price tag on the 12v van fridge, huh? It might actually be cheaper to buy the 12v fridge for your van, than have to increase your battery bank size.
Why spend an extra $2,000 for batteries to power your 120V refrigerator if it only saves you $500 on the cost of the fridge?
Pros:
✅ Much more affordable upfront
Cons:
❌ Requires an inverter
❌ 20% energy loss when using 12v battery energy
Propane Van Fridge
Propane refrigerators are fairly common in the RV world. They operate on propane (obviously…) as well as 120 volts, and sometimes also on 12 volts.
While it’s nice to have a variety of options to power your van fridge, the requirement to have propane may be a show stopper for any van build which doesn’t already have another propane appliance. Not to mention what a hassle it can be to find a propane refill while traveling.
Additionally, propane refrigerators can’t operate if they aren’t level. They take longer to cool, and they’re expensive to purchase.
Just about the only benefit is that these van refrigerators hold up really well to road travel.
Pros:
✅ Offer multiple energy sources (propane, 120V, 12V)
✅ Robust design for road life
Cons:
❌ Must be on level surface to operate
❌ Requires propane
Cooling Options For 12v Van Fridges
The way in which a refrigerator cools isn’t often discussed, but it’s an important consideration – especially when you live in a van where the ambient temperature fluctuates significantly.
There are two primary cooling technologies in 12v fridges for vans: compressor and thermoelectric.
Compressor 12v Fridge For Van & RV Life
Compressor refrigerators are the standard- these are what you have in your home and what most people are familiar with.
They use gas to cool and are efficient at both cooling and removing moisture from the inside of your camper van refrigerator.
The compressor only kicks on when it’s needed to cool the fridge (instead of running constantly) which makes it efficient on energy use.
The drawback to a compressor fridge (over a thermoelectric– more on that next) is the faint vibration sound it produces when the compressor is on and running. However, in my experience, this noise is so quiet I don’t even notice it.
If you’re looking for a refrigerator that will keep food cool in any condition a 12v compressor fridge is the best campervan fridge.
Pros:
✅ Efficient energy use
✅ Removes heat & humidity
Cons:
❌ Compressor creates a low hum (while running)
Thermoelectric 12V Fridge For Van Life
Thermoelectric van refrigerators cool without a compressor (via the Peltier effect– sounds fancy!) In short, the benefits of these 12v fridges for vans are that they’re quieter and tend to hold up better over time.
The major drawback of a thermoelectric 12v fridge for van lifers is that the ability to cool is based on the ambient temperature (aka the temp inside your van).
If it’s 75 degrees and your van fridge can cool 40 degrees below ambient then your fridge will be 35 degrees.
However, if you’re camping in warmer temps, like 90 degrees, that same 12v fridge would only be able to cool down to 50 degrees.
Because your ambient temperature will fluctuate in a van it makes keeping things consistently cold inside a thermoelectric fridge far more difficult.
Pros:
✅ Quiet – no compressor noise
✅ Holds up better long term
Cons:
❌ Hard to maintain constant temperature
❌ Limited ability to cool in hot climates
Why you Need a 12v Fridge For Van Life
What type of meals do you cook? Do you need to keep groceries cold for long periods of time, or do you mostly buy non-perishable items?
If you don’t need much refrigerator storage, maybe you can get away with a simple cooler that you restock with ice every few days.
If, like me, you plan to spend weeks, months or years in your van then a good 12v van fridge is probably worth the investment.
In addition to cold storage, having a van fridge is also nice for keeping food out of humidity (and heat… I’ve learned the hard way to keep chocolate in my fridge during the summer when the van is hotter) and away from pests (fruit flies, mice and bears- oh my!)
If you’re unsure whether you’ll need to rely on a van refrigerator, consider leaving space within your build layout to add one later, if you choose.
You can test out van life with a cooler for the first few trips and then reevaluate if a 12v fridge for your van is worth the investment.
What Size Van Fridge Do I Need?
You need at least 50 liters (if buying an upright 12v fridge) and 30 liters (if buying a chest).
I go to the market about once a week and feed only myself. A 65 liter upright 12v fridge in my Ford Transit van works perfectly for me- but I wouldn’t complain about an 80+ liter for my next van conversion (mostly because I hate going to the market and would love to buy enough food for two weeks!)
If you’re feeding two+ people I’d start with at least a 65 liter van fridge and size up from there.
Additionally, consider sizing up if you’re unsure what capacity is right for you. It’s a lot easier to keep additional pantry food in your van fridge if you need more storage space in your cabinets (who really cares if your crackers are chilly). However, if your refrigerator is too small you can’t really leave a chicken breast on the counter for several days…
Cost of a 12v Fridge For Van Life
How much does a 12v fridge for van life cost? The short answer: from mid $400 – $1,700+, depending on how fancy you want to get, what size you need, etc.
Realistically, you’ll want to spend at least $600 if you plan to buy something of quality that will hold up to road life conditions.
Conclusion – What is the Best 12v Fridge for Van Life?
There’s a ton of personal preference that plays into buying the best 12v fridge for van life.
Most vanlifers will opt for a 12v van fridge that can be powered by their solar setup. No inverter needed.
The choice between whether an upright or chest style fridge is better is widely debated. In general, if you have the space for an upright fridge in your build these are the easiest to keep organized.
However, if your options for a cabinet-installed van fridge are limited, the chest refrigerator may be your best option.
Personally, I installed a 12V Isotherm Elegance 65L fridge in my van build. I like that it’s highly energy efficient and the upright (front loading) configuration is very easy to use and keep organized.
Additionally, the freezer chest in my 12v fridge actually keeps food frozen. While the Isotherm model is pricier, I have found it’s perfect for my van and lifestyle.
During my van build I chose to splurge on two items – my Isotherm fridge and my airhead compostable toilet. Both have been totally worth the investment! They make life easier (a nice luxury while traveling full-time) and haven’t required any maintenance or additional costs since they were purchased.
