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12v Fridge Best Brands Overview

August 26, 2018 by Ben Leave a Comment

The design and layout of your Van Conversion will have to work around the fridge you select.  With so many designs and price points, it will be difficult to choose a 12v Fridge to suit your needs.  This post will give an overview of the available brands, touch on different design characteristics and give some pointers to help you select the Best Campervan Fridge to fit your #Vanlife style.The Best 12v Fridge brands for Your Campervan

Keep reading for an overview of the six most popular and best-suited 12v refrigerator brands and find out the brand I will be using in my personal van build.

The Best 12v Fridge Brands For Your Campervan

Brands:

Alpicool Brand Overview:

 12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan European design, and built-in Shunde Foshan City, China. Alpicool Electrical Appliance offers some quality looking campervan fridge options.  Alpicool has conversion van refrigerator models in 5 different capacities. They boast German-made Compressors (Danfoss OEM).  They have a uniquely designed Dual-opening door. And, the feature that they call “4D Cool Air Transfer Technology”. This fan-forced cooling system allows this brand of 12v RV refrigerator to pull down to temperature in under 30 minutes, very impressive for a 12v fridge!

Alpicool Models Best Suited For Van Use: 12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan
  • Alpicool C15 portable fridge freezer
  • AlpicoolC20 portable fridge freezer
  • AlpicoolCX30 Portable Fridge Freezer
  • AlpicoolCX40 Portable Fridge Freezer

Norcold 12v Campervan Fridge Brand Overview:

 12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan Norcold does offer small portable campervan fridge models but their focus is on larger upright RV fridge models.  They have small conversion van refrigerator options starting at 1.1 cubic feet, as well as large 12v fridge models up to a massive 18.3 cubic feet (“The Largest Made-For-RV Refrigerator Ever”).  If you are looking for a true 3-way conversion van refrigerator, Norcold has you covered. They even offer a Complete Conversion Kit that allows you to convert an insulated icebox into an automatic electric 12v RV refrigerator.

Norcold 12v Fridge Models Best Suited For Van Use:
 12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan
  • NorcoldNRF30
  • NorcoldNRF45
  • NorcoldNRF60
  • NorcoldNR740BB
  • NorcoldNR751BB

Dometic 12v Fridge Brand Overview:   (TSM Favorite)

 12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan Always at the forefront of portable box style and 12v RV refrigerator design,  Dometic has an impressive list of features on their 12v Fridge line-up. The CFX campervan fridge model has advanced compressor technology to allow some of the best efficiency found in a 12v RV refrigerator. Another standard feature on the Dometic CFX models is the inclusion of a USB charging port, a very useful for your conversion van refrigerator.

Dometic 12v Fridge Brand Features: 12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan
  • DometicCFX28
  • DometicCFX35W
  • DometicCFX40W
  • DometicCFX50W
  • DometicCFX65W

Engel Campervan Fridge Brand Overview:  

12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervanEngel have been around for decades. Their super quiet and highly efficient design has made them one of the first choices for a campervan fridge.  By using the purpose-built Sawafuji Swing Motor compressor, Engel models are the most reliable and more efficient than ever before. Designed and engineered to take on some of the harshest Australian conditions, if you plan on doing some serious off-roading with your conversion van refrigerator, Engel might be the choice for you

Engel Campervan Fridge Brand Features:12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan

  • EngelMT17F-U1
  • EngelMT27F-U1
  • Engel Platinum MT35F-U1
  • EngelMT45F-P
  • EngelMT60F-U1

ARB 12v Fridge Brand Overview:

12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervanARB’s 4×4 accessories are designed tough to withstand the extremes faced by 4WD enthusiasts. The same goes for their 12v fridge freezers. The front-mounted digital control panels are recessed to prevent damage if some of your cargo shifts when making your way down that backroad track. The ARB campervan fridge models have an integrated power system,  meaning, they can use 12v, 24v or mains voltage without the need for a transformer. An ARB 12v RV refrigerator is another great option.

ARB 12v Fridge Features:12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan
  • ARB10800352 Fridge Freezer – 37 Quart
  • ARB10800472 Fridge Freezer- 50 Quart
  • ARB10800602 Fridge Freezer – 63 Quart
  • ARB10810602 Element Fridge/Freezer 63 Quart 
  • ARB10800782 Fridge Freezer – 82 Quart

Isotherm 12v Campervan Fridge Overview:

12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervanTouting their 12v fridge options as Marine refrigerators, Isotherm is also known as a conversion van refrigerator option. Although the portable box style campervan fridge models are just a sliver of what Isotherm has to offer. Their portable units are tough and reliable. Made with an injection-molded plastic casing, and they use the proven, dual speed Danfoss SeCOP compressor. If the gray panels of the travel boxes don’t fit your high-end tastes, Isotherm offers models designed and styled to fit on luxury yachts.

Isotherm 12v Campervan Fridge Features:12v Fridge campervan fridge arb 12v fridge dometic 12v fridge 12v rv refrigerator campervan compressor fridge conversion van refrigerator best fridge for van life best fridge for campervan
  • IsothermTb18 Portable Travel Box
  • IsothermTb32 Travel Box 
  • IsothermTb42 Travel Box 
  • IsothermCRUISE 36
  • IsothermCRUISE 65

Again, the 12v refrigerator you select will be determined by your individual requirements and budget.

Read my long term review of the Dometic CF-25 and why I have a fondness for the Dometic brand. Camper Van Fridge Installation

If you are interested, check out some more #Vanlife related content Here.

And remember, always take the road less traveled!

 

Filed Under: #VANLIFE, Electrical

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