A great RV refrigerator is a must-have for any camper. But, not all RV fridges are created equal. Many residential-style refrigerators are not suitable for the road and can be damaged by bumpy rides, sudden stops or a lack of air flow through the freezer compartment.
RV refrigerators are designed to be more robust and heavily insulated than residential models. They also have special features like adjustable drawers and door designs that make it easy to access your food and drinks, no matter how much you’re storing in the freezer or fridge section.
Some RV refrigerators run on both propane and 12v power and can switch between the two at the push of a button, giving you more flexibility for your campsite location and energy needs. This is especially handy if you’re an RVer who does a lot of boondocking or dry camping and doesn’t want to be tied down to a single fuel source.
Other RV refrigerators use absorption technology to keep your food cold without relying on batteries or an external power source. To do this, they heat up the refrigerant mixture, which then cools the food in the freezer and fridge sections. RV refrigerators with this type of cooling process require regular maintenance because the cooling fins can get coated in frost and ice and need to be manually defrosted.
The best RV fridge for you will depend on where you’ll be parking and how often you’ll be using your RV refrigerator. For instance, if you park in a hot area and don’t have solar panels installed, an RV refrigerator that runs on propane gas is the best choice. Propane is efficient and doesn’t require extra solar power or batteries to work.
It’s also a good idea to precool your RV refrigerator the night before you start using it. This will help the fridge work more efficiently by lowering the temperature of the freezer and fridge sections, so that it doesn’t have to spend as much time getting them cold.
If you plan to use your RV fridge for outdoor cooking, look for a model with an ice maker. This will come in handy if you need to store a large amount of frozen foods or ice cream. However, some owners report that built-in ice makers can clog easily, so you might prefer to opt for a portable ice maker.
Another important feature to consider is the size of an RV refrigerator. If you’re looking for a fridge that will fit into a tight space, a slim design is the way to go. The narrower refrigerators are also more energy-efficient than their wider counterparts because they take up less space and have better insulation.