Camping fridges can be very convenient, because after all, when you go camping, you probably want to bring some perishable food along, but can’t bring a full-sized fridge. For this reason, you’re probably looking for something a little smaller and compact, which is exactly what you get with a camping fridge, like with several awesome camping fridge models from VEVOR. Let’s get right to it and talk about everything there is to know about choosing the right camping fridge.
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What is a Camping Fridge?
A camping fridge is a small and portable refrigerator designed to be used outdoors, making it a great asset for travelers and campers who need to keep their food cold while not having access to conventional power sources. Camping fridges are generally designed to be more durable and rugged than the home-use counterparts, as they need to be able to withstand the elements and all sorts of outdoor environments. What makes camping fridges so useful is that they usually run on a 12V DC system, which means that solar panels and car batteries alike can easily power them.
What is a Camping Fridge Used for?
As the name of the item implies, a camping fridge is used primarily for camping purposes. They are designed to hold small or moderate quantities of perishable food, ideal for longer trips away from home, especially when you have access to an alternative power source, like car batteries or solar panels. They’re ideal for preventing your food from spoiling when you go to remote areas, and they’re useful for preserving temperature sensitive medicines as well. In simplest terms, if you want fresh food when you’re out camping, it’s a camping fridge that you’ll want.
Two Types of Camping Fridge: Chest vs Vertical
Something that you need to know about is that there are two main types of camping fridges, with these being vertical camping fridges and chest camping fridges, both of which can be useful depending on what your needs are.
Chest Camping Fridge
First, we have chest camping fridges, and these are designed to open at the top. Because of their design, which allows for minimal cold air loss, they’re quite energy efficient. Thanks to their design, they generally have large capacities and are able to operate well in inclined or uneven positions. This therefore makes them a good choice for off-road areas. These fridges do well at maintaining low temperatures for extended periods, and they’re useful for stacking items as well. That said, the items at the bottom can be harder to access due to this.
Vertical Camping Fridge
We then have vertical camping fridges, which may also be called an upright fridge. This type of fridge looks like the one you have at home, with a door in the front that opens horizontally thanks to some hinges. If you don’t want to have to dig through a bunch of layers every time you want something, then this is the kind of camping fridge to get. Although they are easier to organize, a big drawback with vertical fridges is that they are much less energy efficient than chest fridges. Plus they don’t do quite as good a job at keeping food cold for long periods either.
How Much Power Do Camping Fridges Use?
Exactly how much power a camping fridge uses depends in part on the model in question. In general, most modern models of camping fridges should use anywhere between 1 to 5 amps of power per hour.
What is important to note however is that these fridges don’t run constantly, but rather cycle on and off depending on the interior temperature. The better insulated and built the fridge in question is, the more efficient it will be at holding in cool air, and therefore the less it will have to run. On average, expect one of these camping fridges to consume between 20 and 40 amp-hours per day.
There are other factors that can affect the power usage of these fridges, such as the amount of food you have inside, how often you open the fridge, and what the ambient temperature around the camping fridge is like. Of course, looking for a model that has energy saving features is ideal.
Considerations When Choosing a Camping Fridge
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a camping fridge for your purposes, so let’s figure out what these are.
Capacity
When choosing a camping fridge, one important consideration is the capacity. Yes, the capacity you need will depend on how many people you are looking to feed and how long the trip is going to be. In general, camping fridges come in at between 20 and 80 liters in capacity, with anything under 40 liters being considered quite small. For longer trips, consider getting something between 40 and 80 liters, if not even more. However, don’t get something far too large, or else you’ll just end up wasting energy.
Size
The capacity of the camping fridge isn’t the only thing you need to consider. You also have to think about how much space you have to spare. For instance, if you have a large pickup truck or van, you can afford to use a bit more space than if you have a smaller vehicle. Big fridges obviously have more room on the inside, but also require more space. Closely consider how you’ll get inside the fridge once it’s in your vehicle. Also consider that camping fridges need a bit of ventilation so they don’t overheat, so any model will need a bit of clearance in your car.
Mounting and Installation
Being able to properly mount a camping fridge is also very important, especially if you expect the fridge to stay in one piece and to operate safely. Most camping fridges should come with special tie-downs, mounting kits, and hardware designed to keep them in place in your vehicle. For the most part, solid mounting hardware is recommended, as this will allow for a solid hold. However, there are models that come with sliding rails to allow for easier accessibility, a consideration worth keeping in mind.
Materials and Durability
How durable a camping fridge is depends on the materials that it’s made of. You want to look for a camping fridge made of strong materials, ones that can withstand the elements and outdoor use. For instance, one of the best materials to use for this purpose is stainless steel, as it is resistant to the elements, rusting, and physical damage alike. If you’re looking to save a bit of money, but still want something highly durable, some high-quality plastic might suffice. Make sure that the mounting hardware, the seal, and the moving parts are high-quality as well.
Organizational Features
Always look for a camping fridge that has good organizational features. Some baskets, compartments, and adjustable shelves all come in handy. Some larger camping fridges might have separate sections for bottles, eggs, fruits and vegetables, and so on and so forth. Even better is if you get a fridge where the shelves and other parts are adjustable, so you can create sections of suitable sizes based on the foods you want to fit inside.
Energy Use and Efficiency
The other important consideration here is energy use. We already mentioned how much power one of these little fridges uses, but of course, the less power a fridge uses, the more money you’ll save. For a more flexible option, look for a model that can run on both DC and ACV power. You also want a camping fridge that has an efficient compressor, as this will allow for consistent cooling while using minimal energy. There are also more modern models that have energy-saving modes.
A Quick Look at the Best Camping Fridges
There are plenty of great camping fridges out there, with VEVOR being one of the best brands on this front by far. VEVOR is well-known for producing high-quality appliances for reasonable prices. One of their most popular models at this time is the VEVOR 12 Volt 58-Quart Car Fridge.
One of the things that makes this such a great camping fridge is that it comes with both a fridge and a freezer section, so you can keep food chilled or frozen. In total, it has 58 quarts of storage space. Yes, this is quite small in the grand scheme of things, but it also means that it doesn’t take up too much space.
It is a chest fridge, so it opens from the top, which combined with its solid build, great seal, and efficient compressor technology, make it very energy efficient and cost-effective. This unit does not waste any electricity. Furthermore, this is a 12V fridge that comes with both 120/240 Volt AC adaptors and 12/24 Volt DC adaptors, which means that this fridge can be used virtually anywhere.
Now, if that’s not big enough for you, there is another model available, the VEVOR 12 Volt 80-Quart Refrigerator, which is substantially larger than the above one. Besides having more space, it also has a double-door design with two totally separate sections, so you can have two different kinds of foods.
One of the sections can also be cooled down past the freezing mark, therefore effectively making it a combination freezer and fridge. Aside from the size and compartments, the two are relatively similar, although this larger one does allow you to connect to your smartphone, and then use the corresponding app to automatically control the unit.
FAQs About Camping Fridge
Let’s quickly answer some of your most frequently asked questions about camping fridges.
Can I Power a Camping Fridge with Solar Panels?
Most camping fridges run a 12 Volt system, and these should for the most part be compatible with solar chargers and solar panels. To prevent food from spoiling, make sure that the panels in question can meet the power needs of your camping fridge.
How Do I Stop My Camping Fridge from Draining the Car Battery?
There are several methods to use to help prevent a camping fridge from draining your car battery. This includes using a dual battery system, a portable power station, and solar panels. You should also look for a model that comes with a low-voltage cutoff that will automatically turn the fridge off to preserve energy.
What Makes a Compressor Fridge and A Thermoelectric Cooler Different?
Compressor models use vapor compression cycles to create cold temperatures, whereas thermoelectric coolers use the Peltier effect. Thermoelectric models may be more energy-efficient and cheaper, but also don’t perform as well, especially when high ambient outdoor temperatures are involved.
How To Maintain a Camping Fridge?
Regular cleaning, ensuring the seals are maintained, and storing the fridge in a cool and dry place when not in use are recommended for maintenance.
The Bottom Line on Choosing the Right Camping Fridge
At the end of the day, if you need a good camping fridge, then look no further than VEVOR. This is a great brand name with state-of-the-art equipment that comes to us at reasonable prices!
