Portable fridge freezers can come in handy for a number of purposes. Whether you’re going camping, tailgating, or living on the road in your camper or van, having a good portable fridge freezer on hand is essential.
It can make the difference between eating fresh, healthy, and delicious food, or being forced to eat canned and non-perishable goods, and maybe even some of those unattractive gas station hotdogs.
If you’re going to be on the road, a good portable fridge freezer is what you need. Right now, we’re going to provide you with all of the info you need to choose the right one for you, and much more!
Table of contents
What is a Portable Fridge Freezer?
A portable fridge freezer is a much smaller version of your average home fridge, something like this one from VEVOR.
These are designed to be small and portable, often coming in at between 20 and 80 quarts of capacity. They are generally small enough to fit into any vehicle, even right behind the driver’s seat in your van or truck, and of course in your camper or RV too.
They’re designed to be taken with you on the go, which is why they can often be powered using both various AC and DC power sources, such as a dedicated outlet, a car battery, a generator, or solar panels too.
They can come in really handy because they use efficient compressor technology that results in these fridge freezers generally not using all that much power.
Regular vs Portable Freezer
Let’s take a quick look at the primary differences between the regular freezer you might have at home and a portable freezer that you can take with you on the go.
- Portable freezers are just that, portable. They often just look like coolers or ice chests that you can easily fit in your vehicle. This is of course something that you can’t do with a full-sized freezer, which is totally stationary.
- Portable freezers are usually designed to be small enough so that they can be carried around, often coming with wheels and handles alike. Once again, this is something that you just don’t get with a regular freezer.
- Portable freezers usually have a capacity of up to 80 quarts, whereas a regular freezer is many times that size.
- Due to the efficient compressors that small portable units use, they tend to be much more energy and cost efficient than full-sized home freezers.
Benefits of a Portable Fridge Freezer
Let’s take a quick look at all of the main benefits that come with having a portable fridge freezer.
Easy to Store
One benefit of having a portable fridge freezer is that they are very easy to store. They’re often just a couple feet long and equally as high, which means that you can fit them virtually anywhere.
They can be fit behind a car seat, in the trunk, on the back seat, in a closet, or anywhere else of the sort. Being so small means that they are space efficient, and that comes in handy when you have limited real estate to spare. They can also be stored in small spaces in your home when not in use.
Built for Transportation
The next big benefit of having a portable freezer is that they are built for transportation. For one, they are of course quite small, which means that you can fit them into virtually any vehicle.
However, it’s not just their small size that makes them portable, but also the fact that they can generally be powered by various sources, including both AC and DC power. Either from a dedicated power outlet, a generator, a car battery, or even solar panels too.
Ideal for Adventures
The simple fact is that these miniature freezers for camping and van living are designed for adventures.
They’re the kind of thing that you can pack up in your vehicle, whether a car, camper, van, or truck, and take with you no matter where you go.
If you find a unit that is well-insulated, it should be able to keep your food and drinks cold for quite some time even when not plugged in, which can come in very handy for all sorts of adventures.
Energy Efficient
Also worth noting is that these mini freezers tend to be energy efficient as well. They usually don’t use more than around 30 amp-hours of energy per day, which means that running them off a car battery is an option.
What to Look Out For in a Portable Fridge Freezer
There are a few important factors to pay attention to when choosing a portable fridge freezer for your adventures.
Internal Capacity
One important consideration when choosing a portable fridge freezer is how large it is. This is usually measured in quarts or liters.
You want to aim for something that has no less than 30 quarts of internal capacity, with upwards of 48 quarts being ideal. Of course, you need to consider how much you want to fit inside the portable fridge freezer, but you also need to consider its overall size, which brings us to our next point.
Weight and Size
The weight and size of the portable fridge in question need to be considered as well. This is directly related to the overall portability of the fridge freezer. Yes, the larger it is, the more internal capacity it has, but also the more space it will take up.
Consider if you are looking to fit this fridge in a small car or a large camper, or anything in between. Make sure to take measurements of the available space, so you get something that fits.
Build Quality
The build quality of the mini fridge freezer in question should also be kept in mind. A good unit should be made out of either stainless steel or something like high quality ABS plastic.
You need something that is impact resistant, shock resistant, moisture resistant, and more. Overall, you want the hardware to be solid and durable, so you don’t have to worry about the fridge breaking or shutting down while in use.
Adjustability
You should also look for a miniature fridge freezer that has a high level of adjustability. In terms of adjustability, what we’re talking about is the ability to adjust the temperature as needed. Some of these units only work as refrigerators, some only as freezers, and some are versatile enough so that you can adjust the temperature to be used as either a fridge or a freezer. At the very least, look for a model that can cool down to 0°F.
Power Consumption
You also want a fridge freezer that doesn’t use too much power. If you can find a model that uses no more than 2 amp-hours of electricity per hour, then you are on the right track.
If you can limit power consumption to around 24 amp-hours per day, then we would say that the fridge in question is more than suitable for most adventures.
Compatibility
Also pay attention to compatibility, by which we mean what kinds of power sources can be used to power the fridge in question. Does it only run on 12V DC power, or can it handle 24V DC power as well?
Also pay attention to whether or not it can operate using conventional AC power. What it comes down to is that if you find a small fridge freezer that can run on both AC and DC power. Which could include conventional outlets, car batteries, generators, and solar panels, then you are also on the right track.
Additional Features
Some of these miniature freezers have some pretty cool additional features. This could include LED lights so you can see the inside, dual compartments, organizational baskets, wheels and handles for portability, and even LCD displays. Some of these units may even be able to connect to smartphones for remote control.
The Best Portable Fridge Freezers for Vans and Camping
If you are looking for a good portable fridge freezer for vans and camping, you might want to check out the awesome selection that VEVOR has to choose from.
VEVOR Portable Fridge Freezers
One of the best models from VEVOR is the 12V 80 Quart Dual Door Refrigerator. As you can tell by its title, this is a large unit that can fit 80 quarts, although it is still small enough to fit behind a car seat, in the bed of your truck, or in the trunk too.
Convenient is that it comes with both 120/240V AC and 12/24V DC adapters, so you can hook it up to virtually any power source imaginable, which means that it’s also suitable for all sorts of purposes.
Speaking of power, what’s nice is that the VEVOR 80 Quart Fridge also comes with triple-layer battery protection to make sure that it doesn’t drain your vehicle’s battery,
The fact that it features super-efficient refrigeration that allows it to achieve temperatures of -4 ℉/-20℃ in just 90 minutes is quite impressive too. There’s a turbo mode for fast cooling and an eco-mode for energy efficiency.
Of course, what really stands out about this unit is that it features dual zones with separate doors, which can be controlled independently, so you can use one side as a fridge and the other as a freezer.
Now, if you think that the above model is too large for you needs, and you’d like something more compact, check out the VEVOR 12 Volt 58 Quart Car Refrigerator. Besides not having dual zones, it has all of the same great features as the larger model, while also being much smaller. It’s still a great unit to consider, but more portable and affordable.
FAQ about Portable Fridge Freezer
Why is VEVOR a Good Brand for Portable Refrigerators?
Yes, VEVOR is a great brand to consider for portable refrigerators, with the reason being that it produces high-quality products at reasonable prices. VEVOR is well-known for its extensive range of appliances and tools that come to us at affordable prices, yet are also built with durability and functionality in mind.
How Much Space Should a Portable Refrigerator Have?
How much space a portable refrigerator should have really depends on what your needs are. If you’re looking for a long-haul trip and you don’t want to go to the grocery store very often, something like an 80 quart fridge freezer is ideal. However, if portability is what you’re going for, something substantially smaller might be good for you.
How Can I Power a Portable Car Refrigerator?
Depending on the compatibility of the portable car refrigerator in question, you might be able to power it using normal AC power and DC power. This could include car batteries, wall outlets, compatible generators, and even solar panels too.
For What Purposes Can a Portable Car Fridge Freezer Be Used For?
Portable car fridges are great for camping, tailgating, road trips, and everything in between!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, a portable fridge freezer can certainly come in very handy. It’s all about having a small yet spacious unit that can keep perishable goods cold and frozen, all without costing you too much money. If you’re looking for a good mix of affordability, durability, and functionality, we strongly recommend taking a closer look at the extensive line of mini car fridges that VEVOR has to offer.
