Day: August 23, 2023

What 12V Fridge is Best for Van Life? There are many options to choose from for your 12V fridge for van life, not a 120V or AC fridge.  Choosing the right one might feel overwhelming. However, we are here to simplify that for you so you can focus on other major pieces of your camper van conversion.  There are only two questions that you need to answer to narrow down which 12V fridge is best for you.  Those questions are:  What style fridge do you prefer: upright, or chest style? What size fridge do you need for your eating and grocery shopping style? This guide walks you through both of those questions and then provides various options to fit your answers. 12V vs 120V Fridges for Van Life? It is important to get a 12V fridge for van life for power efficiency reasons.  A 120V fridge, or a typical “mini fridge” would require your inverter to be on at all times which is generally not a good practice.  Additionally, 120V “mini fridges” or “dorm room style” fridges are much less efficient at keeping your food cool which is a double whammy.  With an appliance like a fridge that runs 24/7, you want to make sure it is not a concern for drawing your battery bank too low.   Choosing Between Upright and Chest Style Fridges Let’s talk about fridge styles.  This decision tends to mostly be swayed by preference but can also be swayed by budget! Below you can see what each style looks like for camper vans and then we proceed with a comparision. Upright Fridges Resemble traditional refrigerators with a front-opening door and shelves Are permanently installed under a galley and do not require additional space besides the ability to open the door Tend to be higher cost  Come with, or without, freezer compartments Provide easy access to food in an organized manner Chest Fridges Opens from the top, similar to a cooler Accessing food is harder because food is stacked on top of each other Often built on heavy duty drawer slides.  This takes up more space, but can also be repurposed as a bench Generally keep food more insulated as they lose less cold air when opened Tend to be cheaper cost Offer options with larger freezer compartments, or multiple zones Generally, we recommend upright fridges for those who love to cook and have easy access to their food.  And we recommend chest style fridges to van lifers who prioritize space, and energy efficiency over cooking and food access. Sizing your 12V Fridge for Van Life Properly The second decision you need to make is what size fridge is best for your van life!  We estimate that van lifers need about 10-13 liters of space, per person, per day.  “Days” is defined by how many days you want to go without having to go to the grocery store. To choose your perfect fridge size, use the following formula: FridgeUpright = 13 L * (days) * (people) Fridge Chest = 10 L * (days) * (people) For reference, we