While going through all the different options available for our new
This post is based on our experiences with the fridges for caravans in the last 3 vans that we have travelled in over the 12 months prior to building our latest
Read our Ultimate Guide to The Best 12V Upright Fridge
Advantages Of A 3-Way Caravan Fridge
The major advantage of a three way
- 240 volt AC
- 12 volt DC
- Caravan gas fridge
The later model 3 way fridges for caravans have an automatic feature as well. If you select the auto mode your fridge will determine the best power source. Being an absorption fridge (no compressor) they are very quiet as well. Many people swear by these
What We Didn’t Like About 3-Way Fridges
The biggest problem with our fridges was their inconsistencies between power sources. One worked fine on gas but was hopeless on 12v and average on 240v. Another was average on 12v but hopeless on gas and 240v.
We need the fridge to be a fridge all the time. We do not want to worry about whether the chicken in the freezer is still frozen, or if the milk for tomorrow’s breakfast will be ok to use. One of the reasons we chose a 2 way fridge.
The last fridge we had was brand new so we had the operating manual for it. Even the manual tells us to;
- run the fridge for at least 12 hrs before use.
- cool food before placing it in the fridge
- keep inside of the vehicle cool
- do not pack too much in the fridge
At no time were these fridges overfilled or had the cooling fins crowded. We gave the fridges the best possible running conditions we could but they still were not capable enough to stop us from worrying about their performance.
We have no way of cooling foods before they are put in the fridge when we live on the road. That’s the fridge’s job and keeping the inside of the van cool while travelling Australia is not really possible most of the year.
We really need the fridge to perform like the fridge in our house. I realise that this is not really possible as the fridge in our house has the best operating conditions for it to operate in. But the only way we can get close is with a 12v compressor fridge for
A Compressor Caravan Fridge It Is!
The only real issue that we can see is the “compressor noise” at night time. We have both travelled in trucks and cars with compressor fridges for many years and the noise from the compressor has never worried either of us.
So what do we have to change in the van to successfully run a 2 way
The Decision Is Made!
There is a 230-litre Vitrifrigo Fridge installed in our van with a current draw of about 4.4amps. This is a 12-volt DC-only powered fridge. There is also a power-hungry 42-litre, 20+-year-old Engel in the 4WD, so we need to ensure we have plenty of power stored for when we are off-grid.
We have 2 x 100ah Lithium batteries fitted to the van with 3 x 150w solar panels on the roof. We have a portable 160w folding panel and a 110w panel on the roof of the BT. There are also 2 x 130ah lead crystal batteries in the tub of the BT that can connect to the van.
So to power our two fridges we have well over 400ah of battery storage and about 720w of solar panels if they are all in the sun. That should be enough. We also have a 140amp CTek battery management system in the BT so I could start the car if needed, but I don’t think I will need to.
And what happens when we plug into 240v power wherever we are? The fridge still runs off the batteries in the van while the 240v supply switches the battery charger on to trickle charge the batteries.
Stay Tuned and we will let you know how our Compressor
*Note: This article was written by the former owners of All Around Oz Melissa and Brenden.
The compressor 12v fridge we have in our
With years of experience travelling Australia in a caravan, I’m passionate about helping others embark on their own unforgettable adventures. From off-grid camping tips to expert advice on planning the ultimate big lap of Australia, I share stories, practical hacks, and inspiration to make your journey stress-free and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting out, join me as I explore the beauty of Australia, one road at a time!
Hi Greg,
We have the exact same fridge in our van which has been running great for over 11 years. My question is relating to when your not travelling. Should you keep the fridge running when not in use for extended times. Some say yes some say turn it off. We have always left it running with a few bottles of water in it. The solar keeps it running but what is best for compressor life
Hi there,
Any updates on the compressor fridge?
How’s it been running? Any issues?
How noisy is it?
P.S.
I have that exact fridge in the new van being built, running 220Ah lithium with 300W of solar being installed. No DCDC or inverter, but may add that later.
We are still very happy with our fridge. Has been fantastic, even in 40 degree heat. We don’t think it’s noisy at all. The only thing we have found is that it does need defrosting every few months. Ours also just runs off our batteries.
That’s good news to hear, especially in high heat. A defrost every few months isn’t too bad either. Thanks for responding and happy travelling.
Great articles. Thanks guys. We are looking to upgrade our 2011 and think the Next generation might be for us.
G’day,
I’d be interested , how the fridge is going? We have one but won’t get below -8c in freezer and in humid conditions , needs a defrost every two weeks, sometimes weekly.
Greg
Hey Greg….we have had absolutely no problems with our fridge. Just chucked a temp gauge back in the freezer and it is sitting on -13.3. And it is hot here – 37`but not humid, although when we were in Queensland we had no problems with it either. What brand is your fridge?
Hi all
224 lt fridge
We are new to the caravanning life.
Looking at getting our van in December.
Everyone I speak to says 2way fridge.
I just rang the company and told them we would like a 2way fridge instead of 3way. They said the 2019 3way fridges are much better than even last years models.
Has anyone tried these new fridges and what are they like?
I have 320 wt solar on van
We can’t comment on the new 3-way fridges. They may have improved and it would have to be a very big improvement to convince us to switch from a 2-way. We are super happy with ours so far.
Great article, I have a 3 way fridge and the cooling unit at the back has been replaced twice (by manufacturer) and each time the fridge can’t handle Australian summer, for me a 60 L cooler worked better with ice.
We will let you know what we think of ours when we get it. We’re sure it’s the way to go.