Jan 14 2011
Buying a 12V Car Mini Fridge with Freezer
Anyone who’s ever spent much time driving in the backcountry is probably well aware of the benefits a mini fridge with freezer can add when installed in your vehicle. This article explores how to go about shopping for a 12 V refrigerator freezer unit for your rig.
The most important thing to know about car fridges is that there is some real junk out there. If you simply go down to the nearest store and purchased the cheapest 12v fridge for sale you can find, you’ll most likely be sorely disappointed with the results.
These discount 12v fridge freezers are usually absorption style appliances. While this type of refrigerator is great for use with LPG, they are terribly inefficient when used as a 12 V refrigerator. Not only this, but they are relatively temperamental. In order to operate correctly they must be operated on a very smooth and level surface; on uneven surfaces the cooling system will not function smoothly.
Clearly these attributes make this type of cheap 12v fridge very undesirable for use in an expedition vehicle. More appropriate for these needs are high quality 12 V compressor style mini fridge freezers. I mini fridge with freezer that operates using this technology is generally going to be very energy-efficient, and a lot more forgiving of bumps than an absorption style refrigerator.
For this reason it is best to avoid those 12v fridges for sale at your local store and purchase a high quality compressor model instead. Manufacturers like Engel and National Luna are going to be some of your best choices. Whilst they are not cheap – $700 or more in fact – they are exceptionally high quality mini fridges with freezers and are ideal for in car use.
Whatever model you buy for your vehicle, think of it as a long-term investment and picture the enjoyment it will bring next time you are in the backcountry.
