The Fluke generated both graphical and CSV data logs. Notes: We gathered power data via an inline PowerWerx meter and a Bluetooth-enabled Fluke clamp meter. We suggest not buying performance you don’t need.
Which in turn either makes the unit larger for the same interior volume, or costs interior volume for the same exterior dimensions.
High insulative values require thicker, more expensive injected foam, which requires more labor to assemble, and the walls of the fridge will be thicker. If the traveler tends to move each day, then efficiency is far less important. While tests like these will often praise higher performance units, those successes come at a cost in both purchase price and overall volume efficiency. As this test focuses on newer models to market, we do evaluate a wide range of sizes.Īnother important decision point is the efficiency of the motor and the insulation. Fridges larger than 60 liters are challenging to integrate in most vehicle layouts, and are best reserved for large 4WDs, trailers, or campers. A smaller fridge takes up less space, costs less to purchase, and typically uses less amps to run. The trick is to avoid refrigerating items that do not need cooling (like eggs, most cheese, and a surprising number of fruits and vegetables), and to only cool drinks needed for the day. A solo traveler can easily use a 25- to 35-liter unit, and a couple with children can manage with only a 50-liter. Selecting the correct-sized fridge is the most important decision, as travelers often purchase too large of a model that unnecessarily robs the vehicle of interior volume. Primary attributes are matching the size in liters to the number of travelers (or the days remote), and pairing the insulation and compressor efficiency to the available battery/solar capacity.
While fridges have become more technology-heavy in recent years, Bluetooth, remotes, and USB ports have little benefit for their intended use, and should be considered a secondary influence on the decision set. I have found that a fridge stocked with food and drinks makes the campsite feel like a home away from home, allowing me to cook healthy, plentiful portions for my travel companions, and prepare the proper sundowner for the end of a dusty day. Both have their merits, but few luxuries match the fridge for pure homeyness, improving culinary outcomes paired with a breathtaking view. Regardless of why, the 12-volt fridge is a much-loved accessory for the vehicle-based traveler.Įach overlander is different, some eschewing nearly all comforts, crossing continents on a motorcycle with the most minimal of equipment, and there are four-wheeled counterparts that bring everything, including the Nespresso coffee maker. Having interviewed hundreds of overlanders, we often ask what their favorite piece of kit is, and almost sheepishly, many reply “my fridge.” The reasons vary, like making ice for margaritas, keeping ice cream frozen for the kids, or preserving that fillet of wild Atlantic salmon for a BBQ in the Maze District. Editors Note: This article originally ran in the print version of Overland Journal, Winter 2021 IssueĬoolest of the Cool | Testing the latest fridge-freezers to their limits.
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