Caravan Fridge Buying Guide
Thinking about upgrading or looking for a new a caravan fridge? Before you buy, there’s a few things to consider - from upright and portable, to selecting the size and off-grid setup to suit your mobile situation, we’ll help you weigh up all the options with our Caravan Fridge buying guide. Find out everything you need to know to get the perfect fit for your caravan, RV, or camper trailer.
- 12V Fridges for Caravans, RVs, Boats and Off-grid
- Should you get an upright or portable fridge for your caravan?
- Which is best, a gas (3-way) or compressor fridge?
- How much power do you need?
- What is the best size?
- Can I use a normal 240V household fridge in a caravan?
- How long should a caravan fridge last?
- Why choose a Bushman DC fridge?
- Bushman DC-X Series 12V Fridges
- Bushman DC-L Series 12V Fridge
12V Fridges for Caravans, RVs, Boats and Off-grid
All Bushman upright fridges are designed specifically for built-in or freestanding use in off-grid and mobile situations throughout Australia, and will perform even in our extreme heat.
If you’re running off solar or battery power, you need a fridge with powerful cooling performance and genuinely low power consumption, there’s a Bushman upright 12V fridge for your situation – caravans, buses, boats, 4wds, camper trailers, RVs, cars, tiny houses, farms, beach shacks, sheds and off-grid living.
If you have any questions about our products or refrigeration in general, please contact us to talk to a fridge expert directly.
Should you get an upright or portable fridge for your caravan?
Upright fridges are the most popular choice for caravans as they provide the same convenience as your home fridge, offering easy access to your food and drinks. There’s plenty of room for storage and the added benefit of freezer capability for storing ice, meat or other items you might not want to use straight away. Upright caravan fridges are designed with a hinged door so you can easily see everything and your food and drinks are always within reach.
Some customers also choose to have a second fridge, usually a chest fridge freezer, for use as a dedicated drinks fridge or a deep freezer for long term trips. A portable chest fridge can be stored in your car, ute or caravan and can operate off-grid using battery power. Food is stored in internal stacking baskets that sit on top of each other.
Portable chest fridges are a great option for freezing and cooling when you’re on the go, if space is limited or for use as a separate freezer. They’re also helpful to have on hand if you want additional room for keeping extra items cool that you can’t store or don’t fit in your upright fridge.
Which is best, a gas (3-way) or compressor fridge?
Installing a 12V compressor fridge in a caravan is always recommended as they’re designed specifically for mobile use. The main benefits of a 12V fridge in a caravan are performance, safety and maintenance. Compressor fridges use 12V electricity and are designed to run on low power and can operate efficiently even on solar or in off-grid situations. They’re perfect for hotter climates and perform better in extremely hot conditions and on angles up to 30˚. Compressor fridges require no maintenance and they are the safest option in a confined space.
Some customers still prefer an absorption or upright LPG gas fridge if they prefer using LPG gas over a 12V solar setup, however for use in caravans we always recommend a 12V fridge. The benefit of LPG or absorption fridges is that they don’t need power to run as they operate only from a gas bottle, however they generally require more maintenance than a compressor fridge and should be inspected regularly for safety.
Read more about the difference between LPG gas (absorption) and 12V compressor fridges.
Compressor fridges run on low power and can operate efficiently even in remote locations.
How much power do you need?
This is a question we get asked every day. The answer will depend on the size of your fridge, what the average energy consumption is, and how many days you would like your fridge to operate without putting power back into your battery bank.
All Bushman fridges are designed to operate on super low power, with our most efficient caravan fridge running on average around 1.2 amps per hour.
If you’re looking to use your fridge in a remote location or off-grid, we generally recommend a battery size which will run your fridge for a minimum of 3 days and nights, before it starts getting low.
To help you calculate the right sized solar panel and battery setup, we’ve prepared a handy guide covering all the detailed information you’ll need to choose your Bushman 12V fridge and battery setup.
What is the best size?
The size of your caravan will play a major role in the size of caravan fridge that’s right for you, especially if you are refitting an older caravan with a new fridge.
The size of a caravan fridge is based on the number of litres (L) it can hold. Upright caravan fridges come in many sizes, starting from a small fridge of 50L, all the way up to larger fridges 200L and above.
There are two main sizes of caravan fridge; those that fit under a bench, that are similar in size to a bar fridge and range in size from 50L to 130L; and larger two door upright fridge models, that are more similar to a home fridge and range in size from between 150L and up to 200L+.
Can I use a normal 240V household fridge in a caravan?
Yes you can, but there are some significant downsides to using a home fridge in a caravan. As you can imagine, household fridges are designed and built to be operated on a stable and level floor, with a large amount of ventilation on the sides, rear and above. They also require a steady supply of 240V AC power. These are three things you will generally not find in a caravan.
Noise
Normal household fridges can be very noisy. Whilst a 240V fridge may have extra bells and whistles, like reverse cycle, frost free, and individual fridge and freezer temperatures, these functions produce more noise. And when you are sleeping in close proximity to your fridge, you really want the quietest fridge you can find. In comparison, high quality 12V compressor fridges are quieter.
Mobile use
Most household fridges are not built to withstand the rigours of mobile use and we have seen this first hand. Many customers have dropped in to see us with broken cooling systems and failed compressors. On the other hand, caravan fridges use compressors that are internally sprung and made specifically for the demands of mobile use.
Ventilation
A household fridge uses the rear and / or sides of the fridge cabinet to remove heat. For built in installations, this is not a good layout for heat transfer and results in more power usage. A well designed caravan fridge will use an external, fan assisted heat exchanger to create more air flow and heat transfer.
240V Power
A 240V fridge will need an inverter that operates non stop. Depending on the inverter you choose, the constant current it uses will be around 0.5A every hour, 24 hours a day.
Warranty
Is your home fridge covered under warranty for use in a caravan? Probably not. Most appliance manufacturers exclude warranty for any fridge which have been used in anything mobile; caravans, vans, buses, boats and everything that moves.
How long should a caravan fridge last?
Many of our customers are using the same fridge they purchased more than 10 years ago. The longevity of a caravan fridge usually depends on the quality of the fridge and how well it is looked after. Bushman caravan fridges are built to last, featuring the highest quality components and long Australian warranties on all models.
To get the most out of your caravan fridge, we recommend operating it at least every couple of months to keep the moving parts turning over. Always store your caravan fridge with the door slightly ajar, and keep the area dry.
Why choose a Bushman DC fridge?
Steady Cooling in Hot Weather
- Bushman approved cooling systems
- Custom Danfoss compressor settings
- Local Australian quality control
- Full 3 – 5 Year Australian warranty
Low Power Consumption
- Oversize refrigeration units
- Large, external wire on tube condenser (heat exchanger)
- Simple and efficient designs that work
- Low run times = Less power use
Reliable & Easy to Use
- Lots of practical storage
- Easy installation options
- Room for larger bottles
- Local customer service
Bushman caravan fridges come in a range of sizes to suit your individual setup.
Bushman DC-X Series 12V Fridges
12V / 24V DC Compressor Fridges – 50L | 65L | 85L | 130L | 230L
Bushman DC-X series of caravan fridges are great for under-bench height installations when running on battery power or through small scale solar. They are perfect as a caravan fridge, boat fridge or RV fridge. They’re also a great fit for smaller off-grid situations. These are high quality, beautifully designed, low power fridges with a black finish.
All Bushman DC-X model fridges have custom Bushman cooling systems to handle the Aussie heat, upgraded software and components for efficiency, and are backed up by our legendary customer service.
If you are looking to replace an older Dometic RPD218 12V fridge, the Bushman DC230-X is a direct swap replacement.
The Bushman DC130-X is one of our most popular compact caravan fridges.
Bushman DC-L Series 12V Fridge
12V / 24V DC Compressor Fridge – 190L
Our two door DC190-L fridge is designed for ultra low-power use and efficiency even in the hottest weather (43˚C). This fridge is designed by Bushman from the ground up, making it exceptionally good for all mobile and off-grid situations throughout Australia.
The Bushman DC190L fridge features wide-door storage, a large freezer and safety glass shelves.
Finished in matte black with powder-coated steel sides, the DC190L can be placed in a free standing position for off-grid living, or installed in a cavity using the supplied mounting frame. Just like every Bushman fridge, our DC190-L comes with a custom Bushman cooling system, upgraded software and components and is backed up by our legendary customer service.
If you are looking to replace an older Dometic RPD190 12V fridge or a Dometic RM4601 3-Way fridge, the Bushman DC190L-X is a direct swap replacement.
View the DC-L Fridge
The Bushman DC190L-X is our two-door upright model that can either be mounted or free standing.
What Next?
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Free Shipping -
3-5 Year Warranty
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Easy Customer Service
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Australian Owned & Operated
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Free Shipping -
3-5 Year Warranty -
Easy Customer Service -
Australian Owned & Operated
