We take the hassle out of buying a 12V upright fridge/freezer with our handy buyer’s guide. Every major brand is covered!
Whether you’re decking out the back of your 4X4 or wagon, building a custom fridge setup for your canopy, caravan, or camper trailer, or simply making your RV a little easier to live out of, there’s no two ways about it, 12V upright fridges are some of the easiest and lightest options you can buy. Sure, they don’t have the sheer volume of a chest freezer, but if you’re running one as a second option, or for quick getaways, they offer home-like comforts.
We’ve scoured the internet to come up with the some go-to upright fridge offerings to inform you not just what your options are but how deep you’ll need to dig in your pockets to make it happen.
Tips for Buying an Upright Fridge
When it comes to choosing the right upright fridge for your RV setup, a bit of thoughtful planning will set you up for success on the road. Start by considering the capacity you’ll need – whether you’re fitting out a compact camper trailer, a spacious caravan, or a motorhome kitchen, your fridge size should match both your family’s needs and the space you have available. Adjustable shelves are essential, allowing you to organise the interior to accommodate everything from tall drink bottles to larger food containers, so you can make the most of every bit of storage.
A reversible door is another practical feature that’s well worth considering, particularly if you want your fridge to open in the direction that works best with your layout or the compact spaces you’ll find in RVs. For those planning to install their fridge in a RV or boat, look for models that are specifically built for your purpose, with sturdy construction and proper external venting to handle the challenges of life on the road while keeping everything running smoothly.
Don’t overlook checking what type of compressor the fridge uses – some are made to run a little more quietly and efficiently, which can make a real difference during extended trips or when you’re settled in at a RV park for several days. At the end of the day, finding the perfect fit comes down to matching the fridge’s specs and capacity to how you travel. Take your time to compare different models, read through reviews from fellow travellers, and make sure the fridge you choose is made to handle the conditions you’ll encounter on your adventures. With the right upright fridge on board, you’ll keep your food fresh, your drinks cold, and your travels running smoothly wherever the road takes you.
Adventure Kings Upright Fridges are budget-friendly and widely available through 4WD Supacentre and it’s hard to argue their kit doesn’t represent great value for money. Whilst some will say gear from 4WD Supacentre is cheap, not everyone has a huge budget these days plus their upright fridges seem to be up to scratch, and their 5-year warranty, and dealer network do provide comfort.
Available in 85L and 110L variants, don’t expect groundbreaking technology from an Adventure Kings upright fridge. However, they do offer plenty of usability. Features included with both the 85L and 110L models are an internal freezer, a bottom veggie drawer, and height-adjustable shelving. The fridge is made to hold enough food and drinks for camping or travel, keeping your contents secure and protected during rough journeys. It keeps everything cool even in challenging conditions, ensuring your items stay fresh and safe.
Kings 85L Stayzcool Upright Fridge Freezer
Specs:
Capacity: 85L (with freezer compartment)
Compressor: Huayi
Temperature Range: +10°C to 0°C (fridge) | -5°C to -15°C (freezer)
One of the newer manufacturers in the game, Brass Monkey, has quickly made a name for itself for their wide product range and decent quality. While their flash centre console fridges normally claim the glory, their 12V upright refrigerator options are no slouch either.
Available in a variety of sizes from 50L up to 85L, they feature all the usual kit, like reversible and locking doors, a battery cut out, and adjustable shelving inside. It’s worth mentioning that the freezer and crisper compartments can be removed for cleaning or storing bulkier items. These fridges can be easily integrated into a custom build for your 4×4, camper trailer, or boat, allowing you to build a setup that maximises storage and functionality. The fridge operates when connected to 12V, 24V, or mains power sources, making it versatile for different travel situations.
One thing we love in this 12V upright is the option to remote mount the compressor or bolt it directly to the back of the fridge. It does look a little ugly, but having the option to mount it somewhere more convenient is fantastic for tight setups. They do offer larger 95L and 138L 12/24V upright fridges but list them as “not suitable for mobile use”. So be careful to order the correct refrigerator model for your installation needs before heading for the Gibb River Road.
Brass Monkey upright fridge freezer
Specs:
Capacity: 50L, 65L, 90L
Compressor: LG
Current Draw: ~1.5Ah/hour
Power Input: 12V / 24V
Features: Reversible and lockable door, removable freezer & crisper, optional remote-mounted compressor for tight spaces
Dimensions: Slimline design for canopy/caravan installs
Warranty: 3 years
Price: RRP $729 – $899
Bushman 12V upright fridges
With one of the best reputations for quality on the market, it’s no surprise to see more and more people are looking to Bushman for their range of compressor refrigerators. If you’re on the hunt for one for your 4×4 canopy or wagon setup, their 50L and 60L are popular options, plus Bushman offers fridges that are made of steel and built for extreme temperatures. By consulting this guide, you will have found the right 12V upright fridge for your needs.
Caravans are well looked after too, with larger options all the way up to a huge 190L. These compressor refrigerators run efficiently on 12V or 24V power, making them ideal for use in caravan or motorhome. You won’t find too many bells and whistles across any of the fridges in the range, though. Instead, the brand focuses on rugged simplicity and reliability. They’re one of the few fridges available with a Tropical T rating, making them suitable for conditions up to 43 degree celsius, and even the largest caravan offerings are rated for off-road use.
Bushman DC50-X, DC65-X, DC85-X
Specs:
Capacities: 50L, 65L, 85L
Compressor: Secop Danfoss
Current Draw: ~1.25–1.5Ah/hour
Power Input: 12V / 24V
Features: Tropical T-rating (up to 43°C), reversible door, 4L freezer, crisper tub
Warranty: 5 years compressor / 3 years other parts
It should come as no surprise that one of the biggest companies in this space has one of the biggest ranges. Camping lifestyle giant Dometic manufactures everything from rooftop tents to BBQs and 12V upright fridges in there somewhere too. They’ve got ten separate sizes available across three different ranges. The CoolMatic CRX is the more rugged platform better suited to off-road use, the RUC range features 12/24 and mains power with a compressor and a three-way gas-powered range in the RUA.
You will pay more for a Dometic offering, but their kit is quality. Dometic fridges are designed to maintain optimal temperature for food safety, ensuring your perishables stay fresh. Efficient cooling is supported by proper cold air circulation within the fridge, which helps maintain consistent performance. Some models also offer a separate fridge and freezer compartment, providing flexible storage options for different needs. It’s also worth noting that their naming convention doesn’t align with the sizing. The CRX 65 only gives 57 L of space. The doors aren’t reversible, which is something else you need to factor in.
One of the most respected names in camping fridges, Engel, has a long-standing presence in the refrigeration industry, known for reliability and durability. While Engel has not bought or acquired other major brands, its reputation is built on decades of consistent quality. The brand is now having a solid push into the 12V upright market with five sizes ranging from 40L all the way up to 95L. In classic Engel fashion, you shouldn’t expect literally any bells and whistles at all, but they’ll outlast the earth and chew bugger all juice in the process.
All their models feature their tried and tested Sawafuji Swing Motor type compressor, and all can run on 12/24 and 240V power without an adaptor. They also feature a neat trick in that the doors are not only reversible but have a replaceable door panel so you can colour-match your fridge to the rest of your kitchen. If you’re not feature-hungry, but want a good quality fridge for a great price, it’s hard to go past the Engel offerings. View an Engel fridge as a long-term investment in quality and reliability for your adventures.
Another company focused on robust products rather than flash, Evakool is near enough to a household name thanks to its top-notch ice boxes, draw fridges and traditional chest-type fridges. They do dip their toe into the 12V upright fridge market but your options are limited.
Evakool offers up a 110L fridge/freezer, and a 95L version available in silver or black. These fridges can store a large amount of food and drinks, making them ideal for extended trips. Unfortunately, that does mean that their sizing is a little too big for most 4×4 canopies, and a little too small for most large caravans. Still, if the sizing does fit your setup, you can expect years of trouble-free fridge fun with the usual suspect of features like reversible doors, a fruit crisper, and the all-important Tropical T rating. The fridge is designed to protect the contents from spoilage and damage during travel, ensuring your items stay fresh and secure.
With a reputation as the go-to company for camping toilets, you’d be forgiven for not having Thetford at the top of your list for 12V upright fridges. However, they’re well worth a closer look. Their range is focused squarely on the back-country caravan types and are sized accordingly. With a 105L option as their smallest, and a 274L book ending it at the other end, they offer bulk storage if you have the space to fit one and the budget to get the job done. These fridges can store enough food and drinks to keep you supplied on long journeys, making them ideal for extended trips.
All four versions offer low-voltage cut-offs so they won’t fry your battery and over-current protection to protect the fridge itself. They’re light on the ground with flash features like Bluetooth connectivity, but they do offer a handy night mode that’ll reduce power consumption and noise, handy for people mounting them inside a caravan who might not appreciate the hum of a fridge all night. With a Thetford fridge, you can explore new places with confidence, knowing your supplies will stay fresh wherever your adventure takes you.
Specs:
Capacity: 105L (90L fridge + 15L freezer)
Compressor: Thetford
Current Draw: ~1.8Ah/hour
Features: Integrated ventilation (no external vents), automatic temperature control, reversible door
Other models (152L, 175L, 274L) also available but specs vary.
Vitifrigo 12V upright fridges
One of the biggest names on the list that most people have never heard of, Vitifrigo are an Italian manufacturer, part of the 1200-worker-strong Vitri Alceste Group. That aside, they actually make genuinely interesting 12V upright fridge options. One of our favourite features they boast is the ‘vent’ position, where the fridge handle can be pushed to the side, leaving the door ajar and preventing mould when not in use. Features included with Vitifrigo fridges are the vent handle, multiple compartments, and flexible shelving, making them versatile for different setups. With generous capacity, these fridges can store a wide variety of items for camping, caravanning, or off-grid adventures.
You’ll pay a small fortune for it, but their DW360 OCX2 fridge freezer is one of the most unique on the market. Featuring three separate compartments it has a typical upright style 157L top section, an 80L fridge freezer drawer underneath, and a second 64L fridge freezer at the bottom, all integrated into the one fridge. They offer smaller versions for more affordable prices with other unique styles, but none would be described as budget, so make sure to order the correct model for your needs.
Vitrifrigo C60i Airlock
Specs:
Capacity: 60L
Compressor: Secop
Current Draw: ~1.2Ah/hour
Power: 12/24V DC (with optional AC power kit)
Features: Snap-lock “vent” handle, reversible door, LED lighting, compact size for smaller vans
Other models (85L, 115L, 230L, 305L, 274L) also available but specs vary.
But what about the other 12V upright fridges?
Look, we’re sure there’s no surprise when we say that off-shore manufacturing has led to a flood of cheaper 12V upright fridges. Some of this has allowed traditional manufacturers to produce similar quality kit for lower costs. It’s also allowed a lot of other essentially no-name brands to purchase no-name fridges in bulk, whack a sticker on them and send them to market.
Unfortunately, this is no indication of their quality in a good or a bad way, but it does make them a roll of the dice. If you find an affordable 12V upright fridge, do a little digging to see if you can at least find a website and a little history about the company. You could save yourself a fortune by buying a lesser-known 12V fridge brand, or you could buy a dud and have very little recourse if it does fail. Caveat Emptor.
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while this is a great summery of these fridges, perhaps you could could have put in how much they draw per hour as well in the breakdown of features?