There’s a big debate when it comes to camping fridges about what size is best… and like most questions of this nature it really comes down to personal preference. But, before you choose a preference there a few questions to ask yourself – and a few facts that should help you make the right decision! For example – have you owned a car fridge (or even an icebox) before or is this the first time you’ve considered how to keep your food and drinks cool? Do you already have a 12V system or will you need to factor that into the overall cost of running your 12V camping fridge? Do you need a fridge and freezer or just a fridge? How long will you be camping for? Read on to find the facts and help make the right decision!

POWER CONSUMPTION

The bigger the fridge and colder you set the temperature, the more power it will use – that means you’ll need a larger battery or more battery capacity as well as a larger solar panel to not only charge your batteries, but also provide enough power to charge while running your camping fridge and accessories. By choosing a small car fridge you can also choose a smaller 12V setup and smaller solar panel. BUT! It’s important to note that a bigger battery and solar panel are always a good idea, so if you’re able to save on your fridge choice it is worth putting some extra money towards a bigger battery and solar panel – this will only benefit you in the long run! Up to about a 65L Fridge/freezer you can expect to use around 1Ah while a 75L dual Zone Fridge Freezer or 90L Dual Zone fridge freezer may use up to 3.5Ah when using one side as a fridge and the other as a freezer. Definitely check the listed power consumption of any fridge you’re looking at – but make sure you’re comparing apples and apples – some list their specs at different fridge temperatures and different ambient temperatures which will greatly affect the results! Adventure Kings Fridge/Freezers are tested with the fridge at 3°C and the freezer at 15°C in 32°C ambient conditions!

YOUR FIRST FRIDGE

There’s a temptation to buy the biggest and best fridge first time around, but if you’re just getting into camping or only just buying your first fridge don’t fall into the trap! Fridges are most efficient when they’re around three quarters full, so while it’s amazing to have a 90L Dual Zone Fridge Freezer so you have plenty of space for food, drinks and your frozen items you also need to be away that if you’re not filling all that space then you’re going to use a lot of power for no reason. On the other hand though, the Adventure Kings 90L Fridge/Freezer can be used with only one side on at a time to save power – which helps a great deal! Another thing to consider is that you can always start with a small 20L car fridge/freezer then buy another larger fridge down the line – this way you can use the 20L fridge until you outgrow it, then step up to a larger model such as a 45L Fridge/Freezer – don’t think you’ve wasted your cash though! You’re now able to run the original 20L camping fridge as a freezer only and you’ve got a  combined 65L of space when and if you need it! If you have never used a camping fridge before it’s hard to tell how much space you’ll need, so ask around or check out videos to see how much fits in the fridge you’re looking at. A great way to do this is to compare how many standard 375ml cans fit in – for example the Adventure Kings 20L Car and Camping fridge can fit 27 cans – or just over a case, while the 90L Dual Zone Fridge/freezer can fit 150 which is over 6 cases – that’s a big difference in capacity!

HOW MANY MOUTHS, FOR HOW MANY NIGHTS?

Really the most important consideration is to keep everyone happy for as long as you’re at camp. So while a 20L Car and camping Fridge might be ideal for a solo trip or a couple for a night or two, it probably won’t cut it for a family of five who are heading remote for two weeks at a time – that’s where a dual Zone fridge freezer is a good option! It’s on those longer trips where a freezer really does make a big difference as you can pre-make meals ahead of time and freeze them, as well as just ensure you’ve got enough supplies to keep everyone fed and happy – plus it’s nice to be able to pull out frozen ice blocks or ice creams on those hot afternoons! This is another opportunity where two fridges can be better than one – you could run one in a camper trailer and one in your vehicle, or if you’re heading away with just a vehicle you can have a camping fridge / freezer in the back and a centre console fridge in the front for those refreshing snacks and drinks any time you or the family want them. As a general rule we suggest about 15L of capacity per person per two nights – and of course that’s assuming you’re putting food and drinks in the fridge – you can definitely leave some drinks out and only put them in the night before you need them to save space. However, like all general rules, there are so many variations – if you’re a couple and you’re preparing meals at home and vacuum sealing before you go away, you could very easily get away with a 20L fridge/freezer for a two night adventure… if you’re happy to share!