Are you planning some trips with your camper van, but you’re not sure how to store your food? You have a few options for keeping your lunch and dinner cold in your van, and there are perks to both camper van coolers and fridges.
Both fridges and coolers will keep your food cold in your camper van, but you may be concerned with the how. You may need something portable, like a cooler because you want to take your food with you on a day kayaking trip. Maybe you need a fridge to have a fridge and freezer option.
Let’s compare camper van fridges and coolers side-by-side so you know which one is right for your lifestyle.
Pros and Cons List
If you are in a rush and need a glance at the pros and cons of camper van fridges vs. coolers, here is a chart.
Camper van Fridges
Pros
- Offer superior temperature control
- Some have fridge and freezer compartments
- Great temperature range
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires power
- Bulky and heavy
- Hard to clean
- Maintenance is required
- Don’t last as long as coolers
Camper Van Coolers
Pros
- Cheap
- No maintenance required
- Light compared to fridges
- Has a long lifetime
- Easy to clean
- No power required
Cons
- Barely any temperature control
- No option for a freezer
- Constantly fill with ice, which could cost quite a bit of money over the years
Comparing Coolers and Fridges for Camper Vans Side-by-Side
Let’s get into the nitty gritty of camper van coolers vs. fridges. This topic has been a long-time debate among van lifers- but there is no wrong answer to which one you should go with.
It comes down to many factors other than just price when choosing between a cooler and a fridge.
Weight: Camper Van Fridge Vs. Cooler
Weight is a huge factor when placing items in your camper van and should be a factor to consider when deciding between fridges and coolers.
It may surprise you, as it did me, that coolers weigh less than portable fridges, even when the cooler is full of ice.
Because a cooler weighs less, this makes it easier to carry it with you wherever you go.
If you are planning long adventures away from your camper van, opt for a cooler because it weighs less and is more portable than a fridge.
Every camper van has its weight limit, so if you carry heavy equipment like a bike rack or roof rack, you are better off saving weight by opting for a cooler.
Size
Size matters if you are traveling in a camper van. Vans are already small, so you have to think about saving space by purchasing van life accessories that save space.
Both camper van fridges and coolers come in varying sizes.
Coolers come in lunch box sizes to sizes that will feed your family for a week. The plus side to coolers- it doesn’t matter how big or small it is, you won’t have to worry about power consumption.
Typically with bigger fridges, you may run into a problem with the power supply, especially if you want a mini fridge.
Ice Problems
Ice can be a problem for most travelers. With a cooler, you need to get more ice after a few days of use, whereas with a fridge, you don’t need to use ice.
Most coolers can hold ice for up to five days, but you can’t control the temperature at any moment.
Fridges usually have a panel where you can turn the temperature settings up and down. Fridges also have options for a freezer for your ice cream and a fridge section for your produce. You won’t need to worry about your veggies freezing, or your ice cream melting.
It’s recommended that you use the fridge section at around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which is More Portable? Camper Van Fridges or Coolers
Coolers have fridges beat when it comes to portability, and most van lifers require portable units for their adventures.
Fridges, even if they are 12V options, require electricity- whether it be your van’s battery or shore power. Because they require cords and a power source, it makes them less portable than coolers.
Fridges also require a stable area to sit, otherwise, the doors could swing open- you can purchase a chest-style or drawer-like fridge to combat this issue.
Coolers come in all shapes and sizes, making them extremely portable. Most coolers also come with handles and grips designed for outings where you need portability.
Maintenance: Camper van Fridge Vs. Cooler
Fridges require more maintenance than coolers because they consist of many electrical parts that coolers don’t have.
Fridge Maintenance
All fridges have electrical components that could break because of your camper van’s constant vibrations and movements.
Because your camper van fridge isn’t meant for bumps and bangs on the go, you may need to replace some of these components. Thankfully, most everything on a fridge is easy and cheap to replace.
On the other hand, you don’t want to spend all your free time fixing your fridge when you could be out exploring the world, and that’s why coolers are better than fridges on this point.
When cleaning your fridge, you need to remove compartments to sanitize everything. This process can take up quite a bit of time, especially if you have a large unit in your van.
In addition to those points, here are several other things to keep in mind when hauling a fridge.
- Fridges aren’t waterproof
- Control panels and lightbulbs could break
- The compressor could experience problems when in contact with debris
- Cannot sit on steep angles
- You will need to find a way to ventilate your fridge
Cooler Maintenance
Coolers require very little maintenance, that’s most likely due to not having electrical components.
The most you may need to replace on a cooler are the plugs, handles, lock devices, and gaskets.
Coolers are fairly damage-proof, especially if you go with a Yeti or Ozark Trail brand. If you break the walls of the cooler, you will most likely need to replace the entire thing. Thankfully most brands come with a 5-year or lifetime warranty.
Coolers win when it comes to maintenance because there are no electrical components. When it comes to cleaning, all you need to do is wipe out the cooler at the end of your trip. Make sure your cooler fully dries before storing it, otherwise, you may have mold growth.
Price: Fridges Vs. Coolers
Coolers are also the winner when it comes to pricing. However, you may find affordable prices for both camper van fridges and coolers.
You can find coolers ranging from $100- $500 depending on different aspects. Higher-end coolers like Yetis will cost much more because they hold ice longer than lower-end coolers like Igloo.
Fridges will cost anywhere between $300- $1200. The lower-end fridges are typically small and offer fewer options. High-end fridges are larger and may offer options like Bluetooth, and separate fridge and freezer compartments.
Power Supply
Coolers require no power supply and make a perfect companion to boondockers. However, they need a constant supply of ice to keep their food cold.
Fridges require a constant supply of power, so you may need to install a dual battery system or solar panels to ensure your fridge can operate.
Some fridges require shore power, while others need a 12v plug in your camper van. Though there is a way to use just about any fridge with a DC/AC inverter, there is always a need for constant power.
Which One Wins? Camper Van Coolers or Fridges?
Choose a camper van fridge or cooler according to your needs. Here is a small list we compiled to help you decipher which would best suit you and your needs.
We believe that a camper van fridge is better than a cooler because coolers need a constant change of ice. Fridges also have more temperature control than coolers do, making them an obvious choice.
| Camper van cooler | Camper van fridge |
|---|---|
| Best for those who… | Best for those who… |
| Are trying to save power | Don’t need to save power |
| Are on a Budget | Aren’t on a strict budget |
| Don’t mind changing out ice | Need fridge and freezer all-in-one |
| Need portability | Plan to leave the unit in their van |
| Don’t mind changing out the ice | Already have a dual battery system set up |
