Having access to ice-cold drinks and frozen foods is one of the great pleasures of traveling in an RV. But the refrigerators found in RVs (and trailers) are not created equal. In fact, they may differ by type, which is why choosing the right fridge for your RV is so important. The best RV refrigerator will be the one that suits your specific camping needs and fits within your budget.
The two main types of RV fridges are absorption and compressor. In this article we will take a look at the pros and cons of each. Then we will compare prices to help you find the perfect fridge for your RV.
Absorption refrigerators are the most common found in RVs. They use propane to keep things cold by using a complicated chemical process. These fridges can be two-way models that run on LP gas or 120-volt AC power. Others, like Norcold and Dometic, are three-way refrigerators that can run on either LP gas, shore power or direct current. Some of these refrigerators automatically switch between power sources, while others require you to manually flip a switch.
To ensure that your absorption fridge is running properly, it is a good idea to check its temperature on occasion and also make sure the door seals aren’t loose. If the fridge seems to be working fine, but you aren’t getting cold food, there could be a problem with the cooling coils or the 12-volt DC coach battery that powers it. Unless you have a good amount of technical knowledge, it’s usually better to call an RV technician to diagnose these problems.