The Best Camping Fridge Freezer | Including the Totalfreeze 45L we run in the campervan.
- James
- Jun 13
- 7 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
Camping Fridge Freezers:
Anyone who's spent a long day on the bank knows the feeling: you've had a brilliant session, the camper van is parked up, and all you want is a cold drinks and something decent to eat that isn't a warm sandwich that's been sat in a bag since 6am. That's where a proper camping fridge freezer earns its keep.
We're not talking about a bog-standard cool box here. A 12V compressor fridge freezer means cold beers waiting for you after a session on the stillwater, fresh food for whatever's going on the fire that night , Whether it's living in the back of the campervan or tucked into the awning at the campsite, it's one of those bits of kit that quietly makes everything else better. Its a must have item for camping or even long journeys in your car.
We run the Totalfreeze 45L day in, day out, so that one kicks off the list but here's how it stacks up against the rest of the field.
Why Bother with a Fridge Freezer Over a Cool Box ?
We were cool box people for years. Bag of ice, towel over the top, fingers crossed it lasts the weekend. It never quite did.
A compressor fridge freezer changes the game:
Proper cold, for days: no ice melting into a soup at the bottom of the box
Food stays fresh: local meats from the butchers, eggs , fresh produce actually stays cool, even on a scorcher
Frozen stuff stays frozen: handy for ice packs, ice cream, or whatever's come off the last trip
Runs off the leisure battery, 12V socket, or the mains: works in the van, or plugged in at home before you head out
No more soggy butties: small win, but a genuinely important one to us
If you're doing more than the occasional overnighter, it's one of the better upgrades you can make.
A few things worth thinking about before you part with your cash:
Size 25-35L is plenty for a solo session or a couple of nights; 45-55L suits longer trips or if you're feeding more than yourself
Power draw the lower the wattage, the longer it'll run off the van's leisure battery without you worrying about it
Eco mode being able to switch between MAX (fast cooling) and ECO (energy saving) makes a real difference overnight, letting you chill things down quickly then ease off the battery once it's up to temperature
Single or dual zone dual zone lets you run a fridge and freezer side by side, which is handy if you want both cold drinks and frozen food
Power options 12V, 24V, and mains (230V AC) covers you whether you're on the road, at the campsite, or charging up at home
Bluetooth/app control being able to check the temperature and tweak settings from your phone without opening the lid is more useful than it sounds, especially first thing on a cold morning
Build quality if it's going to be bounced around in the back of a van, it needs to be tough
Warranty always worth checking, especially with newer brands
Right, onto the picks:
This is the one that lives in the back of our van, so it had to top the list.
It's a British brand, which already puts it in good stead, and the build quality reflects that lightweight but tough, without the price tag of some of the bigger overlanding names. The standout for us is the power draw: just 30-40 watts, so it barely touches the leisure battery even after a few days off grid.
It also comes with a 24 month warranty and free return postage if anything ever does go wrong, and Totalcool dispatch next working day from their UK base for orders before 1pm useful if you need a replacement part fast before a trip.
In practice, it's kept drinks cold and fresh food through full days on the bank and overnight stays without us thinking twice about it. The 45L size is the sweet spot enough room for a weekend's worth of food and drink, but it doesn't take up much room in my camper van.
Why we rate it: Low power draw, UK based support, and a price that doesn't sting. Bluetooth can be controlled by you phone. Eco settings.
If you want more bells and whistles, this is worth a look. The dual zone setup lets you run one side as a fridge and the other as a proper freezer, with up to a 20°C difference between the two and temperatures held within ±1°C solid if you're keeping both food and bait cold on the same trip.
App control via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth means you can check it's all sorted without getting out of your sleeping bag, which on a cold morning by the water is no small thing.
Best for: Anyone who wants dual-zone cooling and doesn't mind paying a bit more for the smart features.
3. Dometic CFX3 45
We'll be honest, the Dometic CFX3 45 wasn't ours to begin with a mate's had one in the back of his Land Rover for a couple of years now, and every time we've borrowed it for a trip, it's been hard to give back.
It's properly built. The ExoFrame construction with protected edges and aluminium alloy handles means it's taken everything we've thrown at it bumpy field tracks up mountains, being chucked in and out of the boot, the lot without a mark on it.
On the cooling side, it doesn't mess about variable speed compressor is built for efficient cooling and freezing, and we've had it running down as low as -22°C when we've needed proper freezer temps for an extended trip. It'll run off mains power at 120V or 12/24V DC, so whether it's plugged in at home the night before or wired into the van, it's sorted.
The little touches add up too the high resolution colour display and soft-touch buttons make it dead easy to check what's going on, and the app lets you tweak the temperature and check the history over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which is genuinely handy when you're cosy in the van and don't fancy getting up. With room for around 67 cans, there's no shortage of space either.
Best for: If you want something that'll take a proper battering and still keep going — built like a tank, and the cooling power to match. Brilliant
4. BERG 45 Litre cooler
A solid all-rounder runs on 12/24V or mains, so it's just as happy plugged in at home the night before as it is on the bank. A++ rated for power consumption, has a USB port, and somewhat unexpectedly can flip into a heating mode to keep food warm at 60-65°C. A proper warm meal like a takeaway waiting for you after a cold morning session isn't a bad shout. It also has a Eco setting.
Best for: Versatility and that heating function is a nice bonus on the colder trips.
This is our second pick it's a serious bit of kit, holding up to 72 standard 330ml beer or cider cans, while also doubling up to keep a takeaway hot and ready for when you get back from fishing or a day out exploring.
5. BougeRV CRD2 (40L)
For anyone keeping an eye on the budget, the BougeRV CRD2 punches well above its price. It won't be the most precise on temperature, but for day trips, backup duty, or just dipping a toe into fridge freezer life, it does the job without breaking the bank.
Best for: Getting started without spending big.
A Few Common Questions:
How long will one of these run off a leisure battery?
Depends on the unit and the battery, but a low-draw fridge like the Totalcool (35-45W) on a 100Ah leisure battery should comfortably see you through 24 hours, often closer to 2-3 days if you're sensible with the rest of your power use.
What size do I actually need?
For a solo angler or short trip, 25-35L covers it. If you're away longer, feeding more people, or want both fridge and freezer space, step up to 45-55L.
Can I use these at home as well?
Yes all the models above run on 12/24V and mains, so they're just as happy plugged into a wall socket as they are in the camper van or car.
Do they actually freeze things, or just keep them cool?
Single zone units generally sit at fridge temperature. Dual-zone fridges like the EcoFlow GLACIER let you drop one side cold enough to freeze ice packs, or whatever else needs it, and the other side for you local meats and fresh produce.
Are they loud?
There's a bit of compressor hum when they're working, much like a small fridge at home, but nothing that's kept us up on a quiet night by the water.
Related Reading:
If you're sorting out the back of the van, our Camping Van Sink Review is a good companion piece another bit of kit that makes camper van life that much easier. And for more on what we're packing for camper trips generally, check out the Campervan Camping gear page
Final Word:
For us, the Totalfreeze 45L does everything we need low power use, decent size, and proper UK backup if anything goes wrong. But whatever your trips look like, a 12V fridge freezer is one of those upgrades that just makes life on the road (or the riverbank) that bit easier. Cold beers after a session, fresh food , and no more soggy sandwiches small things, but they add up to the kind off field-to-fork trip we're always chasing.
Got one of these, or got a different favourite? Let us know in the comments always good to hear what's working for other people out in the field.
Thanks James | Fishing Field Fork
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