Which is the best camping and car fridge 2024?
Engel MT-V60F, Dometic / Waco CFX3 55l Portable fridge/freezer, National Luna 60l Legacy Camping Fridge – Dual Zone.
Once you have a car fridge for camping, touring, and outdoor activities, there is no going back. Keeping the all-important food and drinks consistently cool while travelling is essential, especially in Australia’s climate.
Furthermore, a car fridge is an excellent accessory for food and drinks while working in the field or for those who live in remote regions and need to keep the shopping cool! What would you like to pack in your car fridge? See our helpful article on the best camping food list; this guide is complete with easy camping meals and recipes!
The Best Camping Accessory for Your Next Road Trip
Car fridges are becoming increasingly popular camping accessories as we increase exploration and self-sufficiency while exploring unique locations. Looking at the current market, there is a size to suit varied needs with various styles: drawer fridges, top opening fridges, and upright fridges/freezers. Further, there is a variety of quality and brands to suit most budgets.
Choose a portable car fridge to suit your vehicle
Having personally owned a variety of fridges over the years, choosing your fridge is determined by your vehicle layout, available space, and the type of travel you enjoy…
Choosing the Best Camping Fridge to Suit Your Needs
- How much space do you have for a car fridge? What are the available dimensions?
- Consider placement of your fridge for access, do you need a fridge slide?
- How the fridge will get power?
What are your requirements for food storage?
- How many days worth of food do you need to store?
- How many people does the fridge need to hold food and drinks for?
- Does your travel take you to remote areas for extended periods?
- If you are road-tripping from town to town, it is easy to top up food every 2 to 3 days, so you shouldn’t need a large fridge.
How to pack a car fridge?
- Think of a car fridge differently from a home fridge, as everything is stacked. The packing style for a top-opening fridge is best for heavy items and less access to things like meat at the bottom. Top with fruit, veg, and salads. Stack drinks to one side.
- Please be sure to look for aftermarket fridge storage baskets. These can sit in the top of the fridge and are a great way to pack, allowing faster access to items at the bottom by removing the whole basket.
- Pack drinks daily to save on valuable space.
It is amazing what you can fit into a 40 – 60 litre fridge when it is packed efficiently for planned camping meals.
‘After many years touring remote places all over Australia, a freezer has had no demand. Travelling with a family of 3, a well packed 40 litre Engel fridge is sufficient to keep food and drinks consistently cold, with up to 3 to 5 day’s worth of food, when careful meal planning is done.’
How to Power a Car 12-Volt Fridge?
- It is important when choosing your fridge to know and understand the power requirements.
- When using a car fridge it is important to consider the power draw, and what additions you will need to power the fridge efficiently.
- You may need to consider a dual battery set up, and or a roof mounted solar panel.
- See this diagram to better understand powering your car fridge.
Car Fridge Comparison
We have chosen a mid-sized 55L to 60L car fridge to compare in our list. These fridges are a practical size for various uses while being power efficient and a quality product to suit Australian roads and climate.
I create these articles to help people make an informed choice on products; in addition, these brands are personally owned or have been owned by us. The below car fridge comparison contains affiliate links. Should a purchase be made, I will receive a small commission, and in turn, I can continue my mission to help people explore the outdoors with the right gear.
Engel MT-V60F 60l Portable fridge/freezer:
Capacity: The Engel MT-V60F has a capacity of 60 litres.
Cooling Performance and compressor: These fridges have excellent cooling performance, with the ability to freeze food and keep items chilled for an extended period. The Engel MT-V60F is known for its superior insulation and ability to maintain low temperatures even in extreme heat. The compressor is an important aspect of a car fridge. The Engel MT-V60F has a Sawafuji swing motor. This is a highly-regarded and reliable compressor known for its low power consumption and efficient operation, making this fridge a reliable choice for off-road and travelling enthusiasts looking for a reliable fridge in remote locations.
Power consumption: Engel fridges are known for low power consumption, though specific use of power will be affected by ambient temperature as well as use (opening and closing the fridge). According to manufacturers’ specifications, the average power consumption is approximately 2.5 Ah/h when running the fridge with an ambient temperature of 25 deg C. The fridge running over 24 hours will consume around 60 Ah of power.
Key Features:
| 60 litre capacity | On-off interior light |
| Lockable latches | Fridge or freezer |
| Temperature range: -18°C to +10°C | Compressor: Sawafuji Swing Motor |
| Digital thermostat with LED display | High-efficiency, low power consumption |
| Aftermarket basket accessories available | Suitable for off-road and camping adventures |
| Tough and durable aluminium construction | 5 year warranty |
Pros and Cons of the Engel MT-V60F 60l Portable fridge/freezer:
- PROS:
- Tough and reliable swing compressor great for off-road touring
- Low power consumption
- Aftermarket interior basket accessories
- 5 Year warranty
- Stainless steel lockable latches
- CONS:
Dometic / Waco CFX3 55l Portable fridge/freezer:
Capacity: This Dometic has a capacity of 55 litres.
Cooling performance and compressor: The CFX3 55 L has powerful compressors that allow for rapid cooling and efficient temperature control. This unit uses the VMS03 variable-speed compressor. This compressor is designed to work efficiently in hot and humid conditions and features a variable speed drive that can adjust the compressor speed according to the cooling needs, this in turn helps reduce power consumption and extend battery life.
Power consumption: Based on manufacturers specifications the CFX3 55L is known for its low power usage. The CFX series has energy saving features such as adjustable temperature control, smart compressor and low voltage cut off. These fridges are designed to work effectively with solar and low-power sources. Specifications suggest the approximate consumption is 0.75 Ah/h at an ambient temperature of 32 deg C set at 5 deg C. This means the fridges use 18Ah over 24 hours.
Key features:
| 55 litre capacity | Interior light |
| Single-zone design with both fridge and freezer capabilities | Temperature range: -22°C to +10°C |
| Wi-Fi connectivity and mobile app control | Compressor: Variable speed, ECO mode for improved efficiency |
| USB charging ports | Durable construction with reinforced corners and stainless-steel hinges |
| Suitable for outdoor adventures, camping, and boating | Can be powered by AC/DC power sources, including solar panels |
| 3 year warranty |
Pros and Cons of the Dometic / Waco CFX3 55l Portable fridge/freezer:
- PROS:
- Ultra low power consumption
- Wi-Fi and mobile app control
- USB charging ports
- CONS:
- Plastic construction
National Luna 60l Legacy Camping Fridge – Dual Zone:
Capacity: The National Luna has a capacity of 60 litres, though is divided into two separate compartments that can be used as a fridge and freezer. The fridge space is 34.9l with a freezer compartment capacity of 24.2l.
Cooling performance and compressor: The National Luna 60L offers a high-quality Danfoss BD50F compressor that provides reliable and consistent cooling. This is a durable compressor that also has variable speed, adjusting to the cooling requirements needed, helping save power and extending battery life while maintaining low internal temperatures. The BD50F compressor is known for its low-noise operation, making it a good choice for off-road enthusiasts who value the quiet of a remote outdoor location.
Power consumption: Again power consumption will depend on factors such as ambient temperature, temperature setting, and use. According to specifications, the average consumption is approximately 0.8 Ah/h for the fridge, and 1.2 Ah/h for the freezer. This fridge will consume around 19.2 Ah for the fridge and 28.8 Ah for the freezer over 24 hours.
Key features:
| Capacity: 60 litres (24.2-litre freezer, 34.9-litre fridge) | LED interior light |
| 5 baskets | Dual-zone design with separate freezer and fridge compartments |
| Temperature range: -30°C to +25°C | Compressor: Secop BD35F |
| Digital thermostat with LED display | High-efficiency, low power consumption |
| Rugged aluminium construction with stainless steel fittings | Dual-direction lid with quick-release latches, 2 doors |
| Suitable for off-road and camping adventures | 3 year warranty |
Pros and Cons of the National Luna 60l Legacy Camping Fridge – Dual Zone:
- PROS:
- Quality and robust aluminium construction
- Dual zone fridge and separate freezer
- Comes with 5 baskets
- CONS:
- Higher power usage running 2 compressors for the separate fridge and freezer compartments
Conclusion for the Best Portable Car Fridge
Overall these three fridges are high-quality units for portable refrigeration and freezing while camping or travelling. The Engel MT-V60F has earnt a strong reputation over the years for its ruggedness, reliability, and superior insulation.
The Dometic/Waco CFX3 has powerful compressors and rapid cooling capability with low power consumption. While the National Luna 60L Legacy Camping Fridge offers quality build components with dual zone cooling and built-in battery monitor.
Depending on your space requirements, vehicle configuration, power availability, and personal needs, the choice is yours. Any of these units will provide reliable refrigeration while on your next road trip adventure in Australia.
Remember to keep our outdoor places beautiful. Leave no trace.
