There are three different choices when it comes to RV refrigerators. My husband and I have experienced the pros and cons of all three. What type of refrigerator do you have in your current RV? Weigh in with your vote in today’s poll.
Propane/electric
Our very first rig had a propane/electric refrigerator. It performed very well—but I always worried about keeping our RV level. (The propane/electric fridge needs to be level in order to work properly.)
Our dual-fuel refrigerator was small and although we installed an inside fan to keep air moving, the fins seemed to regularly frost over. It could be that we simply tried to stuff too much food inside! Ugh.
12-volt RV refrigerator
Another RV we previously owned featured a 12-volt refrigerator. Although small, it worked well for us. Without the benefit of solar panels, the 12-volt fridge quickly devoured our RV batteries, which was a big drawback. The upside? Cold, hard ice cream!
Residential refrigerator
Our current RV has a residential refrigerator. We like the large interior space, even though we had to enlarge the previous fridge opening to make the residential one fit. I especially like that this refrigerator is self-defrosting.
Find out more
Perhaps you are in the market for a different RV refrigerator. Check out this article and video previously published right here on RVtravel.com. You’ll find great information!
How about you?
Please participate in our poll. Tell us what type of refrigerator you have in your current RV. Feel free to leave a comment after you vote, too. Tell us what you like, and don’t like, about your current RV fridge.
Take more reader polls here. They’re fun!
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Our Airstream has no “one level spot”, so I asked the Airstream Zen Desk what they do. “I put my level on the refrigerator door”. Works for me.
I have a 2024 21’ Bigfoot travel trailer. I opted for a Nova Kool dual voltage 12vdc/120vac and dual compressor fridge. No propane. This brand commonly used in high end boats. Spendy but nice!
Forgot to mention…can operate up to 30 degrees from level and the freezer just takes a couple of hours to get down to freezing instead of 24 hours for an absorption type fridge.
Residential, first RV we’ve owned that had that, hate it. This is a smaller class C. We usually camp NFS campgrounds or state parks, primitive sites, so we rarely have hookups. We installed 420 watts solar on the roof, replaced the two batteries with three larger ones (300 ah total, SLA). We turn the fridge on full blast during the day, and off at night. Stays pretty cool overnight. Also bought a power station for those times when we want to watch TV at night, which is rare unless it’s raining or we have grandkids with us. Don’t like to run the generator. Had propane/electric for many years previously and it worked fine for our needs.
our 2022 Winnebago adventurer has a 12vdc fridge. We love it!! It’s bigger and cools way faster than the absorption fridges we had in 3 previous 5th wheels. Additionally no gas is needed when traveling! (yes ….I used gas for the absorption fridges when traveling)
After the Norcold aka NotSoCold debacle with its so-called protective “black box”, I installed a Samsung residential fridge back in 2012 and will NEVER own another RV that doesn’t have a residential fridge. Before switching, I spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars on so-called “fixes” plus the cost of all of the spoiled food we had to throw away. NEVER AGAIN!!!
Answered other because mine is a three way.
Our 1970 Winnebago Brave had a three way refer that worked well from Montana to Alaska to Texas over 9 years. Many years later our 12 Volt DC refers have been great for our ‘simpler’ needs in Class B’s.
have absortion fridge, in a slide room, does not vent as well as one that vents out the roof, have installed accessory ‘computer type fans’ to help air flow …Summer sun and ambient heat are problems with any fridge I guess. Next RV, probably 12v….and we did travel w propane on for 10 years, no problems
We had an electric/propane until it caught fire 3 months after the warranty expired!
We kept the fridge box and had JC Refrigeration in Shipshewana, In. replace the “guts” with a 12V residential unit. WOW, never going back to anything else!
When our 11 year old RV fridge died down in Houston (on a 106° day!), we needed a new fridge ‘yesterday’. Unable to find an RV fridge anywhere nearby, we opted for a perfectly fitting 120v AC fridge from Lowe’s for $450. What a difference! Much larger interior and a much better fridge all around. Ice cubes don’t clump up, beer is ice cold, and “life is good”. And, we can run the fridge while cruising down the road.
Tommy will you explain to me how you keep your fridge running when going down the road also how about when you park for the night with NO electric to hook to .
Ok Ernie. We have 700 watts of solar on our roof. They feed a Morningstar MPPT controller that has been programmed to charge Lithium batteries (we have two 100H Expion 360 batteries). This powers a 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter that in turn powers our ac fridge. This has been a Godsend for traveling . . . Also, at night the fridge just does what it has to do, and so far, we’ve had no problems. We don’t even think of running the ac off the batteries.
Residential models should be as level as possible too. I’m surprised to see that nearly 30% have them. That means that many readers have much newer rigs.
To save energy and prevent potential cooling issues, noises, or leaks, your refrigerator needs to be level. Always raise the leveling legs into the refrigerator and off the floor before moving the refrigerator.
We have a propane/electric double door fridge in a slide-out and have a hard time keeping it warm enough. It’s on the lowest setting and stays around 36 to 38 degrees. We do mostly federal and state cg’s and always choose a shady site. Don’t need to concern ourselves with how much electric is being consumed, which is very little.
I chose ‘Other’ because ours is a 3-way: gas/electric/battery
12v and we will NEVER go back to an AC/LP fridge! Even before we upgraded our solar from the OEM 200w, it cooled much faster and kept our ice cream frozen. No more vanilla “milkshakes” for dessert, no more parking absolutely level or with the fridge vents facing north, and no more insect screens or 12v fans in the fridge vents. Also no turning off the fridge when on ferries, in tunnels, or during refueling. Just freedom to camp anywhere facing any direction. We love it!
mine is 12 volt, electric and propane
My RV came with a Dometic LPG/electric refrigerator which gave up the ghost several months ago. I considered replacing it with a residential type because of the great cost of replacing it with another Dometic. The window would have had to be removed in order to get the fridge inside, adding to the cost. I didn’t find a residential type that would fit in the space. I ended up just using it for storage of paper goods, etc. I’m now using a PD countertop 3.3 cubic foot fridge. It cools very well but it doesn’t make ice cubes. That’s not really a problem for me because I get all my meals at Escapees CARE and don’t need to cook. Whenever I need ice, I just get it from the dining room.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 We have a 22 cubic feet Samsung residential refrigerator. It works well, holds plenty of stuff for us and dog #3. No complaints. Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Have had the propane/electric in 3 different Class C’s since 1988. Never any problems. Bought bagged ice for the freezer, never melted on me (nor the ice cream bars).. “Somewhat” level on the MH seemed to always be OK. Circulating fan in fridge worked great. Can’t see any reason to change now. Always enjoyed our trips!
5th RV with LP/Electric fridge. Enclosed is picture of side of RV. Fridge had all three recalls done and was running on electricity.
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My Ice Cream is hard and my ales are just above freezing in my 36 year old Norcold.
Thanks Winnebago!
Just the way I like the necessities.
Mine is a 47 year old Dometic 3 way, 12 volt, 120 volt, or propane. Still works well.
All our previous trailers had propane/electric refrigerators and I was always happy with their performance. Our 5th wheel that we got last year came with a Furrion 12 volt 10 cu ft refrigerator. Was definitely skeptical at first, but it’s been great so far. We turn it on the day before a trip, set it to the lowest “off-grid” setting and we’re good to go. We never even turn it to the “numbered settings”. I’ve got to say, I don’t miss having to stop and shut the unit off and turn off the propane every time we go over a major bridge, a tunnel, stop for gas, or drive through NJ. More room inside without the expansion fins, and no roof vent.
I built our camper from a cargo trailer shell so had more options for our fridge. We got an IceCo dual zone refrigerator/freezer. Works on 12 or 120 volts, keeps the ice cream frozen and the milk cold.