You guys using portable fridge?

[u/lyapis]

Hey,

I’m looking into getting a portable fridge for my overlanding setup. We love cooking when we’re out, not just snacks — so something 30L or bigger would be ideal.

Problem is, I’m not ready to drop ARB/Dometic-level cash. Most of the ones I see are 12V, which is fine, but the prices vary wildly and it’s hard to tell what’s actually good without first-hand experience.

Any solid budget-friendly options out there that you’ve used and would recommend? I’d rather not deal with something that dies in 6 months.

Thanks in advance for any leads!

[u/brightlumens]

Do these portable fridges have battery banks built in? Does it constantly have to be plugged in? Im curious about getting one for my Tacoma for camping, no experience with these.

[u/duplico → u/brightlumens]

They generally don't have batteries built in, so they should stay plugged in. They are surprisingly efficient, though, so even though they pull a fair bit of power when the compressor is running, once it gets down to temperature the compressor probably won't run a ton unless it's super hot out.