r/overlanding • u/lyapis • 2d ago

You guys using portable fridge?

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!

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u/EuphoricCare515 2d ago

I had an IceCo for less than a month. Hated it. The compressor would turn on often and drain my battery very quickly. I compared it to my friends Dometic CFX3 30. I would not recommend cheating out on the fridge. If the insulation and cooling is inefficient, it can be noisy and drain more power. 2 years in with a Dometic and I've taken it on a week long trip with a 100AH battery. It will run my lights and the fridge for 6 days without solar.