A popular question we receive is what static caravan fridge freezer do we recommend? We always give the same answer ‘It depends’.
A 2-way compressor fridge or a 3-way absorption fridge are your two choices. Each of these has its advantages over the other and we will break these down for you. The brand is also an important factor to take into consideration for a fridge freezer suitable for a static caravan.
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What is a 3-Way Fridge?
A 3-way fridge can run on three different sources of power. This includes gas, electricity from the mains (240V), and a 12V battery. This type of fridge is very popular in caravans and motorhomes due to its versatility.
Motorhome owners particularly as they can have it running when they are on the road, connect it to a power outlet at a campsite, and have it powered when they are off-grid.
What’s the difference between a 3-way and the fridge you most likely have in your kitchen? A 3-way uses absorption technology, whereas your fridge at home uses compression technology. In short, compression fridges create cold, while absorption fridges remove the heat.
Advantages of a 3-Way Fridge Freezer
- Low maintenance, due to no moving parts in the fridge except the coolant circulating.
- Long-lasting, 3-way fridges can last upwards of 20 years if looked after properly.
- Compared to other fridges they are very quiet which is perfect for caravans.
- You have the option to use gas, electricity from the mains, or a battery to power it.
Disadvantages of a 3-Way Fridge Freezer
- A 3-way fridge can have issues working properly if it’s not level. This shouldn’t be an issue for caravan owners but can be a bit of a problem for those who plan on having it in their motorhome.
- The upfront cost to purchase a 3-way fridge can be expensive but they are cheaper to run overall than a 2-way.
- They can struggle to keep cool if the temperature is hot outside. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue for those of us in the UK though!
- It will be best to use a qualified person to install the 3-way fridge in your caravan due to the gas aspect.
Static Caravan Fridge Freezer 3-Way Top Picks
Compiling this list of the best 3-way fridge freezers for your static caravan we took into consideration numerous things. This included price, brand, size, and reviews by previous customers.
Smad 3-Way Campervan Fridge Freezer
Type: Freestanding
Capacity: 100 Litres
Dimensions: 58.9 x 52.3 x 81.8cm
Colour: Black
No of Shelves: 2
Power Supply: 12V/240V/Gas
A popular choice for campervan, caravan, RV, and cabin owners who prefer a quiet device for their abode. The Smad campervan fridge freezer can be run without electricity and gives off zero pollution.
Take your pick from 3 sizes, making it the perfect choice for keeping your beers cool on a camping trip or the large size for stocking up for the full family.
Smad 3 Way Fridge Freezer Top Open
Type: Freestanding
Capacity: 70 Litres
Dimensions: 65.5 x 51.6 x 68.6cm
Colour: Black
Power Supply: 12V/240V/Gas
The Smad 3-way single door open top freezer is perfect for storing ice cream, cold drinks, and anything else you need to keep cool. The thermostat is adjustable with a temp range of 13 Degrees Celsius. You will keep your running costs down as this freezer has low energy consumption and no pollution. Two hanging rings with a removable basket for storage allow you to easily move the appliance.
VEVOR Car Refrigerator Compressor Fridge Freezer
Type: Portable
Capacity: 45 Litres
Dimensions: 66 x 50.8 x 38.1 cm
Colour: Silver
Power Supply: 12V/24V/ DC – 110V/240V AC
A versatile mini fridge freezer that you can use in your car, campervan kitchen, static caravan, go camping with, or take to the beach. You can set it at -20°C below ambient for your food, drinks, or even wine bottles. Keep your heat at a steady temperature with the heat preservation effect, up to 20°C.
Change the temperature with the Electronic Temperature Control Panelv with a large LED Display. The exterior is made of sturdy material that is corrosion-proof.
What is a 2-Way Fridge Freezer?
A 2-way fridge, or a compressor refrigerator as it’s known, generates the cooling power needed by using a small compressing unit. You can power it by two means, a 12V battery or through the mains (240V). This fridge freezer for a static caravan is the same kind found in most homes.
Advantages of a 2-Way Fridge Freezer
- Operates well even if it’s at an incline.
- Keeps cool regardless of the outside temperature. The compressor motor is more powerful than an absorption fridge freezer, this allows consistent cooling.
- Cheaper than their 3-way counterparts.
Disadvantages of a 2-Way Fridge Freezer
- If you are a light sleeper keep in mind they tend to make the same noise as the one in your home.
- If your caravan has a power cut you won’t be able to run your fridge freezer unless you use a battery.
- They tend to use more power so will cost more money to run than a 3-way
- 2-way fridge freezers don’t generally last as long as a 3-way but you can still expect to be using the same one in 15 years if it’s maintained and well looked after.
VonShef Freestanding Fridge With Ice Box – 75L
Type: Freestanding
Capacity: 75 Litres
Dimensions: 50 x 48 x 62cm
Colour: Black
A modern static caravan fridge freezer with low running costs and an A+ energy rating.
VonShef has made this very easy to install with adjustable feet for added convenience. You can manually set the temperature with the dial to your required setting.
This appliance has proven to be very popular with campervan and caravan owners, although it’s perfect for any kitchen.
Russell Hobbs Stainless Steel Fridge Freezer 90L
Type: Freestanding
Capacity: Fridge 68 Litre/ Freezer 25 Litre
Dimensions: 84.5 x 54.0 x 50.1cm
Colour: White/ Silver/ Black/ Red
This Russell Hobbs stainless steel fridge freezer boasts a sleek design with a chrome handle. Adjustable feet and a reversible door will ensure it fits in any static caravan, campervan, or kitchen at home.
The compartment in the fridge comes with two glass shelves, a salad crisper, an egg rack, two bottle racks, and one door rack.
Subcold Eco100 Black LED With Ice Box- 100L
Type: Freestanding
Capacity: 100 Litres
Dimensions: 53.6 x 48.6 x 83.3cm
Colour: Black/ White
A unique static caravan fridge freezer with its cool design and internal LED light with 3 removable glass shelves.
Keep the contents safe with its security lock that comes with two keys, perfect if you have children who like to sneak extra cookies! The low energy and low noise means you can rest assured you will get a good night’s sleep.
Cookology Freestanding Side-By-Side Fridge Freezer Pack
Type: Freestanding
Capacity:
Fridge 110 Litres
Freezer 68 Litres
Dimensions:
Fridge 54 x 50.1 x 84.5 cm Freezer 54 x 50.1 x 84.5 cm
Colour: Black
A matching fridge and freezer that comes as a pack with both sleekly designed and energy efficient. A great combination if you don’t have much space giving you the option to have them side-by-side or stacked on one another, dependent on your choice.
The freezer can keep your food frozen and fresh long-term with the -18° temperature it can maintain. Both emit a very low sound at only 39dB so you don’t have to worry about extra noise with two appliances.
Static Caravan Fridge Freezer Top Picks 2021
There are a few things to consider when searching for a static caravan fridge freezer. This includes your budget, size required, brand preference, noise level, 2-way or 3-way, and power source.
We hope this article has helped make that choice a bit easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a normal fridge in my caravan?
A standard home fridge will work in a static caravan using the mains power supply. If you are planning on using the 12V when towing or moving the caravan it won’t work though as this won’t be enough power.
How long will a caravan fridge freezer last?
A caravan fridge freezer will generally last 15- 20 years depending on how well it’s looked after. In caravans where it’s not being used every day and maybe only in the summer, you can expect it to last even longer.
Which emits less noise, a 2-way or 3-way caravan fridge freezer?
A 3-way caravan fridge freezer emits less noise than a 2-way. Getting a good night’s sleep is important to everyone so you want a fridge freezer for your static caravan that emits the least amount of noise possible. For that, we recommend the 3-way fridge freezer as they work with heat exchange which is pretty much silent.
