Are you looking for a new caravan fridge?
Caravan fridges are one of the most important appliances in your camping vehicle. We all want to keep our food and drink cool and safe from spoilage. However, there are tons of different options out there - so what fridge should you buy?
The answer to this depends on your budget and the amount of space you have available in your van.
There are several types of caravan fridges on the market. We’re going to focus on 3 way fridge freezers here, with one exception. In case you aren’t aware, 3 way fridges can run on 12V, 240V and LPG, making them highly versatile.
Let’s look at some of the top options out there and see which is the best one for you.
| Dometic 153L Absorption Fridge/Freezer | Thetford 91L 3 Way Absorption Fridge | Dometic 188L RUA 6408X 3 Way Fridge | Bushman 185L XCD185-X, 2 Way Fridge/Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Pick  |  | Best Value  | |
*Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | *Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | |||
3 way | 3 way | 3 way | 2 way | |
146 L | 91 L | 188 L | 185 L | |
13 L | 10 L | 46 L | 45 L | |
550 x 1,191 x 677 mm | 556 x 770 x 582 mm | 550 x 1,447 x 677 mm | 660 x 1,460 x 640 mm | |
49 kg | 28 kg | 60 kg | 72 kg | |
12V/240V/LPG | 12V/240V/LPG | 12V/240V/LPG | 240V/LPG | |
3.9 kWh/24hr | 2.7 kWh/24hr | 5.8 kWh/24hr | ?? | |
380 g/24hr | 240 g/24hr | 500 g/24hr | 500 g/24hr | |
Left | Reversible | Right | Reversible | |
3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
Best 3 Way Caravan Fridges Australia
Dometic 153L Absorption Fridge/Freezer
Runner Up
Dometic is one of the most popular brands in the caravan fridge universe.
Their 153L Absorption Fridge is a popular option because of its compact height. It stands at about 1.2m high, making it a reasonable option for most camping vehicles. This fridge also has a weight of just under 50kg, which is typical for these units.
When it comes to specifications, this 3-way caravan fridge is nothing unusual. As expected, you can power it from your vehicle with a DC or AC connection. However, Domestic recommends using gas as this is the most efficient fuel source.
Unfortunately, it’s not the most economical fridge as it consumes 380g/24hrs. This isn’t massive but considering the size of the unit’s storage space (153L), it’s not the best. Another irritating point is that the door isn’t reversible.
The other issue is that the freezer capacity is small at just 13L. If you have a bigger vehicle and plan on spending a lot of time off the grid, this might not be the fridge for you. But it would make a great caravan fridge as it’s not too big or heavy.
A touch control display for adjusting settings gives this fridge a classy feel. It also has a Tropical-rated cooling unit, making this fridge effective even in Australia’s hottest conditions.
Thetford 91L 3 Way Absorption Fridge
Our Pick
Thetford’s 91L 3 Way Absorption Fridge is an outstanding appliance. This isn’t the biggest 3-way fridge freezer, but it holds several advantages over the Dometic 153L unit.
Firstly, it’s over $1,000 cheaper. That’s an incredible saving relative to the Dometic units. This caravan fridge also has a 3 year warranty.
It only has 91L overall space and this may turn people away. But if you have size restraints, do shorter trips or plan on eating out a lot, this may well be the best caravan fridge for you.
The size is really the only drawback that we have found with this fridge. If you can get past this, then there are so many positives. It has an electric display as well as a reversible door. This is very convenient and makes it suitable for all camping vehicles.
Thetford wants this to be the best caravan fridge for the Australian market. It’s AGA-approved to Australian standards and designed to run in intense heat. Meanwhile, it’s easy to clean and comes with an ice tray.
For its size, this is the best caravan fridge in Australia.
Dometic 188L RUA 6408X 3 Way Fridge/Freezer
Runner Up