What’s the Best Fridge for a Van Conversion?
Your fridge is one of the most used items in a van conversion.
You’ll open it every day. It runs 24/7. And it quietly shapes how easy life on the road actually feels.
There’s a lot of noise online about fridges, so let’s cut through it.
There are three common fridge types you’ll see in van builds - and each makes sense in different situations.
Upright 12V Fridges (Built-in camper fridges)
Upright 12V fridges are front-opening fridges designed specifically for campervans and caravans. For most people planning a full conversion, this is the option that feels the most natural to live with.
From a day-to-day perspective, upright fridges are simply easier. You open the door and everything is visible immediately - no digging, no reshuffling food. That might sound minor, but over weeks or months on the road it makes a huge difference. They also integrate cleanly into cabinetry, which makes designing a compact kitchen much more straightforward.
Where upright fridges really shine is efficiency when you buy a good one. Rather than relying on thick insulation, they use high-quality compressors to maintain temperature. In real-world use, good models typically draw around 20–40Ah per day, which is very manageable for most setups.
The trade-offs are mostly practical. Upright fridges are usually more expensive upfront, and because they don’t have thick insulation, a power cut can lead to melted ice or condensation leaking out. That’s not a reason to avoid them - it just means good floor waterproofing and a reasonably reliable electrical setup are important.
What I run:
I personally use the Bushman 50L upright fridge. It’s a premium option (around $1,200), but I’ve been super happy with it. The power draw is low, it’s been reliable, and the form factor fits neatly into a small van kitchen. It’s not the cheapest fridge available, but it’s built for longevity.
Chest Fridge / Freezers
Chest fridge/freezers are top-opening units most commonly associated with camping and 4WD setups. They’re often the first fridge people buy, especially on budget or weekend builds.
Their biggest advantage is insulation. Chest fridges behave like a powered esky - thick walls keep the cold in, which means the compressor doesn’t need to work as hard. Because of that, high-quality chest fridges can actually be more energy efficient than upright fridges.
Power consumption varies widely depending on quality. Cheaper models might sit closer to 40–60Ah per day, while premium units - such as those from Dometic - can drop to 15–30Ah per day in real-world conditions.
The downsides are mostly about usability and space. Because they open from the top, you’re constantly reaching down and moving food around. Over time, that gets old. The thick insulation also makes them bulky, and in most van layouts you’ll need a slide-out system just to access them properly. That makes them harder to integrate cleanly into a compact kitchen.
If efficiency or budget is your top priority, chest fridges are hard to beat. If you’re building a van for long-term living, they can start to feel like a compromise.
Drawer Fridges
Drawer fridges are the most compact option of the three. They’re built into a pull-out drawer and are designed to maximise space efficiency in small layouts.
This makes them appealing for minimalist builds and weekend vans where food storage is limited. They integrate neatly into cabinetry and can feel like a clever solution when space is tight. The Kings drawer fridge is one of the most common examples you’ll see.
The trade-off is power and capacity. To keep the unit small, drawer fridges use thinner insulation and smaller compressors, which means they often draw more power for the amount of storage they provide - commonly 40–80Ah per day. Storage is limited, and most don’t include a freezer compartment.
They’re not a bad option - they just make more sense for shorter trips rather than long-term, off-grid travel.
So… which fridge actually makes sense?
There’s no single “best” fridge, but some clear patterns emerge:
Weekend or budget builds: Chest fridge/freezer
Full conversions & long trips: Upright 12V fridge
Minimalist or casual builds: Drawer fridge
Premium chest fridges win on efficiency.
Upright fridges win on day-to-day usability.
Drawer fridges win on space - but only for the right use case.
Final word
Your fridge choice affects how your van feels to live in more than most people expect.
Choose based on how you actually travel, not just specs or price tags.
Get it right and you’ll barely think about it.
Get it wrong and it’ll quietly frustrate you every day.
