Comprehensive Guide to Caravan Fridges: Everything You Need to Know
- Mar 23
- 5 min read
Fridges are an essential appliance for anyone travelling in a caravan, ensuring your food stays fresh and your drinks chilled, even in the hottest weather. With a little care and maintenance, these simple devices should provide reliable service for years to come. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about caravan fridges, from how they work to tips on keeping them in top condition.
Types of Caravan Fridges
Most modern caravan fridges are absorption fridges, a technology that stands apart from the more common compressor fridges used in homes. Absorption fridges have no moving parts, making them quieter and less likely to break down. They can operate using three different power sources:
Gas: Typically LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), either butane or propane.
Mains electricity: Standard 230V from a campsite’s hook-up.
12V: Supplied by the vehicle’s battery while driving, ensuring the fridge remains cool during travel.
Many newer models come with an automatic setting, which switches between these power sources depending on what is available, providing maximum efficiency without the need for manual intervention.
Preparing Your Fridge for Travel
Before hitting the road, it’s important to properly prepare your fridge to ensure it performs at its best:
Pre-cool the fridge: At least three hours before your trip, turn on the fridge using either mains or gas to cool the compartment. You can start by loading non-perishable items such as bottles of water to help stabilise the temperature.
Don’t overcrowd: When you pack the fridge, especially with perishable food, leave space around the items to allow for proper air circulation. This ensures even cooling throughout.
Check the door latch: Make sure the door is securely closed and locked to avoid any spills or loss of cold air while in transit.
Switch to 12V mode: Before setting off, switch the fridge to 12V mode. This will keep the fridge cool during the drive, but remember that the 12V setting only works while the vehicle’s engine is running.
Fridge Operation on Site
Once you’ve reached your destination and connected to a power supply, switch the fridge to mains electricity or gas operation. Here are a few key things to bear in mind:
Maintain air circulation: Ensure that the silver cooling fins at the back of the fridge are not obstructed by food items. These fins are responsible for absorbing heat and allowing the fridge to cool efficiently.
Current Limits: Caravan sites often have specific current limits, typically ranging from 6A to 16A. Exceeding these limits can cause the power supply to trip, affecting the operation of your fridge. If your fridge stops cooling due to exceeding the current limit, you can either reduce the load by turning off other high-demand appliances or switch the fridge to gas. This ensures consistent cooling performance, especially in areas where the available amperage may be lower or more restricted.
Voltage Drop: Modern caravan fridges are designed to monitor the mains electrical supply for stability. When set to automatic mode, they will switch to an alternative power source, such as gas or 12V battery, if they detect an issue with the mains supply.
In some cases, a campsite’s voltage may drop below the standard 230 V, especially during periods of high demand. If it falls below the fridge’s detection threshold—typically around 210 V—the fridge may interpret this as a power failure and switch to another energy source, even though mains electricity is still present.
This can be misleading, making it appear as though the fridge is malfunctioning. However, this is a built-in safety feature designed to prevent the fridge from running inefficiently on low voltage, which could cause inadequate cooling or potential damage. Once you reconnect to a stable power supply, the fridge should automatically revert to mains electricity.
Gas Operation Guidelines
Caravan fridges can run on both butane and propane gas, but you must ensure that the gas pressure matches the fridge’s specifications (this information can usually be found on the fridge’s data plate).
Important safety note: You should never operate your fridge on gas while towing the caravan. This poses a fire risk, particularly at petrol stations, motorway services, and tunnels, where naked flames are strictly prohibited.
Keeping Cool During Ferry Crossings
For shorter ferry journeys (up to a couple of hours), your fridge should keep its contents cool, provided it was properly pre-cooled beforehand. However, on longer crossings, the fridge won’t be able to function, and the temperature inside will gradually rise. In this case, consider purchasing fresh food at your destination. Alternatively, pre-freezing items like cooked meals, bread, and milk can help keep the fridge cold for up to 12 hours or more, depending on ambient temperatures.
Caring for Your Fridge Between Trips
Proper care of your caravan fridge between trips is essential to ensure it remains in good working order:
Empty the fridge: Always remove all food items before storing your caravan or motorhome. Forgotten perishables can spoil and leave unpleasant odours that are difficult to remove.
Defrost and clean: After disconnecting the fridge, allow it to defrost fully. Clean the interior using a soft cloth and a weak solution of bicarbonate of soda in warm water. Rinse with plain water and dry thoroughly.
Dealing with odours: If your fridge develops a strong smell that normal cleaning doesn’t resolve, try leaving a paste made from bicarbonate of soda and water inside the fridge overnight before wiping it clean.
Winter Use
During colder months, your caravan fridge may require a winter cover over the ventilator grilles to maintain optimal performance. These covers are available for Dometic and Thetford fridges and are designed to be used when the outside temperature drops below 10°C (50°F) for Dometic or 8°C (46°F) for Thetford models. It’s important to remove the cover when temperatures rise, as leaving it on can reduce the fridge’s cooling ability in warmer weather.
Regular Servicing
To keep your caravan fridge in excellent condition, regular servicing is crucial. It’s recommended to have your fridge serviced at least once every two years, although an annual service is ideal. Servicing should always be carried out by a qualified engineer and typically includes:
Cleaning the burners, flue, and baffle.
Replacing gas jets.
Checking the ignition system.
This routine maintenance helps to prevent issues and ensures your fridge remains safe and efficient, especially when running on gas.
Final Thoughts
A well-maintained caravan fridge is essential for ensuring the comfort and enjoyment of your trips. By following these simple tips, you can keep your food fresh and drinks cold, no matter where your adventures take you. Whether you’re relying on gas, mains electricity, or 12V power from your towing vehicle, understanding how your fridge works and how to care for it will guarantee its longevity and performance.
Safe travels, and happy caravanning!
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