I am looking for a budget 12V refrigerator. I know that ARB, Dometic and Engel are probably the most reliable and good buys but for the few weekend outings a year I do not want to spend $1K+ on one. So I am looking at budget options like Costway, Alpicool, Vevor or BougeRV. All at around $300-$400. I am not too concerned about getting refrigerator with the least power draw though quiet operation would be a plus. Anybody went with one of those budget fridges and could share your opinion after few months or years of use?
Budget 12V refrigerator (Costway, Alpicool, Vevor, BougeRV) - recommendations needed
- Thread starter drabina
- Start date
OverlandNA
Well-known member
53qt bougerrv did 15 states, 7200 miles over the winter, didn't skip a beat. I've been using it indoors as a freezer since I've been back.
4Run'nOnEmpty
Member
SetPower. made by iceco. like mine.
Are they really made by Iceco? I agree the RV45S looks A LOT like the Iceco VL45 -- with one big exception: the compressor. Iceco gets their rep because they use the same (5-year warranty) Danfoss/Secop compressor as the big names. Whereas, SetPower promotes a (3-year warranty) Huayi compressor. I'm not super concerned about the warranty time difference, but since the compressor is the heart of any fridge, the Secop/Huayi disconnect is a major difference unless someone can dig up details about the Huayi being a proven performer.
plh
Explorer
Pretty sure Huayi is the largest refrigerator compressor manufacture in the world currently.
Thank you for the recommendations. Honestly, I haven't measured the space to see what size I can fit but most of the brands have number of sizes to choose from. From the replies, I see that all different brands are in use. Probably will go with what's available (hopefully locally) and the dimensions I need. As to securing it, there are rights built into the floor that can be used. I also have a drawer system to which I can attach a loop hook for the ratchet strap.
Slappy McGee
New member
I quite like the ICECO and did a review on it (bought with my own money) if it helps:
RDinNHand AZ
Active member
My Alpicool CF35 has been great for two years of extended use running off the Tacoma, or my homemade WATTBOX LiFePO4 54Ah battery tied to a 100 watt folding solar panel. $279. If I were doing it again I’d go with their C40 in the metal box at $299 at Amazon. The plastic is fine but I broke a bit out of the vent for the condenser.
Florida Native
Active member
We have a Costway 30L (don’t think they sell it anymore) and it has been running almost non-stop since March 2020 and has thousands of miles of on-road use. It’s been our camping fridge, Covid food overflow, drink fridge, and/or delivering frozen food to kids at college over that time period.
Couldn’t be happier with it. Well, it could be a little quieter but not too bad. We have no problems sleeping with it at the foot of the bed (but I don’t think I would have been happy with it under the head of the bed as I originally envisioned). I also replaced the handles with folding chest handles to narrow it a little bit. Pulls 3.6A when running, but in the 73F house, only runs about 13% of the time.
-Mike
Couldn’t be happier with it. Well, it could be a little quieter but not too bad. We have no problems sleeping with it at the foot of the bed (but I don’t think I would have been happy with it under the head of the bed as I originally envisioned). I also replaced the handles with folding chest handles to narrow it a little bit. Pulls 3.6A when running, but in the 73F house, only runs about 13% of the time.
-Mike
plh
Explorer
Domende CK-18 looks like the one, Thanks!