This is where the 12-volt mobile car refrigerator presents some dilemmas. First, refrigerators are bulky, and even smaller models take up a lot of space. This space should be dedicated to the refrigerator, as you need tie points to secure the appliance, as well as space to open the lid, access to the pantry, and breathing room to provide proper ventilation for the compressor. A refrigerator is heavy, probably not as heavy as a large cooler with bags of ice, but its weight needs to be taken into account when calculating payload capacity.

    In some vehicles, the height of the refrigerator can be an obstacle, and shorter members of your expedition may find it challenging to look inside and find items without a lift. In some applications, refrigerator slides (a type of drawer that extends the refrigerator out of the car) help solve this problem, and some have a "pull-down" mechanism that lowers it to the waist for easier access. The price of all this is space, and if your vehicle is on the small side, you may not be willing or able to sacrifice real estate.

    Second, if you're installing a refrigerator on a dedicated overland vehicle, you'll need to invest in auxiliary power and power management. This adds extra cost and complexity to your build on the cooler. The refrigerator can run from the vehicle's main battery. All makes and models come with an adjustable automatic low-pressure cut-off that shuts off the compressor when battery power drops. But for long trips and relatively few driving adventures, it's a poor strategy that could get you into trouble. While modern portable refrigerators draw very little current, over time it can eventually affect the health of the main battery. First, you need a deep-cycle auxiliary battery designed for long, slow drain and continuous charging. This battery can be permanently installed in your vehicle or it can be a portable power pack.

    Zhejiang Yunge Electric Co., Ltd. is a car bridge freezer manufacturer in China, selling mobile car freezers and other products and supporting equipment all year round.