Whether your boondocking, going on an extended trip, or just to entertain large groups when camping, there never seems to be enough space to store everything in the RV freezer or fridge. Some of us keep coolers in our RV basement and other purchase the coolers that lower the temp to 30-40 degrees below the ambient temperature like the Koolatron compact cooler. All have their faults and don’t truly offer a permanent and dependable solution for food and drink storage needs. We had heard of high end RV freezers but hadn’t really been exposed to them till recently when we spent some time with the rugged RV Freezer from ARB.
The Ultimate Portable RV Freezer from ARB Photo Gallery
At first glance it doesn’t look all that different from your conventional cooler. The similarities essentially stop there. This RV freezer from ARB was engineered with the most extreme conditions in mind. It can maintain sub freezing temperatures in up to 90 degrees temperatures and be operated as a freezer or fridge. This RV freezer is built rugged from steel and heavy duty injection molded plastic to keep it light. The RV freezer weighs between 47-77 lbs based on which of the four different varieties you choose with 37, 50, 63, and 82 quart options available. Regardless of size, its very portable given the functionality.
ARB RV Freezer Features
By far one of the most useful features of this RV freezer is the well thought out and efficient power profile. ARB built in a feature that prevent the RV freezer from running your battery down through sensors that trigger the freezer to turn off when the battery gets low. This is a fully adjustable setting that you can set to whatever you would like. It does all this while drawing intermittent 1.35 amps per hour from a 12 volt power source. Many report being able to run this RV freezer for several days on their standard batteries. It also offers operation on AC and DC (12 and 24 volt). A incredible feature for boondockers and any emergency situation without power.
We were expecting it to rattle, shake and squeal given its small size. Yet, the ARB RV freezer also is whisper quiet, which was a big surprise. Its easy on the eyes as well. It looks as if its some kind of space age invention and in some ways it is.
The ARB RV freezer also has a LED light that automatically comes on when the lid is open. The lid also tilts more than 90 degrees so it doesn’t close back on your hands while open. Alternatively, you can remove the lid entirely if necessary.
Conclusion
At the end of the day this RV freezer from ARB is not cheap. Its smallest 37 quart unit has a MSRP of $879.98, though we found it on Amazon.com for $150 less than that with free shipping at the time of this writing. When we started to add up all the ice we had purchased, food that got soggy, spoiled food, and ruined items that we had seen over the years that price tag doesn’t seem so crazy. The ARB comes with a 3 year comprehensive warranty but outdoor enthusiasts rave about the quality and report that they have seen coolers from ARB last more than a decade under heavy use. Not many things are built that way anymore which goes without saying. Its refreshing to see products that are, though they almost always come with a premium price tag.
Watch the video below to see the ingenious hinge design, the slide out mechanism, the digital display, the oversize locking latch, and the drain mechanism all from a reviewer with an Australian accent!
ARB Fridge Freezer Operation and Service Guide
If you own a ARB RV freezer/fridge (or similar) we would like to hear your thoughts on owning a high end cooler in the comments below!
