Boondocking 101: How to Use a Turned Off RV Fridge As a Cooler

by    Lyn Lomasi; Co-owner of  Brand Shamans &  Write W.A.V.E. Media

Image © Lyn Lomasi; Flickr.com

So, you have a fridge in your RV or camper but you’re boondocking and can’t turn it on or it’s broken. Here’s how to use a turned off or non-working RV refrigerator as a cooler for food, drinks, or both.

Materials:

• Plastic food storage container for each shelf (two per shelf for larger refrigerators)
• Freezer pack for each storage container (2 for larger ones)
• Freezer pack for each drawer
• Two freezer packs for the shelf above the drawers
• Ice for the drawers and storage containers (will need to be restocked as it melts)
• RV refrigerator bars for each shelf

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How to Use Your Turned Off or Non-Working RV Fridge as a Cooler

You can use your makeshift RV or camper trailer refrigerator cooler for drinks, refrigerated food, or both.

The first step is to place a freezer pack into each storage container. Then, fill them with ice. Place the covers onto the shelves and then place the containers on top of the covers. The containers need to stay open to keep the refrigerator cool enough. Placing them on top of the covers helps eliminate dripping when the ice melts and helps keep them in place when your RV moves.

Once the containers and food are in place for each shelf, use the RV refrigerator bars to secure everything so that it doesn’t move too much while driving. These bars are inexpensive and will save you from having food crash against the door and either get smashed, spilled, or cause the refrigerator to open while the camper is moving.

Once your shelves are stocked and secure, place a freezer pack in each refrigerator drawer and then fill about halfway with ice. The space left over is where you will place the food that needs to go into the drawers. Freezer bags and storage containers help prevent your food from getting wet, just like in a traditional cooler.

Quick Tips:

• Refill your ice as needed to keep the RV refrigerator cooler at an optimal temperature.
• Using ice only works in a pinch, but the addition of freezer packs makes the ice last longer.
• If your refrigerator is larger, plan on replacing the ice more often.
• More food and drinks means more ice and freezer packs.
• Minimize how often the fridge is opened to help it stay cooler longer.
• Freezing the freezer packs beforehand makes everything last longer.