BougeRV Portable Fridge

We were asked by BougeRV to review one of their portable fridges.  Since we were curious to try one of these portable coolers to supplement the small freezer in our van, we took this review on.  The portable freezer arrived in Denver a few days after we got there and we did a few “dry tests” on it in the house first.

BougeRV portable fridge

first Impressions

It is sturdy, roomy, and well constructed.

BougeRV portable fridge

Assembly was minimal and easy.  We just needed to attach the handles using this cool tool that came with the package.

BougeRV portable fridge

The fridge came with two extra long cords; one plugs to an electrical outlet either at home,in the car or RV, and the other into the car’s auxiliary outlet (cigarette lighter plug).

We plugged the fridge in and followed the manual’s instructions to set it up.  Setting up the temperature was easy, and it cooled down to the desired temperature very quickly. It took less than an hour from room temperature to -18 celcius.

Now we just need an opportunity to test it on the road.

You can set the fridge to one of three settings: high, medium, or low.  The highest setting can be used while driving, and one of the lower settings when using battery power.  This way you can protect your batteries from depletion.

Taking the Fridge on the Road

On the day we left Denver it was too cold to turn our lithium batteries on (The lithium batteries should not be started around freezing temperatures unless they are already warm), so it was the perfect opportunity to test the portable fridge!  We plugged in the fridge at home until it reached the desired temperature, carried it to the van, plugged it into the lighter plug, and voila, a working fridge and freezer without jeopardizing our batteries.

We hoped to place the fridge between our two seats in the front, but it was just a tiny bit too wide.  If this is what you want to do, measure the space carefully accounting for any obstructions such as seatbelt apparatus.  You may need to go a size smaller.

We ended up placing the fridge behind the passenger’s seat with the opening towards the middle of the van for easy access while driving.  It was a little bit in the way, but not too much of an annoyance if you need the extra freezer space.

We were very surprised at how quiet this fridge operated!  The fridge in our van is not too loud, but it sometimes wakes us up at night when it kicks in.  This fridge is VERY quiet.  You can’t really tell that it’s working.

The capacity of the fridge and freezer is surprisingly large; It is very versatile in terms of using the space.  You can use the entire unit as a fridge if this is what you need (it will easily hold 24 cans of your favourite beer), or you can use the large compartment as a freezer and the smaller one as a fridge.

BougeRV portable fridge

Below is what we put in the freezer compartment with room to spare.

BougeRV portable fridge

The smaller compartment is rather small and will hold a few soda cans and perhaps some condiments.  Below is what we put in the fridge compartment with some room to spare.

BougeRV portable fridge

We mentioned before that it cooled down to the desired temperature very quickly.  In addition, the temperature remained steady and the fridge section kept things cold, while the freezer section kept everything frozen.

For the drive, we put all of our snacks and a few cans of drinks and extra water bottles and plugged it into the lighter plug.  It was certainly more convenient than trying to reach back into the van’s built-in fridge, or walk back while the van is in motion.  It was easy to retrieve our snacks especially since there is a removable divider to help keep food organized and separated when needed.

We will definitely use the fridge at home if there will ever be a time that we can have guests again.  It will be perfect to keep cold drinks for a BBQ on the deck, or just an extra little fridge if you have a large dinner.

One can dream…

When going shopping in the summer it’s a great way to keep your  purchases frozen or cold as needed.

At a Glance:

Pros:
  • Can be used instead of the van’s fridge when we can’t turn the batteries on
  • Expands the capacity of our fridge and freezer significantly
  • No messy ice and water puddles as in a regular cooler
  • Versatile – can be use as a fridge, freezer, or both
  • Sturdy
  • Quiet operation
  • Cools down very quickly
  • Keeps a constant temperature
  • Can be used in an RV, in a car, or at home.
  • Reasonably priced compared to similar fridges
  • Reduce the frequency of grocery stores visits when on the road
  • Has provision to protect the your batteries
Cons:
  • It would be nice to have cup holders in the lid
  • In our specific case it does not fit between the two seats
  • The handles’ spring mechanism are too rigid
  • The display light is too bright which makes hard to read it
  • The exterior coating seems to scratch easily
OUR VERDICT:

This is a great freezer and a welcome addition in our campervan, and we highly recommend it.

Where to buy:

You can buy the fridge and freezer combo directly from BougeRV. Use this exclusive code for our readers BRODS12 for a 12% discount on any purchase on their site.

We also joined their affiliate program and will receive a small commision for every purchase made through these links.

14 thoughts on “BougeRV Portable Fridge

  1. petespringerauthor says:

    I like reading honest reviews such as this one, Margie. They are far more credible when a reviewer discusses the pros and cons of a product. I definitely would consider trying one based on your review.

    I’m curious if the company contacted you or you reached out to them? It’s the ideal partnership for them to connect with people like you who travel so much.

    • backroadsandotherstories says:

      Thanks, Pete! The company did reach out to us and we were happy to test the fridge out since it is relevant to our blog. I agree with you about some reviews that seem only to praise products, or even ones that compare 10 products and I am pretty sure that they haven’t tried them all…I do hope it helps some people who are looking for a product such as this to make their decision!

  2. Bitchy After 60 says:

    I didn’t know these existed. But then again, I don’t do big road trips. We still use our old plastic camping coolers when we need one, which isn’t often these days. It does look like a useful product for travellers.

  3. A Note From Roshni says:

    Really brilliant rewiew!! I think the company really chose the best duo to critique their product!!
    I really like all your cute munchies you put in!! And it just makes me feel like I too should take my family ( and three dogs) on an adventure- along with the RV Fridge ofcourse 🤗❤😂
    And btw I always tell my family- you both are like real life Carl and Ellie ( along with Dug ) to me!!
    ( Disney’s “Up”)

  4. John says:

    Very good review. I checked and they don’t seem to have an outlet in Australia. But that doesn’t matter because I won’t be needing one anyway.

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