One of the great advantages of travelling in a motorhome is having your own kitchen on board, including a fridge to keep food and drinks fresh wherever you are. During the warmer summer months, the fridge works a little harder, so there are a few simple things that can help it perform at its best throughout your trip.
Motorhome fridges are designed specifically for life on the road and are very reliable, but they work slightly differently from the fridge you might have at home. Understanding how they operate can make a big difference, especially when temperatures rise.
One of the most important tips during summer is to keep the fridge switched on at all times during your trip. Motorhome fridges take time to reach their ideal temperature, and once the inside of the vehicle has warmed up in the sun it can take quite a while for the fridge to cool down again.
By keeping it running continuously, you allow the fridge to maintain a steady temperature, which helps keep food properly chilled and prevents it from having to work harder than necessary.
Motorhome fridges typically run on three different power sources depending on what you are doing.
While driving, the fridge should be switched to battery (12V). This keeps the fridge cool while you are travelling. However, on this setting the fridge is really just maintaining the temperature, acting more like a large cool box rather than actively cooling.
When you stop driving, it’s important to switch the fridge over to either electric hook-up or gas, depending on where you are parked. This allows the fridge to properly cool and maintain the correct temperature.
If you are on a campsite with electric hook-up, the fridge should be set to electric.
If you are parked without electric, simply switch the fridge to gas, which will keep it running efficiently.
Making sure the fridge is always on the correct setting helps keep the temperature consistent and prevents it from warming up.
Just like a cool box, it’s always easier for the fridge to maintain a cold temperature than it is to cool down from warm. If the fridge is turned off and the motorhome becomes warm during the day, it can take quite a while for the fridge to bring everything back down to temperature.
Keeping it running continuously helps avoid this and ensures your food and drinks stay nicely chilled.

Another simple but helpful tip is to keep the motorhome reasonably level when parked. Motorhome fridges work most efficiently when the vehicle is level, which allows the cooling system inside the fridge to operate as it should.
Using levelling ramps when needed is a quick and easy way to help the fridge perform at its best.
There are also a couple of small habits that can help the fridge stay cooler during warm weather:
Try to avoid opening the fridge door too frequently
Allow air to circulate around food and drinks rather than packing it too tightly
Park in shaded areas where possible, which helps keep the overall temperature inside the motorhome lower
These simple steps can help the fridge maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your trip.
Motorhome fridges are designed for travelling and outdoor living, and with a few simple habits they work very effectively even during warm summer adventures. By keeping the fridge running, using battery while driving, switching to electric or gas when parked, and keeping the motorhome level, you can enjoy cold drinks, fresh food and the convenience of your onboard kitchen wherever the road takes you.