Pick how long you'll be out.
Ice cooler
8 days
on one load of ice, manufacturer rated
An ice cooler is all you need. One load of ice easily outlasts a weekend.
Feeding a group? The RTIC 65 QT, $269, holds 84 cans.
Fridge + Power Station
1.6 days
of fridge runtime while parked
For a week, a small fridge replaces the ice. The station runs the fridge at camp, and the vehicle recharges the station while you drive.
The kit: about $458
Sticking with ice? The Engel ENG65, $300, is rated for 10 days with one refill mid-week.
Fridge + Power Station
3.3 days
of fridge runtime while parked
The same setup with a bigger fridge and battery. Driving recharges the station, and about 3.5 hours on the road makes up for one day parked.
The kit: about $1,058
Fridge + Station + Solar
1.7 hours
of full sun covers a day of fridge power
Add solar so the station charges at camp, not just while you drive.
The kit: about $1,288
Fridge + Second Battery
3.7 days
of fridge runtime while parked
With no sun, a second battery wires into the vehicle, and the engine charges it while you drive. An empty battery takes about 3.3 hours of driving to fill.
The kit: about $1,250
This kit is wired into the vehicle. Everything above just sits in the cargo area.
The day counts are simple math on the manufacturers' own specs, the battery's capacity and the fridge's daily draw. Expect a little less on a real trip, since converting power wastes some energy and hot weather makes the fridge work harder. Power stations recharge from the 12V socket while you drive. Many factory AC outlets, like the 4Runner's 400W outlet, only work in Park or Neutral.
Want more choices? Every fridge and cooler we carry is in the fridge catalog, and stations and batteries are in power gear.
Want a more tailored build? Answer a few questions about how you use your vehicle, your preferences and your budget, and get a free custom build plan.
Make your custom build plan