Why consider 12v fridge for boondocking?

Grit dog wrote:
9 pages later, ^ here’s a good dose of common sense and truth.
Being more “efficient” in one way doesn’t necessarily mean less costly.
Sure both have different advantages and disadvantages but apples to apples, especially if considering replacing a perfectly good absorption fridge, it’s not even close.

Truth depends heavily on the assumptions.

Tearing out a relatively new perfectly functional appliance rarely makes sense, no matter how bad the existing technology is. Are you going to rip out the perfectly functional 5 speed transmission in your truck and retrofit one of the new 10 speed units because it's better...of course not. It's a silly comparison.

If you are boondocking a lot with a single 12v starting battery and no solar, yeah, absorption is by far the better option but that's not a typical use pattern.

Vast majority of RVs rarely operate away from shore power. For these rigs, 12v compressor fridges are better both in terms of efficiency but also in terms of better operation (faster cooldown, able to hold colder temps, larger interior volume, etc....). I'm betting this represents 80-90% of new RV buyers, so this is where the manufacturers are focused.

For those who do a lot of boondocking, most will be installing a larger battery bank and solar anyway. Up sizing it to accommodate the relatively modest requirements of the 12v fridge is easy and doesn't incur a major cost. The cost difference between installing a couple of 200w panels and a couple of 300w panels, is pretty minimal. A few seasons of reduced propane use will cover the cost. Manufacturers are still on the learning curve but they are starting to outfit RVs with solar options. Not just for the fridge but for other convienences.

To find a place where your "truth" holds, you need to start looking at specialty cases that split the difference. Maybe someone who camps 60 nights per year with 15 of them boondocking and other than the fridge they are used to being very rustic (ie: using almost no 12v power when not on shore power). It's enough use where relying on shore power is problematic but they wouldn't otherwise need a solar system.