How to Choose Between Two Popular Dometic Fridges

We sent Casey and Moey the latest versions of Dometic’s fridges – the CFX2 and CFX5 series – to chuck in their cars and take on adventures. They each hit the road to experience the updated features and performance and let you know which adventures each fridge is best for.

Dometic CFX2 Portable Fridge/Freezer Series

Written by Moey Strong

CFX2 28 Specifications

Capacity: 28L (26 cans)
Dimensions: 345 mm W x 472mm H x 600mm L
Weight: 13.5kg
Single or dual zone: Single (dual zone model just released)
Price: $929

What is Dometic’s CFX2 and what did I use it for?

With the surfboards and camping gear loaded into our Toyota Hiace, the last thing to go in was Dometic’s newest CFX2 portable fridge that we’d just picked up. We were buzzing as we could now have proper cook-ups with fresh produce on hand and focus on what the trip was all about: surfing.

We chose the 28L model because it was small enough to fit in my slides yet big enough to hold produce and snacks to feed four people over two meals.

The CFX2 was the perfect companion on a recent overnight surf trip up the Sunshine Coast, keeping us happy at camp and fuelled for long stints out on the water.

With enough space to fit a slab of beers, there was plenty of room for breakfast for four, plus a little more. Think eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, yoghurt, coconut water, and milk.

CFX2 Features

The CFX2’s features make it a robust and reliable companion for all adventures.

My favourite feature is its maneuverability; being only 13.5kg, we were able to take it in and out of the van easily and set it up on the beach or next to camp, thanks to our portable battery set-up.

It’s ideal for keeping those mid-surf snacks fresh whilst watching your mates having a blast, and being able to control the temperature via an app on my phone is like living in the future.

The polypropylene exterior, coupled with the reinforced corners, ensured we had peace of mind taking the fridge in and out of the van, as well as driving over a few sand tracks with plenty of bumps for good measure.

These design features give me full confidence that no matter what I put it through, this fridge will stand the test of time. If that’s not enough, there’s Dometic’s five-year warranty for that extra dependability.

Vans are often limited in space, and we need to minimise bulk wherever possible. For us, having a fridge for fresh produce is a non-negotiable, and whilst we’re fortunate that there’s plenty of space for a good-sized fridge in our set-up, the foldable ABS handles on this range are a game-changer for those looking to save space wherever they can.

The ergonomic and compact nature of the handles allowed us to have the fridge fully set up without the handles getting in the way, and it was easily transportable when we wanted to take it out of the van.

CFX2 Performance

Another irk of van lifers and weekend Explorers is the capacity of our batteries to run appliances. I’ve had fridges in the past that’ve drained my dual battery set-up, causing the fridge to go into standby mode and continue to power on and off throughout the night, which isn’t exactly what I want when I’m trying to get a good night’s sleep…

The CFX2 fridge, powered by Dometic’s Variable Motor Speed Optimisation (VMS0₃), had no such issues. The fridge went from ambient air temperature (around 17ºC)  down to 4ºC in a matter of minutes, quietly and efficiently. Ain’t no bad nights sleep ‘round here. The three-stage battery protection system within the fridge means we could focus on resting and finding good waves without worrying about getting stranded at camp.

Having the CFX2 along for the ride, stocked with fresh food and drinks, gave us the confidence and energy to spend as much time out in nature as we could handle. A normal surf session for us can be anywhere from 1.5-3 hours, so it was epic that we had everything we needed with us on the beach for fuel and hydration in between waves.

Who is the CFX2 for?

Although I’ve only used the fridge for weekend trips so far, whether it’s van trips up the coast, hanging out at the foothills of the crag, or setting up a base camp to explore mountainous terrain.

With its portability, maneuverability, efficiency, and price point, the CFX2 is the best option for those heading out on regular weekend trips.

Compared to the CFX5 series, the CFX2 is slightly smaller and lighter, but more budget-friendly and efficient. It’s a more suitable fridge for use on the go. The wide temperature range, from 10°C to -22°C, has its benefits outside of weekend trips. As a farmer’s market guy, I can grab my produce in the morning and head straight to the surf with full trust that everything will be kept cool and fresh.

Dometic’s new CFX2 series, with its robust and ergonomic design and efficient cooling system, will go on many more adventures with my mates and me. Aside from now being my coolest companion, allowing me to stay more focused and energised on the adventure at hand, it also doubles as a handy seat when I forget to bring an extra camp chair.

Dometic CFX5 Portable Fridge/Freezer Series

Written by Casey Fung

CFX5 75DZ Specifications

Capacity: 75L (113 cans)
Dimensions: 495mm W x 472mm H x 892mm L
Weight: 27.7 kg
Single or dual zone: Dual zone
Price: $1,999

What is Dometic’s CFX5, and what did I use it for?

After reluctantly passing on my trusty-old Dometic CFF55 to a mate, I got my hands on the new 75L dual-zone CFX5 fridge and took it straight out on a few trips.

My first impression, looking at the sleek new design and shape, was that the new CFX5 looked like a leap into the future, and I guessed right, as the performance and features of this new fridge are a big step up. The new Dometic CFX5 series dual zone fridge is shaping up to be the latest and greatest in keeping it cool at camp.

The dual zone means there are two separate compartments (45L and 30L each) which can be run independently from each other at any temperature between 10ºC and -22ºC. Or if I’m on a short weekend away or even a day at the beach, I can run a single compartment to save energy.

The first trip it came on was out on the boat, with one side set to -18ºC for the fish and the other at 0ºC for all our food and drink for a day out on the river. Being insulated with vacuum-sealed panels means the fridge sat in the sun all day without using a noticeable amount of extra energy, while keeping temps perfectly stable.

After that, it was a quick night away camping with a few mates in the Northern Rivers, with my new fridge responsible for feeding and watering four blokes. But at 75L, there was plenty of space for meat for the grill and snacks, as well as the smaller 30L compartment still holding well over a carton of cans, plus other refreshments.

Read more: I Reluctantly Upgraded to the Dometic CFX5 Fridge (And Have No Regrets)

CFX5 Features

Beyond the practicality of the dual zones, the CFX5 has cool new features I didn’t know I needed. First and foremost, it’s controlled and monitored by an app, so I can check and change temps and receive alerts if the battery is running out, all from my phone. I’d previously run a temp probe and wire from the boot of my 4WD to the cabin for this, so it feels very high-tech indeed.

The new LED screen and controls on the side of the fringe are also easy to use and read in full sunlight.

Another great feature is the simple but clever pull-out basket, which means I don’t have to dig to the bottom to find things, but rather just lift out the top layer basket to access what’s packed at the bottom of the fridge.

At 75L, this is a big fridge, but since it’s built using an exo-frame and vacuum-sealed panels, it’s much lighter than it looks. At 27kg I can still load it myself into the 4WD. It’s also still plenty strong enough to use as an extra seat or diving board off the boat!

CFX5 Performance

As a dual zone, 75L fridge, I thought this meant it’d draw considerably more power compared to my old CFF 55L fridge. To try it out, I ran both fridges separately under the same conditions, measuring the amps drawn from my battery set-up. To my surprise, the new CFX5 actually drew less power despite being about 40% larger in volume!

The CFX5 also has a smarter new shape. The fridge is a fair bit longer than previous designs, with roughly the same width, and considerably less height. This is a much better design for the average 4WD touring set-up, with usable cargo length in a common 4WD at about 1100mm. Since anything behind a fridge slide is dead space, the 892mm length of the CFX5 (75L) maximises that space and is easier to reach inside with the lower height.

Who is the CFX5 for?

The CFX5 is the top of the range in terms of features and efficiency, so it has long-range touring in mind, especially for those who love long trips off-grid or are doing a big lap of Aus. With my current battery set up in my car, I can run the fridge for about five days without solar, and it happily fits food and drink for our family of four for about a week.

However, thanks to the versatility of the dual zones, I also use it on shorter trips away or even day trips, and just run one of the two compartments.

Dometic Fridges Cater for All Types of Explorers

Both of us have had great experiences with Dometic fridges in the past, journeying all around Australia with thousands of hours of use, so the new CFX2 and CFX5 series by Dometic excited us with the promise of enhanced performance and efficiency, and boy, did they keep that promise.

You can’t go wrong with either option, but each model is made to suit a particular type of Explorer.

@moeystrong

The CFX2 is more suitable for weekend trips thanks to its compact features and maneuverability. It’s taken my weekend adventures to a whole new level, and I love not having to stop for ice on my way out of town!

Although this model of the CFX2 only has one zone where you can set the temperature between 10ºC and -22ºC, a newer version has two zones, much like the CFX5.

The CFX5’s dual zones can run independently and at different temperatures, which is handy for longer trips when you need to keep some food fresh and other food frozen. The CFX5’s vacuum-sealed panels and focus on extra efficiency and versatility make it more suitable for long off-grid adventures.

@fungshuay

Our old fridges are getting a second life being used by mates, while the new CFX2 and CFX5 series fridges will join us on many more adventures to come – especially with Dometic’s extended five-year warranty.

Feature photo by @fungshuay