Customer story: 5 years oflife with Ollie – why I chose a Hyckes compressor refrigerator
Five years ago I locked my front door, got into my self-built camper and never really moved back into a house. Since then, I have traveled through 34 countries on 3 continents, always together with my red traveling companion Ollie.
He sits on the dashboard as if the world belongs to him, inspects border crossings and turns into a little tiger every night. Living full-time with a cat quickly teaches you that practical comfort is important. And one of the greatest comfort makers on the road is a reliable refrigerator.
Over the years, I built several RVs, traveled through freezing Balkan winters and dusty Central Asian summers, and learned that your refrigerator quietly becomes the heart of your off-grid setup.
From Balkan winters to the Silk Road
My last trip in 2025 went all the way to China and back again.
What started as a winter road trip along Balkan ski resorts slowly turned into long-distance overlanding along the ancient Silk Road. I drove from eastern Turkey through the Caucasus, Russia and the Stan countries toward the Chinese border.
RV infrastructure gradually disappeared. No service points, no unloading sites and often no facilities at all. I slept near salt lakes, in crowded Asian cities and later drove the Pamir Highway up to 4,700 meters altitude.
These kinds of trips quickly teach you that your setup has to work everywhere. Heat, cold, crooked ground, long border crossings. A strong refrigerator is not a luxury in such situations, but essential.
Compressor refrigerator vs absorption refrigerator
When choosing an RV refrigerator, you usually end up with two systems.
Compressor refrigerator
Operates on 12V, 24V or 230V
- Actively cools with a compressor, just like at home
- Continues to cool well at high temperatures
- Works even if the camper is not straight
- Cools faster
- Uses power, so depends on battery and solar panels
Absorption refrigerator
Operates on gas, 12V and 230V
- Cools passively
- Must be straight for proper operation
- Less efficient at high temperatures
- Cools more slowly
For full-time vanlife and off-grid travel, a compressor refrigerator is often the most reliable option.
Why I chose a Hyckes compressor refrigerator
Compressor refrigerators are ideal, but often quite expensive. Especially if you want a model with a freezer compartment, which is what I wanted for longer trips.
That’s why Hyckes jumped out at me. It offered a compressor fridge with freezer, but at a much more affordable price than many other brands. That made it a logical choice for my full-time vanlife setup.
The black design also fits nicely into a modern RV interior. It looks sleek and minimalist, which I perso onlijk very nice. And when the refrigerator gets enough ventilation, it also just runs quietly. Something you greatly appreciate when you live and sleep in the same small space.
Nine practical tips for a compressor fridge in your motorhome
- Do not place your refrigerator near heat sources
Don’t point the outlet of your diesel heater at your refrigerator and don’t put it next to your heater or in full sunlight behind glass. Every degree warmer outside means your refrigerator has to work harder. - Always ensure good ventilation
A compressor refrigerator does not need an external grille like a gas refrigerator, but it must be able to dissipate its heat. Leave a few inches of space all around and allow air to circulate. A refrigerator that is stuck will sweat and sweat. - Consider additional airflow
If your refrigerator is built into a cabinet, an additional vent or small fan behind the refrigerator can improve performance and reduce noise. - Use thick electrical cables
Too thin cables cause voltage drop, which can cause your refrigerator to act strangely. Use thick cables, often 6mm² or more depending on length. This improves both performance and safety. - Let hot products cool first
Do not throw hot groceries or leftovers directly into the refrigerator. Let them cool first, otherwise the refrigerator has to work much harder and uses more energy. - Do not default to maximum
Setting 3 or 4 is often sufficient. Setting the refrigerator continuously to maximum does not make it better, but only costs extra energy. - Remove packaging immediately
At the supermarket, throw away excess packaging material immediately. This creates more space and improves air circulation in the refrigerator. - Leave the refrigerator ajar in storage
If your RV is stationary for longer periods of time, leave the refrigerator door slightly open to prevent odors and moisture. - Make use of magnetic surfaces
If your refrigerator is not magnetic, you can stick magnetic film on the door for all your travel magnets.
Small details like these make a big difference. After five years of full-time vanlife on three continents, I’ve learned that comfort on the road is often in practical choices.
Choosing an affordable, efficient and quiet Hyckes compressor refrigerator was one such choice. And according to Ollie, the most important feature is that it fits cheese. Because to him, cheese is simply life.
If you would like to follow Chantal and Ollie’s adventures, please also take a look at their instagram @chanti.and.ollie ?