Portable Fridge Solutions
Travellers route through Cairns specifically to use this team when their caravan fridge fails mid-trip.
Ian is named personally in a large share of reviews as the person who either diagnosed the fault by phone before arrival or found a way to fit an urgent job into a full schedule. The business holds Dometic service agent status, which matters practically: warranty claims get processed on-site rather than being redirected elsewhere. One review from late 2021 raised concerns about installation quality — loose screws and a missing drain plug on a fridge replacement — though no other review in the sample echoes that experience, so treat it as an isolated incident rather than a pattern. If you're booking a fridge replacement rather than a repair, it's worth asking upfront what the installation checklist covers and whether a gas certificate is included.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (135 total)
“as they are a Dometic service agent they had it repaired so quick”
“conducting a caravan aircon swap out for me very quickly”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 270 appliance repairs in Cairns
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Portable Fridge Solutions
Portable Fridge Solutions is the go-to specialist in Cairns for caravan, motorhome, and RV refrigeration — a niche that sits between general appliance repair and automotive work that most workshops won't touch. Ian, the driving force behind the business, is repeatedly praised for diagnosing problems over the phone before a vehicle even arrives, and for squeezing in travellers at short notice — including on Friday afternoons and long weekend eves — when a failed fridge threatens to derail a trip. Peter handles in-bay diagnostics and is known for walking customers through the fault with before-and-after videos, while Andy draws praise for sharing his technical knowledge openly rather than treating repairs as a black box. The team holds Dometic service agent status, meaning warranty repairs on Dometic fridges and air conditioners are handled on-site without the usual runaround of shipping units interstate. Beyond refrigeration, they carry out caravan air conditioner services and swaps, Webasto diesel hot water system repairs, and 12V electrical diagnosis — making them a one-stop shop for travellers whose entire rolling home needs attention. Travellers doing the big lap of Australia specifically route through Cairns to use them, which says something about how hard this level of specialist knowledge is to find elsewhere.
Best for: travellers needing urgent mid-trip caravan fridge repairs in Cairns, Dometic warranty claims requiring an authorised agent, caravan air conditioner servicing, and complex RV appliance faults that other workshops won't attempt.
Location
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Portable Fridge Solutions
Does Portable Fridge Solutions handle walk-in repairs for travellers passing through Cairns?+
Yes — this appears to be a core part of how they operate. Multiple reviews describe people arriving without an appointment, including one couple who rocked up on a Monday morning with no booking and had a new fridge installed within three hours. Ian is specifically mentioned as someone who regularly squeezes in urgent jobs, even near closing time or before long weekends. If you're travelling and your fridge fails, calling ahead to explain your situation gives you the best chance of being fitted in the same day.
Are they an authorised Dometic service agent?+
Yes. Dometic lists Portable Fridge Solutions as their service agent in Cairns, which means warranty repairs on Dometic fridges and air conditioners can be processed on-site. Several reviewers specifically came to them for Dometic warranty work and had units repaired or faulty parts replaced under warranty without needing to ship anything interstate. This also extends to Dometic rooftop caravan air conditioners, not just portable and built-in fridges.
What do customers say about pricing?+
Pricing feedback in the reviews is generally positive, with words like 'fair,' 'reasonable,' and 'value' appearing across multiple reviews. One customer noted that Ian saved them thousands by repairing faulty components rather than pushing a full replacement. One reviewer did describe a fridge replacement job as costing 'a lot of money,' though they acknowledged it was a major job involving full removal and reinstallation. There's no pattern of price complaints across the 50 reviews we analysed.
Do they only work on fridges, or do they handle other caravan appliances?+
Their name focuses on fridges, but reviews show a broader scope. The team services and replaces caravan rooftop air conditioners, diagnoses and repairs 12V electrical faults, and has handled Webasto diesel hot water system repairs. They are also linked to Transit Cool, which one long-term customer describes as covering additional product and service needs. If you have a caravan appliance problem that isn't strictly a fridge, it's worth calling to check — several reviewers mention they were helped with issues outside the obvious scope.
How quickly can they usually turn around a repair?+
For straightforward faults, same-day turnaround is common — several reviews mention being fixed within an hour or even on the spot. More involved jobs like full fridge replacements or major absorption fridge overhauls typically take a couple of days to two weeks depending on parts availability. The team stocks a range of parts on-site, which speeds up common repairs considerably. Warranty jobs on Dometic units have been turned around over a single weekend in at least one reviewed case.