Les,a good source for propane refer are old RV's.And the older models are better quality.Ones from the 1970's will outast you,getting 10 years today is pretty impressive say many folks.

However,total energy used puts propane at the top of the list vrs electric.Used to have the numbers,but propane fridge uses about 4 times the energy a modern 'EnergyStar' refer uses IIRC.They are NOT energy efficient.

Those old RV fridges are very finicky though. They only cool to about 30 degrees below outside temperature so in the hot summer they may not keep your food/medicine cold enough.
They also have to be kept level, if I take my camper out of the garage to the driveway the fridge warms up.

Eugene,true to a point,in the RV on the road they bounce around so level less important.

Our 1979 3 way refer would freeze still in 100 + weather but that was on electric,you are right,less cooling on propane but I dont recall ours ever getting warm on propane,just wouldnt freeze things very well.

On 12 volt its use was pretty marginal for sure.It certainly had limits,very good point.Thanks for pointing that out.

Some work arounds are keep direct sunlight off backside and a computer fan over condensers helps too.

Friends indoor old Serval type was a fine machine just on propane.They are fine machines that last forever but.....

Im much more impressed with electric models,they are better appliances overall in offgrid/grid down scenarios IMO.

But I wont knock anyone getting propane,they work and work well no doubt about it.Just breaks down to how it will be used for YOUR particular needs as you percieve them,thats variable and the right answer is what works for you.

That is similar to what I did for friends.
The fridge thermostat calling for cooling automaticly energised the remote start control of the generator.
When the fride was cold enough, the generator stopped.
This worked fine for several prolonged power cuts.
The freezer was also connected to the generator, but had no automatic starting provision, it being considered that simply running the FREEZER whenever the FRIDGE called for power would be sufficient.
Whenever the generator was running it also supplied a 1KW water heater and a large battery charger. Lighting was 12 volts from batteries.