Plug-in Cooler or Mini-Fridge, which one do you prefer.

Doesn't that mini fridge you have work very good?

 

My old plug in cooler with a bag of ice in it every 36 hours not plugged into anything.

If I do something with the fridge / cooler situation in this truck, it's going to be fairly radical.

Like the passenger side cabinets taken out, and a small motel style fridge, and a generator on the catwalk.

 

I paid $72 for my mini fridge at Walmart. Paid a few dollars more for the extended warranty. One of the few times I paid for a warranty, never needed it, still running fine 2.5 years on.

One tip on running a mini fridge, use small plastic tie downs and synch up the cooling lines around the compressor. The less the movement as the truck bounces down the road, the longer a fridge will last.

I have a non-working thermoelectric cooler that was given to me non-working. Thought about buying a replacement cooling unit, can get them on e-bay for about $13. Never got around to it since the fridge is doing fine.

Link to $13 replacement cooling unit: Cooling System Semiconductor Refrigeration Thermoelectric Peltier Cooler 60W TY

 

Got the idea from another driver. Fridge AND freezer. $129 @ walmart. $10 for tie down strap. Paid for itself in food cost savings like immediately.

I put a microwave next to it up there. Haven't eaten at fj in a month.

The two white straps are velcro. Hasn't opened on rough roads since.

3.2 cubic feet.

 

I looked and I don't see mine on Walmart's web page. Mine is a Haier, basic model. Just pick one that is the right size to fit where you want to put it. I like the ones with the slightly bigger freezer section. As the other poster noted, just be sure to strap it down super well. Follow my advice to add extra tie downs to the cooling lines and compressor, that is the key to making them last in a moving truck.

 

I had it on top of a cabinet in one truck, in another I had my company take out the passenger seat and put it in that spot.

 

Loves offers product replacement plans for at least some of their appliances and electronics. You can ask a cashier to ring one up and see if there is a replacement plan for it, then put it back if you don't want to buy it.

I have a 40 quart thermoelectric Koolatron that I keep in front of my passenger seat. That keeps me from dropping stuff on it, and the passenger seat can be adjusted to keep it from bouncing around. My Koolatron has been running just fine for almost 2 years now.

 

If you can get the passenger seat removed. That's a perfect place for a dorm fridge. Add a microwave to the top and you're set for a few years. If you're forced to stick with 12 volt. Make the investment for an actual fridge. It will cost several hundred dollars but the buyer will be impressed with it's performance!

Being a vegetarian makes over the road trucking a freaking challenge. But I've managed to remain meat free for 16 years. Having a great place to store fresh foods is a must!