Just got the coleman, definatly does not fit anywhere nicely in the volvo. I strapped it down sideways on the top bunk so it opens just at the edge. The thing is nice and cold so far.
I had mine on the front seat bungeed in. Then another driver showed me how to flip the bottom of the seat over. Now it rides there. In the summer it will be hard to keep things cool when the A/C is off. If you have it on the floor the heat in the summer will heat the cooler up.
Wouldn't you keep the a/c on most of the time during the hot months? I would think if the cab a/c is at around 72 F, then the 12v cooler would be around 35-42 F. Like Dick, I want my dairy cold! I hate lukewarm dairy, etc, so I would probably use an ice chest, and deal with the ice replenishment issues. Rather pay for the ice than have to throw food out due to the 12v cooler temps not being cool enough.
I bought a mid-sized Black and Decker at Walmart for $100. BIG fridge for what I need. I use a 1500w inverter. Removed the nightstand on the Freightliner, but it fit in the Volvo 780 by just removing the doors (quick releases) and taking out the shelves. Also, had t remove the quick release mounts, but that thing slid in there with only 1/4" on each side. Looked like factory.
In a perfect world....but with idle rules, and the cost of fuel, you must shut you truck down to sleep, load, unload, etc....and can only run it a couple of minutes an hour!! Some folks, working for some companies have APU's, but most of the big fleets+ stater companies don't... At some companies you can make a significant bonus if you keep your MPG up, and you idle down...at others you just get yelled at, and they reduce you max speed to try to improve your mpg.
i'll be getting a 1500 or 2000w inverter here shortly. Still debating whether to get the KW fridge for my truck that plugs into the existing plug with the fridge switch in my sleeper, or do i get a $100 el-cheap-o wal-mart frat fridge, and just run it off my inverter? i'm also going to eliminate all fast food starting 2011. Buddy of mine uses a hot plate and toaster oven, and makes steak 2-3 nights a week. not to mention you can make fresh crossants. =)
He'd be better off getting the KW fridge though otherwise will have to start up the truck every 4 hours to recharge the batteries.
should be doing that now.....least in the winter months when its close to 30-40 degrees. my mentor had the KW fridge, but his power switch was on his dash (T2000) and as far as i know, never once needed to start the truck when we took 1.5 days off on the weekends....
Power switch for the KW fridge? Thank you for backing me up My contention is that the dorm fridge/inverter combo will pull more power from your batteries. As an alternative I would recommend getting a battery trickle charger that you would charge while driving for use when your batteries did dip below starting power to avoid a breakdown call if you were to go the cheaper route of dorm fridge/inverter combo.
