Total Independence from Truck Stops.......

Is that a WalMart issue or Coleman issue?

 

When I woke up in the middle of the night gagging and my truck was filled with smoke, the Coleman cooler was a melted glob of plastic ready to go up in flames, I put a stop right there to using them.

A dorm fridge will run on less than 150 watts and are alot safer than any of those fire hazard 12V coolers.

 

Personal experience says it's a Coleman issue.

Of course it's an Igloo or insert any other brand name issue too.

Electric coolers are designed for occasional use....not the use we truckers put them through.

Put a calculator to the actual hours your cooler runs and be surprised at
the actual reliability and service it gives you.

I don't look for ANYTHING electrical or electronic to last more than a year in the big truck.

These things are like light bulbs.......they burn out.

If it does last more time than that......i consider myself fortunate.

 

Well, to be honest, if we are cooking in the truck, where/how are we supposed to wash pots, pans etc...

 

After a year or two of service or even more, a new motor for a cooler should not be a big deal. They are only a few bucks, as they are just cheap little DC motors. As long as the thermocouple is ok, I expect to occasionally replace a motor...

I see now that many truckstops are actually selling real, 12volt RV refridgerators just like the ones you see in campers. They will slide right into the hole in most semis...

 

I like the thinking however I don't believe it's possible to cut out a TS 100%. States are closing rest areas at a rapid pace and other posters talk of being ticketed for sleeping on ramps. Plus you're increasing your security risk somewhat. There's a whole different crowd wandering around at night.

Cutting your dependence is good and it's possible to minimize your TS time and expense but 100%?

 

one from wal mart 2 from truckstops, still a coleman

i now have a 2.7 Cu Ft fridge. it runs on 175 watts ON and only 756 watts for startup

clorox wipes and bottled water are what i use to clean my dishes

 

Yeah, i usually got along well with bottled water and paper towels and a little soap. If you clean your stuff up pretty soon after you get done its no problem at all,just dont let it sit around and get nasty and harden up. Its really not that hard to not be a dirty pig on the road. You wouldnt believe that by the way a lot of drivers look and act but it really is pretty simple to clean up after yourself.

 

You can replace those Coleman motors; the Joplin Petro always had them, tho a few bucks more than other places. I've replaced the motor 3 times now; it has over a half-million miles on the cooler.
The one poster said: (sic) coleman cools as good as home 'fridge'...Uh,,,no it won't. It clearly states only will cool 40 degrees lower than ambient temperature"

And that isn't a HOT day, either. If you can get an A/C vent to blow on the intake of them, it will cool better in summer.

I sure like the idea of a regular dorm-size 'fridge; must have a good inverter, tho I am hearing stories of 12v too. hmmmm...

Cleaning; I only cook soup. I have the 1 burner propane bottle stove/$20 wallyworld. Keep a window open 1/4" at least to get rid of the carbon monoxide. (also will keep you alive if the #### truck dies in a blizzard and it's -11 degrees and truck won't start and you are all alone on that ramp....keep a window open/downwind/did I say this???) And NO, there are no FMCSR...wtf'ever regs about the little propane bottles, just the big White 5 gal. ones that go on the home bar-b-que unit.

Easy cleanup w/paper towels and water. Not gonna fry burgers and bacon and crap and have my sleeper get greasy as a kitchen...ain't gonna do it,,,nope, nope. Got to support the TruckStops of america too, or where ya gonna park next year, Mr. SmartyPants???

 

I only eat my own food. I have a fridge, crock pot and microwave. These 3 things save me a lot of money and also keep me away from nasty fast food that will only kill you eventually. I usually get a big jug of water for cleaning dishes with little soap and paper towels. I use paper plates and paper bowls mostly, I do have some plastic microwaveable bowls for soup and a glass 2qt dish to make pasta in the microwave.