Dometic Coolers

I would hope it will cool to less then 41 degrees at <75 ambient. Dairy (milk mainly) won't keep long stored continuously above 36-38 degrees F

 

It's no different from any other cooler. The spec sheet specifically states that it cools to 40 below ambient.

 

I've had one for about six months. It does a good job.compared to a coleman it's much quieter and doesn't use as much juice. Also has thermostat control so you can cut it up some over a long weekend and not have to worry about dead battery. It seems it does not cool quite as quick as the coleman but it keeps a more consistent temp.

 

Get a unit with a freezer. I really like my Frigidaire 3.1cf.

 

Get a real refrigerator, with a real compressor. The Indel(made in Italy) I have in this truck has been keeping stuff at 37 degrees no matter what the cab temp for 17 years now. Avoid the Chinese knockoffs.

 

For the price you would spend on that you can just buy a mini fridge and a 1500 watt inverter to run it.

 

Id recommend my black and decker 3.2 cu ft but seems discontinued. Maybe cause it's bullet proof, 3.5 years strong so far.

 

Coolers cool to Ambient as everyone stated. That means keeping a cool cab. We had a cooler made for truckers that did well at about 35 to 40 at most. If you are familiar with Reefer Temp requirements over time for various produce, milk, food products then keeping a thermometer inside the cooler you choose will tell you along with a note sheet inside the door of it will track your food expry dates. You gotta use it or lose it. It's not hard to buy milk for a few days or a bacon for a week or more. For example. Jerky is another meat source. Remember Pioneers had to cross the land for 6 to 9 months on some sort of stored meat in the heat.

If you have a big enough inverter or can put two small Generac Generators on your CATwalk in phased to power a larger Ice box or actual mini fridge (Generators need to be desiel so you can run em off your fuel tanks regardless of your truck idle policy. it is what it is) 24/7. Those gennies are probably gonna be cut out of your catwalk and stolen so fast....

I hope these ideas help you a little further along. You cannot allow yourself to get aww shucks lazy with food you have in your rig. Your health and ability to not get sick is very important.

 

OP my two cents is to spend the coin and get a quality unit if you can. The Engel and ARB, both in the "cooler style", are two that I have used for years. They were on the spendy side but ambient temp is no longer anything you have to worry about. These are ultra-low voltage units and can be run as a refrigerator or a freezer.....just turn the temp down. Very well worth the premium if you can afford it. In any event good luck on whatever you buy.