Cooler or Refrigerator? Want to eat healthy on the road.

Fridge NOT even worth looking at. (Unless you don't care about keeping food and drinks cold)
Had them both...I even have a YETI cooler (my wife is wonderful) but an Igloo cooler is great. Used same 1 for over 5 yrs.
Keep mind in the floor (easy access) just just used to stepping over it. Not a problem.
Good luck

 

Sam, you will not regret this middle path. That particular Koolatron is using plentium technology combined with the superior insulation of a regular fridge.
The only down side of plentium is that it is dependant on outside temperature. I think they can only go about 35 degrees below ambient temperature. This is why Marmonman has done as he has described in his earlier post.
Plentium is a semiconductor that has the unusual ability of absorbing heat. If it is mounted on a heat sink and then a fan blown over it heat is extracted from a confined space ------- to a point.
It is all about the external ambient temperature. SO if the unit is placed somewhere by the AC and the outside temperature is low the plentium unit will follow suit.
Your unit has been combined with the much better insulation of a regular fridge unit. I don't see a down side. Koolatron or Igloo are massively better than Coleman so I think you have made a very good choice.

 

What a shame that you had to modify a cooler that was originally sold to operate without your mods. I know you are right, I know that your mods work and the way you use it works. However Coleman lie and their units are horribly unreliable. I replaced the guts of mine twice. It works but at the moment it is decorating the inside of my garage.

 

So I guess for 9 years I have been eating out of a delusion. My frozen meals and fresh meat and vegetables are a mirage.
A fridge IS worth looking at (if you care about keeping food and drinks cold - or even frozen).


Merriam Webster:-
Definition of dogmatic

1. 1: characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts a dogmatic critic

 

What you say is very true.
When I was a company driver I still had a fridge and a cooler. If I knew I was going to change trucks - and I almost always did - I would temporarily use a cooler. I would then get routed by the yard soon as I could and in would go the fridge and larger inverter.
My problem was their stupid attitude to inverters. I got caught once so I always made sure I installed it all away from any non regular mechanics.
As for cables melting again you are 100% right.
I have hard wired in my 12v stove. Same problem. I like your solution.

 

More and more companies are waking up to the fact that they don't pay a driver enough for them to eat out a couple of times a day AND support a family. So a company installed inverter is becoming common. Crete is a good example. Now a 1500w unit is usual. When I was there an inverter carried the death penalty. Many companies are even supplying a proper fridge. They are finally actually carrying through on all that stuff about 'respecting' the drivers.
Regarding the hotplate I would stay away from an electric hotplate. I tried and failed. I use a flat butane variety. They sell them in TA / Petro and are extortionately priced. I bought mine for $20 in Walmart. The butane is not sold off the shelf anywhere except in TA/Petro again for an arm or a leg. The only state I know of that sells it in WM is Texas. I buy mine in 24 cannister boxes from eBay. I just keep an extra one on the truck.
Your comments about being a lot of work etc are right.
If somebody is a 5 minute trucker, just testing the water, then no, my solutions are not for you.
I live in my truck except for a couple of months a year when I take off. It isn't just my business but my home. I want my home comfortable. I also want to save money.
So some money and effort invested up front makes life a lot more convenient, comfortable and economical.