Electronic Cooler

I have 3 ice packs in my Coleman been there since Wednesday. They are still ice. Mine is the Coleman 12 volt.

 

I've got this one. Had it for three years and still works like new.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-TC212B-Travel-Cooler/dp/B0013AV9B0/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_0

 

There are a number of inexpensive 12 volt thermo-electric coolers available at Walmart and truck stops. They all do pretty well as long as you can keep the cab temperature near 70-74 degrees F long term. Let it get cold say over a weekend, the contents are liable to freeze. Most cool to 40 degrees below ambient temp so as the cab temp changes long term, so does the interior temp of the cooler.

 

I've had Koolatron and Coleman coolers in the past. I find that the Koolatron work better though. Now I have a regular refrigerator though with freezer.

 

The problem I have found with the 12v ice less coolers is if you have them sitting on the floor they really don't work all that well. Floor is just too hot for them to keep up. Jmho

 

I bought a Koolatron, the "Fun Kool" model, which is the right size for me. I can stock up with just enough fresh produce and "chillin" items to use it up before anything goes bad and time to hit a grocery store again, usually every 5-7 days. In the hottest summer months it keeps food cool enough, I do need to unplug it if it gets too cold, as it will chill right down to getting things frozen unless I keep the bunk heater on.

Two BIG advantages to having an electronic cooler over an ice cooler:

1. You don't have to pay for ice. My Koolatron cost about $80. With a pack of ice at the truck stops going for $2.50 the EC pays for itself within a month or two.

2. You NEVER end up with that smelly "biology experiment" in the cooler after the ice melts. Many's the time I've had to throw food away after it was floating in nasty smelling water.

 

Take a look on my tread,

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...235637-small-fridge-options-for-truckers.html

 

I have an igloo 12volt that works pretty well. Like others it keeps things 30-40 degrees cooler than outside temp. I too had issues with it on the floor. It would keep food cool but not cold but mostly there's not enough floor space as it is. I have it buckled in the passenger seat and it works great. Comes with a shelf if you want to stand it up like a fridge and an adapter so you can plug it into 110v as well.

If you don't want an electric keep it off the floor and it will stay cool longer. In another thread someone mentioned filling a bucket with ice inside the cooler so you don't have the problem of nasty water. He also mentioned he buys ice every couple days using his reward points for fuel so ice is free.