Let's face it. Not everybody has a fridge. Now, before we move on let's get the fact behind us that some companies don't allow for truck modifications such as power inverters ect. This shouldn't stop you from purchasing 12V accessories! There are indeed some cooking and storage devices that will plug into your ACC 12V cig lighter. The most controversial one of them all (I believe) is the Coleman iceless cooler. I've heard of them failing, drivers saying don't waste your money ect ect ect. Let's talk about the pros and cons of this cooler.
Pros * Easily portable from truck to truck * Extra long cord * Can be used upright as a fridge or laid down like a cooler * Keeps food fresh and chilled * Lightweight * Fairly inexpensive VS a conventional cooler and the hassle of adding bags of ice.
Cons * Not intended for severe commercial use (steadily on) * Cord has a tendency to get hot around the plug * Over time, moisture accumulates inside making it damp * If left on for periods of time, it has the ability to freeze food
For me, the pros outweigh the con. You don't have to mess with any sort of inverter or mounting strategies for an actual refrigerator. So let's tackle some of the cons. For what it's worth, my Coleman cooler has been going 2 years strong!
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Not intended for severe commercial use. I have tackled this by giving the cooler some cool down periods. Run it for 1-2 days straight then unplug it overnight and let it cool down. Don't worry, it's still a cooler and your food isn't going to spoil overnight. It IS insulated.
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Cord has a tendency to get hot around the plug. This kind of goes hand in hand with #1. If it's hot, unplug it and let it sit. You're food will be fine. If you encounter melting around the plug, you CAN get upgraded plugs from Radioshack that are heavy duty. I haven't reached this point yet.
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Moisture accumulation. For me, it isn't a big deal. I learned the hard way at first to not leave sandwiches ect exposed. EVERYTHING must go in some sort of a container. Be it gladware, ziplock storage ect. Keeps the moisture off of the food yet keeps your food chilled for storage. If the moisture accumulation is so severe, time it with your grocery buying cycles and leave it open during a cool down period when it's nearly empty. I don't have to do this often. Collectively remember doing this 3 or 4 times in the southern states.
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Freezing food. Yes it can and yes it will if left on for weeks at a time. If you cycle through enough food, it really isn't that big of a deal.
Last but not least, lets talk about maintenance. Dust will be the number 1 killer of this cooler. It works on the simple principle of a small electric fan blowing ambient air across a heat sink inside the head of the unit. This needs to be blown out with air periodically depending on dust conditions. Having cab air is extremely helpful. We already covered the cord upgrade through Radioshack if needed. That's about it!
Don't go out and spend $100 - $120 at the truck stops for this cooler. Order it online at Walmart and pick it up at your local store for $89.77 w/free shipping
Submitted January 01, 2017 at 03:49PM by mega_donkey http://ift.tt/2isPdxj
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