Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

[Alwhite00]

I am looking for a 40-50qt 12V cooler to get out of the ice ritual and was wonderning if anyone had one they liked? I noticed som of them say they will cool up to 40 or so degrees below ambient tempature, So if it's 90 it will only cool to 50? I don't think that will work all that great, gets pretty hot here durring the boating season.

Just wanted to see what some people are using & how they like it.

Thx

LK

 

[DXN]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I had Colman one from Walmart ~ 90$ at the time and it sucked. It took forever to cool off and pull'd quite a bit of current over 6-7 amps if i remember. Stay away from Peltier coolers They are to inefficient. Ice in a good cooler will out last your batteries.

 

[DXN]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

You right about those temps. and anything you put in there better be cold already.

 

[I Fish]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

DXN is right. IMO, they use so much electricity, they are only good for long trips, and truckers. I had one once. I forgot, and left it plugged in once. In 6 hours it drained a large truck battery. I gave it away, as it's not really what you'd think.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

You won't ever get more than about 50 degrees out of a peltier based cooler, and as people mentioned, they suck lots of power to do it! Every one that I've had has been a mistake, they sound like a great idea, but just drain your wallet.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

The idea just sounds really bad to me, dead batteries and warm beer don't sound too fun, and they sound expensive too. Each time you open the door, it will just make it run even more. I think if they worked well, others would have them, but you never really hear about them do you?

 

[matt167]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

They don't stop running as they are not refrigerators. They use a small fan and some other 'tech' to pull the heat out of the air. They work well for what they are, but they generally don't work well for what most people buy them for.They take 6+ hrs to cool and draw too many amps for that to be practical

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I'm just so tired of buying ice and soggy food, Looking for options.

LK

 

[agallant80]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

You don't have a fridge down below in that thing?

 

[DXN]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

Dometec makes a portable propane ice chest for around 500$ and they even make one that FREEZES for like a grand lol. These are actually Portable Ice chests not an RV fridge, but same technology. Guess whether its worth it depends on how much you use it.

you can find them at CampingWorld.com

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I understand your pain, however ice is the coldest of all. Nothing beats an ice cold drink from the iced cooler. I have learned to put all food items in tupperware or similar containers for water prevention.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

They will do reasonably well if you keep then in an air conditioned cabin and keep the engine spinning the alternator the whole time.
With a 5-6 amp draw the battery will be half dead in half a day.
Otherwise it will just make the ice last a little longer.

Put the food in sealed containers to avoid the water soaking.
Or keep the drain in the bottom open.

 

[gm280]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I used if to take 2 and 3 liter plastic bottles and throw them in the freezer until I needed them. Then take them out and put them in your cooler and it will not only cool everything in there, but also gives you some good very cold water to drink along the way if you want... It also keeps things from getting soggy and wet...eek... You can even take one and put it in your live well to help keep fish cool on those hot summer days as well. That along with an cycling aerator will keep the fish cool and alive to your front door... Now if you want super cold drinks, then put some water in the cooler along with some bagged ice AND some rock salt. Amazing how cold it will get...

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I'm just so tired of buying ice and soggy food, Looking for options.

LK

Dry ice!

 

[Splat]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

Thermoelectric coolers suck. All of them. If you want real cooling you need to go to a compressor style. Like a Engle or ARB fridge. They aren't cheap. New they are somewhere around $550, but they will freeze if you turn them down, and they are extremely energy efficient.

I have a ARB one I bought used a few years ago, i Use it in my truck while camping, or for cold drinks when working public service events like bike races, or in my comms trailer. It can literally run several days on a deep cycle battery.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

You don't have a fridge down below in that thing?

Oh yea, Works great. The problem being I have myself, Wife and 2 kids (10 & 14) and it is full just with the basic stuff. We stayed this past weekend at the marina for 2 days and I think I bought 8 bags of ice. I don't have room for a gigantic cooler but have a smaller one and a coleman extreme but by the time you put ice in it there is no room for anything. Tried the tupperware storage but that stuff takes up so much room that you get one thing in there and it's full. Just looking for options.

LK

 

[agallant80]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I tie my cooler to the swim platform and leave the drain open. I also spent about 200 on a quality cooler. Last weekend it was in the high 80s low 90s and I went through a bag of ice every 24 hours. It's an Igloo marine ultra 50 quart. Got it at bass pro. By your photo it looks like you have space in the back. The cooler even has loops in it for cord or bungi cords.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

Ok I lied. It's $75. I'm sure I bought some other things at bass pro

 

[IowaCraig]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I used to drive a truck over the road years ago and I almost always had one. They work great in the winter time when its cooler outside. I used to take milk with me for my cereal in the morning and it worked great. When it was cold. Once summer came around the sun would bake the inside of the truck even with the A/C on, it didnt work. Oh, don't forget they make replacement fan kits for them because the motor WILL burn out in about 2 months and it will never work right again even with a new motor. I say use empty 1/2 gallon milk jugs filled with water and freeze them.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Any recommendations for a 12V cooler?

I freeze drinking water bottles, those lay flat on the bottom and work nicely and dont take up excessive room.