Koolatron electric Cooler 12V & 110V?

[MacDaddy77]

Has anyone ever owned one of these? I'm sick of buying Ice when I'm camping for the cooler for drinks and am thinking of buying one of these.

Reviews appreciated

[Nufy]

I have one.

It works ok but will not cool things for you rather keep it cool...

We used ours on a recent road trip to Idaho and it worked well.

If you like your drinks ice cold this isn't the cooler for you imo...

[Titan]

I have a similar one. Not good for beer.

Good for milk/yogurt etc.

[speede5]

Ditto the above, keeps the milk from going bad but won't put a chill on your drinks. Slows the ice melt rate as well.

[Byrns]

Mine works great, and it has chilled my warm drinks.

I got mine at Costco a couple years ago, and its pretty big so maybe that's the difference? Plus I don't stuff it full so the air can still circulate.

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Mine works great, and it has chilled my warm drinks.

I got mine at Costco a couple years ago, and its pretty big so maybe that's the difference? Plus I don't stuff it full so the air can still circulate.

How cold would you say it got your drinks from 1-10

10 being beer in a cooler of ice for 2 days

thanks

[ken0042]

I'll agree with the other posters; keeps things a little cool but not cold enough for beer. A good cooler with ice being 10- I'd give this a 3. I bought mine to use for long road trips, and I found I went back to the cooler full of ice. And that was to keep pop cold; not beer.

Next question; how do you plan on powering it while camping? How much will you have to run your vehicle, and how much gas will that burn vs. cost of ice?

For the drink cooler I make sure I make a block of ice before hand. I use 12x6" plastic tubs to make the ice; the solid block takes a lot longer to melt.

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'll agree with the other posters; keeps things a little cool but not cold enough for beer. A good cooler with ice being 10- I'd give this a 3. I bought mine to use for long road trips, and I found I went back to the cooler full of ice. And that was to keep pop cold; not beer.

Next question; how do you plan on powering it while camping? How much will you have to run your vehicle, and how much gas will that burn vs. cost of ice?

For the drink cooler I make sure I make a block of ice before hand. I use 12x6" plastic tubs to make the ice; the solid block takes a lot longer to melt.

I have a solar panel on my camper so I'd (hopefully) have it plugged in full time without draining battery not sure how much this will drain though.

Ice blocks are a good idea i never thought of that

[ken0042]

The trick to making a good block is layers; that way the expansion doesn't bust your mold.

And if you really want to be smart; take a few empty beer cans and put an inch of sand into each. When making the last inch of the block; put the beer cans into place. Then when camping put beer into the holes your created for frosty beer goodness.

[Sliver]

Yeah an ice block is a great idea. Why have I never thought of that?

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

How cold would you say it got your drinks from 1-10

10 being beer in a cooler of ice for 2 days

thanks

6-7? I'd say it was similar to a 7-11 big gulp without ice. Similar to this sucker...

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....=1&topnav=&s=1

You could pick one up from them, and return it if you don't like it...

[speede5]

Originally Posted by ken0042

For the drink cooler I make sure I make a block of ice before hand. I use 12x6" plastic tubs to make the ice; the solid block takes a lot longer to melt.

lol, I use 2 ltr pop bottles, fill, freeze, melt, repeat, and no mess. Just fill them about 90%, squeeze the air out and cap.

[Locke]

It wont really cool your drinks rather than keep them cold, as others have said, it also uses a TON of juice if you have it plugged into your vehicle. I doubt a solar panel trickle charger would provide enough.