I must be the only one here who doesn't use a Coleman. I have a Black and Decker cooler that I got at Target last year. It's still working quite well (although I did have to replace the 12VDC plug because the one it came with wouldn't make good contact in a socket) and doesn't take up the space that the Coleman unit does...

However, I don't have the space for a truck fridge because of my APU's inverter... being placed under the desk in my Century where the fridge would go. But hopefully I'll be getting a T600 soon.

 

That's about average for the amount of time they last. They are junk!!!! Never kept food could enough either. Lunch meat would start getting slimy after about 2 days.

 

As I think I have posted before I have had both Igloo and Coleman 12 v coolers.

My Igloo lasted about 9 months before I had to replace the fan. I got about another year out of it before I sold it thinking I was done with OTR truck driving.

My Coleman is still working after about 2 1/2-3 years of use. Only thing I have ever done with it is to regularly clean the fan as well as the cooling fins.

I have kept lunch meats and hot dogs in them for 2 weeks with no problems as well as cheese and milk. Fresh, unfrozen meats have lasted about 5 days and frozen meats for 2 weeks +. Of course I always kept my cooler in the sleeper and away from heater ducts and direct sunlight and since I like it cool anyway the temp in the sleeper rarely got above 65 degrees.

One thing that does seem to shorten the life of those 12v coolers is placing warm/room temp items in them and letting the cooler chill it. The other big killer seems to be leaving them in sunlight and/or letting the warm air vents blow on them.

 

Hi,

There is a company that manufacture diesel engine charge air coolers, you should try Vestas Aircoil A/S in Denmark (www.vestas-aircoil.com)

 

I still have the same truck fridge for the last 4 years ( I have never shut it off but to defrost it). I did have to add two batteries to handle the load when I'm parked for too many days at a time. 4.2 cubic feet 12volt/120volt and $699 but no problems at all ever.

 

Maybe Vestas aircoil can advise, they manufacture and design charge air coolers.

 

You should look into using a DC-based fridge instead of AC. They can be pricey but the reduced drag on your batteries is very noticeable.

Dometic and Whynter make very good products.

This Whynter model has two compartments with separate digital temps so you can have a freezer and a fridge, or two of either. It runs on AC and DC and includes both cords: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VX01P2

Good luck,

Jim