electric food cooler under black tonneau cover

[Whiskerfish]

I have been looking at these 12vdc/115vac food coolers for a summer time trip Coast to Coast and back (planning close to 3 weeks on the road). My concern is that it will be in the bed under a black Tonneau cover and I am wondering if anyone has operated one of these in those conditions. I am sure it will be very hot inside the bed. https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/7184119194

Sponsored

 

[Datrane01]

I did a 1 week trip last summer with a car refrigerator under a black tonneau cover and my only issue was not giving enough space for the vents. We had the bed packed. So I had the opposite problem where it froze everything vs keeping it at refrigerator temperature. I was traveling in 90 degree weather and sunny all the way. I did also buy a battery so that when I took stops, it would continue to run.

My set up was battery plugged into 12v truck bed socket, refrigerator plugged into battery. I would take the refrigerator and battery out when I stopped for the night and plugged into shore power.

 

[Mtnbikes]

I have an overland setup in my truck bed with a Dometic refrigerator/freezer exposed to higher temps in the summer. It does just fine.

What you want to keep in mind is the cheaper ones don’t have the insulation, so they will run a lot and most likely not keep the temp where you want it. You get what you pay for more or less.

 

[Whiskerfish]

This is going to be a hotel trip so there should be plenty of room inside the bed. Basically just a couple suitcases and the cooler. The cooler will be for drinks and munchies and lunch fixins. Breakfast will be at the hotels and dinners will be out. That Dometic is nice but a little out of reach for me. If I have to I suppose I can use the back seat area. I have the seats removed and have a platform in there for my dogs. (they will not be making this run)

Sponsored