Portable Coolers

[robbie]

Has anyone any experience of the coolers that plug into the ciggie socket for inside the car??

They seem to have really come down in price over the last year.

Is there any particular make better than the other??, any benefits of one over another??

Do they take a long time to start chilling?? etc etc

Let me know your thoughts/experience as I fancy one of these for the summer

[serIIa]

we brought a campingaz one ..... there is cheaper but we decided that best to get a good one which has an auto power off in the battery drops low so it's still possible to start the car, last year we used for a week in middle of summer and always kept the stuff cool just took the car for a bit of a driver when the battery got low
 A good tip is to keep them as full as poss and it will need less effort to stay cold

[robbie]

Thanks for that. I have not seen the Campingaz ones, but will keep my eye out for one when i start lookin in the next few weeks :)

[strapping young lad]

ive got one called minicooler

its got a plug for mains power and a ciggie one

it cools as well as keeps things warm (if you so desire)

my advice though is to plug it in mains the day before to cool it down then by the time you are ready to trundle, your fridge will be nice and cold for the journey

ive seen them in tescos actually

mine was a gift though

dyf

[robbie]

Thanks Dyf, not considered a mains/battery one... and I thought it would be easy to decide....

I think i will just throw logic to the wind and ask swmbo to choose a colour she likes :)

[strapping young lad]

this is the one i have

http://www.minicooler.com/

[robbie]

Not seen that one around. i have only seen the ones that look like cool boxes.

looks good too :)

I want something for a greenlaning weekend in a few weeks. Any idea where they can be bought from??

[strapping young lad]

like i said.. tesco's but try the tesco extra ones..

failing that though.. halfords maybe?

its ideal cos you can keep things cool in the mains of the house (or leccy hookup onsite) then when travelling in the car keep the beer.. ahem i mean the soft drink cool!

if i see one on my travels tomorrow i shall give you a nod

if you want i can txt you

pm me it and i will see what i can do

[davidlandy]

Maplins are now selling them for £29.99  - Bargain!

Dave

[Wanderer]

We bought the Maplins one but it has a little disclaimer about not using it for more than 12 hours.
We've also got an Electrolux one that is mains/12v and gas but it does draw a fair current on 12v. We used it touring Europe and it was brilliant. Swiss and Luxemborg customs took a lot of interest in it. Probably just the size of it and what you could hide in it  8)

Ed

[robbie]

I have eventually gone for the Halfords unit. £59.95 plus £15.99 for a mains adaptor

It is a 28 litre unit with a divider to make two compartments.

I did go to Comet, they have a £30 unit but none of the stores round here had any in stock.

I tried Argos, they wernt quite as pleasing to the eye and £50.00 without an adaptor.

Halfords had both of the units in stock :D

Cool beers on the lanes here we come :)

[robbie]

The unit worked very very well, even to keeping the lamb cool we purchased from the local farm before we returned :)

Well recommended if anyone is looking for something to keep their stuff cool fo rthe summer (also has a heat option for those winter/night laning trips too!!)