Tell Me About The Koolatron Cooler

[BlessedMommy]

So, do you need ice to go with it? Or does it stay cool solely off being plugged in? 

 

What happens when you turn your car off?

 

Thanks in advance.

[SMRI]

I'm using mine for the first time tomorrow. I got the soft sided one. It's pretty well insulated and I would expect it would keep things cool for a while after it is turned off. If your car does not have the capability to keep your car plug powered when you turn off your car the cooler will shut off. I don't know that I would hep it plugged in if it does since it would probably wear down the battery. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Alwayssomething]

I had a heck of a time finding one, I went to every Lowe's, Home Depot, Target and Walmart in the three cities closest to me.  I had a coleman one twice in the past B.C. and loved it.  I finally ordered one online, should be here just in time for my 9 day trip in a week.  

[SMRI]

Just a tip---when I got mine at Home Depot, it was NOT by the other coolers--why, I don't know.  My Home Depot had them stored by the appliances???  I asked the guy in area by the coolers and he didn't really know what I was talking about.  I explained it to him a few different ways and he then brought me to the ones by the appliances.  He said they just stuck them there because they really were not sure what they were.  He was glad I came in LOL.

[SMRI]

Ok, NOT impressed with the soft-sided Koolatron.  It didn't keep anything "kool" at all.  The instructions also say to only leave it plugged in for 45 minutes, which I did at first, but then tried it longer to see if it would cool down, nope.  I will be returning it.  It DID keep my frozen waterbottles mostly frozen overnight in my hotel room though--not plugged in but it's insulated enough to keep them cool.

[mamaw]

IF  you are looking  for  a great kooler  of  total freezer  type  for  your  auto, go  to an off road  store ... We  just  bought a ARB  for traveling.. We  have a larger one  called a  coolmatic.. Remember  the less  amps they  use  the   easier  they work in  an auto.....Do  your  homework.. The type  I speak of  are  more expensive  but lasts for  years... Since  we  have to travel to find gluten-free  food we  must  have  a  better  one as  I only shop a couple times   a  year... Makes  it  nice to be  able to  buy frozen gluten-free......

[SMRI]

I will look for that, thanks.  I travel a lot for work so having something that I can keep food cold in from hotel to hotel, or in the hotel, will be very handy. 

[BlessedMommy]

Wait, so it's a portable freezer?

[psawyer]

The regular Koolatron is a cooler that runs on 12V DC, as found in automobile power feeds. There is an AC adapter available, so you can take it into your hotel room and keep it running overnight. FWIW, by flipping the polarity it can run as a heater.

My word to the wise: start it running the night before you leave, using the AC adapter, so it is cold when you put your already-cold stuff in it. It works well at keeping things cold, but is not very good at chilling things from room temperature.

There are other makers. We had a Koolatron for many years, but it died (long past warranty) and when we went to get another cooler we bought a Mobicool of a similar design and are happy with it. The Koolatron AC adapter works with it--it is just an AC/DC converter with a large current flow.

[cyclinglady]

We normally plug in the RV refrigerator 24 hours ahead of time before storing food. But to cool it down faster ('cause I forgot to plug it in), I fill the frig up with 1/2 gallon frozen jugs that previously held milk. I use a thermometer to check the frig temp. Then take out the jugs and fill the frig with food. I keep the jugs in my big freezer in the garage. Use them for coolers too and to keep my freezer nice and full to conserve energy.