What is my best option to keep something frozen on a 2 day road trip? I was thinking of getting a 12v dc fridge but we will be stopping overnight and I don't want it to drain my car battery the following morning. I don't know if they come with wheels but they will be cumbersome to move if they do. Will a regular cooler packed with ice work. I would like for what I am carrying not to thaw out.
Best option to keep frozen goods while on a road trip
- Thread starter raaizin
- Start date
This. Hands down the best car cooler ever in my opinion. I have three of them. They come with a wall plug too so you can take it in with you to something like a hotel too. No wheels but not too bad to carry either.
https://a.co/d/abCQFbV
https://a.co/d/abCQFbV
Dry ice?
^^^^^^ this FTW! We transported a turkey and ham from Iowa to Florida last December, with an overnight stay in south Georgia. I used our regular igloo cooler with dry ice. Both items were still frozen when we arrived.
Have made two day trips and kept stuff frozen in an igloo cooler by using solid blocks of ice and wrapping the cooler with couple of old blankets or even beach towels. Used a separate smaller cooler for water or other beverages for the trip.
Don't get a Peltier device which is inefficient and barely keeps cool something already cool that's physically touching it. Having one would give you false confidence.
That Amazon cooler looks interesting, with a real compressor, but I wouldn't trust new tech on a long road trip.
Just get a regular cooler and gas station ice. If you run dry ice be sure fresh air is getting into the car. If you have a hatchback try to keep the cooler out of the sun-- put a light colored towel over it, or other luggage.
What happens if the mystery item thaws but remains in the 33-40 degree range? You absorb a lot of heat by changing water's phase from solid to liquid.
That Amazon cooler looks interesting, with a real compressor, but I wouldn't trust new tech on a long road trip.
Just get a regular cooler and gas station ice. If you run dry ice be sure fresh air is getting into the car. If you have a hatchback try to keep the cooler out of the sun-- put a light colored towel over it, or other luggage.
What happens if the mystery item thaws but remains in the 33-40 degree range? You absorb a lot of heat by changing water's phase from solid to liquid.
Great analysis. If you really, really want to make sure it’s kept frozen then the only way to do that is dry ice. Just be aware that it will be frozen like a brick.
I have trusted mine for many road trips since 2023. They have worked flawlessly and never let me down.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
Sounds cool until you get to this part:
- NOTE: Please do not place the refrigerator in direct sunlight, as this may cause the refrigerator door to become deformed
Well I have never read that, and mine have certainly been in direct sunlight. So far so good.
Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
It was on your link in the description. I kinda wondered why it would deform. Glad yours hasn't.
I use a similar unit as my drinks cooler in my man cave. Use the supplied AC to 12v DC power converter. As I use it to keep drinks cool, I set it at 40F. Its almost silent and cools well.
How much dry ice did you use
I may be looking at a smaller compressor cooler for camping. Some of the brands can run off of 12V. The newer LipoFe batteries can hold them well. You’d need a charger compatible with the batteries. This is real spendy compared to packing ice, but if it’s used regularly could be nice. 150 dollars buys a 100AH 12V battery, which equals two starter batteries or one large deep cycle, while weighing 21 pounds.
The key in any cooler is to fill it. You want to minimize air moving around.
If you already have a cooler you can line it with Styrofoam to make it better - rather than buy one of the expensive ones - if this is a one time event type thing. The lids often seem to be the worst part. This provides the double benefit of filling the air space and adding insulation. Dry ice works best and then fill any open spaces with towels, etc - adds insulation and limits air movement.
2 days in this weather shouldn't be too hard.
If you already have a cooler you can line it with Styrofoam to make it better - rather than buy one of the expensive ones - if this is a one time event type thing. The lids often seem to be the worst part. This provides the double benefit of filling the air space and adding insulation. Dry ice works best and then fill any open spaces with towels, etc - adds insulation and limits air movement.
2 days in this weather shouldn't be too hard.
My setup: 4Runner 12v DC —> Dometic PLB-40 LiPo battery —> fridge
If I’m base camped: solar panel —> Dometic PLB-40 —> fridge
If I’m base camped: solar panel —> Dometic PLB-40 —> fridge
For a two day road trip he doesn’t need an inverter, solar panels, nor a Peltier device and a lithium battery. Just some dry ice from the store. It will stay frozen.
it was 5 lbs wrapped in newspaper from the local grocery store. We had lots left when we got to Florida. Make sure you have gloves! This stuff will burn you.
