So you’ve booked a trip to Botswana, have the rooftop tent and sussed out the best coolers to keep the beers chilled. Here are some tips for travelling with a fridge to get the most out of these cool operators.
Also read: Play it cool: 7 compact coolers tested
- Plug the fridge in (load it up in the kitchen) before you leave so it’s already cooled down to the desired minimum temperature and wont draw too much power from your car battery to get it going.
- Avoid putting warm items back into the fridge as this brings the average temperature up again – stash them in the shade for a bit to cool down first.
- Don’t forgo the Coleman (still one of our favourite cool boxes) – rotate goods you’ll need for the day into the coolbox so you don’t let the cold out each time you open the fridge lid for something.
- Keep your cooler out of the sun if possible, or put a towel in the window to keep it shaded.
- Buy an inverter or a spare battery with a cigarette lighter adaptor for stopovers. Otherwise you’ll run the battery flat. If you charging with roof-mounted solar panels, make sure you’re parked in a sunny spot.
- Thermoelectric coolers need good ventilation to work and shouldn’t be placed in a car boot. Don’t pack the luggage to tightly around it.
