My Kargo Kooler arrived damaged in a dented box without any interior packing materials. The lid doors were warped and a little loose, a screw was missing from a hinge, the cheap plastic lid latch did not work properly, and I could not use this cooler vertically as a "refrigerator" because the heavy bottom door sagged badly. Perhaps attaching the heavy cooling unit to a lid door is a design flaw of this model.The Kargo Kooler arrived a day before a 1600-mile road trip: I tested it en route to the Deep South in April as a chest cooler for exotic cheeses and a frozen pork roast, plugged into a socket in the cargo area of my Subaru Forester. I also splurged for the the optional AC adapter so I could plug it in at hotels. It cooled things superbly, despite lid problems. Yes, it may be a bit noisy in quiet office/home environments, but I did not notice its hum above road noise or the loud blasts of heating/cooling in highway hotel rooms.
My unit was obviously damaged from shipping, so I'm returning it to Amazon for a refund. Just check the lid covers and hinges very closely for damage and/or defects if you order this item.
I liked this enough to give Koolatron a second chance: I just ordered Koolatron's slightly smaller rolling mini-fridge model which may better suit my needs, has an adjustable thermostat, and should tuck away nicely and discreetly under the cargo area blind of my Subaru.
Also, the plug in that comes with it was missing. It only plugs into a car outlet--I had to buy the adapter to use it in the house.
Given the choice, I'd probably go with a small refrig that adjusts temperature. However, again, I like the portability of this product.
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WE GOT INTO THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS AND NEEDED A SMALL FRIDGE TO KEEP DOWN THE COST OF FOOD.. WE HAVE USED THIS KOOLATRON ALMOST STEADY FOR A MONTH NOW. IT KEEPS ON GOING. THE ONLY THING BETTER WOULD BE IF IT WAS VERSITLE TO PLUG INTO CAR AND HOME. WE BOUGHT AN ADAPTER TO TAKE IT INTO MOTELS AND SUCH TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE.. WE JUST LOVE IT THOUGH. WE RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY.Read Best Reviews of Koolatron P65 Kargo 12v Portable Cooler Here
Used this on my road trip, it did great keeping all my food and drinks cold. Even when driving through the hot desert of 90 degree weather, it did cool down below 40 degrees from outside temperature, so it was 50 degrees inside cooler for our food. Warmer does great, can use up to 4 hrs maximum. Either cooler or warmer, plug into 12v lighter when car is running or will drain your car battery. It stays cool when at picnic and cannot plug cooler in.Only concern is when fans running, its loud inside the car. When driving the road noise blends it out. After awhile you don't even think about it. Not too bulky in the backseat. Easily used seat belts to help hold it down when driving, such as around corners. Greatly recommend this cooler/warmer. My friend had a different brand and didn't work well. This one is a great portable fridge. Plus bought adapter from Amazon.com to use at hotel rooms, plug right in to wall outlet.
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The hinge on the door was broken on arrival even though the packaging was not damaged. It seems like the double door concept with the heavy cooler mechanism on the door put a lot of stress on the plastic hinge. Good concept, but poor execution. I had to return it before we could even turn it on....Save 10% Off
