Koolatron Kargo Kooler Mini Travel Refrigerator
by Koolatron
|
List Price: Our Price: $107.00 You Save: $12.95 (11%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Automotive Parts and Accessories See more product details |
|---|
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Koolatron Kargo Kooler Mini Travel Refrigerator
Customer Review: Cools superbly, but check cooler lid covers/hinges closely for damage when unpacking
Summary: 3 Stars
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.
Customer Review: ?
Summary: 2 Stars
I didn't even get a chance to try this cooler. It didn't have a plug to plug in the adaptor. I did ask the company about it and they said they would send it to me no charge, but I didn't want the hassle of dealing with it perhaps being the wrong plug. I needed it in a hurry. It was also bigger than I really wanted.Customer Review: Junk
Summary: 1 Stars
This cooler only worked for two days before the compressor completely gave out. I ignored the warnings in other reviews and ordered it with one day shipping before a long (3500+ mile) road trip, but it failed before our trip even started. We brought it along anyway, because it was small enough to fit in the back seat. It still managed to keep things cool with a nightly refill of ice, but for the high price I expected the electronics to last more than two days.
I suspect that the failures are caused by a design flaw: the compressor and associated electronics are built into the cooler lid, which can be oriented horizontally or vertically. Most refrigerator compressors are designed to run in a very specific orientation; the coolant and oil systems don't circulate fluids properly unless the compressor is upright. Even if this isn't the problem, the compressor may be taking damage every time you open and close the lid, particularly if you use it like a normal cooler with the door on top. If you decide to buy one of these, be certain to close the lid very gently, and to leave adequate room for ventilation around the air intake fan.
That said, don't buy one. You will likely regret it.
Customer Review: An early death
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought one of these in April and it died in August--just about four months, which is the shortest I've ever had for one of these coolers. I can usually get a year or more from them. Additionally, the door (which works like a Dutch door, split in top and bottom) is not particularly convenient. The latch slides up and down, and because the box itself is too large to fit on a desk comfortably (at least for my desk), it has to sit on the floor, and that makes it harder to open and close the door. It did cool adequately while it worked, though, and it's large inside. I found I had to defrost it more often than I'm used to. The ice on the cooling unit gets very thick very quickly.Customer Review: Very disappointing!
Summary: 1 Stars
The fridge arrived today and I am sending it back tomorrow - I was so disappointed to open the box and find that the door hinges had gotten completely busted up during shipping! There was absolutely *no* packaging material, just the cardboard box, so it's no surprise the product got so damaged.
If you decide to brave the shipping risk, also keep in mind that (1) this really seems like more of a cooler than a fridge, the "electronic" component notwithstanding, and (2) you need an AC/DC adapter unless you plan to plug it into the cigarette lighter in your car.
The one plus is that it is lightweight... and Amazon has a very fair return policy.