mikekey wrote:Just from experience the Thermoelectric Coolers have one HUGE disadvantage, they only cool to about 30 deg below outside temperature. So, if it is 70 degrees the cooler will cool to about 40 degrees, nice. But, if it is hot outside, say 90 degrees or so, it sucks! Coleman is claiming theirs cools to 40 but in experience I've found they perform worse than advertised in hotter climates. JorDanee and I have one, we had no problems with it at Tecore, but during our trip out West we had problems with it keeping things cool in the hotter climates and still had to resort to putting ice in it. It could barely keep up during all of Utah and Arizona. It was fine in the cooler climate of CO. And hey, WE USE A/C, it still had problems.
Plus they are a HUGE drain on the electrical system compared to an ARB or Engel. Thermoelectric units draw a large amount of current (4.6 Amps). Most units do not have the ability to freeze, or maintain a steady internal refrigerated temperature. Consequently they take many hours to cool a warm bottle of water.
Comparable, an Engel draws 2.1 amps of power. There is a reason for the cost.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/equipme ... /index.php
You can search expo forums for more details. If you were weekend camping, I'd say follow Roberts advice. But you're going longer term with variable climates, I'd say it's worth the money in the long run. You've been out west, when you get out there you might not want to run into town every week to get ice.
Mike I did not think about the hotter climates and I can see the disadvantage. I will have to remember that if I every go out west. I was only going by my resent experience. Maybe that is why those Cl posts are so cheap.
Bacon Just go to the hot states during the winter.
Well done on diff and locker, and thanks for the write-ups 
Probably out of your price range, but maybe not.
