Not that impressed with Skoda UK, I emailed them last week to find out why they are still showing a cool / warm box for sale on their website when it has been superseded by a much smaller one, and not had a response yet. It means that if a garage orders that part, they are sent a different one which is frustrating for the dealer and customer.

Now looking for an alternative and found that Halfords have three cool boxes which plug into the battery, they are on special offer and half the price of the Skoda boxes. Will report back if I buy one, intended to this evening but our local Halfords was shut. Just trying to work out which one will be the best size.

LizC

We bought the 14 litre Halfords one for a trip over Easter. Cost £34.99p.

Good if you don't want a lot in there as otherwise you are cooling air which is never a great idea.

Note however that the air inlet is on the top and if you have the spare wheel fitted the top of the box presses on the parcel shelf, pushing it up slightly.

Over time I suggest this is not a good idea as the airway could be restricted causing it to work harder. All three Halfords ones of various sizes are going to have this problem as they are wider or thinner, but the same height.

Due to this I'd not reccomend a Halfords box to a spare wheel equipped Yeti owner, unless you are putting it in the passenger space or not using a parcel shelf. Either of these will also make it easier to hear of course as it buzzes away...

For a start, don't go to a Skoda dealer. Go to a good camping/caravan shop and look at the vast range of cooling boxes, fridges and freezers.

There are three types of cooling systems:-

Compressor - (Waeco) Expensive but very efficient. Usually in the larger sizes.

Adsorbtion - (Electrolux) Mid price and will use three energy inputs for cooling, 240v, 12v and gas. Perfect for home to camp site.

Peltier - The majority of cool boxes use this system. 12v supplies the cooling effect in what is normally a converted cool box. Ideal for picnics. All shapes and sizes from ones to cool your beer to a picnic size box. Cheapest of the three types.

I used to use an Electrolux box for scout camp. Started by cooling it on 240v, loaded it up (mainly milk and meat - all sealed up!!) Then 12v in the car and finally gas on the camp site.

I now have a (Peltier type) cool box for the car. A feature of these boxes is that, by the flick of a switch, you can have a HOT box. Great for bringing the "take away" home.

If you are desperate to have a Skoda box, copy the logo from this site and print on to sticky back plastic and then stick over the logo in the box you buy!!!

Edited 8 May, 201115 yr by Terfyn

For a start, don't go to a Skoda dealer. Go to a good camping/caravan shop and look at the vast range of cooling boxes, fridges and freezers.

There are three types of cooling systems:-

Compressor - (Waeco) Expensive but very efficient. Usually in the larger sizes.

Adsorbtion - (Electrolux) Mid price and will use three energy inputs for cooling, 240v, 12v and gas. Perfect for home to camp site.

Peltier - The majority of cool boxes use this system. 12v supplies the cooling effect in what is normally a converted cool box. Ideal for picnics. All shapes and sizes from ones to cool your beer to a picnic size box. Cheapest of the three types.

I used to use an Electrolux box for scout camp. Started by cooling it on 240v, loaded it up (mainly milk and meat - all sealed up!!) Then 12v in the car and finally gas on the camp site.

I now have a (Peltier type) cool box for the car. A feature of these boxes is that, by the flick of a switch, you can have a HOT box. Great for bringing the "take away" home.

If you are desperate to have a Skoda box, copy the logo from this site and print on to sticky back plastic and then stick over the logo in the box you buy!!!

Thanks to both Terfyn and CT17 for your replies. We've bought the medium sized Halfords box and have identified the problem with the spare wheel and space below the parcel shelf. We'll be mainly using it on long trips to keep our sandwiches and drinks cool and might put it on the back seat if we need to leave the parcel shelf in.

We have noticed that power to the box is on even when the engine is off so do either of you know of a part we can get to make sure it turns off and doesn't drain the battery if we forget about it? Also is there something so we can plug it into the mains at home and cool it down before going to the supermart to get frozen food?

Thanks very much for your help, impressed at the friendliness of this forum as I know nothing about cars.

Cheers,

LizC

Edited 8 May, 201115 yr by LizC

I remember seeing something somewhere that the car will disconnect the power to the 12v sockets if it detects the battery is being discharged to far. Can't remember where I've read it.

Andy

Thanks to both Terfyn and CT17 for your replies. We've bought the medium sized Halfords box and have identified the problem with the spare wheel and space below the parcel shelf. We'll be mainly using it on long trips to keep our sandwiches and drinks cool and might put it on the back seat if we need to leave the parcel shelf in.

We have noticed that power to the box is on even when the engine is off so do either of you know of a part we can get to make sure it turns off and doesn't drain the battery if we forget about it? Also is there something so we can plug it into the mains at home and cool it down before going to the supermart to get frozen food?

Thanks very much for your help, impressed at the friendliness of this forum as I know nothing about cars.

Cheers,

LizC

First of all it would take a long time to run a battery down with a cool box but there are devices which measure the voltage of the battery and will switch off the box if the voltage becomes too low. Bear in mind that the battery is always connected to operate your car alarm and door locks etc. The 12v plug I use in the Yeti boot has an ON/OFF switch on it. (again from Halfords)

Halfords used to do a mains to 12v power supply designed exactly for running your cool box from the house mains. (Halfords Adaptor)

First of all it would take a long time to run a battery down with a cool box but there are devices which measure the voltage of the battery and will switch off the box if the voltage becomes too low. Bear in mind that the battery is always connected to operate your car alarm and door locks etc. The 12v plug I use in the Yeti boot has an ON/OFF switch on it. (again from Halfords)

Halfords used to do a mains to 12v power supply designed exactly for running your cool box from the house mains. (Halfords Adaptor)

I ran down the huge 100A battery in my Audi in Belgium overnight.......... packed the car the next morning to then find it dead as a doornail with everything packed over it as the battery lived in the lowest boot level. Never again. My fridge gets unplugged from the car the moment I reach my campsite from now on. The megafter I bought to safeguard against this just refuses to send ANY power to the fridge so I don't use that either anymore!

I have no problems with my Halfords box in my Octavia Scout. The box draws about 4 amps (being 48 watts or there abouts) and the battery is c.70 Ahr so I'm happy to leave it plugged in for 10hrs to leave enough juice to start and run the other car systems overnight.

I've had one of These for a long while now - i use it every few days for work. - It's FAB!

It's 12v AND 240 so no need for a transformer. I plug it in the house the night before, and get it nice and cool. Run it on my way to a job in the car, and the switch off.

It's also great for overnight ferries!

Al.

Also is there something so we can plug it into the mains at home and cool it down before going to the supermart to get frozen food?

Try this http://www.towsure.com/product/Coolbox_Power_Supply_Transformer_230V_AC_to_12V_DC they also do a devise for turning off the 12v power if it gets too low. They are in Sheffield, not far from Hillsborough Stadium so you could call and look.

I ran down the huge 100A battery in my Audi in Belgium overnight.......... packed the car the next morning to then find it dead as a doornail with everything packed over it as the battery lived in the lowest boot level. Never again. My fridge gets unplugged from the car the moment I reach my campsite from now on. The megafter I bought to safeguard against this just refuses to send ANY power to the fridge so I don't use that either anymore!

Was your battery on its last legs? Or was it just a BIG fridge?

Was your battery on its last legs? Or was it just a BIG fridge?

No same as the ones posted above like the one UKcruiser has. So not big no.

No same as the ones posted above like the one UKcruiser has. So not big no.

Remember that a lot of the absorbtion fridges/cool boxes run continuously, so if they draw 12 amps, then in 5 hours that is 60 amps taken out of a battery.

Remember that a lot of the absorbtion fridges/cool boxes run continuously, so if they draw 12 amps, then in 5 hours that is 60 amps taken out of a battery.

Most of the Peltier units I have come across run at about 4 Amps.

Thanks everyone, very helpful replies.

LizC

Now if you really want to match your Yeti to its coolbox look at what a friend sent me!!!!!!!

http://www.yeticoolers.com/categories/Tundra-Series/

They would look especially good in a white Yeti!

Now if you really want to match your Yeti to its coolbox look at what a friend sent me!!!!!!!

http://www.yeticoolers.com/categories/Tundra-Series/

They would look especially good in a white Yeti!

Very smart, would turn my car into a mobile refrigerator! The Halfords middle sized box seems good, just enough clearance under the parcel shelf.

LizC

Looking at the adverts in that link, some of those coolboxes are HUGE!!!

I reckon you could get the Yeti inside some of them

Looking at the adverts in that link, some of those coolboxes are HUGE!!!

I reckon you could get the Yeti inside some of them

Well they are US market cool boxes for Americans with Americans cars and associated space!

Well they are US market cool boxes for Americans with Americans cars and associated space!

And American appetites !!

Looking at the adverts in that link, some of those coolboxes are HUGE!!!

I reckon you could get the Yeti inside some of them

Then it really would be a "Yeti Cooler"