Dometic, or another brand?

That what we're all here for,...to help each other out!

 

On my week long trip to MS, AL and TN driving the Natchez Trace Parkway I traveled with my Dometic in feezer mode set to 20 deg F and kept in TV on 12VDC during the day. I made 4 trays of ice and two large square juice bottles of block ice a day. When arrived at camp I put my galley block ice cooler on the rug by the galley and connected the Dometic to 110 AC and swapped out the block bottles in my cooler with the refrozen ones in the Dometic. Dometic lived on the right table until bed time then the dometic went into the galley space plugged into 110 vac and the other cooler when inside the TV away from the animals. Using this procedure I was able to have ice for drinks and blocks for keeping the cooler cooled all week never having to buy ice or deal with melt water. Even with frequent stops for day hikes and site seeing my Dometic never drained my TV battery enough to shut off with the safety voltage setting on high. That was in 90's weather btw. The Dometic/Cooler shuffle was worth the effort. Very pleased I spend the bucks sooner than later. Payback has already been significant.

 

Yeah, been on many road trips, trust me I know what to pack. So what do I pack... To be honest. Having one of these in the car – regardless of destination – can only be a good thing! And especially this thermoelectric cooler, we have "Igloo iceless cooler" I read up on this cooler and many others at Best Thermoelectric Coolers – Reviews and Top Picks This would be a must for me, as I have a little Coca-Cola addiction and I like my cans cold. But a cooler could also store other drinks, juice boxes, sandwiches and foodstuffs that don’t do so well in hot weather. Not everything is as good as I would want it to be, sadly. For starters the Ice retention time is short. A minor bug I guess. Then again at least it has built-in cup holders. So yeah I guess getting the right cooler is most important.

 

Can you tell me about your Jetta diesel? I am about to try the same thing. I have a 2002 Jetta with an automatic transmission and just purchased a 2011 CampInn 550. How has it worked out for you and your Jetta?

 

Welcome to the club!
We have a 2007 550 Ultra that we bought it in 2013, we have pulled it first with 2005.5 new style Jetta TDI with a manual transmission. and currently with 2015 Passat TDI with manual transmission. Both vehicles had hitches from etrailer.com, and air bags that I installed in the rear springs for helping keep the rear end at normal height with the trailer tongue weight, and trunk full of gear. I'm not sure about the automatic transmission prior to the 2005.5, but it was said that the DSG auto's available in the 2005.5 and after weren't up to towing, but the manuals were, so that is part of the reason why I got manuals ( not to mention that they are more fun ) I did have a Malone tune done on the Jetta after the warranty was done, which gave it a 30% increase in both hp and torque, and unbelievably a 5% increase in mileage and was soooo worth it, but the Passat has done ok without the tune, and the tune price for it is double that of the Jetta's so, haven't done that one yet. You might want to check on some of the VW TDI forums to see what experience others with your model year Jetta with auto's have had with towing various loads. As far as the electrical load I have installed #8 charge and ground wires into the 7 pin connector on both vehicles, and had no problems with having the Dometic in the trailer with the Jetta. Did have the original Camp-Inn battery give up last year since towing with the Passat, but at 11 years old I guess it didn't owe me anything I have noticed that with the Dometic running off the battery when we don't have electrical hookups, it will take down the smaller 33AH battery in the earlier Camp-Inn models in about 1 day, so, since there isn't room for a larger battery we do carry a Yamaha 2000 watt generator, and have a 160 watt solar panel as well for during the day for when we know we won't have hookups. This got a bit longer than expected, but hope that gives you a little insight about towing with a VW TDI. The 30-34 mpg while towing is nice! but with today's fuel prices, not quite the factor that it was earlier.

Enjoy your new to you Camp-Inn!

Dustin & Kris Paulson