I've been an avid camper for more than three decades and got into off-road exploring about 18 months ago with the purchase of a new truck. We often spend two and three nights and days out in the desert of Southern California trekking about. In the summer we have problems maintaining our food at safe chill levels and our drinks at the preferred temperature.

I have an electric cooler which does only a fair to poor job of keeping the internal temperature 20-30 degrees cooler than the 100 degree external temperature. Food will spoil quickly at these temperatures. I've tried three different coolers of increasingly larger sizes stocked with more and more ice. I ended up with two coolers stuff at about 50% ice and 50% food or drink.

With the outside temperature of 68 degrees I read the following temperatures inside the empty Engel 45:

1 = 39 degrees
2 = 25 degrees
3 = 20 degrees
4 = 14 degrees
5 = 1.9 degrees

The basket pulls out so that you can fill it in the kitchen and haul the food out to the waiting freezer. This helps make moving the already freezer easier.

I'm an OTR trucker & this Fridge was tailor made for us guys. I have estimated I have saved many times the cost of this fridge over the 5 years I have owned it. Along with a small microwaveGE JES735WJ .7 Cu. Ft. Capacity Countertop Microwave Oven& a 12V/110 inverterCobra CPI1550 Dual Outlet AC/DC Power InverterI'm not a slave to overpriced truckstops. I can carry along a weeks supply of groceries(Leftovers, TV dinners, Lunch meats & cheeses etc.) along with all the beverages I need. Restocking is a matter of stopping at any large supermarket.Don't let the large size intimidate you as you rareley have to take this out of your vehicle......just take the removable wire basket(included) out, load & put back in the cooler & your good to go. The fridge fully loaded weighs upwards of 100lbs with 50 of that for the groceries. When I get ready to leave I just load the basket, take it to the truck & drop it in.
Unlike the cheap Thermo-electrics the Engels has a compressor & cools or freezes to whatever temp you set it., one or the other but not both, either a fridge or freezer & its not dependant on ambient temp.
A side benefit; unlike built in fridges this one goes with you whether your switching trucks or going on vacation to the lake(works on 110 as well as 12V so you have a spare fridge/freezer at the cabin)If you plan on an extended stay on the lake this will work in you boat as long as you have a 12V plug in.
All in all a great little cooler.Very rugged & very reliable
Pros
1.dependable
2.quiet
3.energy efficient
4.portability
5.built like a tank,steel housing
Cons
1.cost
2.bulky
If this one ever quits I will buy another.

If you like go camping, if you love outdoor.. and if you have a 4wd vehicle... this is for you!!! This is a MUST!!! for 4x4 and outdoor lovers!!!