How to cool the bed?

[Bari]

Traveling highways in the summer the bed gets hot. The small refrigerators, enclosed in insulation, still have a hard time working agsinst the high temperature air. Especially high due to the black tonneau.

my question is can the cover be spray coated with a reflective color.
Would that work and any suggestions welcome.

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[COdogman]

If you have power cover I would hesitate to modify it in any way that might cause the Service Dept to decline your warranty coverage. Obviously a coat of paint is debatable, but do you really want to go through all of that?

If that isn’t a concern, then a coat of reflective paint is probably your best bet. I know with roofing it can lower the surface temperature by up to 50 degrees. That would make a difference under the cover, but hard to say how much.

 

[beatle]

A byproduct of a refrigerator is heat, so any enclosed area (like a covered pickup bed) will make it progressively more difficult to keep the interior of a refrigerator cool as the refrigerator heats up the space and increases the temperature delta between hot and cold. This in turn makes the refrigerator less efficient so it needs to run more and produce more heat...

I'd just use good rotomolded coolers instead of a refrigerator. They're not actively cooled like a refrigerator so there is no waste heat, but they will keep things cold for days when packed and ice is used. You can replenish the ice periodically as well if you're taking a super long trip, and coolers they have no need for power. Yeti makes a good product and is one of the most popular brands, but there are others that do just as good a job at keeping things cool for less.

 

[VSG]

Honestly, this is not a problem I've ever had with my 2022 R1T. My powered refrigerator works just fine in my bed. And yes, I have used it in very hot and sunny weather. Plus, it's even useful for a Costco run, where a cooler with ice would be a pain in the ass to use.

I'd just use good rotomolded coolers instead of a refrigerator. They're not actively cooled like a refrigerator so there is no waste heat, but they will keep things cold for days when packed and ice is used.

I used to think that way. But a few years ago I splurged on a powered refrigerator, and frankly it has changed my life. It is SO much better than a cooler. No more worrying about ice, no more water at the bottom of the cooler soaking the food, no more freezer burn from direct contact with ice, etc. I don't regret the expensive purchase at all.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

This might cool things down back there.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Or this. I have one of these to cool down my bed, and it works great. I get better sleep at home than anywhere else because of it. https://www.eightsleep.com

 

[Riviot]

Have you tried cracking the tonneau a could inches? A gap should allow air exchange at highway speeds and help it keep cool.

 

[JM.]

my question is can the cover be spray coated with a reflective color.

Yes, of course. It's just metal and can be painted like any other.

 

[Bari]

Honestly, this is not a problem I've ever had with my 2022 R1T. My powered refrigerator works just fine in my bed. And yes, I have used it in very hot and sunny weather. Plus, it's even useful for a Costco run, where a cooler with ice would be a pain in the ass to use.

I used to think that way. But a few years ago I splurged on a powered refrigerator, and frankly it has changed my life. It is SO much better than a cooler. No more worrying about ice, no more water at the bottom of the cooler soaking the food, no more freezer burn from direct contact with ice, etc. I don't regret the expensive purchase at all.

Me too ree the cooler. I used an Rtic and dealing with ice was a hassel and I prefer the electric ones

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