I looked Long and hard and didn’t come up with a dedicated topic for this. ( in addition to the fridge)
1. What brand of cooler did you settle on?
2. How big did you go with?
3. Packing methods. I did some looking online and found these.
https://youtu.be/RePA15bPhDQIn
https://www.freshoffthegrid.com/how-to-pack-a-cooler/4. Where is your cooler located on site?
So, we just got back from 3 days. We bought a smaller Yeti 35 and I have to say it would be nice to have slightly bigger cooler. Some said that 2 coolers work well, one for adult drinks, in case Eric visits. Our cooler, once the frozen thingys are in, doesn’t leave much for food. Also, if we store our cooler next to the camper, under the awning... whew, it can get darn hot under there... maybe in the TV...
Our cooler:
Comments
I use 2-3 coolers depending on how many go camping with me. I use the Coleman 5 day coolers, one large, one smaller & an old Igloo cooler for my frozen food, with veggies on the top. I use frozen water bottles & gallon milk jugs on the bottom of the coolers & as large a cubed ice I can find on the top. (Gotta keep the beer & Fireball cold!) To store, I find the shadiest spot I possibly can, use beach towels to cover the coolers with a reflective windshield screen on top to reflect sunlight off the coolers. I've gone as much as 10 days usng this method with only having to supplement the cubed ice after 3-4 days. This method has worked well for me, with the bonus of having cold drinking water to boot. I've looked in to the Yeti coolers, but can't bring myself to shell out that kind of money for a cooler. I think if I were going to invest, I would be putting my money towards an ARB cooler since it has both cooling & freezing capabilities while being efficient as well. Just my opinion for what it's worth. Meanwhile, I'll stick to what has worked for me for a long time!
TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
Spokane, Wa.
Eric aka: Lone Wolf
2021 T@B 320S Boondock “The T@B”
Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
2018 320S Outback
2016 NuCamp 320 T@B Max S
T@bbey Road
Appleton, WI
2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014
2016 NuCamp 320 T@B Max S
T@bbey Road
Appleton, WI
Also, the quilts are so useful—protects my truck shell when I have something heavy on the roof rack, they can be used as emergency blankets, or they can hide purchases. Lots of uses. Oh, and they were originally sold by Menard’s as dog blankets and they have been used many times for their original purpose. They are flannel on both sides with some sort of padding in the middle so I think they provide lots of insulation.
2021 T@B 320S Boondock “The T@B”
Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014
We use a YETI 50 for our dry cooler. We put two blocks of ice in and put one of the wire kitchen racks that you get from Bed Bath and Beyond in to keep the food high and dry along with the rack that comes with the yeti. Believe it or not, those blocks of ice will last 10 days.
For our beverage cooler we use a YETI 45. I doesn't matter if this stuff gets wet. We use cans and not bottles because the cans stack 2 high in the 45 as opposed to the bottles that can only go one high. Throw in the ice cubes and you're good to go except, the ice cubes only last a day or so depending on the temperature.
That's it, everything else goes in the refrigerator in the T@B. Also, we always use the gas setting instead of the electric. The gas keeps it colder and hardly uses any propane. Of course we use the 12V when we're on the road.
Earl & Sue | Central NY |
2017 T@B 320S | TV: Chevy Silverado
TV: 2012 Honda Ridgeline
Alice
Crozet, VA
MOUSE-KE-T@B
2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
Harvest, AL
2018 320S Outback
I don't know of you have that in the US, but here in Quebec, you can buy wine in a box. The inside is a very thick plastic bag. We use it as an ice bag:
Most of our trips are 3 nights or less, but we take a couple of week long trips and mostly boondock. We use the tab fridge on propane for produce, and an ice chest for drinks and packaged food. I just can't justify an expensive fridge or Yeti for that little use. Plus in a few years we may have a different setup entirely, so not ready to commit. For our next trip I'd be happy if the ice lasts 4-5 days, by then there should be room for everything in the fridge.
This is what I picked up, reviews are pretty good, and we have a couple of other Lifetime products that have been good.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-55-Quart-High-Performance-Cooler-Grey-90820/850043843
So here are my likes and don't like without using, will update once we've had 'er out.
Likes:
Lighter than Yeti/other rotomolded
Thick walls, but good volume at 55qts
Latch system easier to open than Yeti style.
Bottle opener!
Bear resistant, given enough time nothing is bear proof!
Dislikes:
Rubber gasket doesn't seal great around top, will leak if tipped over.
Rope handles aren't replaceable.
In the end it's just a box that holds ice, so if it does that I'll be a happy camper. 🍻