When is a Cooler not cool?

[Gonzo42]

On our very first trip with our new toy, I discovered that the "cooler" is nothing more than a plastic box. Ice certainly didn't last long. Capacity is labeled as 100 lb.

So I built an insulated box to go around it. I found several types of insulation and chose two. (1) is poly foam with aluminized mylar on one side, and (2) is corrugated aluminum which has air/plastic-filled cells and comes in sheet form.

I built all the sides of the box from the poly, mylar side out, then glued the aluminum cell sheet on the inside. Glued it all together, reinforced all seams and corners with aluminum tape covered with packing tape.

More of the celled sheet went on the lid. Total outlay is about $30.

[Gonzo42]

Yes, it is on a slide right next to the stairway. As from Winnebago, it is just a plastic shell with no insulation whatsoever, so the ice lasted 1 day at best. No power connection at all. As you can see in one picture, the drain protrudes the bottom insulation and has its own plug, removable from inside.

[RoyB]

I guess I am having a problem trying to visualize your portable cooler install. It appears to be mounted on a slide maybe sitting inside the bottom storage area. the only fridge units I have run across are the small one sitting inside the POPUP trailers or large up-right home type fridges in the larger trailers.

Can you give us a model number of the unit. I assume this works on AC and DC perhaps... I am guessing this on the order of a house ice chest.

Something like this?


I have on occasion brought along a second desk height dorm room type fridge sitting on my outside front deck to get more cooling area when camping. It just clears my pull-out tent bed on my off-road popup.

Having available ICE is one of our biggest problems camping off the power grid.

Roy Ken

[Gonzo42]

The drain still protrudes from the bottom and through the insulation I put on.

[Veebyes]

There are some good ones out there but you pay. Generally white one performes much better. They don't absorb the heat like a coloured one. Then there are the ones with the extra thick insulation.

[fugawibill]

For quick and easy, cover it with one of those silver survival blankets. Ice will last 3 times longer.

[westend]

Cool!
How did you seal up the bottom to hold water?

[Gonzo42]

Just got back from Yosemite and I can report that the ice lasted about 4 days which is a great improvement over the 1 day the stock unit provided.

[Gonzo42]

Rear View of cooler:



Bottom of cooler:



Top of cooler:

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Leftover scraps of insulating materials:



Example of the mylar-laminated plastic:



The whole insulation box is a very snug fit and I didn't want to glue it on yet in case of future mods/improvements. Its held on by parachute cord and a turnbuckle.

Construction was laminating the two types together with gorilla glue, then sealing the edges/corners with aluminum tape, then covering that with packing tape. Top cover only has the mylar/plastic laminate.

I'm sure I can improve on this over time but I will see how it does on our next trip.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum limit of 640px maximum size.

[profdant139]

I taped up a reflectix outer shell for my cooler -- it works very well, but I bet that the OP's hard shell exterior box is better. Here is a link to my version:

Boondocking ice chest

[RoyB]

I have great luck with my Coleman EXTREME 5-day cooler. Goes in the back of truck bed... This is my PLAN B cooler... I fill it up with ICE and it keeps 4-5 days. I also have a plastic container I set down on top of the ice for things I don't want to get water soaked. Have had this ice chest for around 5 years now...

Works great for us...



Roy Ken

[Gonzo42]

I'll post pics soon. Won't have a performance report until we get back from Yosemite.

Its the built-in cooler, labeled for a capacity of 100 lb.

[wmoses]

qtla9111 wrote:
Any info on how long the ice lasts now?

I was wondering the same thing .... 😉

[Snowman7]

Was it a built-in cooler? Or just a stand alone type cooler? Seems pretty cheap either way. Your upgrades should help a bunch, and cost about half the price of a new, decent cooler. Pics would be cool.

[tvman44]

I bought a YETI cooler. 🙂