Ice Chests?

Silvertip47

Silvertip47

The Chair Bandit
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
478
Location
Boise, Idaho
I have an ancient Igloo that holds cubed ice for 3 days and a newer Coleman Extreme that will hold for 5 days in good conditions.

I know block ice lasts longer but I need cubes for my buddy, Jack Daniels!!! :D

I was looking at the Yeti the other day. :oops: $$$$$$$$$

Are they worth it? Are there any better? How long can they hold ice under normal circumstances?

Thanks in advance!!!
 
I'd be interested in doing a side by side test with the Coleman Extreme and the Yeti coolers. Maybe I'll get a Yeti, bring them both on my next trip and see what happens. Its for the sake of journalistic excellence :D
 
I have an ancient Igloo that holds cubed ice for 3 days and a newer Coleman Extreme that will hold for 5 days in good conditions.

I know block ice lasts longer but I need cubes for my buddy, Jack Daniels!!! :D

I was looking at the Yeti the other day. :oops: $$$$$

Are they worth it? Are there any better? How long can they hold ice under normal circumstances?

Thanks in advance!!!


I have been around Yeti's on several river trips in very hot weather. They perform really great. As you point out they are very expensive. One of the better coolers out there used to be named "Gott". They were sold to Rubbermaid and I use one of those as well as Igloos. Personally, I don't think I will ever spend 3-$500.00 on a cooler. But my life is governed by cash flow (or the lack thereof). I guess if I had the money I might invest in a Yeti, but I rarely am gone more than a week at a time. The other downside I see with the Yeti is they are Heavy. I don't think I would want to be hucking one of those in and out of a boat every day for two or three weeks. I guess it depends on how long your typical trip lasts.

I'm not sure my long reply was helpful, but I hope it helps a little.

Good camping,

Paul
 
I have an ancient Igloo that holds cubed ice for 3 days and a newer Coleman Extreme that will hold for 5 days in good conditions.

I know block ice lasts longer but I need cubes for my buddy, Jack Daniels!!! :D

I was looking at the Yeti the other day. :oops: $$$$$$$$$

Are they worth it? Are there any better? How long can they hold ice under normal circumstances?

Thanks in advance!!!

I bought a 45 qt Yeti and used it on two short trips in warm weather(90), the ice was about 80% after 3 days. My rig is undergoing a major overhaul so I have not been able to go out and really give it a good test on the road.
The build is quality and I threw my Coleman on the curb for the neighbors. I would never pay $280 for a cooler, but I had a AMX gift card that was expiring so I pulled the trigger. When I get back from my trip, I will give it a whirl on the patio, it is only 110 today, and see how long it takes for the ice to turn into steam.
 
A trick I've used with good success is to keep 2 coolers, one for ice and anything I want to stay frozen, and the other for everything else. Then I move ice from the ice only cooler to the other cooler as needed.

The trick is that the ice only cooler is packed with rock salt and cube ice (about 1 part salt to 10 parts ice), and block ice (to be transfered to the other cooler) in waterproof containers, such as plastic milk jugs. The salted ice will quickly become VERY cold water and stay below 32F for at least a week. By keeping the transfer ice in waterproof containers, it won't melt. It helps that I only open this cooler when I need more ice - once every few days. It's like keeping a freezer full of ice to used as needed. When I move the blocks of ice, I wipe or rinse them off to get rid of the salt water.

I don't know, but suspect that if you packed cube ice in a tupper ware container, it would keep just as well as cube ice in your freezer at home.

Keep in mind when you dump the salt water, that it is just that - salt water, so don't just dump it any place, because nothing will grow there for a long time.
 
I make block ice in tupperware in my chest freezer. I use the small, flatish ones so the ice comes out about 6"x2"x5". That allows me to "line" the bottom and sides of a Coleman Xtreme. Add one 6x6x8 block. Then I put in all my food/beer with a bunch of 4"x4x4, 3x3x3 blocks in between food items; then fill the empty space with cubes for Mr. Daniels. I haven't run out of the blocks in 5 days of 85*F temps and there is usually some cubes left too. Oh, and use a white marine cooler. Red/Blue just absorbs solar energy.

Making your own blocks in tupperware allows you to use different sizes and not just the big 10# block from the store. I like blocks bigger than cubes and smaller than the big blocks. My wife even made a lot of "giant" cubes using one of those silicon muffin pans. They last so much longer than regular cubes and aren't inconvenient like blocks.
 
I also recall reading on here about someone that uses ice frozen in plastic milk cartons to get the cooling without the melt water. And I have also read about the evaporation trick. But we took it one step further. We have gone through two ice chests in the last four months (Igloo and Coleman). Handles and latches breaking off. Plus the poor insulation in them means constantly replenishing the ice. Broke down and bought a Yeti this week. First reaction was :eek: but we figure if it lasts several years we will break even. Yet to see if the ice really does last longer.
 
Google Yeti vs Coleman and you will find some test results on side by side, if I new how I would post but I am not that smart.I decided on the coleman a couple of years ago from the results, price and weight of the coolers.I have since purchased a 12v freezer only because I am in a Tacoma and lost a lot of storage space compared to my CC Ford.
 
Google Yeti vs Coleman and you will find some test results on side by side, if I new how I would post but I am not that smart.I decided on the coleman a couple of years ago from the results, price and weight of the coolers.I have since purchased a 12v freezer only because I am in a Tacoma and lost a lot of storage space compared to my CC Ford.


Big Coolers Reprint
 
I also recall reading on here about someone that uses ice frozen in plastic milk cartons to get the cooling without the melt water. And I have also read about the evaporation trick. But we took it one step further. We have gone through two ice chests in the last four months (Igloo and Coleman). Handles and latches breaking off. Plus the poor insulation in them means constantly replenishing the ice. Broke down and bought a Yeti this week. First reaction was :eek: but we figure if it lasts several years we will break even. Yet to see if the ice really does last longer.


Ted, I've been looking at both the Yeti and Engel coolers. Where are you carrying yours, inside your camper or in the truck? Based on the spec measurements it looks like both coolers would just barely squeeze into the Hawk between the couch and propane compartment. Otherwise, the cooler would have be lifted over the couch...which seems like it would be HEAVY
unsure.gif
 
Big Coolers Reprint


Mark - thanks for the link! Makes me feel even better about my Coleman Extreme.

We freeze 64 oz cranberry juice jugs for ice. They're sorta rectangular and fit nicely in the four corners of our cooler. Cooler management is essential. We keep a separate beverage cooler to preserve the food cooler's ice. I put a piece of the Reflectix bubble stuff in the top of the cooler (seems like the insulation is better in the sides than the top) and cover the whole thing with a damp, white towel for evap cooling. This is what we do on river trips as well, and it works great. If it's especially hot, we'll cover the towel with Reflectix. My Coleman ain't a Engel, but with the extra steps, it's close... and WAY cheaper. And I'm a cheap bastard. Or broke.
 
Ted, I've been looking at both the Yeti and Engel coolers. Where are you carrying yours, inside your camper or in the truck? Based on the spec measurements it looks like both coolers would just barely squeeze into the Hawk between the couch and propane compartment. Otherwise, the cooler would have be lifted over the couch...which seems like it would be HEAVY
unsure.gif



Yes, this is a nightmare with larger coolers and bad for the back, they will not slide in/out through the door due to the couch. Since there is usually only two of us the back seat of my double cab has become the cooler station.
 
HEY, IF YOU WANT YOUR ICE TO LAST A LONG TIME IN ANY COOLER, BUY SOME DRY ICE AND PUT IT ON THE BOTTOME OF THE COOLER COVERED WITH A TOWEL. THE ICE WILL LAST FOR OVER 5-7 DAYS. BUT, BEWARE ! IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR FOOD FROZEN, KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE DRY ICE. WORKS GREAT FOR THE COOLER WITH THE BEER, ICE COLD !! NICE !!
 
HEY, IF YOU WANT YOUR ICE TO LAST A LONG TIME IN ANY COOLER, BUY SOME DRY ICE AND PUT IT ON THE BOTTOME OF THE COOLER COVERED WITH A TOWEL. THE ICE WILL LAST FOR OVER 5-7 DAYS. BUT, BEWARE ! IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR FOOD FROZEN, KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE DRY ICE. WORKS GREAT FOR THE COOLER WITH THE BEER, ICE COLD !! NICE !!


Here is what worked for us on our 3 week Yellowstone trip.I set the temp to high on the 3 way with a frozen gallon of water. Than in the thermo cooler which we carry in the truck(i gutter the rear of seats and truck jack),we carry the non frozen food with another gallon of ice.When the ice melts i just switch out the frozen one from the 3 way and start the process all over.This probably will only work with mild outside temps but since we don't camp in the desert it works for us.I didn't have to but any ice at all this time it was so good not to bother with that.I also have a container to carry the ice when it's in the cooler,i used a 2 gallon plastic jug like a kitty litter container cut the top off at the right height and a block of ice fits just right. Keeps the melt water out of the bottom of the cooler and food plus the cold lasts longer since the ice stays in contact with the cold water. This works well for us it may help someone else. Forgot to add,the 3 way WILL freeze the gallon of water,it just takes a couple of days.Either electric or gas

Frank
 
I have an ancient Igloo that holds cubed ice for 3 days and a newer Coleman Extreme that will hold for 5 days in good conditions.

I know block ice lasts longer but I need cubes for my buddy, Jack Daniels!!! :D

I was looking at the Yeti the other day. :oops: $$$$$

Are they worth it? Are there any better? How long can they hold ice under normal circumstances?

Thanks in advance!!!


First, Silvertip, you can be sure that Big Foot, AKA Sasquatch, is superior to the Yeti in all capacities except in the snow at over 12,000 feet elevation. At that elevation Big Foot likes to set his fur in the snow, kick back and enjoy the fresh air of life.:rolleyes:

Secondly, Jack Daniels is my buddy, not yours--LOL:D
 
First, Silvertip, you can be sure that Big Foot, AKA Sasquatch, is superior to the Yeti in all capacities except in the snow at over 12,000 feet elevation. At that elevation Big Foot likes to set his fur in the snow, kick back and enjoy the fresh air of life.:rolleyes:

Secondly, Jack Daniels is my buddy, not yours--LOL:D

What does a Yeti do better than a Big Foot (aka Sasquatch) in the snow above 12,000 feet? I'm guessing he makes either brown or yellow snow. :)
 
Might look at the newer Cabelas Ice chests they look a LOT like the engels and priced pretty close. I have been looking at the Colemans but I have heard a lot of people that hate them because of the hinges breaking. IDK but I may look into one of these others like the Engel.
 
I have been looking at the Colemans but I have heard a lot of people that hate them because of the hinges breaking.

Yes, the hinges suck on the Coleman Extremes!
 
Hi
For those of you that do have a yetti or engle ice chest what is the better fit within the grandby,
ENGEL 65 w29.88 x d16.75 x h16.5 or the
ENGEL 80 w34.75 x d16.75 x h17.63
I would like to know if the ENG 80 would be too cumbersome for the interior,
Also has anyone installed an ENGEL ac/dc replacement fridge for the 3 way within a grandby.
Thanks
 
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