We are currently in the market for a cool box type system which will allow us to keep the contents cool over the course of 3-5 nights when camping.
We currently have an Aldi cool box which we pre-cool, plug into the 12v on the way there and pack with ice blocks but it never lasts for longer than a day or so before things are getting warm. It's a handy little box but not much good when not powered.
We like to camp without EHU if we can so my first thought was a 3-way fridge but they look huge and we don't need anything that big and I think some of the better coolers can do a good job over this period of time.
Also needs to look fairly nice (ish) as it's to go in our bell tent :)
Having gone from cheap fridge style electric cool box (died), to Aldi cool box (only cools 20 degrees below ambient) to 40qt Igloo maxcold 5 day cooler (not big enough for our longer holidays), to 70qt Igloo maxcold (works well) and finally onto a 3 way fridge we are going back to using the 70qt Igloo!
My reason for choosing the Igloo Maxcold over the 3 way is size, they are around the same size (before adding a gas bottle) but the 3 way only holds 40l. I precool the coolbox a couple of days before we go and freeze coolblocks & juice cartoons which get packed around the outside with a couple of cool blocks on top.
I think the Aldi one is big enough for what we need, but it just needs to keep cooler! I think it's 30ltr so I don't know what size MaxCold that equates to?
I think 40qt is the smallest they do which is about 38l I believe, I still have one on gumtree as the original buyer bought it back because it wasn't electric!
Before we got our 3-way fridge we used to keep stuff frozen for a family of 6 for a good five days as follows: Have a solid cool box that you pack with as much as you can having frozen everything solid first. Think ahead so that you pack in the reverse order that you will need it, (including 'meal portion' of bacon and sausages, say, so that you just take out a pack, rather than rifling through various packets) and include things like frozen orange juice and milk, and complete pre-cooked frozen meals. Fill any spare space with bubble wrap.
The idea is that this cool box is opened as rarely as possible - say just once a day to remove what is needed for the day, including say a frozen carton of OJ or milk.
Use a second coolbag as your daily cooler 'fridge' cooled by the frozen milk/juice from the other box each morning - use this for things you need to access during the day like margarine, salad, etc, that just needs to stay cool. Use the OJ or milk as it defrosts.
You can extend the cooling life of the 'frozen' box by leaving it outside of the tent, in the shade but ideally in a breeze, then cover it with a soaking wet towel. Just keep adding water to the towel through the day as you think of it.
I have had to wait for bacon to defrost on day 5 using this method!
We use the Coleman 5 day cold ice box. Think 5 days only works if packed solidly with crushed ice and not opened.
Anyway we take a couple of frozen dinner, cold stuff and our ice blocks. At site either hire their blocks, freeze our own or we have bought ice cubes from a supermarket.
Just need to remember to let out some of the very cold water using the tap at the bottom.
Really love ours.
Costco have some really massive ones at the moment at a really good price.
Quote: Originally posted by Frazzle- on 07/5/2014
....Just need to remember to let out some of the very cold water using the tap at the bottom.
And immediately replace it with.... warmer air!
We leave the water in!
It's doing more good than harm, imo.
Obviously make sure any foodstuffs don't get wet. Bottles/cans etc at the bottom, sat in the water. Even plastic containers, such as yoghurt pots etc. Use sealable/zipped food bags for any susceptible food, and keep higher up, out of the water.
Thought I would let you know that after reading a lot of reviews etc. we decided to go for a 40l Icey-Tek in bright green. Suits us perfectly and seems it will be more than up to the job :)
Mucker - we do leave some water in the cool / cold box but last year I had floating yogurts, eggs in a floppy box etc.
We had a 20 minute-ish drive from the town with the lovely large supermarkets where we bought extra food (as opposed to the food taken down with us of which some were frozen)and bought ice cubes so the food was cold but not really cold when it went into the box.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Weekend Cooler
good choice, ours is bright orange
