where to put the cooler?

[formeryooper]

Waiting for spring to start my build and sketching up a few ideas. The problem I keep running into is where to put the cooler, a 100+ quart monstrosity probably weighing over 100 lbs when fully loaded with ice and beverages but weighing almost nothing at the end of the trip when said beverages have been consumed. It needs to be accessible on the road to add ice or grab a snack, but out of the way. The only place it seems to fit would be on the tongue or in the very back right inside the barn doors, but what is this big variable load all the way at one end or the other going to do to my tongue weight?

[formeryooper]

The easy answer is "Drink less beer'" but let's assume that's not going to happen!

[roadinspector]

This all depend upon the rest of the load and your TV. But in reality 100 lbs shouldn't make any difference if you build the rest with that in mind.

[eggsalad]

Do you have a side door? If you do, I would suggest putting the cooler right over the axle. The side door would make for easy access.

If you put it anywhere besides right over the axle, the change in weight will affect trailer balance.

[Woodbutcher]

I have a Coleman Steel belted cooler in the galley on a pullout. I carry a smaller poly cooler for the TV. It allows me to take drinks with me when away from the trailer and still be able to shop for groceries and Ice without having to hurry back to my site.

[formeryooper]

Do you have a side door? If you do, I would suggest putting the cooler right over the axle. The side door would make for easy access.

If you put it anywhere besides right over the axle, the change in weight will affect trailer balance.

The trailer will have a side door, but I'm trying to keep that door and the living area clear. My typical trip is leave work at 5pm Thursday, drive several hours, park somewhere I can crawl in the back for a few hours sleep without setting up camp, then drive the rest of the way the next day and set up camp for 3 or 4 days, so it helps if the cooler is stashed either under the folding bench at the back or outside the trailer on the tongue. Cooler goes outside and is used as seating once I set up camp. My first thought was to weld up a hitch receiver on the back of the trailer and carry the cooler on a folding hitch-hauler. That's what I used to do with the van. Seems like this would put the weight way too far back though.

[Gary and Cheri]

Interesting question.

For me it is not just the cooler but everything you are going to bring along. I personally like to keep the trailer light as possible. I tow with a VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI and a heavy trailer with a fairly light tow vehicle makes me uneasy. Your trailer is rated for "X" amount of weight as is your tow vehicle. I find putting the majority of the additional weight centrally distributed in the tow vehicle makes towing the trailer easier and to me safer. The car has 4 big disc brakes that can handle a fairly good load in the vehicle but if I were to put that load in the tear I believe the tear would control the car in a panic stop.

The only real disadvantage I can see to having all these extra items in the car is that in the event of an accident I have a lot of things that could become dangerous flying items. This is why I have 10 adjustable canoe straps which tie everything securely down.

When we get to our camp site i usually park the Jetta with the back door within easy reach of the tear's hatch. That is where i always keep the cooler. Within easy reach and within the tow to keep smells etc. away from the tear and animals. I like camping in places where large wild animals occasionally frequent. I don't cook under the hatch of the tear either.

Just my thoughts.

Gary

[piperpilot3tk]

I will be building a stainless below deck cooler for my build. I have the below deck storage boxes almost finished. Nothing you cant fix if you dont mind a little welding and some wood work!

[formeryooper]

I totally agree w/ keeping as much weight as possible in the tow rig. Most of the heavier stuff like 5 gallon water tanks and power source (jumper box w/ outlets, I don't use much power) live in the jeep, but I don't think the cooler would fit even with the back seat removed. Wranglers aren't big on cargo space.

I have given some thought to the critter issue and I'm not sure what my plan is. I usually have done my bear country camping in pickups and the cooler goes in the bed where it's not overly easy to get to and leaves camp when you do. I guess I'll probably keep it outside at night with some pots and pans on top to make noise and wake me up if anyone gets too interested. For when I'm not around camp it will probably go in the trailer. I'd rather have a determined bear tear apart a $3000 trailer that I can repair myself than a $30000 jeep that I need to get me out of the woods.

Built in below deck cooler would be great, but a bit above my means at the moment, I'm currently an apartment-dweller so this needs to be a relatively simple "show up a buddy's garage on a Saturday with a case of beer" type build. Need to keep it as simple as possible.

[lrrowe]

I think you are right to be concerned with bears in the woods. From personal experience I can talk about them raiding and taking the best steaks, along with a bag of ice. Why they wanted the ice, who knows, but the bag was no where to be found. Maybe they wanted to keep the meat cold. And it was a four legged thief for sure. They (it) left tooth marks in the cooler and the paw prints on the table.

So after that, my hunting buddy and I moved the coolers to the trucks when we left camp and at night as we did not have a hard side CT or TT. We should have known better about the cooler being left out. We have been at this for many years. Just forgot about it that night. And I guess we never thought about the possibility of a bear trying to rip a the doors and windows of the trucks. There is always something to think about when you venture away from home.

For my CT, I plan on having a large cooler in the back (CT w/barn doors) for reserve cooling and a smaller one inside the CT for day-to-day use. I will probably use block ice for the larger one to get the maximum cooling life out of it.

[Gonefishin]

I keep mine on the road side wall right over the axle, which is just on my left as I walk in the rv door. Its easy to put new items in. Its easy to drain being right near the door. (just slide it over the door opening and pull the plug.) I can access it without stepping into the trailer when needed, such as cooking outside or just reaching in for a beverage or snack. Its convenient when I'm inside, being at my back and out of the way next to the bed. It doubles as a bed-side table. I can also move it anywhere I want once inside and parked.

Where I live and camp, coolers outside anywhere, for any length of time, is a no-no. Bears (lots), raccoons, skunks, bugs, and often lack of shade or needing to keep moving it to shade. In some areas, park rangers or wildlife officers will confiscate any outside cooler, and also write a ticket. (good for them!) A fed bear is a dead bear. Be bear aware in ID, WY, and MT.

[lrrowe]

........ A fed bear is a dead bear. Be bear aware in ID, WY, and MT.

And in VA also!

[MtnDon]

Re: bears and coolers. There are campgrounds that a steel locker provided at each campsite; those in Yosemeite come to mind, there are others we've come across too here in the west. All food and anything else with a scent must be placed in the locker with the door secured whenever the item is not being used. Toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, if you can smell it so can bears. Bears apparently are not too discriminating, if they can smell it they will try to eat it. The lockers have latches that when secured are supposed to be bear proof. They are anchored in the ground so they stay put.

Makes you wonder about dry camping., but then the bears know exactly where the campgrounds are. If you camp in the boonies it may not be so easy for them to locate a nomadic camper.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

From last Summer in Co. Springs ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io9SxQXcYzo

hank

[lrrowe]

Well that would ruin your day if you just came out to throw something away! Now I see how my bag of ice could have disappeared (see my bear story above).

Regarding my bear story, during that same night our bear came to visit our cooler he came and got our garbage. Yes I had it up in the air, but no, stupid me left it too close to the tree and all he had to do was to climb up and reach out with his paw. Damage done.
I really do learn the hard way. But in stuff like this, it only takes one time.

Sorrry formeryooper if we are hijacking your post.


Bob