Ice chest in galley or car?

[parnold]

I've had a cooler confiscated while I walked to the bathroom!

[Jason and Amanda]

I make 20 pound blocks of ice in a battery box in our freezer and usually take 2 coolers.

Oh I'm stealing this idea. I cannot believe I've never thought of this on my own. How long does it take to freeze solid?

[doug hodder]

I know how destructive bears are, thanks everyone for reminding me. I just had visions of a really cool built in cooler in the counter top of my galley and needed a reality check.

What about making it a slider type that you can remove the cooler from, or do the built in one and store the pots and pans/etc... in it when you are in bear country. I had one in a '49 Kit, but only used it for storage as it was a real leaker. Doug

[Miriam C.]

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... oryid=8516

Thought this would be a good place to put this. These new coolers look like a good way to keep food and drinks separate and even organized for per-day use....

bears You can buy bear proof barrels for your food but why attract them in the first place.

[Shadow Catcher]

I liked the idea but the party stacker's have very little insulation, a little over an inch according to my calculation. vs the Extreme 6 with about 2.25 inches.

We freeze milk, juice, and gallon jugs with water.

One thing to remember, part of the equation is the temperature of the ice you start with. bag or block ice bought seldom is much lower in temperature than 31 degrees. Ice out of our freezer at home is 0 degrees or -20 when making ice

[bearfromobx]

Nothing will keep a hungry bear from any food it smells - Period.
I've seen a brown bear get it's claws in the seam of a car door and fold the window frame in half to climb inside and steal a bag of chips. Bear boxes are armored to slow the bear down, but nothing will stop a determined, hungry bear. I'd rather the bear tear up my TTT than my truck; the trailer is less expensive to replace and I can't drive my TTT home!

Several people mentioned bears playing a factor in where they located their cooler and I'm curious. I was planning on putting the cooler in the galley assumming the hatch would keep the bears out. I visit glacier NP alot and they are very strict about keeping coolers locked up but I thought this would be ok with a locking galley hatch. I know a teardrop hatch wouldn't stop a grizzly from getting to the cooler is he really wanted it but the fact is a locked car can't stop a grizzly if he really wants it and is given enough time. Does anyone have experience with this and what have the park rangers had to say about this?

[GuitarPhotog]

Both

The built-in ice box in the teardrop is almost 65 years old and while it will keep beer cool enough to drink, it won't keep food cool enough, so I have a separate food cooler that travels in the car.

Once on site, the food cooler lives on a stand next to the TD galley, with an insulated cover over it.

<Chas>

[CARS]

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=3000000451&categoryid=8516

Thought this would be a good place to put this. These new coolers look like a good way to keep food and drinks separate and even organized for per-day use....

Shadow Catcher is correct. I bought one this summer and it doesn't keep ice for a few hours when it's 90 degrees.

[doug hodder]

I soak down a sheet and fold it up so it's fairly thick, lay it on the coolers...it really helps to hold the ice. Recently I did 4 days at nearly 90, cooler nights however, and didn't have to get any replacement ice. 1 Coleman steelbelted cooler and 1 25 yr. old Igloo. I make my ice at home. Doug

[Gerdo]

I built a drawer for my cooler in the galley of my TD.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=13667
I have since bought an Engel fridge. http://www.engel-usa.com/index.php?page ... &Itemid=59 I keep it in the truck.

[boomboomtulum]

We also have ours in the galley, but when in bear country move it to a locker. Drinks are in another cooler.

[gregp136]

We also travel with one in the car, and one in the trailer.


Greg(and Laurie)

[Ocelli]

I'm looking at the YETI coolers. Expensive, but bearproof when locked.

[Shadow Catcher]

We ended up with a Waeco refrigerator and when traveling it is in the back of the car plugged into a 12 line direct to the battery. When at camp it is plugged into the back of the camper for either 12V or 120AC.