Cooler selection

[draboo]

This is probably a rather dumb inquiry, but what the heck,it aint the first time,so I ll ask anyway!

Since there are folks towing rigs with both the RS and RT, I was curious what peeps are using for a cooler. We just gave away our old Igloo cooler with a broken handle. I am considering a major upgrade because of the potential abuse the cooler would get being strapped to the tongue of the trailer. We will be taking a week to get to Cuba while camping along the way and want a good, quality unit.

Anywaaaay..here is what I came up with as a potential prospect. The damn thing is $300, but,as the "old saying goes"..

You get what you pay for

Any comments, good bad or smarta$$, are appreciated!!:2thumbs:

Brad

 

[Bullet24]

This is probably a rather dumb inquiry, but what the heck,it aint the first time,so I ll ask anyway!

Since there are folks towing rigs with both the RS and RT, I was curious what peeps are using for a cooler. We just gave away our old Igloo cooler with a broken handle. I am considering a major upgrade because of the potential abuse the cooler would get being strapped to the tongue of the trailer. We will be taking a week to get to Cuba while camping along the way and want a good, quality unit.

Anywaaaay..here is what I came up with as a potential prospect. The damn thing is $300, but,as the "old saying goes"..

You get what you pay for

Any comments, good bad or smarta$$, are appreciated!!:2thumbs:

Brad

I have this one http://www.igloocoolers.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1605/.f?sc=14&category=6549 Gotta say, it is amazing!! :2thumbs: I bought it from a friend so I didn't pay retail (nowhere near that actually), but you will never buy a cooler ever again. I actually forgot I had ice in it from a camping trip and there was still ice in it 12 days later! They say it will keep ice for 15 days! I just got a hell of a deal, but its huge!

 

[Trickie Dick]

I have this one http://www.igloocoolers.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1605/.f?sc=14&category=6549 Gotta say, it is amazing!! :2thumbs: I bought it from a friend so I didn't pay retail (nowhere near that actually), but you will never buy a cooler ever again. I actually forgot I had ice in it from a camping trip and there was still ice in it 12 days later! They say it will keep ice for 15 days! I just got a hell of a deal, but its huge!

Man, that thing is big enough to sleep inhyea:, but 75 lbs empty:yikes: or did I read it wrong?

 

[DougB]

Those huge coolers may exceed your max. tongue weight

 

[NancysToy]

You are going to need a much smaller cooler. Around 35 quarts is the maximum size I would consider. Too much tongue weight, otherwise...even if you offset that weight with your spare, on a continental kit for the rear bumper. Also keep in mind the Spyder's 400 pound towing weight limitation...a concern when your camper already weighs 300 pounds. An 80 quart cooler can hold over 100-150 pounds! A typical 35 quart will weigh around 40-50 pounds fully loaded...although it can hold more.

I have the Igloo cooler sold by Trailmaster on my Aspen Sentry. It does OK, but has no drain (had to add a boat drain), and doesn't hold ice as well out there in the sun as it could...even with the matching vinyl cooler cover. My favorite coolers are the Coleman Xtreme. They do make that one in a 36 quart version. Be aware that interior space is limited. I have a shelf inside made from a modified wire cupboard/refrigerator auxiliary shelf. That helps a bit...at least to keep the smaller stuff from sinking in the ice. Don't worry about the clamps to hold the cooler closed...bungee cords work fine. The same bungees I cross to hold my cooler in place, also hold the top shut.

 

[retired1]

I have a 12 volt cooler left from my trucking days and was thinking about mounting it on the trailer tongue. It's stored in the machine shed, and with the temperature being 3 degrees it's going to stay there for awhile. When it warms up I'll see if it will work.

 

[sabunim5]

I carry a much smaller cooler inside my trailer instead of on the tongue. Can you lock the cooler you are considering? I could not tell from the link you provided. It would be a concern for me if I was buying one that was going to be open to the public. As Scotty said above, watch out that you don't get too much tongue weight. Good Luck and Safe Ryding. :thumbup:

 

[draboo]

Thanks for your responses.

Scotty, as usual, brings up a great point about tongue weight/towing capacity. I keep forgetting that I can't just jam this trailer with everything we want to carry and be safe.

I ll make a point of noting the "dry weight" of the cooler first off.

 

[SpyderGirl]

I use a moderately sized Coleman cooler. It's about 25 quarts and fits perfectly in my trailer tounge mounted basket along with a 2 1/2 gallon gas can, spare quart of oil, spare bottle of coolant, and such. The Coleman cooler still had ice in it after hours upon hours in 100+ degree temperatures.

 

[jedd]

Do you need a bear proof cooler??:dontknow: That is why its so $$$

Jim:thumbup:

 

[NorthStar]

Coolers

I have used a 12 volt Mobicool or Koolatron, 24 Litre unit for many years while traveling with a trailer. The unit is plugged into a 12 volt socket, which in turn is plugged into the lead that I use for my Battery Tender. The cooler sits in a collapsible crate that is attached to my trailer tongue. There is also enough space in the crate to carry a plastic emergency gas can or other items that I wish not to store in my trailer.

I find that this size of cooler allows me to carry sufficient drinks and perishable supplies for road trips without adding too much to the tongue weight. The power draw is minor and I can travel all day with it hooked up to my electrical system. If it is really hot and I plan on being on the road all day, I occasionally will add a bit of ice to the unit to aid the cooling process.