Another newbie question - coolers

[hounddogcampers]

We retrofitted our Coleman Columbia with a dorm fridge many years ago.  Frankly, it is awkward to bend down and use it.  Am now considering taking it out and using the hole for storage.

Would like to find out about these new ice chest that chill for several days.  Will probably just keep it outside under awning on table.

Also, would like to know of any suggestions for making our storage more efficient inside.  We are camping with 2 adults, 2 children in an 8 foot camper..........cozy, but we love it.

Thanks.  

Hounddogcampers!

[ForestCreature]

We have the Coleman Extreme 5 day cooler and the Igloo version. The Coleman out performs the Igloo by a little bit, plus the Igloo latching isn't that great.
 
 So far we've had good results and can make it thru a weekend easy without having to buy ice. The main use is for drinks so it's opened and closed often.
 I would think if it we for food the ice would last even longer just cause it isn't opened as much. They are worth the extra few buck, not having to run for ice every day in nice.
 
 
 We are in a small camper too, but just 2 of us. My soultion for efficient storage was to put darn near everything we use every trip  in the van (it stays packed all the time)  except the kitchen stuff and clothes. I store the seldom need but necessary things in the storage area under the bed, it has outside access. But you have no under the bed...hmmmmm...I'm sure someone else will have better suggestions than mine and will chime in.
 
 By the way, welcome to the board!

[mike4947]

we've found out a single cooler doesn't cut it. With everyone opening it up for drinks and such the ice goes away big time. So it's two coolers. One for food and one for drinks and snacks. The drink cooler needs ice about every other day. The food cooler goes 4-5 days without any new ice and even on the fourth day some of the food is still frozen.

Follow the ice amount listed on the literature. it might seem excessive, but remember frozen food counts toward the total "ice" amount.

[garym053]

Like Mike, we use too coolers, one for meat, etc storage, and one for drinks storage, to save the ise. Our Coleman eXtreme will keep a chunk of block Ice for 5 days, if it's only opened for Breakfast, lunch, and dinners.

We have never used the cooler in the camper for food, or stored food in the camper for that matter. We are usually camping in bear country and I just won't take the risk of inviting trouble! So much like you are thinking, we use the space for storage! Coffee cups, paper plates and cups, etc.

[Campaholics]

My vote is for the Coleman extreme 58 qt cooler.  When it's just the two of us for a weekend, one works, plus a six pack cooler for the working drink supply.  Longer trips or, more people, two extreme 58 qt coolers.
Even in hot weather we come home from a Fri through Monday holliday weekend with ice in the coolers.  Standard coolers, ice runs Saturday and Sunday.  

The small fridge in the PU is hardly worth the effort to light the pilot.  Last trip out we didn't use it at all.  We are thinking about converting it to storage.

Bob

[hounddogcampers]

I've got to check out those Coleman coolers.  Sounds like most of yall don't do the refrigerators, either.

Thanks again.

[zamboni]

We use the camper fridge for all food, and the Coleman Extreme cooler for drinks.  It does fairly well (much better then "regular" ones), but it does get opened a lot... and, of course, the ice gets used for drinks, margaritas, etc!

[SpeakEasy]

Well, I'll break the pattern here. I LOVE the fridge in the camper. It's one of the reasons we got a popup after years of tent camping.

That said, we have tons of experience with tent camping and coolers. One of the things I hated about using a cooler was having all that water in there from ice-melt. So here's what we did: Before heading out, we would freeze two or three large plastic bottles of water. We used the ones that are about a half-gallon. We had one years ago that was from a large plastic bottle of wine (5L?), but I don't know if you can still get those.

The great things about this system are: you can drink the water as it melts, and you don't get a flood in the cooler as it melts. Because it is basically a fairly large block of ice rather than cubes, it tends to last a little longer than cubes would.

[Estone]

Well, I'll break the pattern here. I LOVE the fridge in the camper. It's one of the reasons we got a popup after years of tent camping.
 
That said, we have tons of experience with tent camping and coolers. One of the things I hated about using a cooler was having all that water in there from ice-melt. So here's what we did: Before heading out, we would freeze two or three large plastic bottles of water. We used the ones that are about a half-gallon. We had one years ago that was from a large plastic bottle of wine (5L?), but I don't know if you can still get those.
 
The great things about this system are: you can drink the water as it melts, and you don't get a flood in the cooler as it melts. Because it is basically a fairly large block of ice rather than cubes, it tends to last a little longer than cubes would.

I know our local grocery store (Vons) has frozen blocks of ice you can buy!  It's much easier than cubes, unless, of course, like you said, you will drink the ice as it melts.  I'm excited because trying to freeze those big blocks, or drink containers, takes up much freezer space!

Estelle

[Estone]

PS:

On the fridge inside the trailer:  We use it constantly!  We love it.  We don't, however, use the built in cooler.  We use that for paper goods, tablecloths, plastic cutlery.  It makes a great, deep drawer that fits a lot.
 
Hope that helps.

Estelle

[tlhdoc]

I use the fridge in the PU and one or two coolers, depending on how long of a trip we are going on.  The PU fridge is just not big enough.