Just wondering what everyone does for cool boxes?
If you are going for 4-5 days through the summer and you want cool drinks, chilled food, milk etc what is your preferred solution?
I've had a little cool bag, and beyond 1-2 days in really hot weather it's not much use for me anyway.
I'm currently considering a Dometic ACX 40G cool box which runs off standard gas cannisters, not cheap I know but seems easily capable of doing a week on 5-6 cannisters.
If you are going for 4-5 days through the summer and you want cool drinks, chilled food, milk etc what is your preferred solution?
I've had a little cool bag, and beyond 1-2 days in really hot weather it's not much use for me anyway.
I'm currently considering a Dometic ACX 40G cool box which runs off standard gas cannisters, not cheap I know but seems easily capable of doing a week on 5-6 cannisters.
In reply to Post #1
Coleman xtreme.
Coleman xtreme.
In reply to Post #1
Igloo Maxcold, keeps ice for upto 5 days.
Daz
Igloo Maxcold, keeps ice for upto 5 days.
Daz
In reply to Post #3
7 if packed properly!
7 if packed properly!
I have the Coleman below which is good for a few days easily but apparently the best are the Icey Tek but at a price of course
Coleman 26l
Icey Tek 25l
Coleman 26l
Icey Tek 25l
I've got the Coleman and the iceyteck
Coleman nice but even with the lid fully closed ants were still able to enter so not fully sealed resulting in the ice bottles only lasting 48hrs max
Iceytek sealed completely resulting on the frozen ice bottles still frozen after 5 days,expensive yes but worth every penny in my eyes 👍👍
Coleman nice but even with the lid fully closed ants were still able to enter so not fully sealed resulting in the ice bottles only lasting 48hrs max
Iceytek sealed completely resulting on the frozen ice bottles still frozen after 5 days,expensive yes but worth every penny in my eyes 👍👍
In reply to Post #1
Thanks gents there's some interesting ones there to have a look at and a bit cheaper than the dometic I've been thinking about
Thanks gents there's some interesting ones there to have a look at and a bit cheaper than the dometic I've been thinking about
In reply to Post #3
same here igloo max cold ,made a shelf for the bottom out of 400mm soffit board and some kitchen cabinet ajustable legs,then drilled loads of 2mm holes all over it so the water can drain away ,if you want to use ice cubes,the water drains through into the void at the bottom,saved a few quid .my mates got an igloo paid 450 for it sick as aparrot.could have got mine for 59.99. filled/packed right i get 5 days of cold milk for some frosties in the summer.,plus keeps everything nice and chilled,i was lucky with mine.
same here igloo max cold ,made a shelf for the bottom out of 400mm soffit board and some kitchen cabinet ajustable legs,then drilled loads of 2mm holes all over it so the water can drain away ,if you want to use ice cubes,the water drains through into the void at the bottom,saved a few quid .my mates got an igloo paid 450 for it sick as aparrot.could have got mine for 59.99. filled/packed right i get 5 days of cold milk for some frosties in the summer.,plus keeps everything nice and chilled,i was lucky with mine.
In reply to Post #1
Igloo with wheels for me. Used properly will last five days easy in summer
Igloo with wheels for me. Used properly will last five days easy in summer
In reply to Post #9
Wow never knew cool boxes were so expensive!
Wow never knew cool boxes were so expensive!
In reply to Post #9
What effect does the opening a standard cool box say half a dozen times a day for say 2,3 days do to the internal temperature of these boxes?
I appreciate they are either stuffed with ice or cool blocks, but do you not find the repeated opening and closing
to have a detrimental effect?
What effect does the opening a standard cool box say half a dozen times a day for say 2,3 days do to the internal temperature of these boxes?
I appreciate they are either stuffed with ice or cool blocks, but do you not find the repeated opening and closing
to have a detrimental effect?
In reply to Post #11
Of course it will.on long trips I take a smaller igloo box, 20ish l, and each morning get what I want out of the big one for that day and then that stays shut until the next day, and I've got that days bits to hand
Of course it will.on long trips I take a smaller igloo box, 20ish l, and each morning get what I want out of the big one for that day and then that stays shut until the next day, and I've got that days bits to hand
In reply to Post #12
I do the same, keep the coolbox in my van in the shade and each day just go back and get that days food/beers
I do the same, keep the coolbox in my van in the shade and each day just go back and get that days food/beers
In reply to Post #12
I get that, but say you have a few beers in there and by midday when it's warm you fancy a few so you are in and out, in and out etc then it's almost certainly going to raise the temperature in there, and that is the problem.
Potentially I would like to be able to go in to it in the morning, midday (more than a few times for meal, drinks etc) then evening and it to remain as chilled as though it has not been opened.
Can you achieve this from a non-powered cool box?
I get that, but say you have a few beers in there and by midday when it's warm you fancy a few so you are in and out, in and out etc then it's almost certainly going to raise the temperature in there, and that is the problem.
Potentially I would like to be able to go in to it in the morning, midday (more than a few times for meal, drinks etc) then evening and it to remain as chilled as though it has not been opened.
Can you achieve this from a non-powered cool box?
In reply to Post #14
If you can get ice regularly or a replen on the ice blocks otherwise you will reduce it's effectiveness.
Daz
If you can get ice regularly or a replen on the ice blocks otherwise you will reduce it's effectiveness.
Daz
Or put the beers in the waters edge
So get all the bits you need out at say mid morning. Beers breakfast etc then not again. Defeats the object of a cool box of your drinking warm beer at 7pm because you don't want to open it again
I have always found the ice blocks to be pretty rubbish, much prefer frozen bottles of water or bags of ice emptied in, the latter especially if you have a box with a drain hole at the bottom
In reply to Post #14
Then just take a few out. It's really not difficult. I was over In France whether last year, I. 40 degree heat, and had fresh food and cold beer all week by using my method . Repeatedly opening and shutting is what causes temp rising so the less often you do it th better
Then just take a few out. It's really not difficult. I was over In France whether last year, I. 40 degree heat, and had fresh food and cold beer all week by using my method . Repeatedly opening and shutting is what causes temp rising so the less often you do it th better
In reply to Post #1
I have the Icey-Tek 55l, replaced the Coleman Extreme.
Pricey but quality bit of kit.
Anything over 3/4 days i use DOMETIC CombiCool RC 2200
I have the Icey-Tek 55l, replaced the Coleman Extreme.
Pricey but quality bit of kit.
Anything over 3/4 days i use DOMETIC CombiCool RC 2200
In reply to Post #14
What you are after I'd say isn't possible with a non powered coolbox. Might be ok going into it a dozen times a day for a couple days but come the end of the week I think you'd notice the difference
What you are after I'd say isn't possible with a non powered coolbox. Might be ok going into it a dozen times a day for a couple days but come the end of the week I think you'd notice the difference
In reply to Post #20
I think I'd want the convenience of a fridge but with the portability of a cool box hence why I was looking at the Dometic ACX 40G which works on small gas cannisters -
May use something like this for longer 4-5 day sessions and the more traditional cool box for shorter trips.
Cheers guys.
I think I'd want the convenience of a fridge but with the portability of a cool box hence why I was looking at the Dometic ACX 40G which works on small gas cannisters -
May use something like this for longer 4-5 day sessions and the more traditional cool box for shorter trips.
Cheers guys.
In reply to Post #22
Waste of money but it's your money so good luck to you chap
Waste of money but it's your money so good luck to you chap
In reply to Post #22
I've got a similar Dometic 3 in 1 fridge. They ain't to great but not to bad. Just make sure you get it chilled down on the 24v before you put the gas on. It struggles to get a slight chill just off the gas alone
I've got a similar Dometic 3 in 1 fridge. They ain't to great but not to bad. Just make sure you get it chilled down on the 24v before you put the gas on. It struggles to get a slight chill just off the gas alone
Got a 600 litre one in back yard.
In reply to Post #1
We had one of those three way Fridges that ran off LPG when we went camping. Brilliant piece of kit. I ran it off Propane and it even froze some Sausages we put in there. A bulky item, and you need a LPG bottle, but it may be worth looking at one of them.
We had one of those three way Fridges that ran off LPG when we went camping. Brilliant piece of kit. I ran it off Propane and it even froze some Sausages we put in there. A bulky item, and you need a LPG bottle, but it may be worth looking at one of them.
In reply to Post #26
The ACX 40G runs off small camping gas cannisters the size that you put in some portable camping stoves and one of those lasts about 24 hours. I think it's 500mm square. Looks ideal to me, 48 litres of space and makes it's own ice cubes lol - admittedly not the cheapest bit of kit about.
The ACX 40G runs off small camping gas cannisters the size that you put in some portable camping stoves and one of those lasts about 24 hours. I think it's 500mm square. Looks ideal to me, 48 litres of space and makes it's own ice cubes lol - admittedly not the cheapest bit of kit about.
In reply to Post #27
IMO I would want the gas bottle version as if you wanted a fortnight in France you would need a box of tins ? I used a Electrolux 3 way for years
with all these 3 way fridge boxes you have to read the specs carefully the best will be 30°C below the ambient temperature.
but lots are only 20°C below the ambient temperature or 25°C below the ambient temperature. these really struggle in high temps
the other thing when on gas its VITAL that its dead level or it wont work properly I used to carry a spirit .level
this was bought home to me when I was fishing and a guy was saying his brand new 3 way wasnt getting cold enough ?
I looked it was tilted to one side I got my level shoved some rocks under it that night his sausages froze lol
when on a long trip I used to buy a 15kg propane bottle from the local supermarket cheap as chips ( you only need to buy the regulator once easy to swap over ) and then it was only a 1 euro deposit on the bottles so just gave it away to a local when I went home it was my cooking and fridge never run out
LOCALLY for 3 or 4 nights you cant beat a quality Coolbox I used a Coleman extreme brilliant worked superbly couple of 1.5l water bottles frozen works better than crappy freezer blocks
have used one in France for 10 days just every 3 rd day bought a couple of bags of ice from the supermarket when doing a food run
IMO I would want the gas bottle version as if you wanted a fortnight in France you would need a box of tins ? I used a Electrolux 3 way for years
with all these 3 way fridge boxes you have to read the specs carefully the best will be 30°C below the ambient temperature.
but lots are only 20°C below the ambient temperature or 25°C below the ambient temperature. these really struggle in high temps
the other thing when on gas its VITAL that its dead level or it wont work properly I used to carry a spirit .level
this was bought home to me when I was fishing and a guy was saying his brand new 3 way wasnt getting cold enough ?
I looked it was tilted to one side I got my level shoved some rocks under it that night his sausages froze lol
when on a long trip I used to buy a 15kg propane bottle from the local supermarket cheap as chips ( you only need to buy the regulator once easy to swap over ) and then it was only a 1 euro deposit on the bottles so just gave it away to a local when I went home it was my cooking and fridge never run out
LOCALLY for 3 or 4 nights you cant beat a quality Coolbox I used a Coleman extreme brilliant worked superbly couple of 1.5l water bottles frozen works better than crappy freezer blocks
have used one in France for 10 days just every 3 rd day bought a couple of bags of ice from the supermarket when doing a food run
In reply to Post #28
Thanks Gerry,
Some really useful points there.
The Dometic ACX 40G does in fairness get some very good reviews on small gas cannisters working in baking heat. You're definitely right about the need to keep it level, and I should confess to having a spirit level as part of my gear so I may need to find some bits to pack it out level underneath.
I'm not so bothered about carrying a bag of gas cannisters, if its 7 days its 7 cans, I don't think I have ever done more than a week long session in the UK or overseas - the joys of being a parent to three young kids.
Based on the reviews here I am going to buy something like a Coleman Extreme for shorter sessions, the problem has been that to date I have only used a small NGT insulated cool bag and I remember last year and years before sitting there picking up warm bottles of beer 24 hours into a 48 hour session.
I wanted to thank you too by the way, I recently was in the market for a Spod Station, and noticed that apart from the bucket strap you mentioned, you also highlighted the Nash Spod Station on a previous thread with a link to the video. I ended up buying that as it was a great bit of kit.
Much appreciated
Thanks Gerry,
Some really useful points there.
The Dometic ACX 40G does in fairness get some very good reviews on small gas cannisters working in baking heat. You're definitely right about the need to keep it level, and I should confess to having a spirit level as part of my gear so I may need to find some bits to pack it out level underneath.
I'm not so bothered about carrying a bag of gas cannisters, if its 7 days its 7 cans, I don't think I have ever done more than a week long session in the UK or overseas - the joys of being a parent to three young kids.
Based on the reviews here I am going to buy something like a Coleman Extreme for shorter sessions, the problem has been that to date I have only used a small NGT insulated cool bag and I remember last year and years before sitting there picking up warm bottles of beer 24 hours into a 48 hour session.
I wanted to thank you too by the way, I recently was in the market for a Spod Station, and noticed that apart from the bucket strap you mentioned, you also highlighted the Nash Spod Station on a previous thread with a link to the video. I ended up buying that as it was a great bit of kit.
Much appreciated
In reply to Post #29
Happy to help mate thats why I love this forum people helping one another
but you have to be careful some people will recommend something that they use and have only ever used that make !!
I ty to only recommend stuff that I have used lots of versions of
for instance bed chair covers I have owned and used two different trakker`s , JRC, Chub, Nash ,Fox Aqua AND IMHO the DADDY The Gardner
Happy to help mate thats why I love this forum people helping one another
but you have to be careful some people will recommend something that they use and have only ever used that make !!
I ty to only recommend stuff that I have used lots of versions of
for instance bed chair covers I have owned and used two different trakker`s , JRC, Chub, Nash ,Fox Aqua AND IMHO the DADDY The Gardner
In reply to Post #30
Really grateful Gerry, I do tend to read back through old posts on here and you always make a really positive contribution. On the whole it's an extremely helpful forum I agree, and it's very nice to see a good level of input from everyone involved.
You know I'm now going to be looking for a bed chair cover
Really grateful Gerry, I do tend to read back through old posts on here and you always make a really positive contribution. On the whole it's an extremely helpful forum I agree, and it's very nice to see a good level of input from everyone involved.
You know I'm now going to be looking for a bed chair cover
In reply to Post #31
An other possibility Alli expess I think it is
do a converter hose to enable you to run a gas bottle should you ever need to
An other possibility Alli expess I think it is
do a converter hose to enable you to run a gas bottle should you ever need to
In reply to Post #32
Thanks Gerry, I don't suppose you have a link by any chance?
Thanks Gerry, I don't suppose you have a link by any chance?
In reply to Post #33
Not at moment I am back in Hospital hopefully be back home tomorrow as Its safer fot me with my chemo I have no immunity system and can check my emails and let you know👍
Not at moment I am back in Hospital hopefully be back home tomorrow as Its safer fot me with my chemo I have no immunity system and can check my emails and let you know👍
In reply to Post #34
No rush at all, get well soon, all the best mate.
No rush at all, get well soon, all the best mate.
In reply to Post #35
When looking at them also worth considering the weight and bulkyness. Having used numerous cheap cool boxes I bought an icey tek last year. Keeps everything super cold for long periods, but is very heavy and bulky.
When looking at them also worth considering the weight and bulkyness. Having used numerous cheap cool boxes I bought an icey tek last year. Keeps everything super cold for long periods, but is very heavy and bulky.
In reply to Post #36
Very true, I keep looking at 'proper' cool boxes but they all seem too big for me, so I lined the inside of a cheap one with 12mm Kingspan, more than doubled the time it'll keep stuff frozen.
Very true, I keep looking at 'proper' cool boxes but they all seem too big for me, so I lined the inside of a cheap one with 12mm Kingspan, more than doubled the time it'll keep stuff frozen.
In reply to Post #37
Has anyone used the soft cool-box's such as yeti or the korda, as these look lighter and less bulky.
Has anyone used the soft cool-box's such as yeti or the korda, as these look lighter and less bulky.
In reply to Post #38
Cool bags are nowhere near as efficient as solid cool boxes
Cool bags are nowhere near as efficient as solid cool boxes
Any technically minded chaps out there. Trying to work out if I can use a leisure battery to power an electric cool box. The numbers I have come up with are thusly.
Using a 12 volt DC supply from a battery with a required power
Input of 47W I come up with an ampage of 3.9A. So running the unit for 1 hour will need 3.9 Ah and running it for 24 hours will require 93.6Ah.
Please tell me I'm completely wrong as it seems a lot of power for a small electric motor. Way out of my depth here.
Using a 12 volt DC supply from a battery with a required power
Input of 47W I come up with an ampage of 3.9A. So running the unit for 1 hour will need 3.9 Ah and running it for 24 hours will require 93.6Ah.
Please tell me I'm completely wrong as it seems a lot of power for a small electric motor. Way out of my depth here.
In reply to Post #40
No idea about the numbers but a mate used to run his from a leisure battery, but it didnt last long at all. The box was only a cheapy thing from Halfords and wasn't very good either
No idea about the numbers but a mate used to run his from a leisure battery, but it didnt last long at all. The box was only a cheapy thing from Halfords and wasn't very good either
In reply to Post #40
Alas your calculations are right. Leisure batteries are no good, better off with a decent coolbox tbh.
There is a good thread below
https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=6&TopicID=195933
Alas your calculations are right. Leisure batteries are no good, better off with a decent coolbox tbh.
There is a good thread below
https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=6&TopicID=195933
In reply to Post #41
Yes. It's not looking promising. Will probably have to stick with the Iceytec. Maybe a combination of both for longer sessions which I finally have the opportunity to do.
Yes. It's not looking promising. Will probably have to stick with the Iceytec. Maybe a combination of both for longer sessions which I finally have the opportunity to do.
In reply to Post #42
Many thanks mate, I feared it was so. Will stick with my Iceytec.
Many thanks mate, I feared it was so. Will stick with my Iceytec.
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