Yeti Cooler / ARB Fridge Experience

[kboxvegas]

I have always just used a simple Coleman 5 day cooler. Ditch the ice and freeze 16.9oz water bottles, it works great and takes up far less space. Not to mention you don't have to worry about water getting into food bags and contaminating everything. I will freeze 15 or so and they keep it cold for around 3 days. If I am camping for more than 3 days, get some dry ice, wrap it in a towel and layer frozen bottles over it. Last year we camped in Utah for 5 days and the water bottles were still frozen when we got home. Most Smiths/Kroger/frys grocery stores sell dry ice near the checkout lanes. I would not use dry ice with a Yeti or any other airtight cooler that latches closed though.

 

[Antman]

Another vote for stretching to get the ARB. As someone already said once you get one of these things you will never go back!

No doubt^^^^^^.

I haven't had mine too long but it has been incredibly useful. I love it!

 

[jicko]

Any thoughts or experiences are appreciated.

ARB Fridge!

PM me, I have a source that can get you one of those 50qt for $700.

No need to repenlish ice anymore. Not the easiest to find dry ice in odd hours and remote locations.

Consider the expense of a dual battery and isolation if you choose the ARB. I love my ARB.

Not necessary. It will be better, but not necessary. You can potentially just upgrade your battery to something like a 31M marine deep cycle battery. I always keep a backup portable jump starter: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RZXVQSU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00RZXVQSU&linkCode=as2&tag=jickrevi-20&linkId=WHCJB37Q3QZABX7I">Stanley J7CS 350 Amp Battery Jump Starter with Compressor</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jickrevi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00RZXVQSU" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

 

[Antman]

ARB Fridge!

PM me, I have a source that can get you one of those 50qt for $700.

No need to repenlish ice anymore. Not the easiest to find dry ice in odd hours and remote locations.

I got mine for quite a bit less than that with free shipping at Autoanything when they had a 30% off sale. Cheapest I could find...

 

[Honu*]

tons of info on power here
Power Systems: 12v, Solar, Gen. - Expedition Portal

hope that is OK to link to ?

anyway ditto solar but also a great setup that is easy to work with can give you days of power is the ArkPak
google it also go to that expo link and quite a few write ups on the arkpak and homemade ones there

arkpak and solar panel you are set IMHO
then get a inexpensive solenoid setup to do your own dual battery and use connectors like anderson plugs to pop in and out so your can can also charge it
this way you can start with the pak and the battery and then build on that maybe ?

one upside to the battery you can remove as in the ark pak stuff is portability use in home if your power goes out etc...

 

[kinnakeettom]

Frigid Rigid on my boat and in the runner not cheap but they have been around the longest...

 

[firepilot]

Well I'm game to try the ARB Fridge I believe. The savings in restaurant food, and not throwing stuff away that is soggy sounds great. Probably not to bad to wire both cars up with a fused 12v hot in the back. Both rigs already have the outlets.

The idea of a solar panel to keep it all topped off works great. Sunshine is something we will have plenty of.

The company pays a daily perdiem, less than 20 days covers the cooler.

Now to find a good deal on one....

Thanks for all the ideas

Phil

 

[Haydenatx]

I have always just used a simple Coleman 5 day cooler. Ditch the ice and freeze 16.9oz water bottles, it works great and takes up far less space. Not to mention you don't have to worry about water getting into food bags and contaminating everything. I will freeze 15 or so and they keep it cold for around 3 days. If I am camping for more than 3 days, get some dry ice, wrap it in a towel and layer frozen bottles over it. Last year we camped in Utah for 5 days and the water bottles were still frozen when we got home. Most Smiths/Kroger/frys grocery stores sell dry ice near the checkout lanes. I would not use dry ice with a Yeti or any other airtight cooler that latches closed though.

YETI tundras have a one way gasket that allows for sublimating gases to escape. They were designed specifically for dry ice compatibility. Trust me

 

[Titanpat57]

No doubt^^^^^^.

I haven't had mine too long but it has been incredibly useful. I love it!

View attachment 157141

Fin poser...



I have had my Engel 45 for about 5 years...turns on in April and shuts off in November.

Just pulled the trigger on this, came the other day and is hooked up in the truck....once you always have ice cold water, seltzer, fruit, etc....it's tough to turn back.

Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size, Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030G7Y64/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_H6wuvb193J162

 

[Haydenatx]

I may be biased but I owned a tundra 65 three years before I worked for YETI... I regularly get 7 days out of my tundra 65. Throw some YETI ice or dry ice in the bottom and you can get over a week. The smaller the cooler the shorter the ice retention so you'll want to stay 50 or bigger for those kinds of results.

 

[Intruder]

I have a Yeti Tundra and an ARB fridge. Haven't used the Yeti since I got the fridge. Don't have to condition the fridge ahead of time like you do the cooler so it's always ready to go. In the summer I can even toss my cold groceries in the fridge so I don't have to worry about melted ice cream by the time I get home. There's always a couple water bottles and beers keeping cold in the fridge because you never know...

 

[jrandom]

There's always a couple beers keeping cold in the fridge because you never know...

Don't you call those tipsy pops or something similarly amusing?

 

[Intruder]

Don't you call those tipsy pops or something similarly amusing?

Wobbly pops.

 

[Dirty Brigade]

I use a 65qt pelican elite and love it. I've only taken a few trips with it but it performs well. I'm thinking of upgrading to the 80qt wheeled elite in the future so I can lug it around easier.

 

[Osmith]

Yeti 65 and a yeti roadie for me. No complaints and lots of happy faces. My family uses them for everything over the summer. Like many have said about the yetis. Yeti also makes a divider to divide the cooler in half. Works well and allows dry food to stay cold on the other side without hearing about it getting soggy be the slightest bit of ice melted.

FYI just don't let the wife pull up the divider with ice in the cooler

 

[Antman]

fin poser...

dick. op2:

 

[CSix]

I found this brand "Indel-B" a while back. I to may get an ARB but this has some good reviews, and is less $$$.

Indel B Portable Fridges | Equipt Expedition Outfitters

 

[Code2]

My drive cycle is drive one day 200-450 miles, then for two days about 10-20 miles in the am sit all day, then 10-20 in the evening. The two days I am at the base its to and from lodging. Then I have a travel day and it repeats. I do this for three bases have a few days off and repeat. I guess it would only be powered while driving or until it cuts off to low voltage. I could carry a jump pack to back up the battery until I see how it works out. Dual Battery in a GTI sounds like a project. There may be places to plug the fridge in at base but in and out all the time sounds like a pain.

If I get a fridge it looks like I would have to do a dual Battery for both rigs. In the early season I would typically drive my FJ and now the 4Runner. I can fish and explore between bases, because fire activity is typically slow. Later in the season I drive the GTI because its just about getting to the job and sometimes chasing the ship down if it gets dispatched somewhere else. Also 30-32 mpg is hard to beat and the GTI in the mountains is a blast to drive!

I do hate to be at the mercy of eating out all the time. I try to always have sandwich stuff, some meat/chicken cooked up for eating. Cold drinks are nice as well. I don't like the water and constantly buying ice. Granted at the bases I do go to they have Ice machines that work most of the time.

Still have a month to get it together just trying to plan early.

Thanks

Phil

HI phil

Im going to be the bad evil misfit here

No offense but you are given great advice and you retract back with excuses. get a cooler and deal with changing ice and water all the time and stuff melting

or spend the few hundred dollars and some elbow grease one time and get a dual battery and fridge and solve the problem. pay once cry once.

Its seems like there is a excuse for everything to much of a pain carrying something or i don't like the water blah blah. Either direction you go there is going to be pros and cons, now how many of each there are depends on what your needs are and aren't and what you think you can handle and can't handle

Run the fridge till its low voltage big deal start the car for 30 mins to charge the second battery up. Not only are you getting the power for the fridge but i think it would be a good thing in podunk to have a alternative source to jump yourself in case your main battery decides its time to move on to the grave yard.

sometimes the easiest why isn't the best way.

like i said no offense not trying to attack you just giving you little jump start

 

[chmura]

I have seen a fair amount of people running a ARB fridge with a single upgraded battery with no problems.

This is my method of choice to try out.

 

[firepilot]

Guess I need to update the thread. I bought a ARB Fridge last week. It was delivered Tuesday. Going to wire up a fused hot lead for starters this weekend.

If a dumb ole guy in podunk can figure it out.

Thanks for all the helpful posts and advice.

Phil