Ozark Trail 73-Quart & 26-Quart High Performance Roto-Molded Coolers - "Real World" Test

Day 7

I was surprised to still find ice this morning...so the test continues.

 

Any chance of scanning and posting the instructions?

 

Of course. When I take the dog out later this morning I'll grab them and post them here.

 

I bought a Yeti Tundra 35. Man I just did not want to spend that kinda money for a cooler,299.00. The build quality is great, we will see how it holds up in the long term. Look at a bunch of other high end brands, but had to pay shipping, this Yeti was a local pickup.Plus the cool factor has got to be worth something. Free sticker,LOL. This has been a great post, Thanks.

 

Can anyone get their hands on a 52qt OZark cooler for me?

 

I doubt seriously this will slow the sales of Yeti coolers. There's something you're not taking into consideration here. Build quality. Yes, the performance is similar and the price is cheaper, but of the three Ozark Trail coolers mentioned here, 2 have had problems. Your 73 with the lid warping in the sun and the Helo Pilot dude's with the handles tearing (without hard or extended use I might add).

These things are unacceptable when you're paying more than $50 for a cooler. I've had a 65 Yeti Tundra for over 5 years. Always sat in the back of my truck. Never covered. Holds ice today like it did when new. Handles, hinges, etc all original and all work as new. That's worth way more than the $ saved buying a cheap one.

What kind of shoes are you wearing? Nikes, Adidas, Reebok, etc? Why? Pro-Keds from the discount store do the same thing, performance wise, and are likely 75% less money.

Why believe the hype? Buy generic foods at the grocery store, put cheap tires on your truck, the list is endless. You can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in your lifetime. Bet you don't do it though.


I got a deal on my Yeti and paid just over $300 after tax for it several years ago. I keep cold drinks in the back of my truck every day, year round. It paid for itself in ice alone a LONG time ago. Like I use one, I'd have had to buy a new Igloo or Coleman cooler every 6 months, so no savings there either.

You don't like Yeti's or think they're overpriced? No problem. Keep in mind it's a working successful business model though. It's not mass hysteria, and clueless buyers aren't in unmilimited supply. If they didn't provide a quality product at a price people consider a good value, they wouldn't sell them.

 

I have no dog in this fight, but for me it comes down to the cost/benefit analysis. For someone like me who is the occasional camper/cooler user, there's no way I can justify spending $500 on a cooler, but I can justify spending $200 on a cooler that's similar and will only see occasional use. It all varies on each person and their needs.

 

Would love to see side by side tests done of these coolers.
Like the test that was done with the tumblers.

 

You make some valid points in your post, however I hope you are not directing your post at me with the "you", "you're", etc. I never said that I don't like Yeti and if somebody wants to drop that kind of cash on one, that's their business. Not everybody uses a "high performance" cooler every day like you do so some people are looking for the performance of a Yeti at a lower price point.

Here's something you should also consider...these coolers are so new to market that unless somebody takes the plunge, buys them, then shares their experiences with them, you wouldn't know how the build quality is of them compared to Yeti. If @ramonortiz55 and myself didn't share the issues we are having, others wouldn't be aware of them to know what to look for...you wouldn't have been able to compare your several year old Yeti that sits in the back of your truck 24/7 to a brand new Walmart Ozark Trail cooler with busted latches after one day or another with a warped lid after sitting in the sun on a 80+ degree day.

I think it's great that you shared your experience with your Yeti here as that is the point of my whole thread. Let's test these fuckers out against the benchmark (Yeti) so everybody who reads this can make an educated decision on which direction they want to go. I just ask that you get off your soapbox and continue to contribute to this thread and refrain from trying to make others feel insignificant or cheap because they're looking for a Yeti alternative.

 

A guy on a Texas Bowhunters forum did a side by side with the Ozark Trail 73 to a similar sized Yeti and Brute Box. He precooled all coolers, filled them with ice only, and only opened them twice a day for photos and comparison. The results were that the Brute Box was in last place, Yeti in second, and Ozark Trail in first with ice still in the cooler. There was some question in the results as both the Brute Box and Yeti were older and used compared to the brand new Ozark Trail so maybe the insulation and/or gaskets were not up to par of a brand new one.

 

And make it real world testing too though. Like you are doing. Open them to get a drink. Don't keep them closed all the time.
I like how you are doing your testing.

We need to get you a Yeti and an RTic to do a little side by side.
May one of the Xtreme Colemans too.

 

@tomwil

 

after seeing that handle, I would loosen the screws up about 1/4 turn so there is less stress on the rubber link so it rotates easier. That should solve that problem.

And I would bet that the handle broke after constant use, it just "popped" open after expanding in the heat...

 

I can assure you, all these brands coming up and claming a piece of the extreme cooler market will definitely slow down Yeti's sales or force Yeti to drop their price.

 

Thanks for the instruction manual pics.

I was hoping to see a parts list, similar to the tent parts mentioned in this manual.

Also appears Ozark Trail is now located in Canada.

If I get this cooler, I would like to be able to purchase additional parts as a backup, especially those T-latches.

 

can you get the brand name on those t latches? Open a latch and look closely, you'll see a manufacturer's name. Maybe that will help @tomwil

 

Great thread OP. I myself could never justify buying a yeti, just plain too rich for my blood. But I've experienced them through friends that own them and I gotta say, I love yeti products. But I could never drop that kind of moolah on a cooler.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to ask my question. WTF is precooling?

 

Precooling is putting ice, usually a block instead of cubes, in the cooler the night before to get the inside of the cooler "precooled" before use.

 

That's gotta be the biggest load of shit I've ever heard. Surely nobody actually does that lol
I guess that's the only way you get 9+ days of the same ice

 

@tomwil