Back Country Food Storage-Bears, Marmmots, and so on

What does everyone do about food storage?

Also included in this would be storage of any fragrant bring-alongs.

I will be driving to some very scenic and secluded areas to camp within the wilderness that is home to many hungry wild animals. I come from a backpacking background so bear canisters and space saving food and snacks have become the norm. I see a lot of people have coolers and refrigerators in their vehicles and I can't wrap my mind around how they store food with vehicle/animal protection.

Are the coolers locked with padlocks and hauled out of camp?

Are the refrigerators unloaded away from tent?

I know there are tons of people who overland and travel with food, cold and unchilled, through all kinds of terrain.

Could somebody please shed some light on this for me? TIA

 

Maybe too late to help you this trip, but I've been using hard sided ice chests for years to store my dry goods in the back of the truck, and the roto molded ice chest of your choice to hold cold stuff, and only time I ever had a problem was when I didn't clean my dishes and properly store everything. I use a RTT and my dog is always with me, and I think that also is a deterrent. Closed lids, tail gate up, clean camp...

 

Keep a clean camp and it's rarely a problem outside of the very popular places like Jellystone where the bears are habituated to people. I've had more issues with trash pandas turning over stuff just being curious than I have with critters actually trying to get into my food. That includes not just food but sweaty items that they may want to lick like motorcycle helmets (guess how I know this one).

For years now I've used Rubbermaid containers for my food (still do) and we all used Coleman or Igloo coolers before the advent of overpriced Gucci coolers. Again, keeping them clean is key. Periodically check the bottoms of storage containers and wipe them out, crumbs inevitably get in the bottom, stuff leaks in the cooler, etc. You can wrap a piece of rope or a strap around them if you're worried about them. I've done a goodly amount of traveling in the US and abroad and never really had any issues that weren't my own fault, i.e. being too lazy to hang a food bag while backpacking or forgetting to wash out something like a cup.

Most folks seem to use plastic (around the world) and have no issues. Front Runner, Mule Expedition and others sell variations of the stackable, plastic South African ammo boxes, (Wolf storage boxes is one labeling). If you're really worried about it you can find lots of variations of metal ammo/medical cans that latch and there are aluminum storage boxes as well although they're typically a more expensive. A budget alternative is to use some of those metal cookie tins like you get Danish Christmas cookies in; you can find them in round and square versions and if you get more than one of the same type they stack. Amazon sells them new in a selection of sizes and styles and the local Goodwill always seems to have some on hand as well.

Lots of ideas here: https://expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/storage-solutions.91/

 

Thank you for the replies! I ended up using a metal sided Coleman held shut with 2 serious ratchet straps. I had no problems however I don't believe any animals came through camp since I also put out a cup as an indicator and it didn't even move.

 

I just welded up some aluminum boxes for dry storage. they lock, so the only thing they don't keep out is water and small insects

at camp I don't keep them in the truck, it all gets cable locked to a tree

the same thing goes for cold storage, only with a cooler