1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Camping Cooler Recomendations

Discussion in 'Outdoors' started by briandock, May 6, 2020.

  1. May 6, 2020 at 10:29 AM
    #1
    briandock

    briandock [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2019
    Member:
    #281775
    Messages:
    115
    Gender:
    Male
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD Sport 4X4 ACLB 6MT
    BFG KO2's. Bilstein 5100's. JBA's.
    I don't have a cooler. But I need on I'm think 45-65 Quarts.

    Are the expensive Yeti's and Yeti copy's really worth all the monies?

    Edit: I'm not interested in a powered unit, I don't have a need for one.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2020
  2. May 6, 2020 at 10:32 AM
    #2
    tcjacado

    tcjacado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195947
    Messages:
    41,610
  3. May 6, 2020 at 10:34 AM
    #3
    briandock

    briandock [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2019
    Member:
    #281775
    Messages:
    115
    Gender:
    Male
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD Sport 4X4 ACLB 6MT
    BFG KO2's. Bilstein 5100's. JBA's.
    tcjacado[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. May 6, 2020 at 10:36 AM
    #4
    tcjacado

    tcjacado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2016
    Member:
    #195947
    Messages:
    41,610
    Then no need to spend the extra dollars, any Coleman or Walmart knock off of the expensive ones will work fine. ;)
     
    Spare Parts and BalutTaco like this.
  5. May 6, 2020 at 10:38 AM
    #5
    medic2230

    medic2230 @Koditten Pirate Radio member #002

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2008
    Member:
    #9942
    Messages:
    63,981
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Murph
    Bama! Roll Tide
    Vehicle:
    2011 Taco 4x4 DCLB 2019 TRD PRO 4runner 2018 RAM 2500 mega cab
    20% Tint, OME 3"complete lift with Dakar's, Light Racing UCA's, 285/75/16 Nitto Terra Grapplers, 10 HP TW sticker, Ultraguage, B.A.M.F. Rock Sliders, MedicFab Bed Rack, Relentless front bumper, Air Flow Snorkel, Ham comms, Tech Deck
    I’ve got a Igloo sportsman in 20qt and 55qt. Both have been great coolers and not had to pay the price of the Yeti’s.

    This is the 55qt I have.

    Igloo Products Sportsman 5 Quart Cooler, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y8ASXN4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-tVSEbNBF4624


    I bought mine at Sam’s and only paid $170 for it.


    I also have the above mentioned fridge. For trips I prefer the fridge. Also since I’ve gotten the fridge the 55qt and been put to use as a fishing cooler on the beach cart. All a matter of what you want to use it for.
     
    tcjacado likes this.
  6. May 6, 2020 at 10:41 AM
    #6
    crackils

    crackils Sith Lord Jar Jar

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2017
    Member:
    #225460
    Messages:
    1,775
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Shane
    Brooksville, FL
    Vehicle:
    2012 TRD DCSB Off-Road - KINGS/5125s AF
    I originally bought a tan Yeti 45 and then found out that RTIC is essentially the same, but for half the cost so I returned the YETI and never looked back. If I had to do it again I'd get the one with wheels.

    IMG_20181011_094933.jpg
     
  7. May 6, 2020 at 6:44 PM
    #7
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    remember to pre-COOL the cooler before using it!! friendly tip!
     
    Shellshock and crackils like this.
  8. May 7, 2020 at 6:05 PM
    #8
    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2010
    Member:
    #47503
    Messages:
    1,878
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    05 TRD Off-Road, SR5, 6 speed
    Precool or freeze the items going in it and also use block ice or dry ice when possible. In answer to your question, no, Yeti are not worth the money, they're selling a lifestyle and name. There are other brands that work nearly or as well for less money and there are lots of webpages and youtube videos with demonstrations. In my experience, most people who buy them could easily get by with a plain Igloo and proper cooler usage and save themselves a ton of money.

    If you're going to be going for multi-day trips then a fridge starts making a lot more sense than an expensive cooler. Cleaner, no worrying about ice, no ice taking up interior space, etc. Both have their place.
     
  9. May 7, 2020 at 6:07 PM
    #9
    BalutTaco

    BalutTaco Moja_Przygoda

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2019
    Member:
    #288885
    Messages:
    3,324
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 Cement Limo Trail Edition -> 2022 Magnetic Grey OR
    Bird nest engine bay.
    Those damn rotomolded coolers are damn heavy! break yah Back!!
     
  10. May 7, 2020 at 6:07 PM
    #10
    ZekeR7

    ZekeR7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2018
    Member:
    #241779
    Messages:
    1,280
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD Off-Road 4x4 Quicksand
    I bought RTIC after a lot of YouTube videos of comparing/testing coolers with Yetis. Pretty much, the majority of the mid-price point is pretty close if not the same performance as the high priced Yeti.
     
  11. May 7, 2020 at 6:08 PM
    #11
    Rebelrouser

    Rebelrouser Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2018
    Member:
    #258175
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2018 Magnetic Gray SR 2.7l 4cyl
    If you were in the 25qt range I’d recommend this bad boy

    494B3B00-9921-438E-A81B-15FC12421005.jpg
     
    BalutTaco likes this.
  12. May 7, 2020 at 6:12 PM
    #12
    saundern

    saundern Swerve for nothing

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2009
    Member:
    #27342
    Messages:
    6,861
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nick
    Simpsonville, SC
    Vehicle:
    2005 TRD Sport
    We’ve got a Rtic 65 (I’ve added wheels) and it’s awesome! I stand by Rtic since they are essentially a Yeti at more than half the price; as well as Rtic’s stance on the 2nd amendment. Anyway, I recently got rid of my Yeti 45 and preordered the new Rtic 52. They’re saying it weighs 20lbs empty, which was basically the same as the Yeti 45 when it was empty.
    But basically when it comes down to it, it’s all about cooler prep. You start icing the cooler down, at minimum, 24 hours before using it, and you’ll get the 8-10 days of ice retention as advertised.
     
  13. May 7, 2020 at 6:27 PM
    #13
    C-Rok275

    C-Rok275 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2018
    Member:
    #277278
    Messages:
    642
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD Pro
    Google “DIY Yeti”
     
  14. May 7, 2020 at 6:38 PM
    #14
    Franky86

    Franky86 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2019
    Member:
    #289441
    Messages:
    175
    Gender:
    Male
    Sac
    Vehicle:
    2019 OR
  15. May 7, 2020 at 8:52 PM
    #15
    aficianado

    aficianado Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2009
    Member:
    #25015
    Messages:
    8,097
    Gender:
    Male
    bay area, california
    Vehicle:
    2006 access cab. 4x4, TRD-OR + 2023 TRD off-road.
    back to bone stock.

    Thanks for the RTIC 52 heads up. I’ve been waiting to meet a friend and check out that one at Sams club. But the 52 looks like a viable option. nice.
     
    saundern[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. May 7, 2020 at 8:55 PM
    #16
    Kyitty

    Kyitty Mr. Beard

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2015
    Member:
    #149179
    Messages:
    9,586
    Gender:
    Male
    Bozeman, MT
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma DCLB Better Than TRD
    See Build Page
    I own a Yeti. It was given to me. Cost me $0.00.

    I would never pay for one. They are not what they're cracked up to be. LOL If you want one buy one of the 30 off-brands for 1/3 the money.

    Or get yourself a Dometic fridge instead.
     
  17. May 8, 2020 at 8:10 PM
    #17
    dripcoffee

    dripcoffee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2018
    Member:
    #262303
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    TRD Off-Road
    When you use dry ice, do you leave the lid slightly cracked to avoid pressure buildup of the C02?
     
  18. May 8, 2020 at 8:21 PM
    #18
    Rexfordian13

    Rexfordian13 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2014
    Member:
    #143761
    Messages:
    1,492
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    J
    Albany/NY Capital District
    Vehicle:
    2015 TRD Sport DCSB MT
  19. May 9, 2020 at 1:40 PM
    #19
    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2010
    Member:
    #47503
    Messages:
    1,878
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    05 TRD Off-Road, SR5, 6 speed
    I've always cracked the drain open a hair just out of habit but I don't think it would be an issue. At one of the companies I used to work for we might have shipped frozen fish packed with dry ice (samples for radioisotope testing) and we'd tape the coolers completely shut so they wouldn't leak anything. Dry ice is considered hazardous and shipping costs are higher. Good thing we never did that or have any issues.

    Usually when you buy it, it'll be wrapped in paper. Wrap it with old newspaper or something like that to further insulate it and make sure that you don't handle it with bare skin. You can also wrap whatever frozen items in newspaper or other insulating material to help keep them frozen longer as well as keeping them from contacting the dry ice if you happen to break it up (you don't want freezer burned steaks!).

    Around here most of us will freeze a half gallon milk jug or two and use that as ice blocks. Added bonus is you have cold water to drink as it thaws. Minimize openings as much as possible, put the items you will be using first on top, etc. Keeping the cooler out of the sun and adding additional insulation can help, especially if you have something like a center console where the cooler is also the front seat. I made a cover out of Reflectix when I had my boat and it seamed to help a bit although I never really had an issue with a single day on the lake or ocean.
     
  20. May 9, 2020 at 2:29 PM
    #20
    dripcoffee

    dripcoffee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2018
    Member:
    #262303
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    TRD Off-Road
    Thanks for the insights, those are good tips.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top