WHAT SAY YOU ON COOLERS?

I’ve been happy with my Orca coolers, I have 2. As far as ice retention, I can’t say that they’re all that much better than the Igloo “extreme “ I had before, but they are much more durable and well made and have nice features, latching lid, soft handles, soft pouch on the back(nice to throw koozies in). Also claim to be made in USA. 

 
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I have an RTIC and it works great. 
 

But IMHO rotomolded coolers are over rated. Cost is stupid high and once loaded to heavy to move. 
 

if your opening the cooler all day just buy a cheap cooler. 
The high end coolers are for long term storage. 

 
i have a few coolers from a small soft side to a huge coleman marine cooler, to a few cheap ones, but the best one all around is the  lifetime cooler.. made in Utah.

 
https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Refrigerator-Portable-Freezer-Compressor/dp/B088FF4R3Y/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YHBJ4E1MLISJ&keywords=astro%2B12v%2Bfridge&qid=1638214147&qsid=133-1164070-8671614&sprefix=astro%2B12v%2B%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-2&sres=B088FF4R3Y%2CB088FDTTY4%2CB07S2RBCT5%2CB0813V8HFH%2CB081Z4XDQL%2CB07KZLJ7PB%2CB08P4TC5XV%2CB089GJ975H%2CB0771S9XT8%2CB08D96GJJL%2CB08S3FF5GH%2CB08GS9ZLQ9%2CB07L43W4MF%2CB08G1BBBQW%2CB0811NJYYV%2CB08BJT3LYP%2CB0832WZ8K8%2CB07Y8TXQHD%2CB096RQ24HJ%2CB08YP857WR&srpt=REFRIGERATOR&th=1

I've been using on of these for a number of reasons for 6 months now.  It's been through a lot of chit (including a mad dash with lots of airtime in the Jeep down 15 miles of fire road when my daughter had an emergency at 2AM while camping) without breaking a sweat.  Will last on a standard Jeep size AGM for 2 days without even putting a noticeable dent in cranking speed when starting.  No more wet food, buying $20 ice, etc.  110VAC and 12VDC adapters included.

Couple of learning points:

1. Plug it in with the battery off and compare the voltage on the screen to actual voltage on the battery to determine protection levels.  The "High" protection turns off at 12VDC at the fridge, which by the time it makes it through 15' of Chrysler wiring is pretty much any time the engine is turned off.  "Medium" seems to work just fine for us.

2. Set the temp to 5-10* below what you want since the sensor is in the walls, which are colder than the air in the fridge.  Mine is usually set to 27*F to make for 33*F fridge temps.  Beware that any liquid containers directly touching the walls will eventually freeze after a day or so.

3. 58 quarts is almost like a 100 quart cooler since you won't have half the interior taken up by ice.

 
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My RTIC's have been a great investment. The new RTIC 52 Qt. Lite works really well and the weight makes it a one man show for loading and unloading. The YETI's are cool and really nice....but why spend double!! 

 
Rockwood said:
https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Refrigerator-Portable-Freezer-Compressor/dp/B088FF4R3Y/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YHBJ4E1MLISJ&keywords=astro%2B12v%2Bfridge&qid=1638214147&qsid=133-1164070-8671614&sprefix=astro%2B12v%2B%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-2&sres=B088FF4R3Y%2CB088FDTTY4%2CB07S2RBCT5%2CB0813V8HFH%2CB081Z4XDQL%2CB07KZLJ7PB%2CB08P4TC5XV%2CB089GJ975H%2CB0771S9XT8%2CB08D96GJJL%2CB08S3FF5GH%2CB08GS9ZLQ9%2CB07L43W4MF%2CB08G1BBBQW%2CB0811NJYYV%2CB08BJT3LYP%2CB0832WZ8K8%2CB07Y8TXQHD%2CB096RQ24HJ%2CB08YP857WR&srpt=REFRIGERATOR&th=1

I've been using on of these for a number of reasons for 6 months now.  It's been through a lot of chit (including a mad dash with lots of airtime in the Jeep down 15 miles of fire road when my daughter had an emergency at 2AM while camping) without breaking a sweat.  Will last on a standard Jeep size AGM for 2 days without even putting a noticeable dent in cranking speed when starting.  No more wet food, buying $20 ice, etc.  110VAC and 12VDC adapters included.

Couple of learning points:

1. Plug it in with the battery off and compare the voltage on the screen to actual voltage on the battery to determine protection levels.  The "High" protection turns off at 12VDC at the fridge, which by the time it makes it through 15' of Chrysler wiring is pretty much any time the engine is turned off.  "Medium" seems to work just fine for us.

2. Set the temp to 5-10* below what you want since the sensor is in the walls, which are colder than the air in the fridge.  Mine is usually set to 27*F to make for 33*F fridge temps.  Beware that any liquid containers directly touching the walls will eventually freeze after a day or so.

3. 58 quarts is almost like a 100 quart cooler since you won't have half the interior taken up by ice.
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That one looks nice and priced below $300 if a Prime Member. :thumb:

 
Rockwood said:
https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Refrigerator-Portable-Freezer-Compressor/dp/B088FF4R3Y/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YHBJ4E1MLISJ&keywords=astro%2B12v%2Bfridge&qid=1638214147&qsid=133-1164070-8671614&sprefix=astro%2B12v%2B%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-2&sres=B088FF4R3Y%2CB088FDTTY4%2CB07S2RBCT5%2CB0813V8HFH%2CB081Z4XDQL%2CB07KZLJ7PB%2CB08P4TC5XV%2CB089GJ975H%2CB0771S9XT8%2CB08D96GJJL%2CB08S3FF5GH%2CB08GS9ZLQ9%2CB07L43W4MF%2CB08G1BBBQW%2CB0811NJYYV%2CB08BJT3LYP%2CB0832WZ8K8%2CB07Y8TXQHD%2CB096RQ24HJ%2CB08YP857WR&srpt=REFRIGERATOR&th=1

I've been using on of these for a number of reasons for 6 months now.  It's been through a lot of chit (including a mad dash with lots of airtime in the Jeep down 15 miles of fire road when my daughter had an emergency at 2AM while camping) without breaking a sweat.  Will last on a standard Jeep size AGM for 2 days without even putting a noticeable dent in cranking speed when starting.  No more wet food, buying $20 ice, etc.  110VAC and 12VDC adapters included.

Couple of learning points:

1. Plug it in with the battery off and compare the voltage on the screen to actual voltage on the battery to determine protection levels.  The "High" protection turns off at 12VDC at the fridge, which by the time it makes it through 15' of Chrysler wiring is pretty much any time the engine is turned off.  "Medium" seems to work just fine for us.

2. Set the temp to 5-10* below what you want since the sensor is in the walls, which are colder than the air in the fridge.  Mine is usually set to 27*F to make for 33*F fridge temps.  Beware that any liquid containers directly touching the walls will eventually freeze after a day or so.

3. 58 quarts is almost like a 100 quart cooler since you won't have half the interior taken up by ice.
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so if I kept it plugged in to the outlet outside my camper in the dunes then go for  dune ride shut down the generator for a few hours will it keep cold or will it be warm by time I get back?

 
Brian Machnach said:
so if I kept it plugged in to the outlet outside my camper in the dunes then go for  dune ride shut down the generator for a few hours will it keep cold or will it be warm by time I get back?
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Probably warmer than you'd want.

But you can just add a 12VDC outlet somewhere accessible outside.  Or inside.  Doubt it'll drain a pair of decent RV batteries enough to matter in a week.

 
Lifetime from Walmart for the best value. Also don't leave any cooler out in the sun. See this alot. 

 
I'll throw Canyon out there again. They are pricy, but not the most expensive, and work really well. I like they they are local to me, and seem to have great customer service. A handful of ACE Hardware stores sell them here in town, too. We have the 75 which has worked well for my family of four on a few weekend camping trips (tent camping at the lake) and my wife and I took it on a 6 day road trip last summer where is did everything we wanted it to do. I have been eye balling the 120 just because I like big things and the 35 for the back seat of the truck on longer day trips where we may want some lunch to stay cold, or a place to keep the road orange juice. 

Really though - find the size and color you like, whatever brand it is, make sure youre wife will be able to help you move it once its full, and enjoy the ride. Also, look up a product called "cooler shock" 

 
I just have me a couple of these nice deluxe models. They come with a handle for easy relocation. Cup holders for you and 1 or 3 friends depending on how many beverages your drinking at the same time. Also they're lightweight saving your back from surgery in the long run. Checks all the boxes for me. 😁

1f4e4ccf-d867-4c84-88b7-6d4ce18fc382_1.b8837b641d573675d3df5ddfa68d6516.jpeg

 
Nanu-Nanu said:
I just have me a couple of these nice deluxe models. They come with a handle for easy relocation. Cup holders for you and 1 or 3 friends depending on how many beverages your drinking at the same time. Also they're lightweight saving your back from surgery in the long run. Checks all the boxes for me. 😁

View attachment 20264
Click to expand...
Debate over.   That cooler costs less than a bag of ice. 
 

 
put some flex seal on that baby and watch how well it performs.....

 
I thank everyone for all of the advice. I learned a lot more here about coolers than I could find on google search! After looking around at price, weight, size, and functionality, I will be going with a couple Lifetime 77qt coolers. 

 
Got me one of the lifetime 77quart coolers and couldn't be happier for the price.  Currently our fridge broke at the house and it's getting us by.  

PXL_20211205_165020721.jpg

 
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