Stop Using Ice In Your Cooler And How To Modify A Cooler For Hunting

Here is a Link to the Colman Cooler I use: amzn.to/2EOr4Qo
I am an affiliate for Amazon and do receive earnings from purchases thru these links.
This video talks about how to make a normal cooler into a super cooler that keeps things cold for weeks!
I also explain why you should not be using ice anymore in your coolers for hunting trips or meat care.
Foolow along as I show you why you should stop using ice in your cooler and how to modify a cooler for hunting!

[@philipwaddles984]

Thank you sir. I'm a truck driver. I did what you said I went out for a week and still had frozen water cold food. it's a hell of a lot cheaper then one of those small refrigerators that adapt to trucks that cost you a fortune with hookup and insulation. You saved me over $1,000. Seriously I actually brought leftovers home they were good I didn't have to throw them out. Thank you

[@SamkoTradBow]

That's what I like to hear!!! Glad it worked great for you. It's amazing how well it actually works! We do 8 day trips in summer bear camp with Temps is the 80s and stuff is good the whole time with frozen water bottles still frozen. Love this mod!

[@MsRotorwings]

Eventually the frozen water bottles thaw out. I love my 12v ICECO fridge. Definitely worth the investment. But insulating a cooler is okay for weekend trips.

[@HistoryOnTheLoose]

Nowhere was this claimed to be a replacement for a refrigerator. This is a sound, proven, economical and effective way to increase the efficiency of a cooler. Here you have two testimonials of the bottles still being frozen (or partial) after a week, which is far longer than a weekend trip.

[@somethingsomething404]

The planet thanks you, some truckers don’t care how efficient anything is so I appreciate your efforts instead of just burning extra fuel you work smart not hard (on fuel) You must be an owner operator or in a day cab?

[@madmouse7915]

​@MsRotorwings 🤣I've seen more overnighters and weekenders depending on expensive fridges they use a few times out of the year than I do people like this gentleman who generally spend over a week off grid hunting and whatnot. Coolers are simple and as "easy" as a fridge sounds to a lot of people it's a big hassle to worry about a constant power source.

[@CandC68]

A few considerations: 1- You can use Fiji water bottles that have square cross section to get more ice bottles in the same volume. And they have thicker walls. I usually crack open any water bottle and drip out a little before freezing. They will still plump a bit when freezing, though. 2- Partition the space. Take a piece of the pink foam and cut it to fit, to divide the space inside. (you could use thinner foam for this. )Making two compartments. Cut the pink lid in half so the divider is under the middle where the two halves meet. Why? Because if you open the cooler only half the enclosed, cold air gets wafted out of the cooler. The untouched half is not disturbed each time you open the cooler. Also this allows for packing one half with more ice to freeze stuff, and the other half may have less ice to not be as cold. Unfrozen like refrigerator temp, 40 degrees,( Frozen beer sux.) 3- Pink foam boards do not like many types of adhesive. So be careful if you try to glue. But you can find some tapes that would allow you to make "Hinges" between some of the pieces. That would allow you to remove some of the insulation boards from the inside, and be able to stack them. Making it easy to put them on the top of the cooler when you leave and they wont all slide around. 4- Some ice bottles can be colder than normal freezer temps. Be for freezing you bottles, turn the temp in your freezer down a few degrees. When everything is solid and your packing to go, don't forget to turn the freezer temp back to normal.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tips and ideas. People that read this will love it too. Thank you for commenting

[@jimmywallhanger8402]

nice

[@stimulatemyexistence5669]

Huge huge tip get a Tupper ware container that's almost the same curvature as your cooler at the bottom and freeze blocks!

[@CandC68]

@@stimulatemyexistence5669 In the event that you will need to buy bags of ice, they will melt and leak. Keeping the ice bags in tall kitchen trash bags reduces water damage to your stuff. And using Tupperware to contain you goods also can work.

[@jrow84]

throw a little pinch of salt in each bottle hey

[@smiley1234321234]

Everyone is sleeping while this man is preaching. Thank you for this video!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Hahaha. Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@jessyacevedo102]

This is perfect for extended camping trips. I only advise you take a smaller cooler as your daily cooler. You don't want to keep opening your main cooler as that lets in hot air and reduces the amount of time you can keep your items cool and this tip is about keeping your cooler cooler lol. Take out what you'll need for the day in a smaller cooler. You'll be opening up the smaller cooler all day vs once with your insulated cooler. I hope this makes sense and is helpful. After a year of putting this to the test my only upgrade or updated advice is get a white cooler unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars on a greatly insulated cooler but who wants to do that. Some coolers retain outer heat and it does transfer for most unless it's the hundreds of dollars kind.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip about using the smaller daily cooler!

[@salvadorgarcia9108]

@@tblazer4932thinking inside the box.

[@jafquist27]

Great idea! Thanks.

[@mikelundrigan2285]

I put small coolers inside my very large marine cooler, small frozen water bottles on all sides to keep ‘em cold and provide drinking water, one for frozen food, one milk and eggs, one for veggies and one for bread etc. Double insulation and organized! Works for me!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Fantastic idea. Once this foam got all booked up after a couple years I started using the cooler in a cooler too and really like it

[@farstrider79]

I do that everyday with my lunch box. I've got a bigger cooler that I put a cheap insulated lunchbox inside. Two 64 oz growlers of ice water and my first aid kit fit inside with it and with the lid closed on the bigger one, the sun doesn't beat down on the smaller when it sits in the car. Everyone laughs at my giant lunchbox 😂

[@Vladviking]

Probably the most practical "cooler" ideas and cost wise methods I've seen on YT, and I've watched hundreds.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it

[@donmoroz5502]

I've used frozen water bottles as an ice replacement in plastic camping coolers for about 20 years now and I agree with all you say in this video. On the smaller Coleman camping coolers the tops are hollow and can be upgraded in performance by using low expansion construction foam in the hollow spaces. There are several videos on YT covering this.The use of rigid foam sheets to line the cooler is a very good idea.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Foaming the hollow lid is a fantastic idea. Thanks!

[@louisperich6678]

There’s a guy who tested this idea on a YT vid and found that actually makes it worse than leaving it as one big air pocket. that’s because air is the insulator, and adding foam to air that’s trapped just adds a relatively higher conductivity path for heat to transfer in. seems a little counterintuitive at first until you realize what is giving you your insulating effect. the key is that air that’s already trapped is what’s the best insulator (other than vacuum) so any structure around it including foam is worse than air for insulation.

[@JAYG79.]

I used water bottles for years and spray foam in the lid. Never thought to line it with ridged board, thanks for the tip.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Awesome! Love the water bottles!

[@lesliemiller5790]

I have used this method for a long time and it WORKS. I have also drilled several small holes (you may need to drill several for each panel) and then used spray foam (drill enough holes and spray to create full coverage) to increase the insulation with less loss of space. Most coolers are double wall with air space. You can make a cooler that would normally keep a bottle frozen for 3 days, keep the same bottle frozen for 6 to 7 days with no loss of capacity with this method

[@SamkoTradBow]

Fantastic ideal on the spray foam!

[@allywilkeforsenate]

Yup.Most of those coolers have no insulation in them.Especially the tops.Low expansion foam works best.

[@taoisttiger4702]

My pops showed me the water bottle trick 30 years ago when we went fishing. It's amazing how many people don't know that. Now I usually just use it with Gatorade in my lunchbox for long work shifts hahaha

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep they work great and you get to drink them! Your pops was a smart man!

[@danlux4954]

We used small vinegar bottles because they were square and easy to stack.

[@robwebber9267]

That's what we used to do in the army with one of the carpenters box,stuff lasted two weeks in the bush. Thanks for reminding me. Great video sir.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed the video. And than you greatly for your service!!

[@jeepinspence]

This is a trick my folks had done for years and Grandparents before them. Putting a half gallon/gallon/2l whatever size works for you in the freezer full of fresh water is also a great idea. They work great like your bottles and it will help keep things longer in your freezer if the power goes out! :) Thanks for sharing!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep. Have our garage freezer full of frozen water bottles all the time

[@sophiatenbruggencate6555]

I use a 2L frozen bottle of water, which I keep permanently wrapped up on silver bubble wrap & duck tape. I refreeze for all my trips and wiyh foam filled lid on Coleman box, it's keeps cold for ages. I'm gonna try putting a gasket seal around lid next.

[@somethingsomething404]

Foaming the hallow space in the lid+ Throwing a foil blanket over top helps keep the sun off #1 but #2 creates a bubble of cooler air around the cooler almost like a dual pane window it could push your setup to 14+ days. Add in even 1-2lb dry ice and you’d get 20 days out of it. Nice setup!

[@somethingsomething404]

Wrapping the dry ice in foil will make it slower release too, since you’re not trying to freeze stuff with it.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Fantastic tips and ideas. Thank you

[@phonechecked]

@@somethingsomething404I have dry ice packs , how does foil help them stay frozen longer?

[@vaclavnovak7316]

​@@phonecheckedAluminium foil works as insulation layer.

[@gokissasickmonkeyswetass]

Awesome stuff. If your really want to amp up those water bottles. Mix in sawdust. Its called pykrete. 14% sawdust, 86% water. It was actually used in WW2 to try and create an aircraft carrier by the US Military, out of ice. I usually put in freezer until it gets slushy, shake it, let it completely freeze. It takes forever to melt.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip! Just remember to leave some as just water so you have good cold water bottles to drink through out the trip!

[@thejohnbeck]

I would read a comic book that told the stories of the pykrete carrier Habbakuk

[@georgedouglas9342]

Very good idea. I've used the frozen water bottle trick for some time now and it saves on buying ice. You always have cold drinking water, no excess water to drain, and whatever water you don't use you can put back in your freezer to use again. Can't do that with a bag of ice. 👍

[@SamkoTradBow]

Agree 100%

[@MikeSmith-qj2ys]

Thanks for the video. This would be really helpful for people living in hurricane zones. You never know when you'll actually have to live out of an ice chest for several days or weeks.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Very true!

[@JeepTrailsandBarbells]

Yes useful, i live In houston and i normally pack my freezer full of frozen bottles when a storm is in the gulf. But it never last but 2 maybe 3 days, so now ill do this instead so i wont have that stress of 3 days and all my food is gone.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@JeepTrailsandBarbells yep and also put your extra blankets or sleeping bags on top of your fridge and freezer when power goes out. It will really extend the time you have before food thaws and increases the insulation rating.

[@JeepTrailsandBarbells]

@@SamkoTradBow good tip for sure, plus will keep the kids from trying to open it every 5 minutes 🤣

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@JeepTrailsandBarbells hahaha.

[@vincent2662]

This is what KZbin is about, people sharing ideas I can save you money and make your life better. This guy has great videos I’m glad I stumbled on it. How many subscriber look forward to binging on all your videos keep up the great work thanks

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thank you. Glad you are enjoying the videos

[@moralmentecorrecto7032]

My husband and I actually do the water bottle hack, but have never even thought about the foam board, thanks for that! By the way the frozen bottles also work forvthe pets bowl, keeps it cooler longer.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Welcome and glad you enjoyed the video

[@Christopheromoan]

I always use empty water bottles. Refill them 4/5ths the way to compensate for ice expansion. I like it for 2 reasons: they last longer (at least IMO) and don’t flood the cooler. Good to see I’m not the only one.

[@SamkoTradBow]

And they provide nice cold drinking water in camp!

[@thomaswansleben5264]

This is a great idea, just make sure you use waterbottles that have thick plastic like white milk jugs, some of the plastic in the water bottles especially the cheap cases from Walmart is really thin and the freezing expansion of that water can crack those water bottles pretty easily especially if you refreeze those bottles, I've learned that the hard way. I'd still rather spend an extra $100 and go with the RTIC which is just like a Yeti but half the price, you can get a 65 gallon RTIC for $200 and never buy again.

[@JohnBowl14690]

Actually, his method for water bottles works fine if you squeeze the water bottle slightly, then tighten the cap. The water bottle will be slightly deformed inward, but will be perfect after the water expands. But yes...thicker water bottle will keep your cooler for longer because it doesn't transfer the cold as fast.

[@JohnBowl14690]

Regarding buying a Yeti or RTIC...if you're only doing trips mostly lasting less than 3 days, they not only are a waste of money, but they are too heavy and will hog up the space in your trunk.

[@bob2161]

As soon as it gets stolen you've still got to buy it again. RTIC has become popular enough that the thieves have added them to their "shopping list". It doesn't matter what it is, to a thief, if it's worth having, it's worth stealing.

[@carpediemarts705]

I fill my water bottles only 90% and lay them in side to freeze. Other part about bringing bottles you freeze at home, you can have much colder ice if you set the thermostat lower

[@JohnBowl14690]

@@carpediemarts705 - Good tip! Although my coolers usually never run out of ice because I never use a cooler for more than 2 days. Good to know though.

[@JohnBowl14690]

Great video....BUT....people need to keep in mind that if you're ONLY using frozen water containers and zero ice, your cooler will not be as cold as with ice, even though it will keep cool for longer periods. I like using a Hybrid of 3 things. Frozen bottles, thick cubes or ice blocks, and a little bit of smaller cubes IF I am going on a long trip. But the average camping trip lasts only about 2 days, so if done right even in a cheap Coleman cooler can keep things cold without the insulation using the Hybrid method. If only for a day trip, just frozen water bottles and smaller ice cube will work just fine. No insulation is needed. But I really like this insulation idea for trips lasting more than 3 days, or if leaving your cooler out unshaded in heat over 90 degrees...in which case I would also put a white garment or something over the cooler to reflect the sunlight and shade the cooler. Good video!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@danielalamo2075]

Awesome tips. And I wish we could hunt in 80 degree weather. Opening day is supposed to be 107 degrees. I'm in the central valley of California. 3 years ago the second zone we hunted was so cold all of our water froze solid including the water bottles next to my sleeping bag. The only thawed water was in the ice chests.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Hahahaha. Yep we have the same problem in the winter. We use the cooler to keep stuff from freezing!

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

Thanks for sharing such a great cost saving and effective DIY solution to keeping your game meat 🍖, food and drinks 🥤 really cold for multiple days of a hunting trip. The average western big game hunting trip is 7-10 days so that would be perfect. I will have to share it with my family and friends.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

[@BeetleBuns]

dang, I'm going on a 3-day trip soon and this showed up in my recommended. You just saved me a bunch of money!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnswanson3741]

I've been using 1/2 gal plastic fruit juice bottles for years. Freeze them in salt water and line the bottom of the cooler. Always hated the water mess left with melted ice, and people would drain out and waste this cold water. Never heard of anyone else ever doing this, you are a thinker too!!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Love the frozen water bottles and no water build up in the cooler!

[@trinkie100]

This is awesome I don’t hunt but I’m in food service and can not lift that cooler once ice has Ben put in it this is so much lighter thank you

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@oldgrayhairs8246]

I’ve been using frozen water bottles for years but I will now line my cooler with the foam. Great idea. Thank you brother! Stay safe out there.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mondavou9408]

"I'm not going to take it a part because I'm getting ready to go on a hunt" Then immediately takes it apart. lol! Good information though, thanks for sharing.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Hahaha. Yep figured might as well!

[@teetimeaz]

Often on cheaper coolers the lid, bottom and even the sides may not have insulation, just air. You can drill several small holes from the outside and spray in foam until it emerges from the other holes. Now you have the entire cooler to use. I do like your video though. Happy hunting from a saltwater fisherman.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip and idea. Thank you

[@debrachance4244]

Thank you for this video. I like to go away fishing for sometimes over several days. Even though it has wheels, it's such a struggle for me to haul an ice filled cooler around. Additionally, even with a four day cooler, the ice barely lasts 2 days. I'm definitely going to give this a try. Thank you!

[@SamkoTradBow]

You will love thw results

[@thejohnbeck]

How did this work out for you? Hopefully better than it worked out for Bambi. Edit: for Nemo

[@klugger01]

Been doing that for years brother. It works great and if you don't open all the water bottles you can freeze them again for next time.

[@SamkoTradBow]

100% correct. I reuse all the ones I dont end up drinking on a trip.

[@ThePeopleVerse]

Been doing the frozen bottles and foam for years. Learned the bottle trick from my Mom. Smart German lady that traveled by car alot and brought het own eats and drinks....anyway...a couple things, Don't buy open cell foam, like the white stuff. If you can run the edge and get foam bits to come off it is the wrong kind of foam. Closed cell is what you want. Used for foundations and crawl spaces etc...it is about 10 bucks more than the other sheet foam. So if you think you are getting a deal you are probably getting the wrong stuff. During transport, if you have a blanket or moving pad ... whatever, cover the cooler to hold the cold and yo keep the sun off of it as that helps alot. As far as Yeti goes, there is no gaps in their foam. No air pockets. That's where alot of temp movement is, at the gaps. They are vacuum foamed and sealed. Part of the price you pay goes to that process. As far as how much room you want in the cooler. Take measurements and decide what you can live with as the foam comes from 1/2" to 2" and you do want as think as you can live with. Just remember that 2" foam will cost you 4" of room in the cooler. So a 16" × 36" cooler will become 12"×32" cooler. That's a lot less room. Anyway, good info to pass on to those that hunt and those that travel by ground.

[@willss6027]

I suspect purchased ice often isn't nearly as cold to start with compared to my -13F freezer. That makes a diff, I'll try to check some. I've always thrown some extra blankets around my coolers and tarp 'em, that's helped to make "5 day coolers" work longer. Recently I've needed a space that warms or cools some items exactly and I'm loving my Cooluli 12V tiny cooler/heater electronic 'fridge'. Though they can only vary 40-50*F from what is ambient temps they can be set to attempt digitally from 15-148*F. Mine holds the 72-76F range easily with little power.

[@jecampbell113]

This is going to save me money. I operate a to dog cart and spend $6 a day on ice, sometimes more. Thank you

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep the water bottles will save you a fortune

[@clintezell3298]

AWESOME!!! I LIVE AND HUNT ELK HERE IN NM. THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, ONE THING WE DO IS PUT OUR COOLERS IN THE SHADE AND DRAPE OLD SLEEPING BAG OVER THEM , WORKS GOOD !!!! THANKS FOR YOUR VIDEOS THEY ARE GREAT !!!!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep great idea with the sleeping bags. We do that on our freezers and fridge when power goes out. Makes a huge difference

[@Killemquietly]

Good call on the foam!.ive keep screw top Tropicana plastic orange juice jugs for that water/ice purpose for years works awesome

[@shadrach5681]

Hahaha, yeeess! I use them too! The bottom bulges out to be kinda round but who cares. The big lids do become fragile though.

[@kenau101]

Ultra-efficient low cost solution. Thanks. My 2cents...both concerning the water bottles and not your cool cooler upgrade. - If you're concerned about burst water bottles, than squeeze some air/water out, and with the bottle still compressed, reseal before freezing. This gives the water room to expand. - In hot-humid conditions, to prevent pooling condensation, wrap the frozen water bottles with paper towels and rubber band in place. This also gives you a cool wet towel "in-hand" to wipe down with when it's time to drink the water. Add water to the towel as necessary.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@davidevans338]

Works better than a high dollar cooler. Nice video

[@SamkoTradBow]

And no body wants to steal it out of the back of your truck

[@mikecamrcplus3057]

Camping we have lakes for water. I freeze 1 liter rectangular apple juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and fruit punch. Fit perfect in bottom of cooler and can be very refreshing on a hot summer day of fishing. Add 2 blocks of dry ice, 2x2x5" under the juice packs. Keeps stuff cold for 10 days. Just wrap the dry ice in a towel. Only have a 3/4" foam lid. Pre-freeze everything and I freeze 2 gal jugs of water to but in the cooler the night before we load it to pre-chill it. Seems to help.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tips!

[@pensnut08]

I use Buck Jam jugs that I freeze. I can put them in the cooler and inside a deer body cavity. GREAT insulation idea!!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep those would work perfect as well!

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Good one. That's fast and easy. Spend just a little more effort and build an insulated box into which will fit the cooler.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Also a fantastic idea. And probably easy to move in and out of a truck as separate box and then the cooler into it after you move the box.

[@carcasscruncher9354]

When you freeze water bottles they expand. As they melt they contract. This begins to break down the plastic bottles leaving minute parts of plastic in the water. Look it up if you doubt it. I still do the same thing. However, with my cheap cooler, after years of use and abuse, i drilled holes in the walls and filled them with spray foam. It retarded the side walls considerably, so i would recommend filling the cooler with something to stabilize the interior walls before spray foaming so that the excess foam comes out of the holes you put on the outside of the cooler. Yeti is way to pricey to even bother purchasing unless you either have a bunch of money to throw at one or are going on an extrusion to the middle of no where and need the ice to last. Still, yeti isnt worth 600$ for an average sized cooler. Ever.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great points. And the weight. I often hunt and camp alone when hunting. A big yeti or similar cooler is too heavy to move by yourself. This set up is 1/5th the weight

[@jimsjacob]

I’ve been doing something like this over the years…. I’ve saved gallon/large plastic bottles with handles and froze my RO water from the house. But just a couple and then loaded it with ice. I’m going to try this idea and see how it performs. More of those frozen bottles and zero ice next time. Thanks!

[@SamkoTradBow]

I bet you are very happy with the results and nice cold drinking water always resdy!

[@LifeOWrylee]

Water bottles work, but they take up a lot of space (as does your added insulation). As an alternative, try dry ice. It takes up minimal space and will keep your cooler **REALLY COLD** for days (I've seen rock-hard popsicles come out of a cooler with dry ice that was at the beach for a couple days). Take care to put a layer of cardboar above and below the dry ice, and don't let it come into direct contact with either your skin, the cooler, or any food you don't want frozen. Besides it taking up minimal space, it's only a couple bucks a pound, and it doesn't make cooler contents soggy as it melts.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Dry ice is fantastic but hard to find in rural towns and wilderness areas. Buts a fantastic option if yoy van get it

[@morefiction3264]

Be careful with dry ice. Payne Stewart's plane may have gone down because they were packing fish home in coolers packed with dry ice. It's CO2 so as it thawed, the plane filled with CO2 and they asphyxiated.

[@LifeOWrylee]

^Good thing to keep in mind. 👍

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Another tip, I buy car sun screens and make a cover (with duct tape) for my coolers. They work great.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great idea

[@DocNo27]

Great tips - except for the ice. Ice sucks. Cooler shock ice packs are amazing - just search for them. Make sure you get the ZeroF ones. if you leave them for at least 48 hours in a freezer that is at least 20F or lower, they will get below zero. They are almost as good as dry ice. If they still offer the mesh bags for them make sure you get them! These things are so cold stuff will freeze to the bare bags so you do want to warp them in something. I forget where I saw them but I'm so glad I tried them- it's unbelievable how much better they perform than ice! I have some that are over five years old and get used weekly and they still perform great so they are a good value too.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip. Thank you

[@MrJgaviles]

I reuse rectangle juice bottles with salt water. You can’t drink the water but once frozen, they will freeze anything around them and stay colder much longer. Just like making ice cream the salt lowers the freezing point of the water.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@MrJgaviles great tip!

[@jaimeastin]

There was a product called a cooler cap that did similar. But I like this foam idea. It's all about insulation. Air is bad. Condense the space for less air. I use these coolers for hunting. The meat is heavy .. I don't energy to use my big pelican coolers. These.coolers and dry ice is perfect to fly with.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep the weight difference is huge

[@LuisNY]

Agreed with most of it with just a few side notes... Yeti coolers, your original cooler, and other coolers are made with an approved food safe surface that won't leach chemicals and by nature they also prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens (they are easy to clean and sanitize). Taking in consideration you are worried about the ice water soaking the meat inside the cooler I'm considering you are not bagging the meat or separating it physically from the foam board. .. The house insulation foam board is filled with chemicals to prevent mold, fire, and others... If you ask to the state of California they will say the that everything in there will cause cancer, and clean it properly must be a pain... On a occasion that I may need a cooler for more than 2-3 days I will likely use this idea... The frozen water bottle is a thing I also have done for years to save on the ice I put inside the cooler, but I also pack some loose ice and ice inside zip bags.. On day trips (beach, racetrack, etc) I only use the frozen bottles and a cheap cooler...

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great points. When it's time for me to put game bags full of meat in there I will need extra space to do that. So I pull out the foam and put the meat in there. I do still use the top insulation piece with meat. But since I use the frozen water bottles there is not any standing water in the cooler .

[@safetybarbara]

This comment is also what I was thinking.

[@kalleklp7291]

I use a down-scaled model and also use frozen water bottles. Well, even in the summer time with +25-30 C at the beach we have cold beer all day long. As a bonus, if the water thaws you end up with chilled water to drink. :)

[@SamkoTradBow]

agree 100%

[@kevineng8421]

By adding the foam, aren’t you reducing the space just like a Yeti? With regard to the frozen water bottles, I use salt water. Basically remove 1/4 of the water from a bottle. Add a spoonful of salt. Let it dissolve and mix. Freeze. It will be colder and last longer than just plain water. Only need a few. The rest can be plain water bottles to drink once it melts

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great ideas on the salt! Yes it will make thw space smaller like a yeti size would be. But, you can remove the foam if you need more space. Like just removing the floor and sides but keeping the top peice will still make a huge difference. Plus even with all the foam in, and the size reduced to like a yeti would be the actual weight of this cooler is less than half of the yeti empty weight. And most importantly, nobody steels a Colman or igloo cooler. But a yeti left in a truck or at a camp site will disappear in a heart beat.

[@mtchbrian]

Was going to add the comment about salt too. Dad taught me that years ago. Even sprinkle water on loose ice will make the ice colder. It's weird but it works

[@vincentnightwolf]

@@SamkoTradBow An even better idea is to mix the water with alcohol. I don't know the ratio off the top of my head, but you can create a mix that will freeze around 5* to 10* F. Then you will have below freezing temps in your cooler.

[@RichM-vc9on]

Salt water doesn't exactly make it colder. Salt water has a lower freezing point. The specific latent heat of freezing either water or salt water is where most of the energy is used when melting. The total time for everything in the cooler to reach 33 degrees will be the same. If everything were frozen salt water. It would keep the temperature of the food BELOW 32 for longer. Whereas with plain water it will keep it AT 32 for longer. So if keeping something frozen (below 32) as long as possible is your priority, then salt water is a good choice. If keeping something COLD or near 32 as long as possible it does not make any difference. And if you actually do not want to have MORE wasted space with undrinkable/eatable things then using all water makes more sense, because as it melts you have great beverage.

[@kevineng8421]

@@RichM-vc9on ummm....ok. all i know is most things that lay against the frozen salt water freezes for at least the first day or two. and the bottles don't melt as quickly. Been doing this for about 6-7 years. I get an extra day out of it compared to just plain block ice, and a couple days longer than cubed

[@ethanchauffe5861]

Busted this idea out on my bunch of DIY hunting buddies last weekend and they loved it

[@SamkoTradBow]

Works like a champ

[@alwaysvictoria9455]

We have 2 Colemans and neither keeps food cold, let alone frozen. So, definitely doing this because now we just basically have two bulky totes. LOL Thanks for the video and you save us some major money.

[@SamkoTradBow]

You will be very happy with the results

[@WatchRichRebuildsChannel]

Great video. I also love your tool bench. 👍👍

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thank you. I actually made a video about this bench and the shelving etc in a video I published this summer called something like garage storage and work bench ideas.

[@georgecurtis6463]

Great idea. Have used frozen bottles for a long time but not the foam. One of those obvious ideas that no one thinks of.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@brycec.1470]

Thanks for the video, you just saved a new hunter a ton of cash!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad i could help

[@Canadaman4403]

One of the biggest tips I learned is to put the two small pieces of wood underneath the cooler to allow airflow this will also help keep everything colder longer

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tips

[@alwaysvictoria9455]

You mean put the wood on the ground and the cooler on top, right? Just checking.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@Always Victoria I have not watched this video in a while but I probably ment put wood inside the cooler as a way to keep meat from sitting in the water that accumulated in the bottom of the cooler. You don't want meat sitting in the water.

[@banjowoodsman7675]

I also throw a heavy beach towel or blanket over the cooler. When Hauling it in a vehicle I also cover the cooler with a silver windshield shade.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great ideas! Thanks

[@BrendaDelisi-Flynn]

Another video showed that if you drill holes in any hollow side or lid of a cooler and fill fill expanding insulation foam that hardens you insulate the cooler and can reduce or add to the insulation of red foam boards. very cool!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep heard that works great to. Only thing that I would do if I did that is reseal the holes so no water gets into the lid and stays in the foam. Would be hard to dry the foam out in the lid.

[@kingofbrutaltheocracy9201]

Also yeti is anti 2a, so all the more reason to diy a cooler.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yeah I would never own a yeti for many reasons. Theft being the biggest one.

[@kennethwilson8633]

Done that all my life with the bottles half gallon milk jugs are great too.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep and works so well

[@10fttall6ftwide]

Just glue razor blades under the handles of your Yeti. One guy did and the thief dropped it and there was a trail of blood. Lol. Thanks for the video 👍

[@SamkoTradBow]

Hahaha. Yep pretty sad anything nice is a theft issue these days.

[@vinpribek3903]

Funny, but very illegal to do. Hidden traps that injure people, even thieves, can get you sued big time. Please do not do this.

[@uprightfossil6673]

I also keep a smaller cooler for long term camping. The big One stays closed and the small one is for daily use. Cheers

[@SamkoTradBow]

Brilliant idea

[@jodywhitehead9173]

In Canada frozen 2l soda bottles are called bullets. Last longer than the equivalent weight of ice and don't fill the cooler with melt water. However, don't use them. Instead use 4l plastic icecream pails. They stack conveniently, and items can be placed neatly in top allowing more items to be placed more conveniently in your cooler. (i. e. less wasted space due to irregular shapes) Also except for the first night's meal take all meats and/or prepared meals frozen to add to your cooling. Get a cooler that has a slotted partition panel to separate the items requiring the coldest temp from fruits/vegetables etc. Keep the cooler in the shade and cover with an old sleeping bag or quilt for extra insulation and a piece of high density mat on the ground. If you do all this it will work as well or better than his liner solution and retain more cooler space for cold beer.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tips. Thank you

[@michaelbarrett1914]

You can also drill 4-1/4" holes along the hing back edge & along the front top edge & 2 on each side and then use cans of insulation to finish filling these coolers full of insulation. Then instead of stuffing the inside with 2" insulation you can use either 1" or 1/2" sheet of insulation and get the same effect but start with more interior space & not have to pull panels.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip. I have heard people are doing that with great success.

[@jadegb5474]

I am about to convert my Chevy van and have spent the last few days wondering whether to use a 12v fridge which has a very small freezer compartment and would need a battery, suitable charging system, wiring etc. After watching your video and others I have decided to build a unit to house a cool box. I will build a wooden cabinet, double the walls, fill with polystyrene and fix the lid to the work top on hinges. I can then lift out the coolbox when needed.........a lot cheaper . Cannot wait to get it done and stock up with cool tinnies..........thanks.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep it will work great. And for remote trips buy a 12 volt ice maker and you can replenish your ice supply as needed.

[@jadegb5474]

great tip............thanks

[@TheDaddyo365]

ive been using frozen water bottles in my lunch cooler for years.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep work fantastic

[@JRQUION]

Two coolers. One for only frozen gallons and smaller bottles that you open nightly when it's coldest to remove several bottles to them place in your daily cooler. The first cooler stays frozen longer since there's less air exchange and you still get all the conveniences

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep thats what I use now. The two cooler system is easy and works great

[@vinpribek3903]

I believe another advantage here is not having to pre-cool the cooler in order for it to stay cool. Roto Molded coolers must be pre-cooled to get them to last for a week or so, otherwise the cooler must absorb the cold first and a lot is lost right there. This idea seems to be less likely to need pre-cooling.

[@SamkoTradBow]

interesting! I did not know that roto coolers needed to be pre cooled. I dont own one. But that is very good info to know. Thank you.

[@jrow84]

wouldn't it still help some to precool any cooler? maybe not as much but it helps

[@CSwivel]

Lol

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Awesome, thanks for the good information.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting.

[@spoonmonkey8971]

At my cabin we have an outside cooler build with plywood gaps sealed with caulking it has on the outside a natural fiber paneling with the aluminuim layer. The inside has a layer of about 1 inch R35 pink fiberglass isolation and the pink foam like you use as the final layer. We use 2 liter pop bottles with frozen water and it lasts for weeks.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Fantastic set up! Simple, functional and can make it any size you need.

[@johnwest5082]

What is the natural fiber insulation with aluminum called.?

[@spoonmonkey8971]

@@johnwest5082 its a thermofoil product its a fiberglass fiber.

[@StevenRAssmann-tb7ty]

You should Add spray foam insulation to cooler as well

[@SamkoTradBow]

Going to try that when I get a chance. Thanks for the tip

[@jameswaller-eo9bg]

Do this with an old beat up toolbox spray foam the seams. Perfect camoflage

[@SamkoTradBow]

great idea

[@nightstringers]

You can put foil tape around the edges of the foam it will keep the foam from flaking .I have seen folks using pvc pipe filled with water and ends glued on and throw those into the freezer and reuse .They won't leak or go bad.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tips

[@nightstringers]

@@SamkoTradBow Thank you for a great video btw

[@jamesgroves5294]

Amazing idea! I appreciate the knowledge that you share! Happy hunting🙏🏿

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@jamesrcollins9411]

I have been using this method in warm weather early season hunts for my years. i fill up my regular game cooler with block ice before i go on a hunt. It will stay cold for a long time in a regular cooler because it if full. also block ice can be bought in remote areas. After i have have field dressed and skinned my game. i put a block or two of ice inside of the body cavity to cool it down. I cover the game with a game bag to keep the flies off and put it in the shade. some times i go fill another tag. when the hunt is over i quarter the game up and fill the cooler up with game and cover with ice. once i get home i drain the water which will be mixed with blood. cover game with rock salt and more ice and fill with water. keep changing the water until the water is mostly blood free. this will help remove some of the gamey taste. you can leave the quarters in the cooler up to a week as long as you keep it iced i have done this for many years and i has always worked well.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Sounds like you have a great system that works great for what you are doing. Love it.

[@Kain.007]

same cooler set up. To reapply frozen water bottles, you use a jakery power bank connecting a portable freezer just enough time to redress water bottles and continue the cycle

[@SamkoTradBow]

Yep I have a 5 cubic foot freezer I'm my hunting trailer that I run off an invert to do that and keep meat froze on longer trips

[@Kain.007]

@@SamkoTradBowHi sir, what size do you recommend for someone who is insulating the same way as you and wants to eat with 7 weeks worth of food, for one person. The 120 qts or 150?

[@rhammond7517]

Thanks man iv got an old cooler this trick just brought it up-to-date

[@SamkoTradBow]

Awesome. Glad it worked great for you.

[@ssiiggyy1980]

Wow!!! Awesome idea. I wished I would have come across this video before now. Definitely gonna do this with my coolers. Thank you, good Sir.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lilbirdie4516]

Skip the small water bottles. Try one of the 2.5g water containers. The brick by the gallon jugs. It fits perfectly across the middle. Things that need colder go closer. Things like fruit, veggies & eggs go farther to the sides. When we go hunting it's 10 days out. Never had a problem keeping things cold. Bring it home & put back in freezer.

[@SamkoTradBow]

That works too

[@terryshrives8322]

Thats a way better idea. I really appreciate it

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@acadiadrive8687]

Nice video. As a heads up, if you use the bigger bottles with a salt water combo and then freeze them-apparently that ice is at a lower temp than regular ice bottles…

[@SamkoTradBow]

Very true and a great tip. Problem with that is I then can not use them as drinking water in camp and in the woods. With the water bottles I can.

[@jwr778]

Cold air sinks so you should place your bottles of ice on top or inter fix with what ever place inside

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip

[@bmk506]

It's not bear proof though....lol ;)

[@SouthWestIron]

The roto molded coolers are the in thing right now but your right. Pricey and bulky and thief magnets. Friend of mine just got back from a hunt with new Coleman Xtreme 6 day cooler. He brought me a hind quarter in one and I didn't get around to processing it for a couple days. Still had ice in that had been in there from his trip. Lots of variables but I live in a warm area. I like your upgrades on that cooler. Been doing the frozen bottles as well. Nice tips!

[@SamkoTradBow]

And the weight and rubber feet. The weight empty on those big yeti style coolers is almost what mine weighs full...lol and my buddies roto cooler has rubber feet. You can not budge it or move it because of those rubber feet. Might be good on a boat but trying to get it in and out of trailers, truck beds, etc sucks as it wont slide.

[@Monkey_Spunk]

This is the best thing I ever saw.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@leardi58]

Possibly drill holes and fill with spray foam and save the space and still get the same R value just a thought

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip

[@jasond9938]

It's better to inject high density spry foam in the walls and lid. You can keep the cooler clean plus if you use spray foam you can bolt some 1/2 plywood to the top and sit on it or you it as a table

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great ideas as well

[@twc9000]

Great ideas. Yeti's claim to fame is that they are bear proof, but you could put a couple of ratchet straps around any cooler or a hasp and padlock to make it bear proof (as long as it's not too thin).

[@SamkoTradBow]

Agree 100%

[@cyrusatkinson3307]

Open, dump out a couple table spoons of water and add a flaky salt. Loweers the freezing temp of the water. Then use your Deep freeze to freeze the bottles. Ice will be lower than the 32 you can only get unsalted ice.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great tip. but then you loose to option to drink the frozen water bottles. Other wise Great tip.

[@kathrynmcgee2712]

I use gallon water jugs that have square sides. The bigger the ice the slower than melt.

[@SamkoTradBow]

very true and fantastic tip

[@jean-gh3zt]

mount it to a little dolly with mud wheels or sleigh for snow then u can use it to put deer cuts in field in there

[@SamkoTradBow]

Great idea

[@slamminhawgs9847]

great idea!! ive always used frozen water bottles, going to try the insulation!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thanks. You will like the insulation for long trips

[@GalloPazzesco]

I like the extra lining but with regard to where to place the frozen water bottles .... cold goes down.

[@SamkoTradBow]

You are correct and if you put the frozen bottles on top you Food will freeze. I prefer it on the bottom

[@judyweigl9604]

I travel and thought I needed a refrigerator. Wish I had seen this before. However, should the refrigerator stop working, I now know what to replace it with. Thank you. I will still need ice as I am usually out for more then a few days and would probably divide the ice into large ziplock bags. I still think this will be a good alternative.

[@SamkoTradBow]

That is a fantastic idea with the zip lock bags.

[@Live-Life-Freely]

Genius! Thanks man!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sarkistakessian1066]

Very very .smart tips thank you .l.learn somethings every day .this is one of tham .thank😂

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@timadams2042]

Thanks man appreciate it!

[@SamkoTradBow]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@hunt_trap_fish]

I have a yeti, and I love it. I've been to KS, AR, MO, IL (I live in WI) and I've never once had my truck broken into. A yeti with ice in the bottom, with the drain plug cracked, will keep ice pretty much indefinitely. I piled a quartered deer into different coolers, and the two back quarters that came out of my yeti with ice were partially frozen. All of that is to say, I would LOVE to see a time-lapse video of like a temp gauge and your cooler, with a Yeti and ice. Like a face off.

[@SamkoTradBow]

yetis and other rotomolded coolers are great. but the other factor is the weight vs space. Like when we are in camp and it takes 3 guys to move a roto cooler thats full. mine I can do myself. This is important when hunting alone. and as i can leave the foam in for extra insulation until I harvest a animal then pull out sections of foam as needed. like remove the bottom foam and one side when I bone out my first deer. then when i harvest another remove the other 2 sides of foam for more room. I love the verrsatility of this set up and I save enough money to hunt 3 more states.

[@hunt_trap_fish]

@@SamkoTradBow I get what you’re saying, completely. Its not too hard to put a rotocooler on a set of luggage wheels. But yeah, a fully loaded 65qt yeti is very heavy

[@SamkoTradBow]

@hunt_trap_fish someday I might buy a roto cooler. But they still make these Colman coolers like I have and for 69 bucks they offer me alot, light weight lots of room, zero theft and work good. That's the reasons I stick with them. Bit never met a person that has a yeti and regrets it!

[@hunt_trap_fish]

@@SamkoTradBow totally! And I’ll be buying at least one big Coleman for my trip to TX for hogs this year. Thanks for the insight on the foam inserts, should help a bunch.

[@SamkoTradBow]

@@hunt_trap_fish you will love hog hunting! Wishing you great luck on your trip

[@daveadkins2976]

Great tip, for beefing up your coolers.....

[@SamkoTradBow]

Thank you.

[@richardcummings7079]

Great idea for our fishing trips.

[@SamkoTradBow]

Works great. You will be very happy