The... Perfect Cooler

[Ray Eklund]

After spending several Tent Camping adventures in the mountains of Utah, Western Wyoming and Colorado this year... our 52 quart Ozark Trail would consume two 10 pound blocks of ice in five days. This is packing it with perishables and canned soda/beer to minimize the air volume within.

The BIG issue... the WEIGHT. 'Tossing it into the back of the truck' is within your imagination. Whipping it in with myself and wife on the other handle. ...and we are in excellent physical condition.

We never needed a large cooler, or any cooler with our 23 or 25 foot Airstream. The 23 foot AS we would have a small cooler with ice cubes, since the refrigerator was small. Nancy would make ice cubes at home and put them into the freezer, brought down to temperature at home.

The 25 foot had a larger refrigerator and freezer. NEVER, ever carried that much food where a large over priced Ice Chest/Cooler or whatever was ever needed. We purchased perishables when needed on the road.

Canned goods in a cardboard box.

Tent camping we need a larger cooler. Not really for raw meat (unless you want to get sick) or other sensitive to heat foods. Today, tent camping: canned goods from peaches to chili, Dinty Moore canned goods... are 100% safe. Apples kept in smaller quantity and if we want ice cream... stop on the way through a town.

Modern life would not been able to survive the Oregon Trail for more than three days. They would become the Donner Party and sizing everyone up who would be... next on the menu... kind of trip.

For the $137 spent at Walmart for our cooler... without a refrigerator in tow... it works for us. Somehow I get the feeling that most Airstream owners are overweight and carry more food than they could ever possibly eat on a trip.

Stores are everywhere. It is the tent camper that need a cooler. The ice melts and we use it for the two Blue Heelers and to add into a glass as we chip chunks off for water. We are not out to get drunk on beer, so save that option for home consumption.

We watch Deer Hunters filling up coolers in tow with a hundred pounds of ice and cases of beer. ...a great combination.

Ourselves. We must be pretty dull in comparison. If I need a Cooler that large... why leave home? Add a second fridge in the garage and make yourselves sick every day of the week.

We are trying to get away from the 'soft lives' at home. Bring out the two folding chairs, chip some ice into a plastic cup with soda... and be satisfied that life is good.