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THEPILL · 07-19-2010, 05:48 PM

My Yeti 65 QT Ice chest will be picked up tomorrow. Anyone have one of these? I hope they are worth it. I end up buying a new one about every three years... SOB. I'm done buying I hope.

Here is link, what do you guys/gals think?

Ice Chest - Ice Box - Large Cooler | YETI Coolers

Shane

Aerowood · 07-20-2010, 07:44 AM

My brother has a Yeti 65 qt. unit that he takes hunting with us every year. Only downside is it takes two good men and a boy to move it anywhere. Its damn heavy full of beer and ice.

AZ-JH · 07-20-2010, 08:01 AM

Thanks for the tip. We've been looking for a decent cooler.

Goin camping · 07-20-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

My Yeti 65 QT Ice chest will be picked up tomorrow. Anyone have one of these? I hope they are worth it. I end up buying a new one about every three years... SOB. I'm done buying I hope.

Here is link, what do you guys/gals think?

Ice Chest - Ice Box - Large Cooler | YETI Coolers

Shane

How long will it keep ice before it turns into cold water?

worksology · 07-21-2010, 11:29 PM

What kinds of things do you use your ice chest for?

We're cleaning out our basement, preparing to start full-timing, and I'm debating whether to keep our coolers or not. We have a large ice chest and a 10-gallon beverage cooler. They seem like pretty large things to haul everywhere, but I suppose they'd also double as storage when not in use and do fit nicely in the back of the truck... just can't decide whether we'd get enough use out of them.

Can someone help convince me one way or the other? Which do I keep, which do I sell? What % of fulltimers have these?

Sorry for such a newb question and for hijacking this thread. I am familiar with the Yeti ice chests and know people who love theirs.

Josh

2airishuman · 07-21-2010, 11:55 PM

yep the yeti is cool but geez.

no ice chest here, plenty of ice in the freezer (3 trays and a bin)

i've carried hard sided chests and used them for storage, stools and so on...

but seldom for food/beer.

eventually they r culled, after long trips shuffling them, without use.

to each his own.

if a solid sided thermal thing is needed occasionally,

it's easy enough to use 1 or 2 of the rubbermaid tubs on hand.
________

i DO carry 2 SOFT thermal bags which collapse for storage.

these come in handy when buying groceries or frozen foods

that r hauled back to the campsite some DISTANCE from civilization.
________

think about how often the ice chest gets used NOW at home...

if it's stowed in the basement, that's a clue.

cheers
2air'

THEPILL · 07-22-2010, 08:29 AM

Well 2air, alot of time as in our last trip to the Keys, we didn't stay much during the day at the site.<Rv PARK> We were snorkeling,diving.or just traveling. I had my Coleman in the bed of my pickup and used it a lot for drinks, snacks, and even bait while fishing. I have a retrax cover on my bed to keep things secure, and also shaded. That coleman wouldn't hold ice for longer than 8 hours being in the heat and all. I was buying ice EVERYDAY. At close to 2.00 a bag over 14 days and buying 4 bags a day, you can do the math. So I upgraded to what I feel was appropiate. Also, Like I stated in the original post, this will probably be the last one I'll ever buy because the quality is FAR superior than anything you can buy at the local Wal-mart, Academey,Gander Mountain,Cabelas....e.t.c.
I also use this Ice chest for other things. HUnting,Fishing...ETC. This is the perfect way to save money all the way around. Longevity,and better ice retention.

But, opinions vary....

Shane

THEPILL · 07-22-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worksology

What kinds of things do you use your ice chest for?

We're cleaning out our basement, preparing to start full-timing, and I'm debating whether to keep our coolers or not. We have a large ice chest and a 10-gallon beverage cooler. They seem like pretty large things to haul everywhere, but I suppose they'd also double as storage when not in use and do fit nicely in the back of the truck... just can't decide whether we'd get enough use out of them.

Can someone help convince me one way or the other? Which do I keep, which do I sell? What % of fulltimers have these?

Sorry for such a newb question and for hijacking this thread. I am familiar with the Yeti ice chests and know people who love theirs.

Josh

Sell everything and buy a Yeti. IMHO.

You stated your starting to full time. SO the basement ice chests were waiting to be used, Be glad you didn't throw them away. Want to see the uses just look at my post above.

SHane

2airishuman · 07-22-2010, 08:55 AM

i GET the many wayz a good cooler may be used,

especially by guys on a trip, or hangin on da beach.

full time in a small stream for a family is different.

and this is the direction josh is headed...

where everything takes space and space is at a premium.

and u left out using it as a kiddie pool...

cheers
2air'

THEPILL · 07-22-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

i GET the many wayz a good cooler may be used,

especially by guys on a trip, or hangin on da beach.

full time in a small stream for a family is different.

and this is the direction josh is headed...

where everything takes space and space is at a premium.

and u left out using it as a kiddie pool...

cheers
2air'

OHHH,... what was I thinking, When you full time, your attached to your rig. You can't leave.......

BTW here are the dimensions on my 65 Yeti......

YETI Tundra - 65 Quart - Yeti Coolers

Not even close to a pool....

Maybe a small dog bathtub....

Again,, OPINONS Vary....

Shane

InsideOut · 07-22-2010, 09:14 AM

I think it really depends on your fridge size as to whether or not you'll "need" an ice chest or not. We definitely do - both our fridges are only large enough for a couple of day's groceries...not beverages - adult or otherwise. We keep our beverages in a Coleman Stainless Steel ice chest outside. But then, our fridges are only about 3.5 cu ft - smaller than the average under-counter dorm/hotel unit. We also find it helps keep the fridge temperature "in the zone" by not opening the fridge every time we want a drink.

Shari

Airtandem · 07-22-2010, 09:21 AM

Yeti, Coleman, Igloo and etc. they all require ice at $$$ per bag. In the JC Whitney catalog there is an ice chest that runs on dc and with an adapter , ac. It tries to hold temp about 40 degrees below ambient. When traveling I use it in the truck and at campsite set it outside. The mode I have can also heat things by reversing the plug. It probably wouldn't work well in the Keys, but in my area it works very well. I did have a barley slush though.
Just another idea, but the Yeti is to coolers as Airstream is to campers.
mike

2airishuman · 07-22-2010, 09:45 AM

yep those 1/2 pint fridges in tiny'streams are a challenge.

i'd need 2 of them just for the pate' and condiments...

________

many folks carry ICE makers and these are pretty cool gadgets too...

or use the small 12v chiller things.

michael (artstream) has a DEEP FREEZE running on electric/battery/solar in his tow vehicle...

________

looking back a/s was WAY out there when they put ICE MAKERS into the classic mohos of the late 70s and 80s.

but they knew happy hour was important to the well equipped streamer...

for weekenders a cooler makes good sense, but it does include accepting the notion of buying ICE regularly...

lots a wayz to cut cheeze and chill stuff.

cheers
2air'

tksbaskets · 07-22-2010, 10:51 AM

Not ever going to full time...We love our AS because we don't have to take a big cooler. We take a small igloo for trips to the beach and use those refreezable ice packs. We haven't bought ice for camping in a year!

Frank's Trailer Works · 07-22-2010, 12:28 PM

I like my beer cold. Very cold. A cooler is the perfect place to float my beers in ice. Every three years we end up buying a new one. I am going to seriously consider a Yeti now, for I want to put an end to the three year cycle. I also prefer them in a cooler, because as Shari said, the constant opening of the fridge makes it work much harder to keep the food cold. Buying ice is a minor inconvenience for the ability to have my beer super cold.

AirsDream · 07-22-2010, 01:01 PM

I think it's probably "Horses for courses."

For years, I managed to get by putting beer bottles in a nice cool trout stream to chill. But sometimes colder is better, so then I got an ice chest. Over time, two large bears smashed it open and ate the contents, and a guy hit it with a car once (no, don't ask!), but no real damage. But it did get "ugly" as the years wore on and the battle scars mounted, and so I bought a new one. Use it once or twice a year. It's gettin' "ugly" also.

Yeti is s'posed to be bear proof (though I doubt it - I've watched bears bend open or "peel" car doors in Yosemite) and it looks nice. But I suspect that over time it'll get "ugly" just the same.

And moslty an ice chest doesn't travel with me because of the room it would take up in the truck bed (probably could put the generator in it though) and because I get enough ice from the 'stream's fridge for my adult beverages and iced tea ... so I don't think I'll be getting one. I am with 2air here - I carry a little fold-up soft side thing to get stuff from market to 'stream fridge. But if I WERE gonna' get one, this guy looks real nice, no doubt about it.

Dang, maybe I just need a bigger truck or a bigger 'stream!

utee94 · 07-22-2010, 01:05 PM

Man, some of you must not ...errr... "camp"... like I do. For a 3-day weekender, we fill the fridge and two ice chests, and still need to store warm drinks in the TV to rotate into the ice as needed.

This looks like a very cool cooler. Only thing missing is the long handle and wheels...

"Here's to you, Mr. Rolling Cooler Cooler Roller"

az-streamer · 07-22-2010, 01:09 PM

[QUOTE= many folks carry ICE makers and these are pretty cool gadgets too...
or use the small 12v chiller things '[/QUOTE]

we also started out with the cooler/buying ice thing.

our 22' AS only has the tiny refrig with the even smaller freezer. we doubled this by plugging in another compact refrig and running it while we drive or when we have shore power or use the generator.

it still took forever to make only a small amount of ice.

we recently bought a portable ice maker. just add water and soon you have more ice than you can use. we take the ice as it is made, put it into baggies and store in the freezers for late use. ours can be set to make several different size cubes.

runs real quiet and does not draw too much electric.
can be bought in stores or online [ebay, etc].

no more buying ice!

no more warm beer!!

check them out and buy a good one.
worth every penny!

az-streamer

Rosie39j · 07-22-2010, 03:43 PM

I was stoked about the Yeti until I broke down and bought one. Aside from being incredibly heavy, I didn't find it's ice holding performance to be any better than the higher line Igloos etc. I sold it on Craigslist out of frustration.

THEPILL · 07-22-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosie39j

I was stoked about the Yeti until I broke down and bought one. Aside from being incredibly heavy, I didn't find it's ice holding performance to be any better than the higher line Igloos etc. I sold it on Craigslist out of frustration.

My first impression while shopping was ICe retention for that kind of money has to be unbelieveable. But in reality, it can only a little better. Not a lot but a little.

You will end up buying more "Igloos" in the long run.

I do believe the ice retention will be superior<not by far superior> than normal ice chests just beacuse of the construction, seal gasket lids, 3" foam lid. Rotomolded...etc, but no miracle worker.

Some people buy these yeti's wanting miracles....They are NOT fridgrators. They are coolers. Ones that LAST.

OH FYI..I didn't buy it for the longevity of the ice. I hope it comes as a bonus,...which it should,,,,,but I bought it because it WILL be LAST one I'll ever buy. They are heirlooms!!! No joke.

I buy a new Ice chest every three years regurarly. Handles break. Drain cap pops off or breaks.....Lid hinges fall of...etc. This is a long term investment, just like my Airstream.

But, Opinions Vary.

Shane