Re: Holding out
I have thought about making an insulated box for my cooler. I figure if I glue up a box of ~2" styrofoam that fits snugly around my cooler, then put 1/4" plywood around the styrofoam to protect it, I will have a cooler that will perform at least as well and likely better than any commercially sold cooler. The water will be hard on the plywood so I figure a good coat of white epoxy paint will protect the wood. I know it will add weight and bulk but in my situation it won't matter because I have a bad back and once I get a cooler full I can't pick it up so the cooler always stays in the back of my truck. I always park my truck close to my eating area and sometimes use the tailgate as a food prep area so the cooler is never too far away. Now I just need to take the time to do it.
Happy Joe mentioned using block ice. You can always freeze gallon jugs of water and use them in the cooler. As they melt the water is contained so you don't have to drain the cooler and you eventually have an extra gallon or 2 of drinking water. The big problem with that idea is the gallon jugs take up a lot of cooler space but really no more than block ice.
I have thought about making an insulated box for my cooler. I figure if I glue up a box of ~2" styrofoam that fits snugly around my cooler, then put 1/4" plywood around the styrofoam to protect it, I will have a cooler that will perform at least as well and likely better than any commercially sold cooler. The water will be hard on the plywood so I figure a good coat of white epoxy paint will protect the wood. I know it will add weight and bulk but in my situation it won't matter because I have a bad back and once I get a cooler full I can't pick it up so the cooler always stays in the back of my truck. I always park my truck close to my eating area and sometimes use the tailgate as a food prep area so the cooler is never too far away. Now I just need to take the time to do it.
Happy Joe mentioned using block ice. You can always freeze gallon jugs of water and use them in the cooler. As they melt the water is contained so you don't have to drain the cooler and you eventually have an extra gallon or 2 of drinking water. The big problem with that idea is the gallon jugs take up a lot of cooler space but really no more than block ice.
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