After the elk kill...coolers for the long drive home--need help

[Jdog]

Gents - Uncle Sam moved me to Florida a couple years ago. So getting meat prepared for the long drive home is an issue.

I see a lot of guys are using 150 qt coolers for elk and some others are using homemade wood ones insulated with foam.

What do most recommend?

Any tips on building a wood one from scratch?

Thank you!

 

[Shrek]

I wouldn't use wood. If you want to make a good cooler in a custom size to fit your vehicle then use some foam boards to make the shape and insulation then cove it with fiberglass mat and and fiberglass tape the edges inside and out. Thats how we made fish boxes when I commercial fished and they will really hold some ice when made with 3" foam . The 150 quart coolers are much easier and cheaper though. The only way I would make a custom is if the space was odd and wouldn't work with regular store bought coolers. If it was me I would have the animal processed where you hunt then pack it frozen with dry ice and ride. Unfrozen meat and wet ice slush has a high mess risk in a vehicle. Cooler starts to leak and it can get on everything. Freeze the meat hard in a 0º freezer and pack the coolers tight without any air space and keep the lid shut and it will hold a couple of days without anymore dry ice.

The "cheap" 5 day extreme coolers at Walmart and the like for a little over $50 bucks are a deal. They are 120qt and thats as big as I want . Any bigger and they get hard to handle full. They hold ice really well for the money.

 

[lastcall]

We take along one of the really small chest freezers and a generator. Once you get back to camp, there's no need to worry about ice and you only need to run the generator once or twice a day to keep the meat really cold. The same applies for the trip back home. As for the coolers, I've also had good luck with the Coleman extreme coolers. Good luck.

 

[worx53]

Coleman extremes work well. pack them tight and we go 32 hours sometimes 40 with no problems

 

[Hunt'nFish]

All good advice. me, I do the 150qt cooler thing with block ice on bottom and contractor bags filled w/ boned meat on top. Drain and refill w/ fresh block ice as needed. For a large elk, I think it'll take a couple of 120qt coolers when you consider space for block ice.

For short 8hr drives, a poly tarp wrapped around 4 blocks of ice nestled between whole qtrs will get you home ok. Just check the meat and replenish ice if needed.
Hunt'nFish

 

[desertcj]

Anybody use dry ice? I've used it before on long fishing trips and it works good if you put towels on top. It will freeze beer or soda and takes up less space then block ice.