Converting a cargo trailer into a hunting trailer/cooler

[Remps17]

So, my cousin picked up a trailer to convert into a hunting trailer/cooler. I figure if I give him a hand I can use it. hehe.

Were looking to put an insulated wall up and insulate a 6'x6' space for the cooler. we will probably run a window air conditioning unit with an override to get it to desired temp.

Does anyone have an idea what size of generator we would need to power the A/C unit?

Thanks in advance

 

[CorbLand]

Depends on the size of Air Conditioner

 

[Remps17]

Depends on the size of Air Conditioner

That I don't know unfortunately.

 

[Blockcaver]

For a 13,000 BTU AC unit, you need to step up from a typical 2000 Watt generator as they won't start them. A 3000 Watt will as far as I know. Small window units like a 5,000 BTU are probably on the little side for cooling your meat...depending on trailer insulation and door seals and outside temperature.

Go to Coolbot's website, they have good info there on sizing AC units, then size your Gen set.

 

[Remps17]

For a 13,000 BTU AC unit, you need to step up from a typical 2000 Watt generator as they won't start them. A 3000 Watt will as far as I know. Small window units like a 5,000 BTU are probably on the little side for cooling your meat...depending on trailer insulation and door seals and outside temperature.

Go to Coolbot's website, they have good info there on sizing AC units, then size your Gen set.

Will do. thanks blockcaver

 

[RAPTOR]

Why not a big chest freezer with the generator? Then the stuff will freeze and stay frozen if you leave it shut for periods of time, rather than have to run it 24/7

 

[Tackett54]

(I agree, chest freezer) That is the best solution, the amount of time and energy needed to cool and entire trailer to near freezing temps is tremendous. I just returned from a Black Bear Hunt in Ontario, Canada where I outfitted my hunting trailer with a chest freezer. 85 degrees outside, -9 degrees inside the freezer. Froze our bear overnight instantly securing the meat from spoiling. They are cheap, use little energy and ran 6 days on 8 gal of gas in a the generator.

 

[Remps17]

never thought about the chest freezer idea. How does meat hold up when you take it from freezing to hanging it to age? never had to do it, always in my home cooler to age with out freezing it before.

 

[UtahJimmy]

never thought about the chest freezer idea. How does meat hold up when you take it from freezing to hanging it to age? never had to do it, always in my home cooler to age with out freezing it before.

It doesn't. As soon as you freeze it your aging is over. The bacteria and enzymes die.

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[muddydogs]

I use a chest freezer when hunting that I have set up on a Harbor Freight lawn cart so I can roll it in and out of the toy hauler. I am able to maintain about 40 degrees inside the freezer by running my generator about 2.5 hours a day when the outside temp is around 70 during the day and 40's at night. Once I get home I but the freezer under the carport and plug it into this temp controller WILLHI WH1436A Temperature Controller 110V Digital Thermostat Switch Sous Vide Controller NTC 10K Sensor, Improved Version - - Amazon.com and keep the meat right around 36 degrees until its processed then if needed I remove the temp controller and use the freezer to store overrun frozen meat.

I have held meat for 10 days with my setup without any issues.

 

[shmacker]

Not a cargo trailer, but close in size. Check this out:

My walk in cooler is almost done....

 

[CX5Ranch]

3500 watt. Great idea.

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[LostArra]

It doesn't. As soon as you freeze it your aging is over. The bacteria and enzymes die.

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We've used a chest freezer many times in a cargo trailer. You don't have to freeze the meat, in fact it takes quite a while to freeze a quarter in warm weather. Just adjust based on your freezer and the weather. When the meat gets pretty cold we just unplug it.

 

[KBC]

I use a chest freezer when hunting that I have set up on a Harbor Freight lawn cart so I can roll it in and out of the toy hauler. I am able to maintain about 40 degrees inside the freezer by running my generator about 2.5 hours a day when the outside temp is around 70 during the day and 40's at night. Once I get home I but the freezer under the carport and plug it into this temp controller WILLHI WH1436A Temperature Controller 110V Digital Thermostat Switch Sous Vide Controller NTC 10K Sensor, Improved Version - - Amazon.com and keep the meat right around 36 degrees until its processed then if needed I remove the temp controller and use the freezer to store overrun frozen meat.

I have held meat for 10 days with my setup without any issues.

I was just thinking about my home brewing days and a freezer with a temp controller and then I read your post. I think I'm going to rig up something similar.

For anyone that doesn't know a temp controller will turn the freezer on and off to keep it at the temp you set it up for. Just put the controller's probe in the freezer and plug the freezer into the controller.

 

[muddydogs]

I was just thinking about my home brewing days and a freezer with a temp controller and then I read your post. I think I'm going to rig up something similar.

For anyone that doesn't know a temp controller will turn the freezer on and off to keep it at the temp you set it up for. Just put the controller's probe in the freezer and plug the freezer into the controller.

Just finished up processing this years bull I harvested. Packed the bull out by 12:30 AM in 60 degree temps. Loaded the quarters and loose meat in the freezer and ran the genny for 12 hours cooling the meat, at 2 am and 4 am I rotated the quarters around in the freezer then at 7 am I boned the hind quarters as they were not cooling fast enough for my liking. I don't mess with the temp controller here, I just set the freezer on its coldest setting and let it run. It takes a long time to cool and freeze this much meat but by the time I unplugged the freezer and loaded it into the trailer the meat was cooled to 40 degrees or lower. Packed up camp and headed home where I rolled the freezer out of the trailer up to the house and plugged in the temp controller to hold the meat at 36 ish degrees for about 36 hours until I could get it processed.

I purchased a second temp controller to use on my new to me second upright freezer, this worked great to store boned and cleaned meat in as well as ground meat until I could get it wrapped or stuffed into bags and frozen. Once all the meat was ready to freeze I removed the temp controller and let the freezer do its thing.

 

[jjtt13]

Liking the idea

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[cravingame]

Just finished up processing this years bull I harvested. Packed the bull out by 12:30 AM in 60 degree temps. Loaded the quarters and loose meat in the freezer and ran the genny for 12 hours cooling the meat, at 2 am and 4 am I rotated the quarters around in the freezer then at 7 am I boned the hind .......

What size genny do I need to run a chest freezer?

 

[muddydogs]

Something around 1500 watts would be enough and a 2000 watt will defiantly get the job done. Best thing to do is read the info panel on the freezer to see what it needs for running and start up watt's then buy the right sized genny. I'm not sure what the panel on my freezer says but my trailer has a 4500 watt genny and my emergency genny at the house is 5500 watts which I know is plenty to run a freezer or 3.

 

[Tbone58]

I would save the space in the trailer and all the extra work and money of making a cooler and just bring a freezer and generator. Run it when you want to freeze stuff. I’ve drove 8 hours before with a deep freezer off and everything inside still frozen. Also had stuff in one 21 hours unplugged and everything was fine. I would try to run a generator and cut that time down but everyone wanted to keep going and not stop so we kept going. It worked out fine.

if you do make the cooler trailer post pics to give other guys idea of it and cost. It’s not a bad idea by any means

 

[sen480]

Honda 3000EU is perfect for running the freezer or an AC and its super quiet