Cooler size and theory

[Eagle]

Anyone tried filling one of the rotomolded coolers partially full of water, sticking it in a deep freeze with the lid open, and making the bottom of it into a block of ice before a hunt? I didn't know if they were tough enough to withstand the water freezing and expanding or not and don't want to ruin one trying. I recently got a Grizzly 165 I'll be hauling meat in if I'm successful this fall.

I have used block ice in the past I got from the store or made in jugs. I have always had cheaper coolers or a freezer for packing meat before, just got this good one. I have a Magellan 25 and Yeti 65 I've used quite a bit. They do well when kept closed and pre-chilled. The night before I load my Yeti 65 with ice and beverages or food for a trip I put a bag of ice in it that I'll remove/drain the next morning. Having the inside of the cooler already cold when I pack it full of stuff makes a huge difference, as does having the beverages in the fridge until the hit the cooler. Those good coolers hold heat just like they do cold so if the interior of the cooler is hot it will melt ice chilling it down. If you buy cubed ice from a convenience store it's worth throwing it in your freezer overnight too when possible to freeze it harder. Some convenience stores ice coolers don't seem cold enough.

Water expands as it freezes, so I would advise against doing this, as it may crack your high dollar cooler.

 

[mcseal2]

Yeah I thought the same thing. I know it will split a water bottle at times as it freezes, especially a stiffer less stretchable bottle. The roto-molded coolers are supposed to be made tough but I didn't know if they were tough enough to contain that expansion. I figured I'd ask if someone else had learned if it worked or not the hard way, I won't be the first to try it.

 

[Eagle]

Yeah I thought the same thing. I know it will split a water bottle at times as it freezes, especially a stiffer less stretchable bottle. The roto-molded coolers are supposed to be made tough but I didn't know if they were tough enough to contain that expansion. I figured I'd ask if someone else had learned if it worked or not the hard way, I won't be the first to try it.

After I replied, I realized you had mentioned being aware of water expanding as it freezes. I certainly wouldn't risk it with a high dollar cooler, just too much at stake. Considering that water can seperate granite as it enters cracks and freezes repeatedly over time, I'd just use large blocks of ice (jugs/blocks whatever) and call it good.