Quick question about moving meat across country…

[Tod osier]

I’ve done a lot of moving meat around, so I have a pretty good idea of what I’m doing, but I’d like some feedback on this plan.

I want to move a 150 quart cooler of meat cross country (vac sealed stuff), but the trip will take 5+ days. I’ve done this drive several times with meat, but I usually do it in 3 days and in fall/winter/spring temps with smaller amounts and the outer meat is just starting to soften at that point. I've not taken 5 days with a of a couple hundred pounds in summer. I plan to pack the cooler and put it in the freezer (cooler lid off) for several days before the trip to get it good and cold.

Does anyone think it will be OK if I have the cooler filled with a couple hundred frozen pounds of meat for 5 days in summer temps?

I may be able to put the meat in a freezer mid trip and I could for sure get dry ice mid trip. I would move it in a freezer and plug it in, but that isn't an option on this trip.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Make sure meat is completely frozen, fill any gaps in cooler with towels, do not open lid, you’ll be good. If you want a little extra peace of mind, you can add a top layer of dry ice. It’ll burn off in a day but keep everything rock hard frozen for that much longer.
Where will cooler be? Under a topper or in bed exposed to direct sun?

 

[Tod osier]

Make sure meat is completely frozen, fill any gaps in cooler with towels, do not open lid, you’ll be good. If you want a little extra peace of mind, you can add a top layer of dry ice. It’ll burn off in a day but keep everything rock hard frozen for that much longer.
Where will cooler be? Under a topper or in bed exposed to direct sun?

I'm feeling like it could be OK, the cooler will be packed in a topper under a bunch of stuff, it will be full of completely frozen meat.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I'm feeling like it could be OK, the cooler will be packed in a topper under a bunch of stuff, it will be full of completely frozen meat.

Yea you should be good. I’ve moved a lot of meat across country over the years, it always last longer than I think. The stuffing cheap towels in any and all dead space, even adding a thin layer on top does seem to make a difference.

 

[Erict]

I wrap my big cooler with one of those old quilted moving blankets to isolate it from air and direct heat transfer. It really helps in my pickup bed with topper (it can often be warmer inside the bed than outside on a sunny day). If it were me, I'd use my bbq sensor to keep an eye on the interior cooler temp and stop for dry ice if needed.

 

[Tod osier]

I wrap my big cooler with one of those old quilted moving blankets to isolate it from air and direct heat transfer. It really helps in my pickup bed with topper (it can often be warmer inside the bed than outside on a sunny day). If it were me, I'd use my bbq sensor to keep an eye on the interior cooler temp and stop for dry ice if needed.

View attachment 887694

Good idea on both, I appreciate it.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Good idea on both, I appreciate it.

If you decide to do the dry ice route and can plan ahead a day or two call a welding supply store and they can have some for you. Typically a lot cheaper and pellet form vs grocery stores.

 

[Huntinmechanic]

Great advice above. If it's a non roto molded cooler or doesn't have a positive lid seal, I would duct tape around the lid. Good luck.

 

[Rich M]

Have you got a small chest freezer and genny? The chest freezers are not real expensive.

Im sitting here looking at 2 chest freezers and would be able to put 250-300# in the small one. Have genny in garage.

 

[Tod osier]

Have you got a small chest freezer and genny? The chest freezers are not real expensive.

Im sitting here looking at 2 chest freezers and would be able to put 250-300# in the small one. Have genny in garage.

Have multiple, but a freezer isn’t an option given the space constraints on this trip (too tall to fit with the other stuff).

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I would get some dry ice every other day if the meat is already frozen. Just make sure the dry ice is not in contact with any of the meat. Some cardboard between the meat and ice will be your friend.

 

[Tod osier]

I would get some dry ice every other day if the meat is already frozen. Just make sure the dry ice is not in contact with any of the meat. Some cardboard between the meat and ice will be your friend.

That is the plan now. We are stopping at the in-laws mid trip (making the 3 day trip that I know is fine into a 5 day that concerns me). We have a dry ice place lined up.

 

[KyleR1985]

No dead space in cooler

Air seal for cooler lid

No moving air and radiant barrier on outside of cooler

As tight of a pack at as low of a temp prior to sealing up

Park in the shade for stops





Probably still have to refreeze or get dry ice for 5 days.

Might consider two smaller coolers to be able to handle more easily, since Youll likely be managing it mid trip.

Consider putting it inside vehicle if possible.

 

[menhaden_man]

I’ve done this before - had a pocket generator (one of those predators from harbor freight) on hand in case I needed. Never did but was planning on just running it in the bed of the truck and running an extension cord to the trailer. Or running it at meal stops. We made the trip a lot quicker than I thought we would (2500 miles).

Edit - just saw you’re not taking a chest freezer. Dry ice it is I guess!

 

[menhaden_man]

https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-watt-super-quiet-inverter-generator-with-co-secure-technology-epa-71343.html

 

[Tod osier]

I’ve done this before - had a pocket generator (one of those predators from harbor freight) on hand in case I needed. Never did but was planning on just running it in the bed of the truck and running an extension cord to the trailer. Or running it at meal stops. We made the trip a lot quicker than I thought we would (2500 miles).

Edit - just saw you’re not taking a chest freezer. Dry ice it is I guess!

Yeah, not freezer this time. I've driven frozen stuff from AK to the east coast 2 times in a freezer and at least one elk fully frozen in a freezer from UT and elk, antelope, etc... from WY to the east coast, so that would be my preferred way. I have several freezers and generators to mix and match. If I have the right kind of space it would be my preferred option and the easiest.

 

[Pilsner]

I have never had an issue with filling a cooler full of FROZEN meat, seam sealing the cooler with duct tape, wrapping it in insulation/moving blanket/etc and not opening the cooler the entire time. 5 days isn't a big deal if you can either park in the shade and/or wrapping the cooler in mylar bubble wrap. We did this exact thing with our chest freezer (which doesn't insulate nearly as well as a quality roto-molded cooler!) and we didn't open it for 10 days. Everything was still frozen despite moving across the country in the summer.
A few keys are no air space in cooler, start off with everything frozen solid, seam seal the cooler/freezer, and park in the shade when possible.
I would rather make the appropriate steps ahead of time vs having to break the seal and F with the contents mid-trip.
Best of luck
-Doc

 

[long hunter]

Great advice above. If it's a non roto molded cooler or doesn't have a positive lid seal, I would duct tape around the lid. Good luck.

We have done this on western hunts as it takes us three days travel this is the first to second week of October and the coolrr is usually on a cargo hauler last year we had a small trailer once home the meat was still frozen solid

 

[Arrowhunters5]

Good advice so far. I’ve done this with multiple large roto molded ice chests for up to 3 days. It was in the bed of the truck, no topper. I did not have to add dry ice, but I think you will. I always try to keep the ice chests on the opposite side of the bed as the exhaust, if possible. I’ve also placed 2x4s in the bed to keep ice chests off the bed floor and further from the exhaust heat.