Truck bed into a cooler?

[Joshk358]

Picking some brains here. So, I drew a bison tag in SD for this year and thinking about the logistics of bringing that giant thing back to the Midwest. Yes, I could bring a bunch of big coolers…and I’m prepared to do that. Got to thinking about using a tarp and loading the truck bed with ice plopping meat on that more ice on top then draw down the soft shell cover I currently have on it. Or just get an Ice chest and bring the generator along, freeze it leave ice chest in the truck and good to go. I love to hear everyone’s opinion on this or even better…how do you do it?

 

[DuckDawg22]

tuna kill bags? gives you more flexibility than rigid coolers

 

[Ucsdryder]

When is the tag? Cold enough you don’t need a cooler?

 

[BRTreedogs]

My concern would be that black topper is going to absorb a lot of UV rays and cause the ice to melt fast, and not being able to keep flys out.

 

[Elkman17]

I’d do 2 medium sized chest freezers and just run the genny in the back of the truck to power them.

 

[ODB]

I’d do 2 medium sized chest freezers and just run the genny in the back of the truck to power them.

I've seen this many times

 

[Joshk358]

When is the tag? Cold enough you don’t need a cooler?

Probably not. It’s in early October.

 

[Joshk358]

I've seen this many times

Seems the easiest

 

[Joshk358]

My concern would be that black topper is going to absorb a lot of UV rays and cause the ice to melt fast, and not being able to keep flys out.

That was kinda along the same lines I was thinking.

 

[Joshk358]

tuna kill bags? gives you more flexibility than rigid coolers

Thinking cheaper/stuff I might already have. Although I’m pretty sure I’m going need to spend more on stuff. lol

 

[DuckDawg22]

Thinking cheaper/stuff I might already have. Although I’m pretty sure I’m going need to spend more on stuff. lol

the amazon ones are good enough for the price, and you could probably return them afterwards lol

 

[Joshk358]

the amazon ones are good enough for the price, and you could probably return them afterwards lol

I like where your mind is at. Haha

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I did the truck bed thing. It wasn't my plan, I had brought several large coolers but it was so much more than I anticipated. I did tarp on bottom, meat, wrap tarp around meat, a bunch of 20lbs ice bags on top, another tarp, and gear all thrown on top of that under an ARE topper. It was late September, hot during day but cooled off at nightl. Meat was fine for 2 days and didn't have insect problems.

Once you get where you are going you will need to take care of it quickly. Get the meat cleaned off, dry, and hanging. I'm not sure it is a better strategy than the freezers but in my case, was improvised and turned out ok.

 

[insanelupus]

So, I drew a bison tag in SD for this year and thinking about the logistics of bringing that giant thing back to the Midwest.

However you bring the meat back enjoy!

And congrats on the tag, that would be an exciting opportunity!

 

[LongWayAround]

What is your plan for meat processing? Do you have a preferred butcher or are you going to have someone local do the processing before you go home?

I think chest freezers and generator is your best bet.

Cheaper and no less shitty than a tarp in the truck bed might be to buy a bunch of heavy duty totes from Home Depot.

 

[Joshk358]

What is your plan for meat processing? Do you have a preferred butcher or are you going to have someone local do the processing before you go home?

I think chest freezers and generator is your best bet.

Cheaper and no less shitty than a tarp in the truck bed might be to buy a bunch of heavy duty totes from Home Depot.

Going to process the meat once I get home. Grind, steaks and roast.

 

[EdP]

If you are going to process it yourself, don't freeze it because you will have to wait for it to thaw before processing. Just get it cold and keep it cold. That's not too hard to do with coolers and ice. Put a rack of some sort in the bottom of each cooler so you can drain off the melt water and keep the meat dry. Add ice as necessary. It won't take much to keep it cold once the meat is cold. Maybe put something insulating on the truck bed under the coolers like horse stall mat or a sheet of foam insulation. I like the horse mat because the coolers will be easier to move on it than a sheet of foam. Push the coolers together and put one insulating cover over them all if you can. This works even better if you start with the meat already cold. I don't know where you are driving back to but even western SD is not that far from anywhere in the midwest.

 

[SonnyDay]

I haven’t done this but had a plan to use 2” rigid foam to basically make a cooler out of the truck bed… kinda what @EdP suggested but put foam on all six sides. Straps or duct tape to hold it together. You can get straps meant to be used as cabinet clamps so they have corner braces that would keep the straps from cutting into the foam.

Either way, congrats and good luck!

 

[wytx]

Did this on a moose hunt in Western Wyo. It was quite warm the day I took my Shiras so we quartered him put them on a tarp and went to town and bought several bags of ice and blocks of ice.
Tarp on the bottom for them to lay on and a tarp over the top of the ice and quarters.
Worked just fine but our drive was only about 5 hrs to home.
Did the drive middle of the day and the meat was very cool when we got home.

Let that bison age for at least 10 days.
Good luck on the hunt !!