Stop Using Ice In Your Cooler And How To Modify A Cooler For Hunting 

Thank you sir. I'm a truck driver. I did what you said I went out for a week and still had frozen water cold food. it's a hell of a lot cheaper then one of those small refrigerators that adapt to trucks that cost you a fortune with hookup and insulation. You saved me over $1,000. Seriously I actually brought leftovers home they were good I didn't have to throw them out. Thank you

A few considerations: 1- You can use Fiji water bottles that have square cross section to get more ice bottles in the same volume. And they have thicker walls. I usually crack open any water bottle and drip out a little before freezing. They will still plump a bit when freezing, though. 2- Partition the space. Take a piece of the pink foam and cut it to fit, to divide the space inside. (you could use thinner foam for this. )Making two compartments. Cut the pink lid in half so the divider is under the middle where the two halves meet. Why? Because if you open the cooler only half the enclosed, cold air gets wafted out of the cooler. The untouched half is not disturbed each time you open the cooler. Also this allows for packing one half with more ice to freeze stuff, and the other half may have less ice to not be as cold. Unfrozen like refrigerator temp, 40 degrees,( Frozen beer sux.) 3- Pink foam boards do not like many types of adhesive. So be careful if you try to glue. But you can find some tapes that would allow you to make "Hinges" between some of the pieces. That would allow you to remove some of the insulation boards from the inside, and be able to stack them. Making it easy to put them on the top of the cooler when you leave and they wont all slide around. 4- Some ice bottles can be colder than normal freezer temps. Be for freezing you bottles, turn the temp in your freezer down a few degrees. When everything is solid and your packing to go, don't forget to turn the freezer temp back to normal.

"I'm not going to take it a part because I'm getting ready to go on a hunt" Then immediately takes it apart. lol! Good information though, thanks for sharing.

This is perfect for extended camping trips. I only advise you take a smaller cooler as your daily cooler. You don't want to keep opening your main cooler as that lets in hot air and reduces the amount of time you can keep your items cool and this tip is about keeping your cooler cooler lol. Take out what you'll need for the day in a smaller cooler. You'll be opening up the smaller cooler all day vs once with your insulated cooler. I hope this makes sense and is helpful. After a year of putting this to the test my only upgrade or updated advice is get a white cooler unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars on a greatly insulated cooler but who wants to do that. Some coolers retain outer heat and it does transfer for most unless it's the hundreds of dollars kind.

Everyone is sleeping while this man is preaching. Thank you for this video!

I made a cooler out of plywood that fits perfectly in my hitch hauler. I lined the inside with 2" foam insulation board. It will keep things frozen longer than any mass produced cooler.

I used water bottles for years and spray foam in the lid. Never thought to line it with ridged board, thanks for the tip.

This is a great idea, just make sure you use waterbottles that have thick plastic like white milk jugs, some of the plastic in the water bottles especially the cheap cases from Walmart is really thin and the freezing expansion of that water can crack those water bottles pretty easily especially if you refreeze those bottles, I've learned that the hard way. I'd still rather spend an extra $100 and go with the RTIC which is just like a Yeti but half the price, you can get a 65 gallon RTIC for $200 and never buy again.

Absolutely couldnt agree more! I also use the same foam insulation at camp for the seat of our outhouse! Sounds crazy but it works like a charm

Years ago I made insulated plywood boxes that my 128qt coolers fit inside. We packed elk and antelope across 1000 miles in the back of a pickup with some dry ice on top with no problems. Insulating inside is fine but youre sacrificing space.

The case of water makes so much sense. As reusable as the freezer packs. Thank you for slapping me with that, lmao.

My pops showed me the water bottle trick 30 years ago when we went fishing. It's amazing how many people don't know that. Now I usually just use it with Gatorade in my lunchbox for long work shifts hahaha

That's what we used to do in the army with one of the carpenters box,stuff lasted two weeks in the bush. Thanks for reminding me. Great video sir.

Awesome stuff. If your really want to amp up those water bottles. Mix in sawdust. Its called pykrete. 14% sawdust, 86% water. It was actually used in WW2 to try and create an aircraft carrier by the US Military, out of ice. I usually put in freezer until it gets slushy, shake it, let it completely freeze. It takes forever to melt.

You should check the lid. On some coolers they’re hollow and uninsulated. If it’s a hollow cavity. Drill some holes and add spray foam.

I did the same with 2" neoprene insulation that I had around. I like the rigid insulation though. I get good 10 day performance as well. I could probably push it a few more days. I've been using 1 gallon and quart jugs. I like ice cubes for drinks, only. I dedicate two coolers for game. It's working so far. Your video came into my feed. I like what you did!

I've used frozen water bottles as an ice replacement in plastic camping coolers for about 20 years now and I agree with all you say in this video. On the smaller Coleman camping coolers the tops are hollow and can be upgraded in performance by using low expansion construction foam in the hollow spaces. There are several videos on YT covering this.The use of rigid foam sheets to line the cooler is a very good idea.

I like the cooler idea. You’re better off using a CamelBak with a 100oz bladder for your water drinking. Thanks.

I put small coolers inside my very large marine cooler, small frozen water bottles on all sides to keep ‘em cold and provide drinking water, one for frozen food, one milk and eggs, one for veggies and one for bread etc. Double insulation and organized! Works for me!

1 cup of salt to 1 gallon of water will give you hard-frozen ice that lasts much longer than soft-frozen ice.

Thanks for the video. This would be really helpful for people living in hurricane zones. You never know when you'll actually have to live out of an ice chest for several days or weeks.

My husband and I actually do the water bottle hack, but have never even thought about the foam board, thanks for that! By the way the frozen bottles also work forvthe pets bowl, keeps it cooler longer.

Also yeti is anti 2a, so all the more reason to diy a cooler.

Great video....BUT....people need to keep in mind that if you're ONLY using frozen water containers and zero ice, your cooler will not be as cold as with ice, even though it will keep cool for longer periods. I like using a Hybrid of 3 things. Frozen bottles, thick cubes or ice blocks, and a little bit of smaller cubes IF I am going on a long trip. But the average camping trip lasts only about 2 days, so if done right even in a cheap Coleman cooler can keep things cold without the insulation using the Hybrid method. If only for a day trip, just frozen water bottles and smaller ice cube will work just fine. No insulation is needed. But I really like this insulation idea for trips lasting more than 3 days, or if leaving your cooler out unshaded in heat over 90 degrees...in which case I would also put a white garment or something over the cooler to reflect the sunlight and shade the cooler. Good video!

When you freeze water bottles they expand. As they melt they contract. This begins to break down the plastic bottles leaving minute parts of plastic in the water. Look it up if you doubt it. I still do the same thing. However, with my cheap cooler, after years of use and abuse, i drilled holes in the walls and filled them with spray foam. It retarded the side walls considerably, so i would recommend filling the cooler with something to stabilize the interior walls before spray foaming so that the excess foam comes out of the holes you put on the outside of the cooler. Yeti is way to pricey to even bother purchasing unless you either have a bunch of money to throw at one or are going on an extrusion to the middle of no where and need the ice to last. Still, yeti isnt worth 600$ for an average sized cooler. Ever.

Ok, I am going to say it ... he says ice is bad, never use ice it doesn't work .... then he shows us how to use ice. Frozen water is ice.

Thanks for sharing such a great cost saving and effective DIY solution to keeping your game meat 🍖, food and drinks 🥤 really cold for multiple days of a hunting trip. The average western big game hunting trip is 7-10 days so that would be perfect. I will have to share it with my family and friends.

Awesome tips. And I wish we could hunt in 80 degree weather. Opening day is supposed to be 107 degrees. I'm in the central valley of California. 3 years ago the second zone we hunted was so cold all of our water froze solid including the water bottles next to my sleeping bag. The only thawed water was in the ice chests.

dude is over here saving me like $800 on coolers. thanks man

AWESOME! I really enjoy all of you informative Podcasts. One of the best I've found on RU-vid. I just made the lineman belt per your specifications. Works perfectly.

I have used this method for a long time and it WORKS. I have also drilled several small holes (you may need to drill several for each panel) and then used spray foam (drill enough holes and spray to create full coverage) to increase the insulation with less loss of space. Most coolers are double wall with air space. You can make a cooler that would normally keep a bottle frozen for 3 days, keep the same bottle frozen for 6 to 7 days with no loss of capacity with this method

Traditional bowhunting I like your concept. You saw a problem and you're trying to correct it. May I suggest a lazy man's way? Buy yourself, whatever size Coleman extreme cooler you want. Okay all done They're dirt cheap. They work exceedingly well. I live in South Florida, in the dead of summer, in broad daylight, in the back of my black Ford pickup truck, it will keep ice cubes for 5 days in direct sunlight. I don't know if you've ever hopped in the back of a black pickup truck in South Florida in the summer, but it'll actually burn you. The local grocery store sells a bag of ice for $1.99. Do you really want to have to buy a thing of water bottles? Freeze them all up. Put them in a cooler that you lined with phone that you got at the store. Making your cooler even smaller now... Or do you want to buy a cooler and throw some ice in it and you can throw more ice in it anytime you want? As a matter of fact you can buy bottled water where you buy ice, only thing you needed to bring with you was your empty cooler which just lives in the back of your truck anyways. So no preparation of any kind. And I want to say I paid $58 for my cooler that was just a little bit smaller than the one you're using Another product I endorse a wholeheartedly as a Floridian, oil of the lemon eucalyptus plant. Cambridge University did a study and they proved that it was exactly as effective as 100% DEET I've used 100% DEET, and this stuff works better, plus it smells good. Once again, Florida Everglades certified, didn't even hear a single mosquito buzz by my ear.

Foaming the hallow space in the lid+ Throwing a foil blanket over top helps keep the sun off #1 but #2 creates a bubble of cooler air around the cooler almost like a dual pane window it could push your setup to 14+ days. Add in even 1-2lb dry ice and you’d get 20 days out of it. Nice setup!

Ok, so you are still using ice… just in containers and added insulation to the cooler - good idea - though it certainly is neither new nor unique - but of course still good info to share !

I always use empty water bottles. Refill them 4/5ths the way to compensate for ice expansion. I like it for 2 reasons: they last longer (at least IMO) and don’t flood the cooler. Good to see I’m not the only one.

My secret is a cooler within a cooler for the frozen stuff

dang, I'm going on a 3-day trip soon and this showed up in my recommended. You just saved me a bunch of money!

This is quickly turning into my favorite you tube channel/podcast!

This is a trick my folks had done for years and Grandparents before them. Putting a half gallon/gallon/2l whatever size works for you in the freezer full of fresh water is also a great idea. They work great like your bottles and it will help keep things longer in your freezer if the power goes out! :) Thanks for sharing!

Good call on the foam!.ive keep screw top Tropicana plastic orange juice jugs for that water/ice purpose for years works awesome

I wish stores would sell frozen gallon water jugs. An eight-pound block of ice without the mess. A lot of good ideas, thanks for sharing.

Great 👍 info! So funny because I have been boondocking for 4 months now. I was out getting supplies and ICE again and picked up foam for this very purpose and badabing....I'm kicking back having a highball and there you are on RU-vid backing me up. Love your work and newly subscribed ❤

Often on cheaper coolers the lid, bottom and even the sides may not have insulation, just air. You can drill several small holes from the outside and spray in foam until it emerges from the other holes. Now you have the entire cooler to use. I do like your video though. Happy hunting from a saltwater fisherman.

This is awesome I don’t hunt but I’m in food service and can not lift that cooler once ice has Ben put in it this is so much lighter thank you

I suspect purchased ice often isn't nearly as cold to start with compared to my -13F freezer. That makes a diff, I'll try to check some. I've always thrown some extra blankets around my coolers and tarp 'em, that's helped to make "5 day coolers" work longer. Recently I've needed a space that warms or cools some items exactly and I'm loving my Cooluli 12V tiny cooler/heater electronic 'fridge'. Though they can only vary 40-50*F from what is ambient temps they can be set to attempt digitally from 15-148*F. Mine holds the 72-76F range easily with little power.

You are a genius man something so simple and easy I couldn't think of

Probably the most practical "cooler" ideas and cost wise methods I've seen on YT, and I've watched hundreds.

You put “naked” raw meat in your cooler? I’d have to pass on dinner. 😂😂😂 just put your meat in an unscented yard trash bag. Use whatever kinda ice or frozen bottles you want…. But keep your meat clean and sterile by bagging it. Nice cooler idea. Make your foam lid smaller and put a handle on it. Cut it so it fits down inside the wall panel foam you cut. The smaller the air space inside your foam lining the better it will work. I use other coolers and jugs to take up air space in my giant cooler but a foam lid that can sink all the way down inside would work much better than what I’m currently doing. September 1 I’m hopefully gonna fill up my big cooler. Might make me an inside lid. Idk about lining all my walls but an inside lid would help me so much. It’s old and I already strap it closed. I usually put all my hunting gear in it… then if I get a deer I empty and ice it. Trash bag my quarters. Thanks for the ideas!!!! The Beef Slayer Game processor.

Very good idea. I've used the frozen water bottle trick for some time now and it saves on buying ice. You always have cold drinking water, no excess water to drain, and whatever water you don't use you can put back in your freezer to use again. Can't do that with a bag of ice. 👍

Stop using ice, start using ice. Got it. Too thick, not enough space with insulation, adds insulation..... Talks about not taking them out, then takes them out. Cmon man. You can also use ice packs.... which stay colder longer, and are generally colder (typically around -10)

By adding the foam, aren’t you reducing the space just like a Yeti? With regard to the frozen water bottles, I use salt water. Basically remove 1/4 of the water from a bottle. Add a spoonful of salt. Let it dissolve and mix. Freeze. It will be colder and last longer than just plain water. Only need a few. The rest can be plain water bottles to drink once it melts

Order Omaha steaks. Keep free cooler. Wrap in fiberglass or build a plywood box. You're welcome.

This is what RU-vid is about, people sharing ideas I can save you money and make your life better. This guy has great videos I’m glad I stumbled on it. How many subscriber look forward to binging on all your videos keep up the great work thanks

Thanks for the great tips! I remember reading Ted Trueblood almost 50 years ago about camping and he said to freeze milk jugs full of water and have one cooler filled with them and use a few every few days in the food cooler. That's what I have done but this is even better with the added insulation.

Been doing the frozen bottles and foam for years. Learned the bottle trick from my Mom. Smart German lady that traveled by car alot and brought het own eats and drinks....anyway...a couple things, Don't buy open cell foam, like the white stuff. If you can run the edge and get foam bits to come off it is the wrong kind of foam. Closed cell is what you want. Used for foundations and crawl spaces etc...it is about 10 bucks more than the other sheet foam. So if you think you are getting a deal you are probably getting the wrong stuff. During transport, if you have a blanket or moving pad ... whatever, cover the cooler to hold the cold and yo keep the sun off of it as that helps alot. As far as Yeti goes, there is no gaps in their foam. No air pockets. That's where alot of temp movement is, at the gaps. They are vacuum foamed and sealed. Part of the price you pay goes to that process. As far as how much room you want in the cooler. Take measurements and decide what you can live with as the foam comes from 1/2" to 2" and you do want as think as you can live with. Just remember that 2" foam will cost you 4" of room in the cooler. So a 16" × 36" cooler will become 12"×32" cooler. That's a lot less room. Anyway, good info to pass on to those that hunt and those that travel by ground.

For elk sized game you’ll need more ice chests obviously. But I like the idea. I better get to freezing some water! CO elk starts next weekend!

ive been using frozen water bottles in my lunch cooler for years.

Amazing! I wanna do this with my new cooler. What type of foam sheets are u using for the insulation?

This is going to save me money. I operate a to dog cart and spend $6 a day on ice, sometimes more. Thank you

Everybody complains about the water, it is easier to keep water cold than air. Stack your food products properly and it wont get wet. Keep the water to keep the cold longer.

Water bottles work, but they take up a lot of space (as does your added insulation). As an alternative, try dry ice. It takes up minimal space and will keep your cooler **REALLY COLD** for days (I've seen rock-hard popsicles come out of a cooler with dry ice that was at the beach for a couple days). Take care to put a layer of cardboar above and below the dry ice, and don't let it come into direct contact with either your skin, the cooler, or any food you don't want frozen. Besides it taking up minimal space, it's only a couple bucks a pound, and it doesn't make cooler contents soggy as it melts.

Freezing water inside bottles is still ice.....just won't create a pool inside the cooler when the ice melts. I think he meant not to use ice cubes. Just make sure not to fill the bottle to the top, as water approximately 9% as it becomes ice...which could cause the plastic bottle to burst. Then as the ice inside the bottle melts, water pools inside the cooler.

Agreed with most of it with just a few side notes... Yeti coolers, your original cooler, and other coolers are made with an approved food safe surface that won't leach chemicals and by nature they also prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens (they are easy to clean and sanitize). Taking in consideration you are worried about the ice water soaking the meat inside the cooler I'm considering you are not bagging the meat or separating it physically from the foam board. .. The house insulation foam board is filled with chemicals to prevent mold, fire, and others... If you ask to the state of California they will say the that everything in there will cause cancer, and clean it properly must be a pain... On a occasion that I may need a cooler for more than 2-3 days I will likely use this idea... The frozen water bottle is a thing I also have done for years to save on the ice I put inside the cooler, but I also pack some loose ice and ice inside zip bags.. On day trips (beach, racetrack, etc) I only use the frozen bottles and a cheap cooler...

For how many hours coul I carry raw chicken in one of this coolers

Thank you for this video. I like to go away fishing for sometimes over several days. Even though it has wheels, it's such a struggle for me to haul an ice filled cooler around. Additionally, even with a four day cooler, the ice barely lasts 2 days. I'm definitely going to give this a try. Thank you!

Why don't they make a vaccum insulated cooler like they do the stainless water bottles?

Bless you.. seriously, bless you. lol

I use to use 1/2 gal. Plastic 2:10 Milk jugs put in freezer tighten down the caps they last 5 days

I've been using frozen water bottles for years due to the ability to re-use them. I like the foam idea to make them last even longer. with the condensation from the bottle defrosting, do you have a problem with the foam getting wet and eventually molding?

I like the cardboard juice or milk containers. Rectangle is more user friendly.

I use Buck Jam jugs that I freeze. I can put them in the cooler and inside a deer body cavity. GREAT insulation idea!!

Do this with an old beat up toolbox spray foam the seams. Perfect camoflage

It's not bear proof though....lol ;)

I've seen yeti's on the back of trucks. I wouldn't have the balls to steal someone's expensive cooler.

Great tips - except for the ice. Ice sucks. Cooler shock ice packs are amazing - just search for them. Make sure you get the ZeroF ones. if you leave them for at least 48 hours in a freezer that is at least 20F or lower, they will get below zero. They are almost as good as dry ice. If they still offer the mesh bags for them make sure you get them! These things are so cold stuff will freeze to the bare bags so you do want to warp them in something. I forget where I saw them but I'm so glad I tried them- it's unbelievable how much better they perform than ice! I have some that are over five years old and get used weekly and they still perform great so they are a good value too.

Also you will have fresh clean drinking water especially when saltwater fishing

Works better than a high dollar cooler. Nice video

Possibly drill holes and fill with spray foam and save the space and still get the same R value just a thought

Great video. I also love your tool bench. 👍👍

This project would be good practice with a hot knife to cut tabs along the sides and have the foam pieces interlock with each other.

Hey brotha, I like your style! Great setup!

And your cooler didn’t betray the 2A hunting community like yet e other company did . LoL 😂

Thanks for the video, you just saved a new hunter a ton of cash!

Cold air sinks so you should place your bottles of ice on top or inter fix with what ever place inside

Just glue razor blades under the handles of your Yeti. One guy did and the thief dropped it and there was a trail of blood. Lol. Thanks for the video 👍

You just attempted to make a Yeti😂. I do like the idea of freezing the water bottles. You might be able to fit one elk quarter in that.

Ultra-efficient low cost solution. Thanks. My 2cents...both concerning the water bottles and not your cool cooler upgrade. - If you're concerned about burst water bottles, than squeeze some air/water out, and with the bottle still compressed, reseal before freezing. This gives the water room to expand. - In hot-humid conditions, to prevent pooling condensation, wrap the frozen water bottles with paper towels and rubber band in place. This also gives you a cool wet towel "in-hand" to wipe down with when it's time to drink the water. Add water to the towel as necessary.

Very very .smart tips thank you .l.learn somethings every day .this is one of tham .thank😂

I believe another advantage here is not having to pre-cool the cooler in order for it to stay cool. Roto Molded coolers must be pre-cooled to get them to last for a week or so, otherwise the cooler must absorb the cold first and a lot is lost right there. This idea seems to be less likely to need pre-cooling.

Slap a little bit of dry ice in it too and you could actually freeze the you put in the cooler. As it “melts” also no moisture

One of the biggest tips I learned is to put the two small pieces of wood underneath the cooler to allow airflow this will also help keep everything colder longer

Can you use large ziploc freezer bags with water from the tap?

Amazing idea! I appreciate the knowledge that you share! Happy hunting🙏🏿

I use gallon water jugs that have square sides. The bigger the ice the slower than melt.

YETI Coolers don't have much space. Takes up most of his space with his insulation...

so i think i wanna do this, BUT put wheels on the outside and maybe turn it into a cooler trailer.

if you want to use smaller cooler think i would put insulation on outside except for maybe the bottom

I've been using 1/2 gal plastic fruit juice bottles for years. Freeze them in salt water and line the bottom of the cooler. Always hated the water mess left with melted ice, and people would drain out and waste this cold water. Never heard of anyone else ever doing this, you are a thinker too!!

I like your idea but ice cold brew is the best 😊 good for perishables 😊

Hey that is a really great idea! I'm thinking of doing this to my cooler for fishing. My only concern is how well does the pink foam stand up to blood/slime? Is it easily washable or is it just going to soak up all that stuff?