"Redneck" Yeti Cooler
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: Non-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Mods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Same as podmods, just... not for pods
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11521
Printed Date: 03 May 2025 at 2:42am
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Topic: "Redneck" Yeti Cooler
Posted By: DavMar
Subject: "Redneck" Yeti Cooler
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 8:36pm
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Thought I’d share this mod I did on an old Coleman cooler
I have. Like many of you we carry an extra cooler with us when were camping in
order to keep drinks cold and such to free up refrigerator space. After buying
a bag on ice once a day or more in the summer while out camping I said this is
crazy but even crazier is spending $400 plus to buy a Yeti cooler or one of
their competitors just so we can have ice for more then a day. After some research,
seeing some youtube video’s, I said I can do this do this and improve the cooling
function for cheap. I took our ratty fade burgundy cooler we had and first lined the box with foam board on sides, top, and bottom. Gluing the foam board in with silicon calk and sealing the seams with the same calk to make it water proof and then using metal foil duct tape to seal the top and lid area. Well just this simple modification extended a bag of ice from one day to three! Now I decided to see if I can get one or maybe two more days cooling by using injectable foam insulation in the lid of the cooler because they put zero insulation there. So out with my 1” hole saw and I drilled six holes in the lid so I can easily spray the foam insulation inside and fill the void. After it set I cut always the excess dried insulation and then filled the holes with some auto body filler I had. Repainted the cooler to match the Pod and our truck and think it turned out pretty good. Now the question is will the extra work filling the lid with insulation foam extend the cooling capacity? Only time will tell but I’m already pleased with the money saved on ice.
------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Replies:
Posted By: MelissaJoy
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 8:39am
| This is great! It is insane to spend $400 for a cooler. Nice work. |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 10:03am
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We modified our Engel cooler by wrapping it with 3 layers of reflectix on the outside. We have had solid block ice or frozen gallon jugs last as long as 8 days. here is the lower section for the cooler-it has cutouts for the handles and latches, there is a velcro closure on the left side https://postimg.cc/ZBT11V3p">  The top is separate and easily pulls off for access https://postimg.cc/hzpHgTbw">  together https://postimg.cc/gnwfFwwS">  Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 10:08am
Thanks for the compliment. We've used this cooler for a couple years now. Yes, it doesn't match the performance of a Yeti cooler but its also be made for a fraction of the cost. A bag of ice will keep things cool for more then a day so that's all we need to store our "adult" beverages  ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 10:17am
Not a bad idea! I used Reflectix insulation to wrap a electric powered BBQ smoker with great results. Before I did that I had to crank it full blast to get it up to 250 degrees on a cold day. Now it makes that temperature in low medium range a big improvement! So I can see how wrapping my "redneck Yetti cooler" would help. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 10:19am
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That is great, thanks for sharing! Now I have more 'stuff' to do in my spare time. Have an older Coleman cooler (green 1976) that is going to get an upgrade! ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Pete Brayton
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 11:03am
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Amateur astronomers use Reflectix to slow the temperature change issues with our telescopes. I also have some leftover pieces that fit my 196 windows. ------------- 2021 Rpod 196 2013 Ford 150 V8 |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 11:24am
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I am definitely liking and following this thread. Some great idea's for upgrading an old cooler or 2 we have at our camp. They are useless for keeping anything cold for any length of time, and we need a cooler (for fridge overflow) in the back of the truck for our road trip this summer (once we get our ordered 192). Adding left over reflectix from when we built our sauna several years ago seems like a great way to use up some of the things I can't just throw away! Spare Reflectix for the windows in the trailer is a great idea as well, both for heat and cold management. Keep the great ideas coming! ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 11:45am
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Hmmm...now this thread is making the old light on the thinking cap go off! I have some left over Reflectix, from my BBQ smoker project (which by the way now looks like a rocket ship that's missing nose cone) which I can use to glue to the inside on the foam board of my "redneck" Yeti cooler for even more efficacy. Since the stuff is only plastic bubble rap covered with reflective foil on both sides ..... hmmm! ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: MelissaJoy
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 11:50am
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When you put this on your windows, did you get a lot of condensation between the window and the Reflectix overnight when it was cooler outside? @campman |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 12:35pm
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Hi Melissa, I haven't used it yet but echoed the post Pete Brayton made just above. It is a very good question...so how about it Pete...have you experienced moisture buildup with the reflectix in place in cooler weather? Thanks in advance for your time in answering this! ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: Pete Brayton
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 1:52pm
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I haven't noticed it but I usually don't leave it up when camping, just when in storage. I think as long as you leave a window or vent open a bit that helps with condensation when camping.. ------------- 2021 Rpod 196 2013 Ford 150 V8 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 06 Apr 2021 at 8:05pm
I would think you would have some. Several years ago we took out the curtains that covered the rear window in our 177. It was replaced with a 2x cellular shade. Two tests were taken when temps were in the mid 40's with the heater running. Furnace was set for 60 degrees at 7 pm with two people inside for the most part until 7 am the next day - so a 12 hour test. With all windows shut and the cellular shade down there was still a fair amount of moisture build up between the shade and window, in fact we probably were able to decant nearly 2 oz. of water that sat in the two window channels. Next night we opened two windows about 1/2" each on opposite sides of the bed that flanked the cellular shade. Next morning there was still some moisture but not very much and the good news was there was no water in the two window channels at the bottom of the rear window. So keeping some ventilation is critically important to keep things dry. With two people breathing all night long, a fair amount of moisture is released. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Apr 2021 at 9:10pm
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We have Reflectix in the windows of our 179 except the kitchen and door windows. I have not noticed moisture build-up, but then again, I usually have the vent open a little and the door window open a little Since I put in the window that can open, I can do that. The non-opening windows that come with the newer RPods can't. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 5:24am
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If you can get the reflectix tightly up against the glass then you shouldn't get condensation behind it because there won't be humid air from inside the trailer getting in there. The inside surface of the insulation will be much warmer than the windows were so you shouldnt get much there either. That water is going to want to condense somewhere though so it might be the walls or ceiling instead.
As Jato says,ventilation is important as is not leaving damp stuff out or water in pans, sinks, or showers. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: MelissaJoy
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 7:25am
| Thanks for all of the info! |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2021 at 7:54am
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Good things to keep in mind indeed. Now I just have to wait till I can get to our camp to bring home some leftover Reflectix and at least one old cooler modded up for this summer! ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |