wrong forum maybe, but TJ related....cooler opinions

[kodiak1232003]

we have a metal coleman, classic, but latch is a bit wonky and doesn't close well.

also have the 20.00 classic blue coleman...

both are good for about a day and a half of ice...

any easy fixes for the metal cooler? or

any good buys for less than a hundred?

i have a tj unlimited if you don't know...


(or you can direct me to the thread that talks all about this... )

[grahamfitter]

Brian,

Try the COOLers thread - my vote is for the Coleman Extreme - keeps ice for ages :-)

Cheers,
Graham

[BC Explorer]

I totally agree with the Coleman Extremes, I have two and they work awesome.
I used block ice frozen in 2 liter jugs as well as gel packs to put around meat.
I have also started to use dry ice and will give feed back soon.

Christopher

[kodiak1232003]

great stuff, thanks for the info and the link...just what i was looking for.


i talked to my wife about it and she's very much a cooler girl. told her about the travelers here that like canned/dry goods, and she thought moving the bulk of our stuff towards being dry/storable was a good plan...

but, she's got a very strong emotional connection to coolers, packing them, going on ice runs, etc...

so, i see a coleman extreme in our future. lol.

even if we could afford a fridge, i don't know if we'd get one. the kind of trips we take usually put us less than an hour or so from a supply of ice.

now, if we got into hardcore expeditions like some of you, i'd rethink it...but we'll have to see.

brian

[kodiak1232003]

so, with my cooler question answered,

i'm hijacking my own thread.

any experiences, opinions on jeep unlimited's (jk or tj) rear inside or rear outside storage??

we don't really want a roofrack due to the fact that we already only get about 15-16mpg...

so we'd like to keep as much inside as possible

1. cooler
2. tent (we have a maggiolina, but are ground tenting it due to two small kids)
3. folding camp chairs
4. dry food
5. clothes
6. firewood(big issue due to bugs/splinters etc. )
7. etc

might end up getting some type of jamboree rack...

no space to store a trailer, though...so that's out.

[goodtimes]

A few years ago I built a rack that clamps to the factory roll bar (such that it is) in the bakc of my TJ. It was high enough to slide the cooler, a milk crate and tool box underneath it (all the heavy stuff), and still have easy access to the light stuff on top. Cost was around $60 in materials, assuming you have access to a welding rig and cutting tools. Brad Kilby used to sell a similar rack, but his was a bit more refined, powder coated, etc., but ~$300-ish.

A side benefit to these kinds of racks is that with the top and doors off, it left a fairly secure storage spot in the back. The only access was through the door-hole, past the seats. Good enough to keep things secure while you run inside for a bite to eat, etc.

[grahamfitter]

Hi Brian,

I have a 3/4 inch plywood shelf that sits on the tub edges of my TJ, secured through the bolt holes used for the hard top. It has cut-outs at the back for the roll cage and seat belt squares and covers almost all of the tub. There are also anchor points where the bolts are to strap stuff down but I don't usually bother.

It turns out the shelf is just high enough so a coleman extreme cooler and one of those square blue 5 gallon water jugs can slide underneath.

You might be able put a similar shelf behind the rear seat in an Unlimited but I've never seen one close up so I don't have a feel for how much space you have to play with back there. Do your kids have legs that need space yet or can you put lots of stuff on the floor between the front and back seats?

I also have a roof box on the rack. It doesn't seem to affect the gas mileage compared with the rack and no roof box.

As goodtimes says the security aspect is a plus, but I found the best thing is its possible to slide the big things like cooler, lawn chairs, etc in and out without having to move anything around.

Cheers,
Graham

[kodiak1232003]

Hi Brian,

I have a 3/4 inch plywood shelf that sits on the tub edges of my TJ, secured through the bolt holes used for the hard top. It has cut-outs at the back for the roll cage and seat belt squares and covers almost all of the tub. There are also anchor points where the bolts are to strap stuff down but I don't usually bother.
that there's a great idea, i'll bet that would work well in my situation (money, time-not enough of either...lol)

It turns out the shelf is just high enough so a coleman extreme cooler and one of those square blue 5 gallon water jugs can slide underneath.

You might be able put a similar shelf behind the rear seat in an Unlimited but I've never seen one close up so I don't have a feel for how much space you have to play with back there. Do your kids have legs that need space yet or can you put lots of stuff on the floor between the front and back seats?
there's quite a bit of space, maybe 2-2.5' x 3.5'.....and yeah the space between the front and back seats are up for grabs as far as
storage...didn't even think of that. i also want to use the fenderwells somehow...either with a jerry can holder on each side(water) or maybe sidesaddle type soft bags.


I also have a roof box on the rack. It doesn't seem to affect the gas mileage compared with the rack and no roof box. what would you say your losses were once you had the roof rack up there? 1-2mpg?

As goodtimes says the security aspect is a plus, but I found the best thing is its possible to slide the big things like cooler, lawn chairs, etc in and out without having to move anything around.


Cheers,
Graham

thanks

[articulate]

I totally agree with the Coleman Extremes, I have two and they work awesome.

The one we had lasted 4 years. Like bubble gum, it just lost its "power" over time.

[grahamfitter]

what would you say your losses were once you had the roof rack up there? 1-2mpg?

Actually I don't know because other things changed around the same time but it sounds about right.

Cheers,
Graham