For a 16QT the first idea that comes to mind is low profile ice packs instead of ice. I like the IceCool brand. Using those and a water tight container for any dry goods would keep things very cool and leave as much space as possible for beverages and such.
This totally works! I have been doing it for years. I line the bottom of my Igloo 50 qt BMX with freezer packs, load my frozen items in the bottom of the tray ( tray is the liner from a soft side coler), cold food on top of that, drinks on the bottom of the cooler and fill it with ice. I can get up to 4 days like that. On a recent trip on day 3 (daytime temps in the high 80's)the ice was still so hard on the drink side, I was poking holes in cans trying to get them out.
The best cooler hack I've used is called the coolertray, they have a video on you tube. Wasn't sure it would work but now I use them in all my coolers. Ice in my 75L cooler lasts at least a week in the so cal desert (90+deg as long as it's in the shade). If you don't want to spent the $25, then just make them yourself. Measure the bottom inside of your cooler, buy a food grade cutting board and cut it on a table saw about 1/8 smaller than your measurement, round the corners with a file, hot glue some PVC fittings on the bottom to lift it about 1 inch and drill some holes in it to drain the water through (make sure at least one of the holes is big enough for your finger so it easy to remove). Then use the drain plug to drain out the extra water every couple on days. I've done this with my last six coolers, It works great!
Thanks for watching! I have a very similar tray made out of an old street sign in one of my big coolers. I used the sign because I needed less flex from all the weight on top of it.
If you're time conscious, just buy some waste baskets from an office supply store or department store. I bet some of the smaller sizes will fit in there.
@PenguinOutdoors I'm also wondering about bouancy. As ice melts, the containers will get forced up. I like to use frozen water bottles. After the ice melts, you get something cold to drink or refreeze. No drippy mess to clean up, either. It depends on how much freezer space you have.
I typically use cooler tubes (another video) but when using ice I always drain off water as the ice melts. In this particular cooler ice melting is never an issue as that hapens very slowly.@@ronyerke9250
@@PenguinOutdoorsso I may look into that this week cuze a tray would be awesome have a small ozark trail cooler I 4 got the size I think 28 quart or 16 quart
Good tip!! My BMX coolers both hold ice for a few days in the summer so they are working pretty great. I'll keep this in mind incase they start to loose some of the hold.
i also used freezer gasket. and when your hinges break, igloo does not offer a replacement.Don`t ditch it. I used a piece of ratchet strap for the hinge. its been working for years now.
I appreciate people who get a lot of satisfaction from mods but often times they search for any sort of improvement and it becomes overkill. I mean these are coolers, this one in particular is a good one. Just add ice, food and drink, and youre good to go. I do like a divider type system but Id never use it to carry cook burners or lighters or anything thats not edible and drinkable.
So in my testing I found that when the bin sat flat on the bottom of the cooler it caused this moisture effect inside the bin from the bottom up that got things inside wet. It doesn't happen from the ice or packs being up against the side. I don't know why, but creating a space between the bin and the cooler bottom stopped it. So being on the right side is partially OCD, but it also leaves a slight gap because of the drain that makes the lid shut perfectly. If the bin is all the way up against the side it gets just barely in the way of the lid closing. Thanks for watching!
I have BMX model coolers and they match up performance wise with Yeti's of the same size, so I don't change their design as far as insulation. Cheap coolers or coolers not meant to perform at that level benefit greatly from added insulation. Thanks for watching!
Just watching odd videos on RUclips and I came across yours and I'm thinking I guess that's a great idea but why don't you just use you old soft cooler for dry ingredients, plates forks knives cooking utensils... just asking 😊 That way you can put more stuff in the other cooler use that idea of yours for like large milk containers or something to keep them upright
Thanks for watching! When camping in situations where space and how much gear you can carry is limited, like on a kayak for example, you have to make the most of the space you have. Taking more containers, coolers, etc is not always an option.
I would not recommend dry ice for a cooler. It can release dangerous gas, burn the skin, is dangerous to kids, and is bad news if accidentally ingested. To each their own but I would encourage my viewers not to take that advice.
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What kind of cooler are you looking to hack or upgrade?
I want to upgrade my small igloo 16 qt latitude cooler...Do you have any ideas please ??
For a 16QT the first idea that comes to mind is low profile ice packs instead of ice. I like the IceCool brand. Using those and a water tight container for any dry goods would keep things very cool and leave as much space as possible for beverages and such.
This totally works! I have been doing it for years. I line the bottom of my Igloo 50 qt BMX with freezer packs, load my frozen items in the bottom of the tray ( tray is the liner from a soft side coler), cold food on top of that, drinks on the bottom of the cooler and fill it with ice. I can get up to 4 days like that. On a recent trip on day 3 (daytime temps in the high 80's)the ice was still so hard on the drink side, I was poking holes in cans trying to get them out.
Hey thanks for watching! The liner from a soft sided cooler is a great idea!
cool
The best cooler hack I've used is called the coolertray, they have a video on you tube. Wasn't sure it would work but now I use them in all my coolers. Ice in my 75L cooler lasts at least a week in the so cal desert (90+deg as long as it's in the shade). If you don't want to spent the $25, then just make them yourself. Measure the bottom inside of your cooler, buy a food grade cutting board and cut it on a table saw about 1/8 smaller than your measurement, round the corners with a file, hot glue some PVC fittings on the bottom to lift it about 1 inch and drill some holes in it to drain the water through (make sure at least one of the holes is big enough for your finger so it easy to remove). Then use the drain plug to drain out the extra water every couple on days. I've done this with my last six coolers, It works great!
Thanks for watching! I have a very similar tray made out of an old street sign in one of my big coolers. I used the sign because I needed less flex from all the weight on top of it.
Dude that sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing it.
If you're time conscious, just buy some waste baskets from an office supply store or department store. I bet some of the smaller sizes will fit in there.
I bet they would! I would still elevate it off of the bottom a little, though. Thanks for watching!
@PenguinOutdoors I'm also wondering about bouancy. As ice melts, the containers will get forced up. I like to use frozen water bottles. After the ice melts, you get something cold to drink or refreeze. No drippy mess to clean up, either. It depends on how much freezer space you have.
I typically use cooler tubes (another video) but when using ice I always drain off water as the ice melts. In this particular cooler ice melting is never an issue as that hapens very slowly.@@ronyerke9250
that's was cool. good idea. so just Have to measure about what ever size cooler a person has to get the plastic bin to fit inside nice
Yup pretty much! The dollar store is a great place to find cheap plastic bins
@@PenguinOutdoorsso I may look into that this week cuze a tray would be awesome have a small ozark trail cooler I 4 got the size I think 28 quart or 16 quart
Hey penguin I put a d freezer gasket in the lid of my bmx and for ice retention it works great. Might try it out.
Good tip!! My BMX coolers both hold ice for a few days in the summer so they are working pretty great. I'll keep this in mind incase they start to loose some of the hold.
i also used freezer gasket. and when your hinges break, igloo does not offer a replacement.Don`t ditch it. I used a piece of ratchet strap for the hinge. its been working for years now.
I appreciate people who get a lot of satisfaction from mods but often times they search for any sort of improvement and it becomes overkill. I mean these are coolers, this one in particular is a good one. Just add ice, food and drink, and youre good to go. I do like a divider type system but Id never use it to carry cook burners or lighters or anything thats not edible and drinkable.
To each their own! The beauty of choice
That tray that comes with some coolers to store dry goods? Fill it with water, freeze & use as an ice block.
Great idea!
I use spring loaded shelves that they sell for school lockers during back to school sales
That is a cool / creative idea! Thanks for watching and sharing your idea!
spring loaded shelves? sounds cool do they adjust yo any size cooler or ?
@@1234y7-t yes
What if you were to put the storage bin on the left hand side, then you would not have to worry about water flowing out the bottom.
So in my testing I found that when the bin sat flat on the bottom of the cooler it caused this moisture effect inside the bin from the bottom up that got things inside wet. It doesn't happen from the ice or packs being up against the side. I don't know why, but creating a space between the bin and the cooler bottom stopped it. So being on the right side is partially OCD, but it also leaves a slight gap because of the drain that makes the lid shut perfectly. If the bin is all the way up against the side it gets just barely in the way of the lid closing. Thanks for watching!
@@PenguinOutdoors okay, good to know!
Good tip, thanks for the vid.
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
Why 15k view but no SUBS ? Guys, let's help this guy out !
I like how you think! Thanks for watching!
I have 2 igloo coolers. One is a 4 day cube cooler, and I believe that the other is an igloo extreme. Is it worthwhile to insulate them
I have BMX model coolers and they match up performance wise with Yeti's of the same size, so I don't change their design as far as insulation. Cheap coolers or coolers not meant to perform at that level benefit greatly from added insulation. Thanks for watching!
Just watching odd videos on RUclips and I came across yours and I'm thinking I guess that's a great idea but why don't you just use you old soft cooler for dry ingredients, plates forks knives cooking utensils... just asking 😊
That way you can put more stuff in the other cooler use that idea of yours for like large milk containers or something to keep them upright
Thanks for watching! When camping in situations where space and how much gear you can carry is limited, like on a kayak for example, you have to make the most of the space you have. Taking more containers, coolers, etc is not always an option.
Soft cooler would get water in it.
Or you can put dry ice inside that side bucket inside the cooler.
I would not recommend dry ice for a cooler. It can release dangerous gas, burn the skin, is dangerous to kids, and is bad news if accidentally ingested. To each their own but I would encourage my viewers not to take that advice.
Don't put your stove in the cooler! Always keep stuff that burns fuel like stoves away from food. Just cause, in the least in can impart bad flavors!
I’ve been doing this for about 25 years without any issues.
Eight minutes to watch a guy put a trash can in a cooler for dry storage
That’s not a trash can
Get to the point.
You're welcome to fast forward any time you feel the need. Thanks for watching!
I was 2 mins in and thought the same lol. Too many mentions of what he was going to do but instead did something else... to each their own.