Nice job. I did something like this a while back (but not to the extent that you have). I solved my insulation soaking problems by using two 50 gallon trash bags to hold the ice and food on the inside. I effectively made a water tight container on the inside so the melted water never touched the insulation. I did have some problems with condensation (but this did not yield anywhere near the amount of water as the melting ice). I reduced that problem by folding the tops of the bags over the edge of the cooler, cutting the excess bag off and then taping them to the out side of the cooler. This made a nearly airtight seal so no additional moisture laden air could get in between the bag and the insulation and then condense out as liquid water. After this, I never found dampness. But I still blow dry the cooler with a fan after use.
suggestion on the foam liner.. there are different types of foam board available with different R-values. you used expanded polystyrene board (EPS), which looks like tiny white balls of foam pressed together - similar to the styrofoam used for coffee cups. That has an R-value of 3.5 to 4 per inch of thickness... so at 1.5", and being generous on the R-value, you added an R-value of approximately 6 The next type is extruded polystyrene (XPS), which depending on the manufacturer, is usually either blue, pink or grey. This has an R-value of ~5 per inch of thickness. best choice would be polyisocyanurate (Iso-board) which has an R-value of 7-8 per inch... so one inch isoboard would insulate better than your 1.5" EPS, which would leave your cooler with more room for ice, food and drink I'm not meaning to bash what you did, just giving some suggestions if you ever decide to re-do your liner, or do another cooler... or give options for others who might be looking into this now that the summer is upon us :)
All 3 types are available at major home improvement stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc) and most larger independent lumberyards. The better stuff is sometimes called Iso-board, R-board, Tuff-R or High-R sheathing. it usually has a silver foil on one side, a colored plastic face (black, grey, white, blue, depending on manufacturer) on the other, and the foam core is usually sort of a yellowish-beige color. When you rub your fingers on the edge, it comes off in sort of a yellowy powder.
that was very creative and resourceful and that's what America needs to come back to a time when people were creative and resourceful and didn't depend on Corporate America for everything I remember the days when people made things that they needed so folks let's share our talents with others so we can get back to the good old days
Love the thought and idea. Downside is the aesthetics of the cooler. Not something I would want to show off to other professionals, but I do like the ingenuity.
blee0518 haha I just did that with one and was going to with my second one. My Coleman old sportsman was the first and after I went through all that trouble I realized the freakin lid doesn't even seal tight to the body when closing it anyway! No wonder it never held ice. I could throw two bags of ice in it wait about two hours in 90 weather and it would be half melted. I had to constantly keep throwing ice in it and now I know why it's just a reject cooler or not designed right in the first place.
Great idea!! Two comments: 1) the yeti is heavier because the plastic case is about 2 to 3 times thicker inside and out. 2) You might get more heat/cold reflection power from the insulation if you would put the aluminium face on the inside...the white insulation back to back thus making the aluminum more exposed to work.
Cody Ives By no means am I comparing this project to the durability of YETI. I have seen the videos and those coolers can take a beating like no one else can. I know my cooler wouldn't last five minutes with a bear but it will hold ice longer now. Thank you for watching.
I bought a small Styrofoam cooler that fits inside my coleman. It eliminated the need for fitting pieces together. keeps ice about 24hrs depending on weather temps
Always had the same idea! The main reason Yeti's are so expensive is because of the bear proof features, crush proof and resistant latches. Not that they don't make excellent products, but a total waste of money for things like a day float trip. Gonna Yeti-ish my old hand me down cooler from the 80s!
I've always wondered if these inexpensive coolers have any insulation inside their plastic walls. I was thinking about turning a cooler upside down and drilling half inch holes through the bottom and then foaming inside the walls of the cooler and plugging the holes with black plastic plugs. I like what you have done. I have a 70 quart cooler that would be a candidate for your process. I'm concerned that you may experience a mold problem is moisture is trapped between the layers of foam inside the cooler.
Some of the cheap coolers have insulation, sometimes really quality one, but others are just double walls with empty space. Filling foam is a good idea. Cheers.
Great video, I really don't know why Yeti coolers are so over priced. This is a great why to update older coolers or build one better. Thanks brother. Look forward to your Ice Cooler test this weekend. Cheers from South Carolina.
Richard Socalpipesmoker I'm not saying the Yeti price is justified but they are rotomolded plastic with thick injected foam insulation. They can fall off a truck and highway speed, bounce around, and still be ok. And they will keep ice for a very long time for many years. That said I just purchased a K2 cooler Summit 120 because I think Yeti costs to much.
How is the adhesive on that tape holding up to moisture?Also that insulation looks somewhat porous and May harbor mold and bacteria. Would love to see it after 10 plus uses.
Remove the black rubber and replace with a slice of the white stuff and board in with one big piece of white. Keeps it uniform. Seals nicer and for 70$ looks awesome.
Very nice. Did you consider getting the foam in a can and just puncture the outside plastic layer of cooler and fill the void between the two layers with the spray foam. This would not invade your space inside the cooler.
The nice thing about a yeti is you can stand atop them without damaging the lid. they also have anti slip foot pads on the bottom. I'm sure you can find something for the feet.
this is what I'm going to do foe the backyard wood cooler I'm going to make hubby. the ice melts way too fast. I was going to put it on the out side ...but now I'm going to put it on the inside. thanks
Nice cooler . I do have a yeti and it does well. Spe Spendy and to large to take canoeing. I'm gonna give this a shot with a smaller cooler I have around. I was told years ago however, that white foam is not so good around moisture...pink stuff is what to use. Any input? Is your white foam holding up well?
my only thought was that as ice melts it will leak under the tape somewhere and get water trapped between the cooler and the insulation. I have a solution- seal it with gayco silcone coating! it will make it 100% water proof. I use it in the roofing industry and it is also used for pools and sidewalks.
LoveThyPitBull good point, but it's used in pools, so I can't see the harm in using it for a cooler. Also, the other materials used in this project are not food grade. Gayco works so well you can paint the inside of a cardboard box with it and it'll hold water indefinitely. It's 100% silicone. Silicone is used in aquariums and is food grade safe so it does not leech. I'd much rather use a cooler that was lined with gayco then with styrofoam and aluminum tape. Just sayin'...
Insert cut foam...preferably expanded polystyrene (EPS), same material as a Chic-fil-a cup. Silicone the seams inside the cooler, especially around drain. Tape off where lid fits inside, spray with flexseal or rubberized car undercoating. Bam! Waterproof, mildew proof.
I had thought about doing this but bought a pelican instead. One thing I thought of doing was spraying the foam with flex seal to waterproof it. Great job though.
dragonmyst000 I have an Ozark yeti Knick off and it’s pretty just the way it. I would leave it as is. I have done test and it will hold ice for at least 5 days in my car on a work week.
In addition to the foam insulation, I also added Reflextec aluminum insulation to the exterior. A bubble wrap with a bright chrome reflecting finish. Wrapped around the exterior , and to the top then starting with the bottom with dry ice..then water ice and I have had frozen meat out to 4 days. The water ice will stay frozen almost 3 days.Dry ice is a great way to keep the water ice frozen solid ((@32 degrees) instead of wasted airspace which needs to cool while it is being consumed cooling the air space aboveOf course keep at of direct sunlight.. .
toben42 you are correct. This video was done over a year ago. Since then I have purchased three. One igloo, one rtic, and one Ozark. They all work really well. I bought all with a discount. I refuse to pay for the Yeti. Too much Money. This cooler however has been great.
I have a question but I am sure that after this summer I will have the answer, Is that cooler is empty between the inside liner and out side case. ( before you did the install? In case I did not make sense the walls of the cooler are they empty between the two walls. If so why not just make a few holes and fill in the space with low expanding insulation foam? Then line your inside with a sheet of thermal blankets.. this way you do not lose the space
Ok I was wondering I have 4 coolers here, two are material ( i love em the fold up and stay cool all day long) and I have two large plastic one with out wheels. I bought them for all their capabilities and the loss of space is bad. I do wonder that between the foam and cooler humidity will collect and mold or items you have leak into it like soda and such.. It is a great idea really. I have two material one that fold up and we put it in our bike trailers. those can and do keep all our stuff cool in the sun.
nice cooler only thing I would do a little differently; turn the shinny side in to reflect the cold back. leave the shinny side out on the outside layer. self explan.
I built one very similar and used an old knife with a metal ruler to cut the insulation foam panels. I would heat up the knife with a torch every time I was going to make a cut and it will make a nice easy cut every time. Then used that metalic tape as well. I will be testing it pretty soon! thanks for the video and ideas
when your knife is really sharp, you really don't have to heat it as it will cut right through the foam effortlessly. Heating the knife, however, is a great way to cut and seal the foam. Thank you for watching
Did you test how effective the cooler was before and after the modification? I know those Coleman coolers work very well, and if the improvement (if any) is worth losing 20 quarts of storage space.
Cut another piece of foam sheet to cover the wheel well opening and seal it up with the foil tape. Squirt the expanding foam through a hole in the foam sheet piece. Just trim the expanding foam that leaks out of the hole and you’re done since the expanding foam is obviously self sealing.
Only problem is when the foam gets wet over and over from ice the foam will start falling apart and it will be soaking wet. You got to be able to protect the foam with some kind of plastic water proof sides. Otherwise great idea.
One thickness of foam would have worked okay too. Two thicknesses will give you alot of extra insulation. Good on ya. I have a much smaller coleman cooler and although its double wall, its just a dead air space. So I will drill holes into said dead air space and fill with sawdust. Should keep it cooler longer. Good video by the way.
What about spraying foam or some other foam or styrofoam on the inside,Shape it then fiberglass over it. Might work! Fill the hollow lid with low expansion spray foam.
whatfreedom7 I am thinking about fiberglass in the inside but worried about the food contamination possibilities. When it's all said and done though, getting a cooler that is already well insulted is the best way to go. I just purchased a 70qt igloo from Costco. And it is a beast foeb$199. Half the price of a yeti. It much easier to clean and I don't have to worry about it falling appart. My Coleman cooler is falling appart already and won't last much longer. My adaptation of foam has held together well. But if the cooler itself fails, then nothing works.
allritythen yeah im in the market for a new one too. My last Coleman was faulty and didn't even seal tight. I didn't even notice it till i put foam in the lid he other day. The thing would lose half its ice in about 2 hours it was so bad.
***** Thank you for watching, I was not sure when making the video what the exact qt amount was but I went back to BJ's and found out the My Coleman cooler is actually 75 QT. So I would say I still have 55qt left after conversion. A 20 pound bag fills it half way.
Nicely done, but water will most certainly loosen that tape and water will seep behind the foam and get nasty over time. I think a good coat of rhino liner or such would have made the perfect final touch. Great video!
I think I will give that try. I will also let the spray drip out of the spout to seal that area as well making sure no more water can bet between the layers.
You have the aluminum facing the outside instead of the inside. The foil is the radiant barrier that will prevent the cold items from being absorbed by the foam. The foil reflects the cold ( Heat).
The only thing I would say could be improved in your latch system was to use a lock nut or some loctite. Those bolts ever back off and you can't re-tighten them with out taking it apart. Hopefully that doesn't happen or maybe you did and didn't mention it. Either or food for thought. Oh and Food grade silicone would make the edges/cracks water proof with out the change of chemical transfer from regular silicon onto your food.
I think that if you were to use the silicon spray stuff from the "As seen on TV" it sould seal everything so you wouldn't have to worry about mold or anything getting behind the foam board. Good job. I think I will try this on one of my coolers.
Yo man you should check and see if there's any insulation in the walls of the chest. Because some just have air. But if not you could just drill a small hole on the outside layer. And spray foam inoculation inside the walls like a house. Add that to what your doing now and you can double your efficiency.
Compare it to a none modified cooler and see how well it does. Just the ones that get filled with insulation in the lid and a better seal out perform the yeti
Thy have that "Rubber Sealant" in a spray can that I bet would work great as a sealant for after all that you did....That plus what you did would be a good combo I think, anyway I thought this was an awsome DIY.
I just wrap dry ice with newspaper put it in the bottom then at regular ice so it can keep frozen then at frozen foods from there I'll just add cold foods then add a piece of that foam that you put on top of the cooler and it will last for a 5-day trip
You'll have problems with mold/sanitation. The porous material of the foam is a good area for it to form. In addition there is no way you can clean it. Unless you find a way to seal it somehow it's no good...
I would have turned it silver side showing in the cooler, then pick up a kit for spraying super hydrophobic coating. water won't stay=no mold. plus your spray makes a waterproof barrier. :-)
i would get some of that truck bed liner stuff in a can and try to seal up the inside. attempt to make it more waterproof/permanent. or maybe that herculiner stuff. might up the price quite a bit though.
these are both grate ideas the truck-bed liner the better of the two then again if you could get a thick enough costing of the flex-seal that would also work awesome the only reason I would lean more to the side of the truck-bed liner is it makes things indestructible I would even coat the outside with the stuff and you would have one of the most bad-ass coolers
Been seeing Ghetti videos and getting ideas to combine them and build one. I would consider using some WP caulking to add some sturdiness to the inside walls and ensure longevity.
I got a coleman 5 day cooler for 25$ at walmart it says 5 days but actually keeps ice 5 but keeps the water from the ice cool for 7 or 8 days. Its just like that cooler u got but blue& white the sides are a little thicker. way cheaper than yeti or any of the other ones but holds ice almost as long as those. just no lid locks& yeti& all those others none have wheels.
i like the idea, but, yeti use polyurethane for insulation, not polystyrene. much better R value in comparison hence the ice retention yeti is capable of
i bought a 30 quart engels with my 15% coupon for 59.49 .(its 15.more cause i got the one with 4 fishing rod holders attached. so yea ebay has ENGELS coolers half the weight of YETI !/4 the price and you don't have to play with all that extra stuff. so yea cheaper and better ebay check em out!! hope this helps you get a real cooler bro!! neat idea waste of money and time
Also Yeti has a lawsuit agains RTIC on a trademark infringement, I wonder how that will effect whether they can ship their product. Maybe the judge has stopped them from shipping, who knows. Makes me hold off purchasing until that is resolved. I would be curious if anyone is receiving a RTIC Cooler now.
+Keith Elgin It's a trademark infringement around advertising, not patent infringement. The only way it would stop them from shipping is by draining the coffers. Since RTIC is now sponsoring a Nascar team, I'm doubting $$ is an issue.
is that foam food safe though? gas vapour from the plastics and tape glue in the enclosed space. Does the foam touching the foods and leech chemicals into the food the way oils and chemicals in some food items can penetrate the plastic bags over time? plus how do you keep it dry on the otherside of the foam that's against the cooler. everybody spills juice and sauces in a cooler. The only good way to wash a cooler is with a hose. This idea no good for serious cooler users like those who buy Yeti's.
Another thing is that the coleman coolers do not have any insulation in the lids. I drilled holes into the lid and sprayed spray foam insulation inside the lid.
Nice job. I did something like this a while back (but not to the extent that you have). I solved my insulation soaking problems by using two 50 gallon trash bags to hold the ice and food on the inside. I effectively made a water tight container on the inside so the melted water never touched the insulation. I did have some problems with condensation (but this did not yield anywhere near the amount of water as the melting ice). I reduced that problem by folding the tops of the bags over the edge of the cooler, cutting the excess bag off and then taping them to the out side of the cooler. This made a nearly airtight seal so no additional moisture laden air could get in between the bag and the insulation and then condense out as liquid water. After this, I never found dampness. But I still blow dry the cooler with a fan after use.
suggestion on the foam liner.. there are different types of foam board available with different R-values.
you used expanded polystyrene board (EPS), which looks like tiny white balls of foam pressed together - similar to the styrofoam used for coffee cups. That has an R-value of 3.5 to 4 per inch of thickness... so at 1.5", and being generous on the R-value, you added an R-value of approximately 6
The next type is extruded polystyrene (XPS), which depending on the manufacturer, is usually either blue, pink or grey. This has an R-value of ~5 per inch of thickness.
best choice would be polyisocyanurate (Iso-board) which has an R-value of 7-8 per inch... so one inch isoboard would insulate better than your 1.5" EPS, which would leave your cooler with more room for ice, food and drink
I'm not meaning to bash what you did, just giving some suggestions if you ever decide to re-do your liner, or do another cooler... or give options for others who might be looking into this now that the summer is upon us :)
where can one purchase the third option?
All 3 types are available at major home improvement stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, etc) and most larger independent lumberyards.
The better stuff is sometimes called Iso-board, R-board, Tuff-R or High-R sheathing. it usually has a silver foil on one side, a colored plastic face (black, grey, white, blue, depending on manufacturer) on the other, and the foam core is usually sort of a yellowish-beige color. When you rub your fingers on the edge, it comes off in sort of a yellowy powder.
I'll check it out. The white stuff is not durable enough either. I bet I can find a plastic tote or something to line my cooler.
Don't lie Jesus.
You haaaaate it. Lol
That is some great information. Thank you for sharing.
that was very creative and resourceful and that's what America needs to come back to a time when people were creative and resourceful and didn't depend on Corporate America for everything I remember the days when people made things that they needed so folks let's share our talents with others so we can get back to the good old days
the way you film actually made me feel like I was on a boat, drinking all day long. very authentic feel!
lol
Love the thought and idea. Downside is the aesthetics of the cooler. Not something I would want to show off to other professionals, but I do like the ingenuity.
just drill holes in the top sides of cooler and fill with expandable foam. done.
blee0518 haha I just did that with one and was going to with my second one. My Coleman old sportsman was the first and after I went through all that trouble I realized the freakin lid doesn't even seal tight to the body when closing it anyway! No wonder it never held ice. I could throw two bags of ice in it wait about two hours in 90 weather and it would be half melted. I had to constantly keep throwing ice in it and now I know why it's just a reject cooler or not designed right in the first place.
Great idea!! Two comments: 1) the yeti is heavier because the plastic case is about 2 to 3 times thicker inside and out. 2) You might get more heat/cold reflection power from the insulation if you would put the aluminium face on the inside...the white insulation back to back thus making the aluminum more exposed to work.
I commen you for your ingenuity. Two thumbs up. In my case, the beer is usually gone before the ice melts anyway.
Necessity is the mother of all inventions. Good job!!
i think it's awesome man, don't sweat the haters...
Thank you. I appreciate your support
I would be cool if you can find a person with a Yeti and do a true comparison. I would bet it would be very competitive,
Walter White no hate but yeti coolers arnt just about insulation . its how durable they are they are meant to take a beating
Cody Ives By no means am I comparing this project to the durability of YETI. I have seen the videos and those coolers can take a beating like no one else can. I know my cooler wouldn't last five minutes with a bear but it will hold ice longer now. Thank you for watching.
fantastic idea, I just wondered why you didn't face the foil side of the foam board towards the inside?
cool idea, make sure you seal the btm up real good or it might mold under there.. you can get an RTIC probably cheaper ... same quality
I bought a small Styrofoam cooler that fits inside my coleman. It eliminated the need for fitting pieces together. keeps ice about 24hrs depending on weather temps
You can call it the "Ghetti". The low land (inner city) close relative of the "Yeti."
Outcast Outdoors , nice one
LOL!
Excellent comment
There’s a company out there somewhere that makes “Shitty” emblems that look just like the yeti logo. Pretty funny
Always had the same idea! The main reason Yeti's are so expensive is because of the bear proof features, crush proof and resistant latches. Not that they don't make excellent products, but a total waste of money for things like a day float trip. Gonna Yeti-ish my old hand me down cooler from the 80s!
I've always wondered if these inexpensive coolers have any insulation inside their plastic walls. I was thinking about turning a cooler upside down and drilling half inch holes through the bottom and then foaming inside the walls of the cooler and plugging the holes with black plastic plugs. I like what you have done. I have a 70 quart cooler that would be a candidate for your process. I'm concerned that you may experience a mold problem is moisture is trapped between the layers of foam inside the cooler.
Some of the cheap coolers have insulation, sometimes really quality one, but others are just double walls with empty space. Filling foam is a good idea. Cheers.
Great video, I really don't know why Yeti coolers are so over priced. This is a great why to update older coolers or build one better. Thanks brother. Look forward to your Ice Cooler test this weekend. Cheers from South Carolina.
Richard Socalpipesmoker
I'm not saying the Yeti price is justified but they are rotomolded plastic with thick injected foam insulation. They can fall off a truck and highway speed, bounce around, and still be ok. And they will keep ice for a very long time for many years. That said I just purchased a K2 cooler Summit 120 because I think Yeti costs to much.
You did a good job. The only issue I see is water leaking behind the foam and molding after use.
How is the adhesive on that tape holding up to moisture?Also that insulation looks somewhat porous and May harbor mold and bacteria. Would love to see it after 10 plus uses.
Remove the black rubber and replace with a slice of the white stuff and board in with one big piece of white.
Keeps it uniform. Seals nicer and for 70$ looks awesome.
Very nice. Did you consider getting the foam in a can and just puncture the outside plastic layer of cooler and fill the void between the two layers with the spray foam. This would not invade your space inside the cooler.
Nice and you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your $400 yeti
The nice thing about a yeti is you can stand atop them without damaging the lid. they also have anti slip foot pads on the bottom. I'm sure you can find something for the feet.
this is what I'm going to do foe the backyard wood cooler I'm going to make hubby. the ice melts way too fast. I was going to put it on the out side ...but now I'm going to put it on the inside. thanks
Nice cooler . I do have a yeti and it does well. Spe
Spendy and to large to take canoeing. I'm gonna give this a shot with a smaller cooler I have around. I was told years ago however, that white foam is not so good around moisture...pink stuff is what to use. Any input? Is your white foam holding up well?
So far so good. I have not had any problems with it yet. One solution would be to coat the inside with some food safe resin.
Any update on the ice test? Can you make a video, i am really interested in how it works out! Awesome idea .. Thanks
Good idea but wouldn't it have been better to turn the aluminum side toward the interior to reflect the cold toward the ice?
Do you think covering all the foam inside, especially the lid might make it more efficient?
Nice job! The poor mans Yeti. You could add a $30 can of roll on truck bed liner to the outside and make it much stronger.
"...and today, I had nothin' better to do, so..."
Some of my worst decisions started out like that! 😂
my only thought was that as ice melts it will leak under the tape somewhere and get water trapped between the cooler and the insulation. I have a solution- seal it with gayco silcone coating! it will make it 100% water proof. I use it in the roofing industry and it is also used for pools and sidewalks.
David Love You would need/want a food grade silicone to avoid any chemical transfer with food. The same type restaurants use in the food bars.
LoveThyPitBull good point, but it's used in pools, so I can't see the harm in using it for a cooler. Also, the other materials used in this project are not food grade. Gayco works so well you can paint the inside of a cardboard box with it and it'll hold water indefinitely. It's 100% silicone. Silicone is used in aquariums and is food grade safe so it does not leech. I'd much rather use a cooler that was lined with gayco then with styrofoam and aluminum tape. Just sayin'...
Insert cut foam...preferably expanded polystyrene (EPS), same material as a Chic-fil-a cup. Silicone the seams inside the cooler, especially around drain. Tape off where lid fits inside, spray with flexseal or rubberized car undercoating. Bam! Waterproof, mildew proof.
I had thought about doing this but bought a pelican instead. One thing I thought of doing was spraying the foam with flex seal to waterproof it. Great job though.
Very clever my friend...I love it
I plan on doing this to a Ozark 52qt cooler (Walmart Yeti knock off). Should stay cold for a good long time.
dragonmyst000 I have an Ozark yeti Knick off and it’s pretty just the way it. I would leave it as is. I have done test and it will hold ice for at least 5 days in my car on a work week.
Best thing you can leave it at camp and not worry bout a heart attack if some jerk walks off with it Good Job
So simple it is brilliant! Thanks for posting
In addition to the foam insulation, I also added Reflextec aluminum insulation to the exterior. A bubble wrap with a bright chrome reflecting finish. Wrapped around the exterior , and to the top then starting with the bottom with dry ice..then water ice and I have had frozen meat out to 4 days. The water ice will stay frozen almost 3 days.Dry ice is a great way to keep the water ice frozen solid ((@32 degrees) instead of wasted airspace which needs to cool while it is being consumed cooling the air space aboveOf course keep at of direct sunlight.. .
THe test results are in Please see: ua-cam.com/video/ksn2HT1CrnA/v-deo.html
There are so many good coolers, Rtic, orca, and so on. I'd just look for deals on one of them.
toben42 you are correct. This video was done over a year ago. Since then I have purchased three. One igloo, one rtic, and one Ozark. They all work really well. I bought all with a discount. I refuse to pay for the Yeti. Too much Money. This cooler however has been great.
Good video man, nice work and F the haters.
I have a question but I am sure that after this summer I will have the answer, Is that cooler is empty between the inside liner and out side case. ( before you did the install? In case I did not make sense the walls of the cooler are they empty between the two walls. If so why not just make a few holes and fill in the space with low expanding insulation foam? Then line your inside with a sheet of thermal blankets.. this way you do not lose the space
Jerry Grets the lid is empty and could be filled with foam. The walls of the cooler do have insulation
Ok I was wondering I have 4 coolers here, two are material ( i love em the fold up and stay cool all day long) and I have two large plastic one with out wheels. I bought them for all their capabilities and the loss of space is bad. I do wonder that between the foam and cooler humidity will collect and mold or items you have leak into it like soda and such.. It is a great idea really. I have two material one that fold up and we put it in our bike trailers. those can and do keep all our stuff cool in the sun.
looks good but what are you gonna do when many wet/dry uses, happens to start mold growing under your panels rip it out and do it again
Derek B after every use. Put a little bleach and swish it around then let dry. kills the mold
Nice video. Bottom line how it keeps the box in low temprature?
Well done & great video. Good for you thinking through & then doing this project.
nice cooler only thing I would do a little differently; turn the shinny side in to reflect the cold back. leave the shinny side out on the outside layer. self explan.
I built one very similar and used an old knife with a metal ruler to cut the insulation foam panels. I would heat up the knife with a torch every time I was going to make a cut and it will make a nice easy cut every time. Then used that metalic tape as well. I will be testing it pretty soon! thanks for the video and ideas
when your knife is really sharp, you really don't have to heat it as it will cut right through the foam effortlessly. Heating the knife, however, is a great way to cut and seal the foam. Thank you for watching
Did you test how effective the cooler was before and after the modification? I know those Coleman coolers work very well, and if the improvement (if any) is worth losing 20 quarts of storage space.
Yes I did, and you can watch the result. Click on the link to see the comparison.
You could seal the inside with foodsafe epoxy. Alumilite makes some, can get or make it white so it looks solid.
Cut another piece of foam sheet to cover the wheel well opening and seal it up with the foil tape. Squirt the expanding foam through a hole in the foam sheet piece. Just trim the expanding foam that leaks out of the hole and you’re done since the expanding foam is obviously self sealing.
Great DIY project!! I'm gonna try mine this weekend.
Only problem is when the foam gets wet over and over from ice the foam will start falling apart and it will be soaking wet. You got to be able to protect the foam with some kind of plastic water proof sides. Otherwise great idea.
One thickness of foam would have worked okay too. Two thicknesses will give you alot of extra insulation. Good on ya. I have a much smaller coleman cooler and although its double wall, its just a dead air space. So I will drill holes into said dead air space and fill with sawdust. Should keep it cooler longer. Good video by the way.
What about spraying foam or some other foam or styrofoam on the inside,Shape it then fiberglass over it. Might work! Fill the hollow lid with low expansion spray foam.
whatfreedom7 I am thinking about fiberglass in the inside but worried about the food contamination possibilities. When it's all said and done though, getting a cooler that is already well insulted is the best way to go. I just purchased a 70qt igloo from Costco. And it is a beast foeb$199. Half the price of a yeti. It much easier to clean and I don't have to worry about it falling appart. My Coleman cooler is falling appart already and won't last much longer. My adaptation of foam has held together well. But if the cooler itself fails, then nothing works.
allritythen yeah im in the market for a new one too. My last Coleman was faulty and didn't even seal tight. I didn't even notice it till i put foam in the lid he other day. The thing would lose half its ice in about 2 hours it was so bad.
Awesome, thanks for sharing. Going to have to make one of these myself.
***** Thank you for watching, I was not sure when making the video what the exact qt amount was but I went back to BJ's and found out the My Coleman cooler is actually 75 QT. So I would say I still have 55qt left after conversion. A 20 pound bag fills it half way.
Nicely done, but water will most certainly loosen that tape and water will seep behind the foam and get nasty over time.
I think a good coat of rhino liner or such would have made the perfect final touch. Great video!
Check out my follow up video and see the results. I posted the link in a comment Thank you for watching.
I watched the other video, it doesn't address the issue I stated. Thanks for the reply.
I took the cooler apart and there was no mold beneath the foam.
I still think it will be an issue eventually. I think the bed liner or rubber tool dip spray would be a great addition to your mod.
I think I will give that try. I will also let the spray drip out of the spout to seal that area as well making sure no more water can bet between the layers.
will the foam retain any moisture or potentially lead to mildew?
You have the aluminum facing the outside instead of the inside. The foil is the radiant barrier that will prevent the cold items from being absorbed by the foam. The foil reflects the cold ( Heat).
The only thing I would say could be improved in your latch system was to use a lock nut or some loctite. Those bolts ever back off and you can't re-tighten them with out taking it apart. Hopefully that doesn't happen or maybe you did and didn't mention it. Either or food for thought. Oh and Food grade silicone would make the edges/cracks water proof with out the change of chemical transfer from regular silicon onto your food.
LoveThyPitBull If my memory serve me, I do remember either putting loctite or a lock washer. Test coming soon
nice build.... a bit concern about mold under the foam
I know this was a long time ago.. but if you got some rattle can spray in bed liner you wouldn’t have any mold or mildew/ cleaning issues
I think that if you were to use the silicon spray stuff from the "As seen on TV" it sould seal everything so you wouldn't have to worry about mold or anything getting behind the foam board. Good job. I think I will try this on one of my coolers.
plus and i could be wrong but it could food safe after it cures...
+Preston Plambeck you are wrong. It isn't food safe and it off gases
Yo man you should check and see if there's any insulation in the walls of the chest. Because some just have air. But if not you could just drill a small hole on the outside layer. And spray foam inoculation inside the walls like a house. Add that to what your doing now and you can double your efficiency.
time for the 5 day ice challenge😎
Mmmm...can you use spray foam? I guess you would have to spray a really even coat.
Great low budget solution!
Nice Job on the demonstration. Thumbing-up
Couldn't you drill holes into the the sides of the cooler and fill it with expanding foam?
Good Job I hope it works well for you. You will need a way to keep it all dry maybe blue ice by Rubbermaid
so how did it do? Like a before and after test?
Compare it to a none modified cooler and see how well it does. Just the ones that get filled with insulation in the lid and a better seal out perform the yeti
There will be black mold behind the insulation if it gets wet.
Thy have that "Rubber Sealant" in a spray can that I bet would work great as a sealant for after all that you did....That plus what you did would be a good combo I think, anyway I thought this was an awsome DIY.
Nice job ! You must have a big kayak
What happened when you add ice? How did tape hold up?
I just wrap dry ice with newspaper put it in the bottom then at regular ice so it can keep frozen then at frozen foods from there I'll just add cold foods then add a piece of that foam that you put on top of the cooler and it will last for a 5-day trip
Add great stuff in the lid
You'll have problems with mold/sanitation. The porous material of the foam is a good area for it to form. In addition there is no way you can clean it. Unless you find a way to seal it somehow it's no good...
Lmao, at least he's honest by admitting he has nothing better else to do! lol
Good job! Great ingenuity!
I would have turned it silver side showing in the cooler, then pick up a kit for spraying super hydrophobic coating. water won't stay=no mold. plus your spray makes a waterproof barrier. :-)
Ohhhh, Duct tape and Stretching rope....Uunngghhh love it.
No worries about Snug Tight! that would be Me
😄😄😄!
By using aluminum tape you provided a thermal short circuit across your insulation.
Did you test to see how long the ice would last before and after? If so would you mind posting it thank you.
i would get some of that truck bed liner stuff in a can and try to seal up the inside. attempt to make it more waterproof/permanent. or maybe that herculiner stuff. might up the price quite a bit though.
Alex Carey flex seal maybe?
these are both grate ideas the truck-bed liner the better of the two then again if you could get a thick enough costing of the flex-seal that would also work awesome the only reason I would lean more to the side of the truck-bed liner is it makes things indestructible I would even coat the outside with the stuff and you would have one of the most bad-ass coolers
Been seeing Ghetti videos and getting ideas to combine them and build one. I would consider using some WP caulking to add some sturdiness to the inside walls and ensure longevity.
I got a coleman 5 day cooler for 25$ at walmart it says 5 days but actually keeps ice 5 but keeps the water from the ice cool for 7 or 8 days. Its just like that cooler u got but blue& white the sides are a little thicker. way cheaper than yeti or any of the other ones but holds ice almost as long as those. just no lid locks& yeti& all those others none have wheels.
What was the ambient temperature when you conducted this test?
90
I'm right there with you man, do it right and it will last!
i like the idea, but, yeti use polyurethane for insulation, not polystyrene. much better R value in comparison hence the ice retention yeti is capable of
i bought a 30 quart engels with my 15% coupon for 59.49 .(its 15.more cause i got the one with 4 fishing rod holders attached. so yea ebay has ENGELS coolers half the weight of YETI !/4 the price and you don't have to play with all that extra stuff. so yea cheaper and better ebay check em out!! hope this helps you get a real cooler bro!! neat idea waste of money and time
nice job but that's gonna be impossible to clean
Nice! Try the 3 or 5 day challenge. Would like to see the results
Cool! Can you make a test video to see how long it holds ice?
Why expose the foam side to moisture and not the foil side?
The foam side is protected by a plastic film.
Also Yeti has a lawsuit agains RTIC on a trademark infringement, I wonder how that will effect whether they can ship their product. Maybe the judge has stopped them from shipping, who knows. Makes me hold off purchasing until that is resolved. I would be curious if anyone is receiving a RTIC Cooler now.
+Keith Elgin It's a trademark infringement around advertising, not patent infringement. The only way it would stop them from shipping is by draining the coffers. Since RTIC is now sponsoring a Nascar team, I'm doubting $$ is an issue.
sealing from outside may be better?
It is 100 percent better.
Insulate a plywood box place cheep cooler inside. $300 yetti is for rich boat owners with money to burn.
lol good job on cooler bro.
is that foam food safe though? gas vapour from the plastics and tape glue in the enclosed space. Does the foam touching the foods and leech chemicals into the food the way oils and chemicals in some food items can penetrate the plastic bags over time? plus how do you keep it dry on the otherside of the foam that's against the cooler. everybody spills juice and sauces in a cooler. The only good way to wash a cooler is with a hose. This idea no good for serious cooler users like those who buy Yeti's.
Another thing is that the coleman coolers do not have any insulation in the lids. I drilled holes into the lid and sprayed spray foam insulation inside the lid.
You should coat the inside with some spray on latex or that "as seen on TV" waterproof spray
excellent job! Thanks for sharing!
isn't the melted is just going to soak the insulation and ruin it the first time you use it?