Ice Boxes

[rojac]

I've got a 60l evacool ($350) and came down the Darling River Rd thru Tilpa about a month ago when it was 45 degrees. Kept ice on ave of two days but it kept the beers cold. Opened it often and it was it the back of my ute.

[murcod]

Just an update on the prices at Repco for the Tropical- 37 litre is $118 and the 52 litre is $141 (that's the reduced prices). Have ordered the 37 litre and pick it up this afternoon.

(edit- should be "Tropical" not "Tropicool" )

[antt]

Just an update on the prices at Repco for the Tropicool- 37 litre is $118 and the 52 litre is $141 (that's the reduced prices). Have ordered the 37 litre and pick it up this afternoon.

hmmm, wonder if repco here in qld has them prices, will have to check it out. my mates have a few of the tropicools, and they work great

[Thonger]

I've got a 160L evacool that I used on my ute's tray, you could fit 1.25l soft drink bottles in it flat so I'd freeze up 8 of them and lay em on the bottom, then pre freezeing the food and packing it smart ie a day at a time top up with crushed ice and keep drinks to one side fresh veggies on top so they don't freeze. Longest I used it for was 8 days and the bottles on the bottom where still 3/4 frozen. That was going Bris to Darwin in summer out in the open on the tray.

[murcod]

Another update on the Tropicals. The specs on the brochure state:

Up to 50mm thick walls, 45mm base, 85mm lid

My 37 litre has only got 35mm walls and lid- it would pay to physically check the model you're interested in before purchasing if you want the thickest walls possible.

[47troopy]

I've got an EVA COOL 85 litre ice box that travelled right through central OLD during a five week fishing trip - it was brilliant. We used a combination of dry ice and normal ice - chill down a slab in no time.
Looked at and tried other brands however the EVA COOL is definitely the go - easy to repair dings too .....

[rocknferoza]

Time for an update

I bought a 50 litre downunder ice box at the gold coast 4WD show for $266
I have used it twice and am very happy with it
The first camping trip i went on I put 2 bags of party ice in on the friday morning and by monday afternoon there still was some ice left over
The last trip I decided 2 make my own blocks of ice using the tall skinny 1Kg yogurt containers. I was away for the same time as the first trip and I still had a bag of ice left over


James

[murcod]

Easter trip using the small Tropical I bought (with the thinner 35mm sidewalls) camping in a tent.

Loaded up with some frozen 2 litre milk containers and a three litre bottle on the Thursday morning before Easter. Returned home on the Monday arvo and emptied the water out of the bottles- most were still half frozen!

Not bad for a $120 icebox. Expect even better performance from the larger models with the thicker walls.

[Daisy]

Took my 105 litre tropical esky to Moreton Island. And stuck it under a camp table at the camp spot with 40 % sun 60% shade most of the day. They supplied ice BLOCKs which i found MORE effective in keepin the chest cold than party ice.

The party ice lasted 1 and half days in the esky - I was not impressed as I though the esky should have kept it cold for up to 5 days. But it made sense that the size of the ice block would make the difference in the break down into water. Thus the larger blocks i bought for 5.50 each (got 3 of them that time) and they lasted nearly 4 days and were half the size at the end of the 4th day. I reckon i coul dhave gotten 5/6 days out of the block ice. And that was with regular opening of the esky to get beer/rum/meat etc.

No complaints with this esky. Performed well to my expectations.

Advantage of the tropical over most other iceboxes - its sturdy, can take a knocking around, and stratches, and I used the top of the esky as a cutting board as its quite strong and durable.

In my opinion, If you're the rugged type who likes something to be able to be knocked around, kicked, cut, stratched go the tropical or those 'blue' ones as they're good for that kind of thing.

If you're the gentle 'look after your tools / equipment' type then nearly all the iceboxes/eskies in the range available would suit your needs.

TOM

[auto_eng]

Time for an update

I bought a 50 litre downunder ice box at the gold coast 4WD show for $266
I have used it twice and am very happy with it
The first camping trip i went on I put 2 bags of party ice in on the friday morning and by monday afternoon there still was some ice left over
The last trip I decided 2 make my own blocks of ice using the tall skinny 1Kg yogurt containers. I was away for the same time as the first trip and I still had a bag of ice left over


James

Another easy way to make your own block ice is to fill balloons with water and put them in your freezer. I have a really small freezer and this way can fit a couple in and make them any size you want.

[Daisy]

Time for an update

I bought a 50 litre downunder ice box at the gold coast 4WD show for $266
I have used it twice and am very happy with it
The first camping trip i went on I put 2 bags of party ice in on the friday morning and by monday afternoon there still was some ice left over
The last trip I decided 2 make my own blocks of ice using the tall skinny 1Kg yogurt containers. I was away for the same time as the first trip and I still had a bag of ice left over


James

Thats practical.. I like that.. will look into that in my next trip out

TOM


Another easy way to make your own block ice is to fill balloons with water and put them in your freezer. I have a really small freezer and this way can fit a couple in and make them any size you want.

[LowRanger]

If you want to make your ice last longer,make sure you use BLOCK ice and not party ice ie cubes......and boil the water that you make your ice out first,it will set as a much more dense block and last longer