Best type of Icebox/Esky?

[campgirls]

We are still working up to getting an actual fridge, but are looking for a really good icebox/esky. (Our current one is rubbish!)

We have read the info/poll about fridges, but would really love some suggestions about a good ol' icebox!

Basically, we would like one that keeps things cold for as long as possible but that is cheaper than a fridge! 

Anyone?

[sschmez]

I carry two of these
clicky piccy

 'coz you can't beat a beer off ice ... and "she" uses the other one for food and stuff

The ice lasts well (better than a kmart esky) and I'm happy with mine (why I got another)

Stevo

[xr4hung]

Forget the "Tropical Ice Box" Brand. They don't seal well.

In my experience Evakool Fibreglass are the best but expensive.

I believe the Ice Mate. Yellow Plastic made by Evakool, has very good quality insulation and is cheaper than the Fibreglass Equivalent. Downside on Ice Mate though is carry handles are too small for the often heavy loads in an ice box.

My understanding is that their ability to hold ice is all in the quality of the insulation and there are many different gradesof this.

Look for a unit with insulated sides and insulated lid.

[D4D]

In my experience Evakool Fibreglass are the best but expensive.

x2

These are pretty good too http://www.techniice.com/2011/iceboxes/index_iceboxes_classic.asp

[griz066]

Forget the "Tropical Ice Box" Brand. They don't seal well.

In my experience Evakool Fibreglass are the best but expensive.

I believe the Ice Mate. Yellow Plastic made by Evakool, has very good quality insulation and is cheaper than the Fibreglass Equivalent. Downside on Ice Mate though is carry handles are too small for the often heavy loads in an ice box.

My understanding is that their ability to hold ice is all in the quality of the insulation and there are many different gradesof this.

Look for a unit with insulated sides and insulated lid.

Hmmmmmm... I have one and it is fantastic and ice lasts over 4 days in it. No problem with the seal.

Tecni ice is also good

[GUfreak]

Have had a white engel one for ten or so years now, has surprised me with the insulation every time I use it. Has even frozen poppa's when used in winter. In summer Ice will last for 4 to 5 days sitting under a table in the annex of my CT.

[Pauly]

Value for money I would say Techni ice, best I would say EvaKool fiberglass.

We run both, the techni ice is 100ish litres and the eva kool is 65. Fill the techni ice with ice and only open it at night to supply the eva kool which gets opened all day, read beer fridge.

[Bill]

Hmmmmmm... I have one and it is fantastic and ice lasts over 4 days in it. No problem with the seal.

Tecni ice is also good

Same here.
Have never had a problem with our Tropical Ice eskies sealing.
Great eskies as far as we are concerned...
Bill and Morag

[NewcastleKnight]

My father had a techni ice and it had sealing problems as well, however they replaced it without question when they were notified.  It works ok but as others have said Evakool Fibreglass are without doubt worth every cent, I have a 65litre one and can't fault it.

[morgue]

The new Coleman Extreme series are good, we have a 45ltr version, block ice in ambient 30c (on our latest camping trip) lasted 4 days...note it was block ice.
 The teenage daughter was into the drinks constantly, and typically did'nt close the lid properly all the time, kept it open to stare at the drinks and hope they would jump into her hand.
 I tried the party ice, 2 days max in the same temp conditions.
The price, $145.00, a winter sale at BCF, a good overall product, you can pick them up from any camping outdoor store.
I wanted a Eva kool, but the finance minister would'nt come at that...I'm happy with this purchase, good value for money.

[NewcastleKnight]

Morgue, makes a good point on the block ice and I must admit even in the fibreglass evakool party ice still melts quickly.

When we go away for extended periods, like Easter I usually freeze some bottles of water or fill them with cordial and put them into the bottom of the freezer.  Also because I have the space I freeze a couple of bags of party ice at home for a week before going and I only ever pour one out of the bag and the other stays in the bag.

Even with our cheap Coleman on Oz day, where the outside temp was 35 plus the party ice I got from the servo melted in no time but the bag I got out of the freezer and left in the bag lasted until the next morning and kept everything cold.

[xr4hung]

Morgue, makes a good point on the block ice and I must admit even in the fibreglass evakool party ice still melts quickly.

Agreed on this point.

I would go further and say that the longer you freeze the block ice for the longer it lasts, i.e. Month old block ice seems to last very much longer than week old. Maybe I'm dreamin'

I also saw on Mythbusters (so it must be true) that adding salt to the water before freezing helps.

[NewcastleKnight]

Agreed on this point.

I would go further and say that the longer you freeze the block ice for the longer it lasts, i.e. Month old block ice seems to last very much longer than week old. Maybe I'm dreamin'

I also saw on Mythbusters (so it must be true) that adding salt to the water before freezing helps.

Agree with the age of the ice, that was the point I was making.

On the salt be careful if you do this.  Last Easter I did my normal esky stack.  I had cans of coke and beer in the esky, poured a bag of party ice over the top and and then sprinkled with pool salt.  Within an hour the contents of the cans was semi frozen and within two hours the top of the can were blowing off.

It did not make the ice last longer but from what I have read the chemical reaction between the salt and water is like boosting the temperature and causes the ice to become extremely cold.  Once the reaction is finished the ice melts at a normal rate but if you are in a hurry to freeze something cover it in ice and go the salt....just stand clear in case you are hit by flying objects....lol

[darren]

doesn't the salt lower the freezing point of water? Perhaps the salt slightly metled the ice without increasing its temperature, thus increasing the surface area in contact with the cans, and causing them to cool quicker...

[chargd86]

i have a 100ltr techni ice ,mate has a 120ltr techni ice and 2 other mates have ice cool they are all prety well on par. block ice always makes them work awesome!!

[NewcastleKnight]

Yeah I don't know Darren, I always knew that salt was used to melt ice on the roads when I lived in the snow.

There is some science around it, and it may be what u said.  Not sure science is not my strong point....lol

[ntpryce]

Everyone will have an opinion on this.  And everyone will also have stories of amazing ice keeping records.  A good esky (there's quite a few to choose from) is a good starting point.  Then I reckon its more a case of how you manage your cold stuff and ice.

We've used a range of eskies only for many trips in the tropical north and elsewhere (with kids) and manage to always make our ice last over many days, with normally a few blocks to spare. 

I reckon some tricks are to pre-cool items in the food fridge, then add cubed/crushed ice for a quick all over cool along with a good block of deep frozen block ice.  Drain as soon as you can and add another block of ice (if needed).  Store your block ice in another esky solely for this purpose, and only open then when moving ice from this to the food esky (normally in the evenings.  Do this quickly to stop heat from entering. 

We even once managed to use a large esky for our block ice with a portion petitioned from the ice to store cans of drink.  We moved the drinks over to the other fridge each evening - and they always went down cold! 

Regularly opening and using your esky, especially in warmer climates, will mean higher ice usage.  Limit this and your ice will last longer.

For the record, we currently use a large IceKool Ice box and a couple of coleman eskies.  But now we also have a Waeco fridge which we use to cool warm items (like drinks!) and for items which we frequently access (to reduce access to the eskies).

Good luck with your choice.

[Campa]

Same here.
Have never had a problem with our Tropical Ice eskies sealing.
Great eskies as far as we are concerned...
Bill and Morag

X2, these are fantastic ice boxes

[Pauly]

Salt water (ocean) freezes at -2 deg I think so it also thaws at -2 deg so im not sure it will actually last longer. I have a mate with a walk in freezer that is set at -20 deg. When im going away I buy the ice then put it in the freezer, it comes out milky not clear. I would guess servo party ice freezers might be -5 or similar.

Another big tip with ice management is to chill everything before you put it in and put ice in your esky the night before then drain out the water before filling.

[Doug.b]

Waeco are a good esky.
the link below at the factory seconds shop always have them on sale
http://www.fridgeshop.com.au/products.asp?catId=6

Also waeco have a special on now buy a fridge and get an esky for free.

[kylarama]

I had a 60 litre Evakool fibreglass esky until another camper relived me of it along with it's contents .  Replaced it with a 65 litre Waeco and then latter added a 104 litre Icekool esky.

The best?  The Evakool, no contest!  So good I bought the 60 litre 12v fridge version.

The Icekool works excellent and is still used as a drinks fridge.  Started with cold drinks and two blocks of ice and would gradually add warm cans, stubbies, wine bottles, primas over the course of the camp.  Set up a hose off the drain plug with an S bend in it to drain the water (no air can get in, but water can drain) and had to add another block of ice every 3 days in low to mid 30's weather.
The lid seal is however crap, and with the lid warping in the sun abit is now even worse.  Seal is just cheap adhesive foam tape.

The Waeco?  Great thermal properties.  Crap seals, hinges, latches and carry handles (or should I say lack of carry handles).  Never again.

[speewa158]

Doug B  Hmmm arnt all waeco 2nds 

[Gunna Do]

Another vote for EvaKool eskies.  We bought and used one when we were tenting it.  These are a brilliant esky, the only down side, is that you have to be carefull what you sit them on being fully fibreglass.

We had a bit of a dabble with dry ice many years ago, bringing fish fillets back from a fishing trip.  It nearly brought us unstuck though, as we had the ice box in the back of a Cruiser wagon and the dry ice removed most of the oxygen from the cabin of the vehicle.  Not a good feeling trust me.

[Doug.b]

Speewa158
The waeco factory second fridge has been keeping my beer chilled for 4 years now 

[MarkGU]

gday all.

have you considered this option.

i just recently sold my soft floor camper for a Jayco . on the front of my soft floor i mounted a 140 ltr upright freezer which i laid on is back. i removed its motor and all the plumbing and put some handles on each end some drain holes in the bottom.it weighed the same as some manufactured models and because it was made to insulate cause it was a freezer it keep ice for ages.when i got it  it was in perfect condition and the seals were perfect and the freezer was very clean. most council clean up days have fridges/freezers sitting on the side of the road everywhere,so grab one (price is right  ) and try making your own this way.

i got mine from a transfer station......cost me $ 20 for the handles.