Coolers

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a Coleman Extreme (?) cooler for camping and it has a DRAIN plug, unlike the YETI types. That is very, very important to me. It keeps ice floating around for about a week. I use 1 gallon milk jugs frozen solid and that works really well. Hardly any water to monkey with.

I have an Esky cooler which is Colemans answer tot he Yeti ( http://www.eskyseriescoolers.com/Home ).  It has a drain plug.

Also, to respond to the above comment on Yeti's.  All of my Yeti coolers have a drain plugs as well so I'm not sure where your seeing that they don't have drain plugs.

I might of missed the plugs, but I never saw one, but they were only the small $400 ones. 

[CAMPMEAT]

The water jugs work really, really well. They work good if you have a 12v/110 plug in cooler for motel stays too.

[n_mathews13]

 
We used them last year. Lot less messy , cheaper and lasted longer

[lokidog]

I like how the 2 liter bottles pack better than frozen milk jugs.   

[syoungs]

ive got a 120qt coleman extreme to, I has lived outside for about 18 months on the back of my boat, its a little faded, but I can buy 4 of them and still be ahead of a yeti. theres some video reviews showing the cheaper coolers performing better then yeti as well.

[syoungs]

Wait, I was wrong, the one living on my boat is my igloo 120q stx model, its tough as nails, I love it, the coleman extreme is awesome to, but its not always on the boat.

[MtnMuley]

My 160 Yeti has a drain plug. I used  cubed ice like you'd buy at any store.  It will last  a long time in the Yeti or any other of my 140-160 qt $60-$80 dollar coolers. Most important thing is to leave that drain plug open. All the problems I've seen with keeping ice over warmer months stems from keeping the drain plug closed. Expensive coolers or not.

[ctwiggs1]

So you guys leave the drain plug open all the time? 

[syoungs]

I usually leave my 165qt drain open, but its cause were into it much more grabbing drinks and such, my 120 I leave closed, shaded and covered from a solar load. drain it daily though.

[MtnMuley]

So you guys leave the drain plug open all the time?

I do all the time,  unless I don't want to deal with water draining out like  traveling sometimes. Keep in the shade as often as possible and keep covered with a towel or blanket helps as well. Obviously,  leaving the lid closed as much as possible is key as well.

[Bean Counter]

I open and close the drain when I open and close the lid so that the vacuum/pressure doesn't exert needless force on the hinges of the lid when I open and close.

I'm really confused of the physics as to how allowing ambient air access to the ice via the drain plug is theorized to make the ice last longer   

[MtnMuley]

I'm not a physicist, but would lay money down in a side by side equal comparison with the drain plug closed who will have ice longer. If my ice would last longer with the plug closed, that's what I'd do.

[syoungs]

water has a higher heat capacity and thermal conductivity, get the water out, even if it means letting small amounts of air in, ice lasts longer.

[Bean Counter]

I always drain water, and add new ice as available.primarily to maintain a layer of ice between layers of meat, and because the more water = more moisture which hastens bacterial growth.

Still though, I've practically drained all the water out I can, I personally don't see the sense in leaving the drain plug open. 

[syoungs]

I leave mine open on the big cooler that has our drinks and such, because its it opened so many times a day, and the ice melts somewhat quick because of that, plus it makes opening easier for the kids.