mikeb9550
MI
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Joined: 11/12/2002
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Hello, we are taking a stab at tent camping. Trying to figure out what most people do for coolers. I was thinking about getting a 70qt and a 40 qt that way I can seperate meat from our drinks and other stuff. I would think cross contamination would be a no no. What does everyone use. We are a family of 3.
Also, I want to get some nice sleeping bags but would like to get something that had a removable liner so the liner could be washed and not the entire bag. Just makes sense but I dont think that is common place. Does anyone know of a bag that does this?
Thanks in advance..
Mike
Mike
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Nick Wildwood
Hell California
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Joined: 04/16/2008
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We keep uncooked meat separate from everything else. We keep the fresh food and condiments in another ice chest. Cold drinks also get their own ice chest because it gets opened more often than the others.
Ice cubes are good for getting into the nooks and crannies but block ice lasts a lot longer. We use both. Usually the cubes go with the drinks and the blocks with the meat. The fresh food gets either kind as availble.
The meat cooler is the smallest. It is just a medium sized hand held igloo. The other two are the large ones with the wheels.
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big rigg
cross,wv
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Joined: 03/09/2007
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we got the ozark trail "from w.mart" fleece bag liners to help the temp. rating of our sleeping bags. they also are nice on a warm night as a real light sleeping bag. they are washable and cheap. as for the coolers,you are on the right track.
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mikeb9550
MI
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Thanks, What size coolers do you think I need? I am thinking about buying a 5 day xtreme 62 qt with wheels. I was looking at the 100qt but my buddy said it might be too heavy for me alone.
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kooky
Charlottesville, VA
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Joined: 07/26/2005
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You can make a liner by sewing sheets together. We use two sleeping bags zipped for a double. We have a liner made of two queen or full sheets sewn together around three sides (with a bit open at the top of each side for folding down/getting in).
I prefer wheeled coolers with a handle on a short end. I have a five-day cooler with wheels and handle on a long side. It's really hard to maneuver.
We doublebag meat in freezer ziplocks (including other wrapping--freezer paper, foil, gladware, shrinkwrap) and it keeps just fine. I usually freeze all the meat before leaving. If you're taking a lot of raw meat, it's good to have two coolers simply so you can keep the cooler with meat at a more constant temperature. If you open it frequently to take out ice/drinks, it can make your meat thaw more quickly.
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Skipper DC
Washington DC
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Joined: 07/21/2006
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Wally World sells a queen size air mattress all-in-one sleep set that includes two small pillows with pillow cases and an elastic cornered sheet that zips onto a sleeping bag. Not good for real cold weather but convenient to set up and use and comfortable down to about 50 degrees. I just add blankets as needed.
As for the cooler for a family of three, I think you need at least a 72 qt for a weekend of refrigerated consumables. Suggest you go with quality over price on this item. Stick with a well known name brand like igloo, coleman, etc.
Good luck and have fun.
1967 Cox Cadet
2005 Nissan Titan King Cab 4x4
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tplife69
SoCal
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I live in the southwest, it gets hot, and find that the standard Igloo coolers are sufficient. For a group of 5 we use a 54-quart Igloo. Meat (frozen and marinated) goes in clean Tupperware containers in the bottom. Add the other stuff and some drinks and fill with block ice (Tupperware filled with water, frozen, emptied to make home-made block ice) and a bag of cube ice. The extra drinks are stored warm and added as necessary. This will last the whole weekend for the group, and there is still some block ice left when we get home. For extended campouts, we use a seperate 35-quart cooler with dry ice for the meats. If you can buy good-quality down bags, you don't need a liner since you just pop them in the washer when they're dirty. For synthetic sleeping bags, there are fleece liners sold that make nice summer bags as stated above.
People's Republik of Kalifornia
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big rigg
cross,wv
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mike,those extreme coolers are the best I've ever used. I have a smaller 40qt? and a 54 qt, also have a 100 qt igloo that only gets used on a weeklong hunting trip I take once a year.I don't even try to unload it from the truck it weighs a ton full. jeff
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mikeb9550
MI
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Thanks everyone. I will have to pick it up next time Im at walmart. Really like the sheet idea. Will have to work on that this week.
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georgehebert
Santa Rosa, California
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Joined: 11/06/2006
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Mike!!
I use an 12 volt cooler in my car. They come in various sizes. I have a auxiliary battery, deep cycle , to power my equipment. I purchased an Optima #D31M. It doesn't give off any gasses and can be located in any position on the vehicle. Your engine battery will be available for you when you leave for the next leg of your journey. there are also refrigerators for your us they have a higher power drain , it will either cool and/or freeze with a turn of the switch. The price is 5 times more than an electric cooler. I don't want to mess with the ice if I am camping for more than one day. If you happen to camp at a Motel, the Cooler can be transported to the 120 Volt connection in the room. Camp grounds also have 120 hook ups for the cooler and lights. ect. You might want to consider a Inverter to convert 12 volt to 120 volts while in the environment of raw nature. Camping is loads of fun if simplicity is maintained and the correct equipment is purchased. The most important component of camping is having good wholesome food on board
George Hebert
Pulsar!!
USA goes to the left.tfix2@earthlink.net
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