motorized cooler fleet?

bonk · Post by **bonk** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:01 am

hello all,

I am a Boston burner trying to create something I thought would be fun to navigate around the playa with a group: a motorized cooler gang! What could be more fun than a group of people driving into a party and despensing drinks?

Anyways, I have the concepts, but am not exactly the most handy person. I have a general idea about using electric motors and batteries (maybe with solar charging stations during the day for power for the night), but do not know of the best resources/technical knowledge to strap it all together. Can anyone help with a tip or trick to accomplish this?

tell me what you think.

~bonk

MarkM3 · Post by **MarkM3** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:08 am

I like your idea.

If you are talking about buying one of those pre-manufactured electric-motor powered coolers, then the Blackrock DMV will definately not let you register your vehicle. However if you modify it (i.e. your suggestion to go solar) as well as really involve the community (i.e. dispense drinks to the public) then you probably could get a license.

My suggestion would be to look into a thermoelectric/petier/thermopyle type setup that would run the cooling off of the 12v solar, and have the motors for locomotion be powered off of batteries. You would meed to outfit some kind of trailer to mount the solar, as you would need at least 6 sq. ft of pannels to make enough juice.

Hope this is a start :)

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:21 am

bonk · Post by **bonk** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:24 pm

mozybonz and MarkM3 ,thats pretty much what I want to do. But I dont want to buy a kit, I want to make it my mission to create my own. Yes, it might not be as nice as that, but i dont mind in the end of the day, it will be something I created. :-) Does anyone know a good solar panel place online that is burner friendly?

I plan on lighting up the cooler(s) with a large amount of leds I happen to have as well to make it night worthy.

I was thinking a 2X4 platform to put a cooler on, then put the motors on the frame to save valuable cooler space.

I plan on having a top speed of 10mph, so what type of motor should I opt for? What size of battery would give me a hour or two to motor around?

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:43 pm

Will the cooler-mobile qualify as an art car and will it need to be registered before the DMV deadline? Or is this more like a go-ped and doesnt require any registration?

I bet the peeps who built those cool electric cupcake cars would know the answer.

("....I wish my cousin Nag was here, he KNOWS these things....")
-name thate reference and WIn a prize.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:03 pm

The DMV goons are easily bribed by frosty libations, are you kidding me?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:14 pm

Compressor style coolers are more efficient, but costly.

I think these would need dmv tags.
Speed limit is 5 mph or lower if you create dust.
Get smooth tires.

Be sure to shade them.
Look at commercial type coolers.
Tougher cases and more insulation.
May work as a frame.
I think I have seen kits for converting coolers, 12 volts, propane, etc.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:20 am

Last I knew there were restrictions on sitdown scooters and such.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:32 pm

I think you should make a small car into a covertable. Hollow out the inside. Make it water tight, with some pond liner or something.. and fill it with ice and drinks. Course you could paint the bottom red and the top white.. and do something with the word " coleman or igloo ".

The ice might melt.. but THEN you would have a motorized kiddie pool !

I think I need another "brownie" :-)