DIY Cooler

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:11 am

I'm looking for info on making the cooler compartment on the front of the camper into a permanent cooler. Right now it fits the Igloo brand cooler I have but it's too high and heavy for me to lift in and out. I was thinking foam sheet or possibly spray foam but not sure on what to line it with, a resin or fiberglass? I've seen people use duct tape but I don't want to have to re-fix it every other use.

I have already searched Google and here, and no luck.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:29 am

Get a professionally made cooler made to last the entire event.
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanC ... oryID=8580

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:12 am

Here's Chef Juke's homemade cooler:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/foodPlaya.html

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:46 pm

I have two of those commercial ones. The point is I can't lift them out of the camper. There is no point in messing with plastic bags. I'm thinking about inside layer...bath tub surround plastic with drain piped out, foam core, then plywood or whatever. Just not sure on that plastic.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:51 am

If you can't move it, then it's permanent, isn't it?

You would be right to concern yourself with the drainage. I would experiment with aquarium hose.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:07 am

I think I would experiment with the same stuff they make hexayurts from. It comes in one inch and thicker sheets - like really thick foam core. (Available at home improvement stores) The bi-directional tape they use is also really incredible stuff and will withstand a lot. The spray foam is really, REALLY messy and gooey but will work if used only to fill space between surfaces.

skibear · Post by **skibear** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:26 pm

phil wrote:Here's Chef Juke's homemade cooler:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/foodPlaya.html

Thanks, Phil for the link to the homemade cooler
in a cardboard box! Interesting, even simpler than
the one I was about to make out of blue 2 inch foam boards.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Tue May 12, 2009 9:14 am

How about using that black pond liner stuff???

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Wed May 13, 2009 2:43 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:If you can't move it, then it's permanent, isn't it?

You would be right to concern yourself with the drainage. I would experiment with aquarium hose.

Ummm, yeah, I guess it would be permanent and a hell of a lot easier. I'm going to go take my brain pills now.

Thank you@!

HeironymousJosch · Post by **HeironymousJosch** » Wed May 13, 2009 10:07 pm

RedheadBarbie wrote:I have two of those commercial ones. The point is I can't lift them out of the camper. There is no point in messing with plastic bags. I'm thinking about inside layer...bath tub surround plastic with drain piped out, foam core, then plywood or whatever. Just not sure on that plastic.

Fiberglass is a wonderful material for this application. Seems how the fiber surface would be acting only as a water tight layer and not carrying much weight, you wouldn't need many layers and laying up fiber into a concave shape is very simple. You could use either polyurethane or epoxy resins for this application and the urethane is cheaper and less smelly. You could do the project for about $30 in materials.