Expedition Modded Jeeps - Let's see 'em!!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 211
Likes: 3
From: Pagosa Springs CO
I use a cooler, but 5 days is about the limit without having to fill it with ice. I run a method of a small little cooler for drinks and it gets opened a lot and typically needs ice every other to third day. For food I have a nice yeti cooler and yeti ice packs. I only open the cooler quickly for meals and it is packed right so minimal air. I get things organized when packing the cooler so I can just reach in and grab a bag or two which has all the stuff for that meal that is cooled. With my tundra 65, I use 4 yeti ice packs and will put a steak from my fridge into it. The yeti cooler is so cold that the steak will freeze and stay froze for 2-3 days depending on outside temps. I feel this cooler will basically last me a lifetime.
Tundra 65 would be fine if you pack small for 3 people for 5 days. If you pack a lot of big items them you will need bigger. I did 6 days in Anza-Borrego with my cooler for two people using my above method in November. But I pack small and open the cooler minimally. Lunches, dinners etc are individually done in ziplock bags so I can just grab the 1 bag and have everything I need and separated within. It is a bit wasteful on plastic but helps tons for keeping the cold air in and hot air out.
I bring dry bags to put food in just in case I have to switch to ice as a back up.
Tundra 65 would be fine if you pack small for 3 people for 5 days. If you pack a lot of big items them you will need bigger. I did 6 days in Anza-Borrego with my cooler for two people using my above method in November. But I pack small and open the cooler minimally. Lunches, dinners etc are individually done in ziplock bags so I can just grab the 1 bag and have everything I need and separated within. It is a bit wasteful on plastic but helps tons for keeping the cold air in and hot air out.
I bring dry bags to put food in just in case I have to switch to ice as a back up.
I'm running the 50 liter/quart/whatever. Taking your question to the extreme: Three folks for six days, that's a lot of food. But, it would depend on how your meals are. If you're having bacon and eggs (mmm'mmm) for breakfast every morning, plus steaks and burgers for dinner every evening, and cold cut sandwiches with fresh vegetables for lunch every day, then no way you can fit all of that into one fridge. However, if you plan on more like backpacking meals (freeze dried meals, dried fruit, meat sticks, cheese and crackers, etc) for some--especially the later meals--then you can stretch it. It all will depend on how many compromises you're willing to make. And then there's beer and other drinks: You can keep them out of the cooler until a couple hours before you need them. That can help stretch things. One of my traveling companions is fanatical about a couple Mountain Dews each day, an Irish Cream each evening, milk with every meal, OJ with every breakfast, etc. Stuff like that really puts pressure on how many days you can travel.
I use a Yeti (45 or 50) right now, mounted on my trailer. Its great, but on my Alaska trip a couple years ago, everything was getting bounced around so much, that the ice melted much quicker than expected. Block ice helped correct it a little, but we where needing ice every 3-4 days. Now, I spend 5 days down in Big Bend and came home with ice, just not as much driving.
Thinking of adding a fridge for the longer trips and where I have 1-3 other people with me or for when I don't take the trailer.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
Not sure if I saw in this thread or not, but highly recommended ...
http://www.amazon.com/Off-Road-R-Klanten/dp/3899555945
http://www.amazon.com/Off-Road-R-Klanten/dp/3899555945
Last edited by Mark Doiron; Feb 19, 2016 at 06:42 AM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls, MT
Not sure if I saw in this thread or not, but highly recommended ...
http://www.amazon.com/Off-Road-R-Klanten/dp/3899555945
http://www.amazon.com/Off-Road-R-Klanten/dp/3899555945
Cheers!
Dave
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Hey guys! So i've got a 2009 jk 2 door with a roof top tent, bedlined tub, etc... And i've had my Smittybilt src roof rack on it for a few weeks now for the RTT and i haven't had the top off... But what i'm curious about is, do you know if i can still get the rear large section of the hard top off while the rack is still on? Seems close but i just haven't tried or been able to read anything about it! Thanks!
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 896
Likes: 5
From: Ventura, CA
I made a big, 1200lb modification to the Jeep last week for an overlanding trip but alas, I had to give it back and now I am sad.
We ran El Camino del Diablo from Ajo, AZ to Yuma, AZ and had a blast. The weather was perfect, the company awesome, even if we were the only Jeep amoungst a brace of Toyotas.
After having that SoCal Teradrop from Off the Grid Rentals for nearly a week I am thinking I might just buy an off road trailer.
We ran El Camino del Diablo from Ajo, AZ to Yuma, AZ and had a blast. The weather was perfect, the company awesome, even if we were the only Jeep amoungst a brace of Toyotas.
After having that SoCal Teradrop from Off the Grid Rentals for nearly a week I am thinking I might just buy an off road trailer.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 314
Likes: 19
From: Wenatchee, Washington
) last summer and it worked out really well for two, week long solo trips and a couple of shorter weekend trips for two. A great way to do it is to "manage" how much is put in the fridge. Don't need to keep a week's worth of water, pop, beer, whatever cold. Just enough for the day. Then replenish it with cans or bottles carried outside the fridge.
I don't keep my bread etc, in the fridge at all. It is pretty surprising how much food & drink can be kept in one, since there's no room taken up by ice!
CW
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls, MT
I made a big, 1200lb modification to the Jeep last week for an overlanding trip but alas, I had to give it back and now I am sad.
Attachment 638312Attachment 638313
Attachment 638312Attachment 638313
Cheers!
Dave
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 896
Likes: 5
From: Ventura, CA
I'd say the trailer is very off-road worthy. It is a SoCal Teardrop 459 Krawler rented from Off the Grid Rentals. The basic SoCal Teardrop forms the basis of Adventure Trailer's AT model too. It rolls on 35" Falken AT tires and will roll over whatever you put in front of it. It is very stoutly built. As for the roofrack on the Jeep, I run the same rack that mark does, a MRBP/Off Camber Fab roof rack.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/pr...sories+By+MBRP
This is where I got the trailer
Teardrop Trailers, Roof Top Tents and Off Road Camping Equipment Rentals in Southern California. You can rent in Laguna Hills, CA, Moab, UT, and Sedona, AZ.
This is who built it.
So-Cal Teardrops - Teardrop Models - Krawler - Offroad Teardrop
Ken