Mobile cold storage

[Ikeepitcold]

Question for everyone

I've been thinking about building a few cold boxes that would be mounted on trailers that would be ran on a generator. These trailer would be available to rent for hunters that would want to stay in the field and not have to worrie about meat spoilage.

Question is would many of you be interested in this?

What would you pay to rent? Say per day, or by the week?

Logistics could be the biggest hurtle.

Where and how would the hunters pick up the trailers?

A central located lot were the trailers can be picked up?

Delivery to the nearest town in the area the hunter will be hunting for a delivery charge?

Also picking the trailer after use?

Thank all for any input and ideas.

 

[ivorytip]

dude, awesome idea! you know out of state hunters would take full advantage of this, and guys that tag out early and still have several days before needing to go home, I mean, who wants to go home early from the mountains if they don't have too? im loving it man.

 

[sneakypete]

X 2^^^^^^^^^^. It's a great idea. Ikeepitcool, could you do it with propane?

 

[Ikeepitcold]

X 2^^^^^^^^^^. It's a great idea. Ikeepitcool, could you do it with propane?

I don't think so. Most propane coolers are for residential applications. The propane is used to keep a small flame going to circulate Amonia in the system. Amonia is very deadly in confined areas. I think the generator would be the best option.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I don't think so. Most propane coolers are for residential applications. The propane is used to keep a small flame going to circulate Amonia in the system. Amonia is very deadly in confined areas. I think the generator would be the best option.

You are right. The ammonia cooling systems like in RV's are not the way to go. The box inside temp really fluctuates under changes in the outside temps. The regular compressor refrig type systems would be the best IMHO. I built several cold plate systems in my boats, they work well too, but they are mostly for freezers.

Only problem with your idea is how to keep them rented during non hunting season. Someone who is going on long range multi-day fishing trip offshore could use them. Let us know what you decide to do. Great idea!!

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I though of the cold plate idea also but I think a cooler would be more beneficial over a freezer.

The off season they could be rented for local events also. The start up costs wouldn't be to bad and the investment would be returned fairly quickly if they are rented throughout the hunting season.
I have many used Walkin panels that can be cut to size with pretty much no cost. I would be able to use 115v 20-30 amp refrig equipment so it can be ran off of a fairly inexpensive generator or even plugged into a outlet if guys are staying in a campground with hookups.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Yes sir....you got it nailed. I too think the cold box would be better than a freezer.

I usually take a 10 cu ft freezer with me and run it off a gen. We usually butcher meat in camp and pkg & wrap for the freezer. If you don't do that then the freezer is a pain, because you have to thaw the meat before you butcher.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Yes sir....you got it nailed. I too think the cold box would be better than a freezer.

I usually take a 10 cu ft freezer with me and run it off a gen. We usually butcher meat in camp and pkg & wrap for the freezer. If you don't do that then the freezer is a pain, because you have to thaw the meat before you butcher.

This could be another option too. Chest freezers are cheap and can run off of a very small generator.

 

[Don K]

Lots of people taking chest freezers and running off generators. I like the cooling idea vs freezing as CC said if you don't butcher right away its a pain. I saw someone on another site looking for something like this in Utah. I think its a great idea and I would be more than willing to "test" one out for you next season

 

[Don K]

Just thinking you could design one to slide into the back of a pickup truck and maybe have regular storage also.

 

[Don K]

Doing a quick google search I see they are out there now. People renting them out for all kinds of events.

 

[Tim McCoy]

We were looking at making one, these are some of the resources we checked out. Ended up modifying an enclosed trailer and having a buddy install a used unit from a walk in cooler. Worked great. Liked it so much we sold it after one use. Too big for us and not needed on most hunts. If real hot and going after multiple cow elk in hot weather, we just bone game out, package hamburger meat in bulk for later grinding, place in a freezer run by a generator. If just for 1-2 small animals, like antelope, coolers and ice.

The Adams trailers at $550 for a 7 day week are too steep for me. The coldbot in the last link looks like a great way to go if making one. Just insulate the heck out of the trailer, especially the bottom. $250-300 for 7-10 days would seem more in the range where I'd consider renting on a big trip with multiple tags and rigs to tow all the toys.

http://www.adamsiscooler.com/
http://www.sandsheating.com/trailer.html
http://www.polarking.com/hunting_trailers.aspx
http://storeitcold.com/

 

[sneakypete]

Ikeepitcool , could it be done with a solar system with a battery to store energy?

 

[RICMIC]

Not to hijack your thread, but we're skirting around my problem. I am going solo on my first antelope hunt, and my biggest concern is a meat management issue. I will be in central WY in early Oct., and know that the weather can be variable. I have two doe tags and a buck tag. I plan to harvest the does first and have a small freezer and generator to chill them before putting them on ice in some Yeti coolers. I don't want to put warm meat in the coolers as it may degrade my ice too much. I don't want to freeze the meat, just get it cooled down. I may well be off looking for bucks for several days after the does are taken care of. I thought of just using the freezer to refreeze water containers, but would have to run the generator for an extended period to freeze them solid again. Any thoughts or other suggestions?
Ikeepit cold: You have an interesting plan, but I think the logistics of delivery and drop-off of coolers may be a deal breaker.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Not to hijack your thread, but we're skirting around my problem. I am going solo on my first antelope hunt, and my biggest concern is a meat management issue. I will be in central WY in early Oct., and know that the weather can be variable. I have two doe tags and a buck tag. I plan to harvest the does first and have a small freezer and generator to chill them before putting them on ice in some Yeti coolers. I don't want to put warm meat in the coolers as it may degrade my ice too much. I don't want to freeze the meat, just get it cooled down. I may well be off looking for bucks for several days after the does are taken care of. I thought of just using the freezer to refreeze water containers, but would have to run the generator for an extended period to freeze them solid again. Any thoughts or other suggestions?
Ikeepit cold: You have an interesting plan, but I think the logistics of delivery and drop-off of coolers may be a deal breaker.

What about loading an empty cooler with block ice, little dry ice on top, and then load the freezer with ice? Can run gen 3-4 hours to keep ice in freezer frozen. Will extend your ice's life a loooong time. Should have enough ice to keep meat chilled for many days.

 

[ivorytip]

there are times I would have taken advantage of it, and I really don't live that far from where I hunt. sell tacos and burritos from same cartel and we have a deal

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Ikeepitcool , could it be done with a solar system with a battery to store energy?

I think it could be possible with a small chest freezer. The Chevy freezers and be converted to coolers with a simple temp control change from a freezer to a cooler control. Might be a much cheaper way to go. Toss it in the back of your truck and hook it up to a converter that plugs into the trucks cig lighter. Then when the truck is not running connect to a solar supply.

 

[Musket Man]

Given your location I think this could appeal to groups of guys in CA going elk hunting in CO! I dont think solo hunters would be all that interested but I could see it being real useful to 4-5+ guys going for the whole season. By the time they take 2-3 elk to get processed and froze renting the trailer would seem pretty cheap. Alot of camps already have a generator so maybe you could rent some without a generator since it would probably be 1 of your biggest expenses building it, require the most maintenance and be the most likely thing to get damaged.

 

[hardstalk]

I think it could be possible with a small chest freezer. The Chevy freezers and be converted to coolers with a simple temp control change from a freezer to a cooler control. Might be a much cheaper way to go. Toss it in the back of your truck and hook it up to a converter that plugs into the trucks cig lighter. Then when the truck is not running connect to a solar supply.

Cig lighter? How bout 12 volt from the hitch plug in?

 

[hardstalk]

One downside of the rental program (sorry to be the negative Nancy) but you make a living repairing heating and cooling systems. For a 300 dollar week long rental fee. Whatchya gonna do when some thing breaks? And guys are hollerin because they have no way to cool meat. And are several hours from you. One maintenance issue or breakdown throws the profit margin straight into the black. I think commercially selling an item would be good. But the rental is sketchy. Do you think the fda would show concern? And what about guys blaming you for some random meat issue due to sterilization?