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Hi to all the experienced campers out there (and the not so experienced).

I am really new to camping in that I haven't even been yet but am just buying it all.  Nearly finished my list but was just wondering what sort of coolbox or fridge I should buy for my tent.  Have seen a couple of coolboxes online which say that they keep cool for 6 days but I don't how?  Yes I am definitely a newbie at this.  I am only going to be basic camping so no electric and I don't really want to use gas.  Also don't know how the ones that run off you car lighter work, do they have to always be plugged in (and will it drain my battery) and if not, how long does it stayed charged for once unplugged.  Any suggestions and advice would be appreciated. 

Without electric you are better getting an insulated cooler from either Coleman or Igloo.  Running any sort of coolbox from your car battery will result in a flat battery.  They don't keep cool for that long once unplugged, whereas the insulated ones if packed properly with lots of ice blocks ( frozen bottles of water ).. can last a few days with careful use.

Something like this - look for Maxcold in the description and I think for Colemans - Xtreme.

Thank You hik01.  (Wish I was blonde, then I would have an excuse haha).

Another silly question, do you take all your food with you with the frozen icepacks or do you wait until you get to your site and then buy your food and bags of ice?

Sorry for asking silly questions but if I do it the wrong way and ruin all my food, then my camping days will be over before I start.

Here's what we do..

I have a mixture of ice blocks and 1 ltr empty tonic bottles ( ahem ) I fill with water and freeze the bottles - making sure to leave some air in there as they expand.   I pre chill the cooler the night before with a couple of frozen blocks or bottles.  On the day we leave I pack cooler last, putting ice blocks on the bottom and 2 or 3 bottles mixed in with the food.  I also freeze spare milk and bacon.. everything goes in cold   and, as ours is a 70ltr ice cube style cooler, I then fill any spare room with some foam type sheeting.   Only open when necessary - you don't want kids going in every 2 minutes - just take out everything you need at the same time.. When I top up with food I get frozen stuff or drinks out of the chiller compartments in supermarkets.  I also have spare blocks which can normally be frozen on site for a fee.  This has been good for us for 5 days.. but I reckon I could spin it out longer.  The Maxcold and Xtreme coolers says they are good for 5 days in 90f heat - however I think this is down to management as well as the excellent insulation.    At the end of 5 days the butter has still been cold, the water in the bottles still has some ice in it. 

ps worth your while reading these threads.

Costco , normally do these coolers cheaper than everyone else.  I haven't been for a while so not sure what they have in at the moment .. and and you need to have / know someone with, a card

Thank you very much, your advice has been very helpful.

Just been to local Costco this one is £35 inc vat.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MaxCold-Roller-Chiller-camping-events/dp/B001T88F40

Last year we used a car plug in coolbox and ice packs that were replenished whilst on campsite. We plugged it in at home a full day before leaving then put the food we took in cold from the fridge along with some ice packs and a frozen 2 litre bottle of water. Whilst moving it was plugged into the car on the way and whenever we went out during the week. It also received a boost from the car occasionally. It worked really well with newly purchased food going straight into it before warming up at all.

This year we have a Waeco box to use which is not on all the time as it has power saving devices (apparently) built in so it will stay plugged into the car for longer than last years box, you can get sensors that will cut power to coolboxes by detecting if the car battery power is too low but I don't know how well or if they do work. We will do the same by daily (or twice daily as the campsite we are going to this year has a free iceblock freezer for campers to use) changing of freezer blocks.

As mentioned in the good advice above the rules to follow are to open it for as few times as possible and open and close it quickly. Put as much frozen stuff inh as possible and allways put food or drinks in that have been pre chilled or bought cold as putting room temperature items in will only increase the temperature inside the box.

We have not used EHU and this method has worked well with us along with a 12v coolbox, so we are somewhere between non electric coolbox and EHU.

Hope it makes sense.

I have just bought the igloo 45 on wheels from costco for £35 a bargain.  They did have two larger ones too but not on wheels I think at £45 and £70ish?  All excellent value.

Used ours this weekend at a picnic too - was impressed as hadn't pre prepared it and had just chucked in some cool blocks and in this heat it almost froze the sandwiches!

L

Thank you all for your help.