bushanic

Ok let me explain what I am trying to do. The temps arent the coolest in the early start of the season. I remember getting a deer on Halloween and the temps got up to 65 by the time I got home. This year I will be camping for a few days and need to keep the deer cool. Not sure if I want to try and quarter the deer out so i am try to make a cooler for the truck bed that i can run a AC unit into and keep the deer cool for a day or two. I have no problem making enough room if I quarter it out but If I could not at the time I will like to be able to but the whole body in a big box. A doe should be easy but a buck with a big rack is my problem. The bed is 5ft 4in wide and 6ft long my generator is 19in wide and 26in long that takes up just about haft the bed. this leaves a 20in wide by 6ft long area to make a box. 20 inches wide is kind of small for a nice size racked buck and not sure if I will still be able to been the deers legs to lay it on its side Not sure how long it takes a deers legs to lock up. the other thought is to make a box in the front part of the bed and but the generator in the back haft of the bed then getting the deer in the box would be the only challenge Has anyone made one or ideas would be great.

Rhody Hunter

I had similar thoughts about trying to keep deer in hot weather. sounds kind of bulky what you want to do with a generater. I had thought one time about building a box that is foam lined. then i would put the der in the box and pack with ice. I have frozen 2 liter bottles before and stuffed them into the cavity to try and lower the temp quicker. by putting frozen water in containers it doesn't get the meat all wet as it mellts

noidurism

hmmm....... how about making the box big enough to slide in the bed(the width and length),and mounting the gen. on top of the box. of course you will also need to insulate it and make the box sturdy. but the down side is the total weight of the entire box cooler. just a thought you might be able to go/work with.

timbercruiser

Just buy a small freezer and put it in the truck, or set it in a small utility trailer. Wouldn't one of those power converters be enough to run a small freezer?

bushanic

I looked into a power inverter and dam they ant cheep run about 250. for a 3000watts that would run a small air conditioner. (see wife's point)

I have thought about ice and freezing water bottles but I not sure if that would last 2 days.

The generator I have already just setting around waiting for the lights to go out again, so I thought I would save the money from the inverter and just use it but it is a little big. My wife also pointed out that I would need it for camping/hunting with the kids

I will have to think about mounting it on top of a box dont want to come out of the woods to find it gone. Let keep the brain working I open to all ideas. Thanks

Chadro77

I'd scrap the A/C idea. A/C generally only gets into the 50's on modern cars unless you have something with R12 which will dip into the 40's occasionally.

I know if feels real cold but like I said it really isn't lol. Just pop a meat thermometer in an air vent for about 15 mins, see what your lowest temp is.

Unless that is a suitable temp for you.

iSnipe

Isn't the ideal temperature, give or take, about 40° to keep venison for extended periods of time? I bring that up because one must have a target for ideal temps for such a cooler, correct?

In a pinch you could also consider using dry ice.

iSnipe

bushanic

Ok I am sorry I guess i should have said a window A/C unit. Not the cars A/C. I feel one of those will get a small box down to 40-48.

Well I just got off the phone with cool-bot and it looks like the new model A/C window units will not get below 60* There unit cost 299. This is get a little costly.

jrbsr

Just buy a large, refrigerator at a yard sale.
You can get one for around $20.00 or so.
Then take out all the shelves.
My father had one in his back yard, under a big oak tree for over 10 years.
Run it with your generator, then just plug it up when you get home.
Just an idea.

Good Luck.

SchuLace

We had a guy come to where I work(appliance store) and ask if he could have one of our old chest freezers that didn't work anymore and we were going to throw away. He said he was going elk hunting and wanted something to store the meat in. He said he buys a bunch of ice and puts the meat in the freezer and fills it with ice. Seems like an idea that would work fairly well.