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frankpaige
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# Posted: 6 Jan 2021 11:07pm
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At the off grid cabin?
Have solar for lights and recharging.
Honda 2200 for microwave and coffee maker.
So far, only a Yeti mid size cooler that will keep ice "almost" a week.
Breakfasts are fruit, grains and coffee.
Lunches, peanut butter and jelly.
Dinners, after 3 days it usually consists of the "complete" dinners that microwave.
Town is 1.5 hrs away round trip.
Is there anyway I can extend my stay at the cabin? Another cooler that is not opened so frequently? Just give up on ice in the nightly toddy, fresh fruits, meats?
Do I make a weekly trip in the schedule for shower, groceries, ice and essentials? Wondering if I could stretch it out into two weeks?
Thoughts? April is coming. And that is the beginning of cabin time season.
Stay safe,
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darz5150
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# Posted: 6 Jan 2021 11:37pm - Edited by: darz5150
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They make portable coolers with freezer capabilties, that have extra batteries. That you could use overnite for your food. Hobo Tech on you tube reviews a few of them. A bit pricey but, ya gotta eat, might as well eat good.
I have a couple fridge/freezers that I salvaged from old campers that are 12 volt/120 vac.
We have used 12 volt coolers to keep food and frozen meat good for longer camping trips.
You can get a counter top ice maker for about $100 bucks, that can make 26 pounds of ice per day to add to your regular coolers or for your nite toddys.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 08:36am
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Tell us about your solar setup?
We where once members at a cabin that was also 1.5hrs round trip from even a gas station. We had 6 people there for a week, no solar but coolers and a propane fridge. A propane fridge is how the place was set up and not mine to change. I wouldnt suggest a propane fridge for 2 reasons. There expensive and they only cool/freeze food.
We now run a 120v 4.5cuft mini fridge with top(separate) freezer on 4 golf cart batteries and 470w of solar with only 3hrs of useable sun.
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Irrigation Guy
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 08:43am
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Freeze your meat before you go and keep in the yeti. Cured meats don’t need refrigeration and fresh eggs can be left out as well.
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zorro
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 09:06am
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As Brettny says, depends on your solar set up
I use this, as well as a large YETI for a week - packed full, including small freezer box for 3 or 4 of us - so sure you could make this and your Yeti last 2 weeks if just you/+1
https://thd.co/2XiYSLZ
Works great
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 09:26am - Edited by: FishHog
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Quoting: Brettny I wouldnt suggest a propane fridge for 2 reasons. There expensive and they only cool/freeze food.
Confused me there. How is that different than any fridge. Yes they are expensive but cool and freeze just like any other fridge
I’ve cottaged for decades with propane fridges. I did upgrade to a solar electric fridge this summer and expanded my solar system but still have one propane fridge for when we have company and need more room
I clearly cottage differently than the OP as coffee makers and microwaves are left for city life. We boil water for coffee and use the stove top and bbq for cooking
Bring lots of frozen meals. Stuff the freezer with them and fill the fridge with the rest. Eat the frozen stuff last. We routinely go 2 weeks and then only go to town for fresh vegetables. Could rough it longer
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WILL1E
Moderator
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 09:29am
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frankpaige Whereabouts are you located? Just trying to understand what your weather/temp is like during "cottage season".
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 09:40am
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Quoting: FishHog Confused me there. How is that different than any fridge. Yes they are expensive but cool and freeze just like any other fridge I’ve cottaged for decades with propane fridges. I did upgrade to a solar electric fridge this summer and expanded my solar system but still have one propane fridge for when we have company and need more room
I say no propane fridge because with the expense you can buy a regular 120v dorm size fridge and a pretty decent solar setup. The solar setup can do alot more than freeze/cool food. I find my dorm fridge cools/freezes food alot quicker than a propane fridge. I have $1200 into our whole system. Solar setup, batteries, fridge and even the generator and 30a rv charger. I think propane fridges start at about $800-900?
We also cabin a bit different than the OP. Stove top coffee and no microwave.
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frankpaige
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 10:45am - Edited by: frankpaige
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Willie, 13 miles east of FairPlay, Colorado (as the crow flies)@ about 9500 feet. I visit every month for at least a couple of days (in the winter months) I am usually able to drive up to the cabin bye late April. December snows have me parking in the cul de sac and hauling supplies in by sled.
My solar is one panel (100 watt) and two gel Matt batteries.
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mj1angier
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jan 2021 12:17pm
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When we go up for a week or more, I do a 3 cooler system:
1. Freezer cooler- all items are frozen and it is kept that way with dry ice.
2. Refridge cooler- Items are cold or frozen going in it. Frozen water bottles in bottom as cooling. Next day meals come out of freezer cooler the night before they are needed into this cooler.
3. Drink cooler- frozen waters and bottled drinks in here with salted ice. This one we have to add ice to at times- not the best cooler, one of those fancy fake wood-sided things with wheels.
But having done all this, we are still only 15 min to a store and Bojangles, lol
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toofewweekends
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# Posted: 8 Jan 2021 12:59pm
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Ice for happy hour and to help re-fill the cooler? we use a small tabletop icemaker. There are lots of brands, but I suspect they all come from the same factory. Here's one:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-26-lb-portable-ice-maker-silver/6331583.p?skuId =6331583
We've had a similar one for 8 years or so. We run it when we have the generator on, although I have done it off solar + inverter.
You get ice for a G&T in about 30 minutes; three hours gets you a good sized bucket of ice.
Also, if your ground conditions allow, consider digging sort of a root cellar. Good for keeping drinks, eggs, etc cool and leaving your Yeti space for block ice and frozen food.
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jaransont3
Member
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# Posted: 8 Jan 2021 08:52pm
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Jill and I just spent 2 weeks at our cabin in Northern MN over the Christmas break. We are off-grid with no solar. We have 2 golf cart batteries with a 750 watt inverter/charger and a Honda eu3000i generator. We have a 120V mini fridge/freezer and mostly LED lights. We do not have a TV, microwave, or coffee maker. We run the generator for 4-6 hours each day and the batteries handle the rest of the time.
The only reason we have the 3000W generator is to run tools and to be the back-up for our house in Michigan. I am sure you could charge the batteries with your 2200W. We burned less then 20 gallons of gas in the two weeks. We burned even less back in September when we stayed for two weeks since the days were longer and we need less lights on. Not a lot of daylight hours this time of the year up there.
For non-potable water, we collect rain water in a buried 300 gallon cistern. We do bring drinking water with us and have the advantage that we can re-fill the drinking water at my mom's plus just down the road. We used a little over 100 gallons for showers and toilet in the 2 weeks for the 2 of us.
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xtolekbananx
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2021 06:50am
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Solar is expensive, new propane fridges are expensive. Find a used propane fridge from a camper, I scored mine for free and it is a Dometic from 1972 and still works. Summer time I run the fridge for meats, milk, ice cream for kids etc. I keep veggies and drinks in rotomolded cooler that keeps ice for almost a week. Winter time I don't need fridge, just keep everything in cooler outside and even then sometimes things freeze overnight. I don't have microwave or coffee maker. I boil water for tea and coffee. I also bring a lot of dry food like pasta, rice, and jars of pasta sauce, mac and cheese etc... Town is 15 miles away and rarely go there.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2021 10:47am - Edited by: gcrank1
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Propane is expensive too and most cylinders bulky and heavy (and where do you carry a full one on the trip to wherever?). Im also leery of the pilots going out on older units with possibly questionable auto safety shut-offs. Of course, you dont have to keep an LP fridge in the living quarters.
I have an absorption fridge that runs on 110 or 12vdc but the amps draw 'overhead' for constant use on 12v is fairly big; ie about 7.5a/hr or 180/day. That would take about 500+ amps of expensive battery-bank alone, the solar panels/cc/wiring/fuses/etc all extra. A gen and charger less money but fairly long run times to recharge per day (I dont want to listen to even a quiet Honda that long). Either way the expensive bat-bank is required.
Ice chests are quiet! And if you shop right (ie, Yeti is not required) relatively inexpensive. Take a look at the 'Lifetime' coolers and reviews.
Mankind has lived most of its history without refrigeration. We can do the same. Dried food, canned food, food that lasts without cooling and ambient temp drinks are not unpleasant.
Ime the above ice chest management tips (and plenty online too) are a great way to start an adventure, and when the ice is melted to water (use it for utility) eat everything that needs cooling and shift to the food that doesnt.
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frankpaige
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2021 12:25pm
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Great Ideas, Thanks for your knowledge. I just do not want to invest in more solar. And I am with gcrank1 on how long I want to listen to the Jenny. Not Long!
Thinking I will invest in a second cooler. And see how long my frozen items last in it. There seem to be more and more grocery items that are cooked, sealed and have a long shelf life. Need that menu and not just wing it.
Thanks again. Doesn't mean to stop if you have an ideas.
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scott100
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2021 05:23pm
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Yes, more solar. Propane fridges and "solar" fridges are expensive. These days, solar really isn't. Battery storage is, but more solar and battery storage is key. We run a 10 cu ft Magic Chef refrigerator. It's not expensive or fancy but is energy star rated and more efficient than most mini fridges. With pressure water, refrigeration, and 120 v run to the cabin from the solar inverter, it's like being at home (complete with microwave). We have 960 watts of panels and 8 x GC2 golf cart batts for storage.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2021 06:17pm
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If using coolers make sure you pre cool them before loading up with your cold items. It makes a significant difference in how long stuff stays cold. A warm cooler will melt a lot of ice.
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2021 06:37pm
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Quoting: frankpaige Thinking I will invest in a second cooler
Take a serious look at Canyon Coolers they are from a company up the hill from our AZ place in Flagstaff AZ.... of course like anything else I'm sure roto molded in Asia... we have had a 35qt for 3 years, love it! $100.00 cheaper than a Yeti doesn't hurt.
HERE is a comparison of the two.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 2021 07:15am
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If you dont want to invest in more solar or more batteries your pretty much stuck useing coolers or buying a propane fridge.
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 2021 02:11pm
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I have found that if I keep my beautiful wife happy it helps a lot !
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frankpaige
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 2021 04:29pm
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Aklogcabin,
I am trying! 😂
I am retired, the wife isn't. And now she is working from home!
I am trying to give her space. I figure if a week or 10 days away might give that much needed vacation!
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old greybeard
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2021 02:42pm
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Propane is the way if you have a large tank and get delivery. We have a 250gal tank. Only used for fridge and lighting, and maybe 40-60 hours of heat a year.
Might use 100 gallons a year, at 1.65$ or so a gallon.
Maybe $100 a year for the fridge, Thats ice cold and quiet, 2005 dometic, too bad they are no longer sold new. No moving parts, reliable, simple.
We're at camp a average 150-175 days a year..
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offgrididaho
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2021 10:49am
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I agree with a lot of the above, more solar and go for a table top ice maker. We got one last year and we love it... you could crank out some ice on nice sunny days with a little more panel space and then put ice in the cooler to keep things going longer.
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NorthRick
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2021 08:01pm - Edited by: NorthRick
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How about food that doesn't need to be kept cold/frozen?
Pastas, rice, beans, canned meats, canned salmon, anything in a jar/can, beef jerky, nuts, pancake mix, etc. Produce like apples, oranges, potatoes, onions, and garlic have a long shelf live without refrigeration. Eggs and even cheese and butter will keep a while if you can keep them on the cooler side.
I'm only hitting the tip of the iceberg. And, of course there are all the freeze dried meals that are available.
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willywilly2020
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2021 09:37am
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We're completely off grid, nearest mini-mart is 30 min, nearest grocery store 45-50min.
We have a little propane fridge that we use sometimes, but damn it's a gas guzzler.
Are you using dry ice in your color? That would really help.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2021 11:16am
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Quoting: willywilly2020 We have a little propane fridge that we use sometimes, but damn it's a gas guzzler.
Maybe something isn't right with it?
Mine is 9cubic feet I believe. Mid size anyway. I can run it for about 2 weeks on a 30lb tank, depending on outside temps obviously. Longer in the shoulder seasons.
The one thing I've found with mine is the burner needs cleaning at a minimum every spring. And any other time I think its not working right, I clean the burner. Small rust particle falling out of the exhaust stack is all it takes to mess up the burner, causing you to run it at colder temp settings.
just a thought, perhaps you have done that.
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willywilly2020
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2021 12:06pm
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Quoting: FishHog The one thing I've found with mine is the burner needs cleaning at a minimum every spring. And any other time I think its not working right, I clean the burner. Small rust particle falling out of the exhaust stack is all it takes to mess up the burner, causing you to run it at colder temp settings.
Good idea! I'll try it out!
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2021 12:26pm
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At our LP re-fill prices that 30# (x typical 80% fill = 24ish#?) for 2 wks means about $1+/day; $30/mo.
I refill my coolers with the squarish shape breakfast orange or pineapple drink plastic jugs, they pack nice in a square hole and the water is clean and usable after melt. No cost per day.
For our long stay(s) this next season Im thinking of taking a cooler filled with nothing but the 'ice pacs' and keeping it in the shade and covered with one of those old 'mover's pad' blankets. I will just refill the food cooler as needed with some 'new' ice bottles' to maintain temp.
Btw, we keep the food cooler in the shade and covered too; a wet padded blanket overtop will act as an evap cooler on the cooler.
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