A cooler, cool box, portable ice chest, ice box, chilly bin (in New Zealand), or ‘esky’ (Australia) most commonly is an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Ice cubes are most commonly placed in it to help the things inside stay cool. Ice packs are sometimes used, as they either contain the melting water inside, or have a gel sealed inside that stays cold longer than plain ice (absorbing heat as it changes phase). The portable ice chest was invented by Richard C.
Choosing the Right Cooler for Your Temperature Controlled Business
In recent years, the cooler industry has been flooded with Yeti’s high end cooler designs and Walmart’s no-nonsense plastic coolers. Selecting the right cooler for your temperature controlled business can be tricky, as you may not be sure how much to spend, what features to consider, or how it’s going to fit in your freezer van. Luckily for you, this is what we do at Glacier Vehicles; we help you choose the right materials for your temperature controlled business, and, even better, we sell all those items too. Besides the price tag, there are several factors that distinguish your run of the mill cooler from the very best. Here are a few:
Cooler Insulation Explained
Obviously, keeping your food and goodies cold is your chief concern, and extra insulation will help you achieve that. So, if you are spending a solid day out on the road with your van, you have to remain confident that your products are cold. If you are packing perishable food items like eggs, poultry, meat, fish, and milk you may need to store them all at very low temperature, or you risk contamination and possible decay. A super insulated cooler is vital to keeping your products cold and fresh. Traditional light coolers are naturally able to stay cold for about 2-3 days, which can aid your weekend storage perfectly. So, if your bank account is looking skinny, you could simply keep loading the cooler with ice and briefly avoid the costly price tag of a heavy cooler.
Durability
Before pressing that “buy” button, think strength, think ruggedness. Consider the volume of the products you intend to store. High end coolers are solid, fortified with pin-like joints, tops and barriers that have beefy, large handles, exterior latching mechanisms, rubber rings, and UV resistant plastic.
How Big Should Your Cooler Be?
After determining how much insulation and durability you need, the next step will be to determine the ideal storage capacity.
Storage Capacity and External Size
The size of your cooler, as measured in quarts, will inform you about how many products you can pack inside, and how long they will stay cold and fresh.
- Coolers of a 40 quart size can do a decent job. They can take you on a few rounds around town in your van or keep your products refrigerated for a few hours.
- Then the 70 quart size can do the trick for a day or two.
- Lastly, the large 100 quart coolers can house your products through the whole weekend.
Portability
If you are making use of a van to run your temperature controlled business, then your fully loaded cooler will probably be the heaviest item. In this situation, portability is key. You will need to find a cooler that fits into your compact van without taking up too much space. But, if you opt for the 100 quart heavyweight cooler, make sure it has a double heavy handle, crafted to allow two people to carry it. Professional help will get you a better deal. Why not contact us today? We are just a phone call away (0208 668 7579).