Ozark Trail "High Performance" cooler - any good?

CruiserManny

New member
Well, I'm happy to report that I was able to fix the leaking in the cooler.

I took out the black rubber gasket and I figured out that the groove in the cooler's lid where the black rubber gasket is inserted is sometimes a tiny bit too deep or too wide. I ran my finger inside of this groove with the gasket off and I could tell it's not perfectly smooth or the same size. Essentially, the groove is not perfectly uniform around the lid.

In my case, I thought that inserting something under the black rubber gasket on the side where the leak was could raise the gasket and help make a better seal. I originally wanted to put weather stripping, but that was too thick. I had just purchased a pack of nitrile disposable gloves, so I figured that I put that in the groove. A whole glove (5mm thick) was too big, so I cut about 25% of the glove and little piece off the wrist. I inserted the partial glove (the part not seen in the picture) into the groove and then I re-inserted the black rubber gasket over the nitrile glove.

Well, it worked. It leaks zero water when I flip it upside down and on all 4 sides. In summary, I think the gasket is not thick enough in some areas to compensate for the groove's variance in width or depth. This is just my opinion.

When I had the black rubber gasket off the lid, I closed the lid and confirmed that the lid's groove fit perfectly over the lip on top of the main cooler unit. This was to confirm that the lid and the top of the open cooler aligned correctly.

Anyways, Death Valley here I come. If anyone sees a problem with the nitrile latex material being inside the groove, let me know.

Cooler_Latex_Glove.JPG
Cooler_LatexInsert.jpg
 
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kevin08

New member
A lot of friends of mine use Ozark Trail coolers, and they sure like to boast about how they did not have to pay as much as me and the other Yeti users. Needless to say, they end up patting their own backs and having a good laugh about the foolishness of Yeti cooler owners.
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
A lot of friends of mine use Ozark Trail coolers, and they sure like to boast about how they did not have to pay as much as me and the other Yeti users. Needless to say, they end up patting their own backs and having a good laugh about the foolishness of Yeti cooler owners.
Interesting first post. Welcome to the forum....
 

TwinStick

Explorer
We just picked up a Lifetime 55 qt cooler. We wanted one that was a little easier to carry when full & also fit into the trunk of our Corolla. So far we like it. The slightly smaller size & rope handles make it easier to carry by 2 people, than the fixed handles on our Coleman coolers. My experience is most coolers are "rated @ x # of days" for holding ice, under more scientific conditions rather than real world conditions, but not always. Ours cost less than $100 but the top will flex if you sit on it & it will also leak water if tipped over while closed. I may also look into the gasket issue.
 

Fireman78

Expedition Leader
Just saw some really sweet Rotomold coolers at Costco yesterday. Very competitive pricing and heavy duty. Trying to remember the brand name. “Fatboy” I think. VERY stout coolers. But check Costco out if you can.


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One shot

Observer
Just saw some really sweet Rotomold coolers at Costco yesterday. Very competitive pricing and heavy duty. Trying to remember the brand name. “Fatboy” I think. VERY stout coolers. But check Costco out if you can.


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Otterbox?
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Fireman78

Expedition Leader
Ok I finally got back to Costco. Its 80qt. Super heavy duty. 179 bucks. Cascade Mountain Tech is the brand.
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Quniet

New member
I've been using Polar Bear coolers https://under-the-open-sky.com/best-backpack-coolers/ for several years now. They are great for the price. Get them half price as realunlucky states. Buy some as gifts. We've used the 48 pack size as carry-ons for flights from Alaska as well. They are a little big for the overhead bins so don't fill them all the way and they can squeeze in.

Now, fitting in your suitcase might be a challenge but I just use the cooler to carry clothes and gear on the way "up". Coming back, you can mail your clothes or whatever and get it in 20 days no problem while you bring your meat with you.

Last thing, when I bought mine, I believe, and it may have change, but there was one shipping charge. So, I got all of my buddies to go in and I also bought some as gifts. I think I had 12 coolers delivered, mostly the 48 but some 24 and we all split the shipping which made it very affordable.
 
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perterra

Adventurer
I've been using Polar Bear coolers for several years now. They are great for the price. Get them half price as realunlucky states. Buy some as gifts. We've used the 48 pack size as carry-ons for flights from Alaska as well. They are a little big for the overhead bins so don't fill them all the way and they can squeeze in.

Now, fitting in your suitcase might be a challenge but I just use the cooler to carry clothes and gear on the way "up". Coming back, you can mail your clothes or whatever and get it in 20 days no problem while you bring your meat with you.

Last thing, when I bought mine, I believe, and it may have change, but there was one shipping charge. So, I got all of my buddies to go in and I also bought some as gifts. I think I had 12 coolers delivered, mostly the 48 but some 24 and we all split the shipping which made it very affordable.


I have a couple of the Polar Bear 24's, they are great coolers. Not the 6 day kind, but mine are faded and beat and work great for a couple days
 

MCX

TalesFromTheDesert.com
I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a 45 quart RTIC cooler. Now that it's so close to Cyber Monday, figure I'll wait and see if they have any deals then.
 

amongmany

Active member
I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a 45 quart RTIC cooler. Now that it's so close to Cyber Monday, figure I'll wait and see if they have any deals then.

They're already marked down on the RTIC website.


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Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
Hey guys,

I can confirm that we do not manufacture the Woods cooler linked above.

I just wanted to chime in with a bit of an update on the Ozark Trail High Performance Coolers.

We now have our parts up on walmart.com. Naturally, anything warranty-related we'd replace free of charge, but for those of you who like to have extra parts on hand... here they are (sorry for all the links!)... I'll circle back with the team about the baskets.

Bottle Opener / Lock plate:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588259

52 and 73 QT Coolers Replacement Hinge Pins:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588266

52 and 73 QT Coolers Feet + screws for feet:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588265

Handles:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588261

52 and 73 QT Drain set:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588260

Orange Latch kit assembly with screws:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588264

Black T-Latches:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588258

52 Quart Basket:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588263

73 Quart Basket:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/55588262

As always, great discussion going on here guys!

- Cam
Over 5 years in use and my first black T-latch broke. Tried Walmart for a replacement (they used to have them hanging in the aisle near the coolers) and they don't have them. Don't even sell this style anymore. Tried the link for Wally Dot Com but they're out of stock. Contacted California Innovations and they sent me a link to a warranty form. Filled it out and am waiting.
Amazon has knock-off latches available in case they're not made anymore. The new coolers on the shelf at Wallyworld don't resemble my cooler at all.
....I haven't needed to be in the cooler aisle in a long time; a lot is different....
 

dbhost

Well-known member
If you check the reviews, and are shopping Walmart, look at the Lifetime High Performance coolers. Less money, better performance, and made in the USA instead of imported from China.

Not sure about current prices, but when I bought last year, the Lifetime 55qt was $97.00, and the Ozark Trail 52qt was $139.00.

Side by side ice retention tests between these coolers along iwth Yeti and RTIC, all in the same size range, showed the Yeti to be hands down #1, but also super high priced, the #2 slot keeps going between RTIC and Lifetime, then typically the Igloo BMX, and toward the end of the pack is Ozark Trail...

Long story short, buy what you want, but if it were my money, and it was last year, I would go with the Lifetime...

EDIT: Crud, I just realized this thread was resurrected from the dead. No matter, my point still stands. If i had it to do over again, I would absolutely buy the lifetime for a food cooler that is only gotten into 3 or so times a day for meal prep.

For drink coolers, since folks are in and out of them all the time, ice melts fast, no need to go fancy there. I would go with a smaller Igloo or Coleman just for space, weight and cost, and realize you aren't going more than about 2 days on the ice...
 

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