Ozark Trail "High Performance" cooler - any good?

[Schlitzy]

I picked up the 73 quart in store on Wednesday an decided to immediately run a little test. I purchased two bags of ice, four 2-liters and a six pack and dropped them all in the cooler in the parking lot.
I then ran my errands for the day and the outside temp got up to 95 degrees, Oh and my AC doesn't work at the moment... I then parked the Cruiser in my driveway where it gets a full day of direct sun light. I also placed a thermometer on top of the cooler to see how hot it managed to get externally which maxed out at 120 both on day 1 and 2. I checked the cooler twice on day one, three times on day two, the ice ended up lasting 48 hours.
I would say this was an extreme test as most of the time this wouldn't be stored in a stagnant vehicle in direct sun light, the vehicle has no ac, the tint on the cargo windows suck and the items placed in the cooler were not pre chilled.

Yeah I think you'd probably at least double that, more than likely more if you pre-chill the cooler. In that type of heat it uses a tremendous amount of energy to actually cool the cooler first. I've noticed significant gains in time with mine by pre cooling first... I would love to see a test by you since you're in AZ and have really hot temps right now. Pre cool it first then fill with ice and beverages. I'd say at least 5 days maybe even 7 days or more. Supposedly the test they ran on these was 90s day time and 60s night time temps as stated in the manufacturers literature and it lasted 10 days.

 

[bunks-tj]

There was 1 big one at my local walmart yesterday but I can't justify a 190 dollar cooler right now. Also it was missing the basket/rack inside it.

 

[pyrate]

Walmart has an option on their website to be notified when they are back in stock. I don't know how reliable it is but I'm hoping for a 52. I checked three stores in my area and no hint of any size of this cooler.

 

[Biggunns]

Walmart has an option on their website to be notified when they are back in stock. I don't know how reliable it is but I'm hoping for a 52. I checked three stores in my area and no hint of any size of this cooler.

It won't notify you, I just checked the app every couple of days and lucked out last week.

 

[pyrate]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep checking.

Update: Stopped at the last Walmart in our area and no one has ever seen them let alone know if they will be available. I guess I will keep checking online.

 

[Biggunns]

Yeah I think you'd probably at least double that, more than likely more if you pre-chill the cooler. In that type of heat it uses a tremendous amount of energy to actually cool the cooler first. I've noticed significant gains in time with mine by pre cooling first... I would love to see a test by you since you're in AZ and have really hot temps right now. Pre cool it first then fill with ice and beverages. I'd say at least 5 days maybe even 7 days or more. Supposedly the test they ran on these was 90s day time and 60s night time temps as stated in the manufacturers literature and it lasted 10 days.

It'll have to wait about 2 weeks, the weather is only in the 80's right now and I need the cooler next week for a 3 day trip, I'll let you know when I can start it. I could leave it out under a tree in my back yard.
Let me know if you want any other aspect tested out.

 

[carboncow]

Low temperature last night was 59, it's currently 79, instant read thermometer displayed a temperature inside the cooler of 25.6°. So the internal temperature has gone up .2 since yesterday, just a little less ice than yesterday.

I've been researching this thread...and I have to ask cause it's driving me nuts. How is it possible to get the water/ice below 25.6F? Are you stating the ice is staying so cold that there is no water mixture to warm it?

 

[Robert Bills]

Going Postal - Almost

The fruitless search for a 26-quart Ozark Trail High Performance Cooler continues:

They were listed on Walmart.com as "in stock" on April 21st so I immediately ordered one. My order shipped from the Walmart warehouse in Ft.Worth on April 22nd and I eagerly followed the package on FedEx.com as my cooler traveled to California. The package was even delivered to my local Walmart store a day early!!

All seemed right with the world until I went to the store to pick up my cooler. Inside the box, carefully hidden in the packing, was this:

Things went downhill from there. The Walmart sales associate became surly when I told her that it wasn't what I ordered and I couldn't accept it. She insisted that it was what I ordered, even when I showed her the order confirmation I had printed with a photo of a cooler. She was clearly irritated that she had to do the paperwork for a refund and became huffy when I pointed out that she had generated paperwork indicating that I had returned a cooler but she had only credited me for the price of a water bottle. Her response was, "well I guess it sucks to be you." Wrong answer. I instantly knew what it must feel like right before someone goes postal.

It took what seemed like forever to get a supervisor to correct the paperwork and process a full refund, but I am now back where I started - no cooler and I must check walmart.com every morning for the day these damn coolers are back in stock. Then I have to hope that my order isn't screwed up again.

As for the troll at the Walmart ship-to-store pick up counter, she will soon be back on food stamps. After a telephone conversation with the corporate office I was transferred to a conference call with a district manager and the store manager, who called in the hapless clerk while I waited on the line. Lets just say that the conversation was brief and didn't go well for her.

 

[yellowgeko]

The fruitless search for a 26-quart Ozark Trail High Performance Cooler continues:

They were listed on Walmart.com as "in stock" on April 21st so I immediately ordered one. My order shipped from the Walmart warehouse in Ft.Worth on April 22nd and I eagerly followed the package on FedEx.com as my cooler traveled to California. The package was even delivered to my local Walmart store a day early!!

All seemed right with the world until I went to the store to pick up my cooler. Inside the box, carefully hidden in the packing, was this:

Things went downhill from there. The Walmart sales associate became surly when I told her that it wasn't what I ordered and I couldn't accept it. She insisted that it was what I ordered, even when I showed her the order confirmation I had printed with a photo of a cooler. She was clearly irritated that she had to do the paperwork for a refund and became huffy when I pointed out that she had generated paperwork indicating that I had returned a cooler but she had only credited me for the price of a water bottle. Her response was, "well I guess it sucks to be you." Wrong answer. I instantly knew what it must feel like right before someone goes postal.

It took what seemed like forever to get a supervisor to correct the paperwork and process a full refund, but I am now back where I started - no cooler and I must check walmart.com every morning for the day these damn coolers are back in stock. Then I have to hope that my order isn't screwed up again.

As for the troll at the Walmart ship-to-store pick up counter, she will soon be back on food stamps. After a telephone conversation with the corporate office I was transferred to a conference call with a district manager and the store manager, who called in the hapless clerk while I waited on the line. Lets just say that the conversation was brief and didn't go well for her.

haHahahahahhahaha!!!! Nice! I love it when cold, hard justice is served. Especially to scum. It makes me feel a little better for all the crap I gotta deal with in life when someone comes out with a win, even if it isn't me. Good job in getting business taking care of and good luck with your cooler, I hope you get one.

 

[pyrate]

The fruitless search for a 26-quart Ozark Trail High Performance Cooler continues:

They were listed on Walmart.com as "in stock" on April 21st so I immediately ordered one. My order shipped from the Walmart warehouse in Ft.Worth on April 22nd and I eagerly followed the package on FedEx.com as my cooler traveled to California. The package was even delivered to my local Walmart store a day early!!

All seemed right with the world until I went to the store to pick up my cooler. Inside the box, carefully hidden in the packing, was this:

Things went downhill from there. The Walmart sales associate became surly when I told her that it wasn't what I ordered and I couldn't accept it. She insisted that it was what I ordered, even when I showed her the order confirmation I had printed with a photo of a cooler. She was clearly irritated that she had to do the paperwork for a refund and became huffy when I pointed out that she had generated paperwork indicating that I had returned a cooler but she had only credited me for the price of a water bottle. Her response was, "well I guess it sucks to be you." Wrong answer. I instantly knew what it must feel like right before someone goes postal.

It took what seemed like forever to get a supervisor to correct the paperwork and process a full refund, but I am now back where I started - no cooler and I must check walmart.com every morning for the day these damn coolers are back in stock. Then I have to hope that my order isn't screwed up again.

As for the troll at the Walmart ship-to-store pick up counter, she will soon be back on food stamps. After a telephone conversation with the corporate office I was transferred to a conference call with a district manager and the store manager, who called in the hapless clerk while I waited on the line. Lets just say that the conversation was brief and didn't go well for her.

That's a pretty pricey water bottle. They probably were hoping you wouldn't open it in store and then when you attempted to return it you'd be screwed.

 

[Robert Bills]

Actually, the procedure at my local Walmart for ship-to-store transactions is to open the FedEx package at the counter to confirm the item is what you ordered. Perhaps they have prior experience with brain dead employees at the Ft. Worth warehouse.

 

[WininUtah]

My 26 should be here today, it was shipped directly to my home. Now I'll be anxiously waiting to see what I got!!

 

[perkj]

I received my 52 QT last night and its a nice addition to my 26 QT. Not sure if everyone is aware but the rubber feet on the 52 & 73 qt are actually reversible. From the factory the anti-skid rubber side is in place. However you can unscrew the 4 feet and turn them over where they turn into slide feet. I find the slide feel side nicer to putting in and out of my LR3 as the feet slide nicely on the cargo platform I have to push it all the way in....with the anti-skid side down I have to left it back as the anti-skid feet truly don't slide. This feature is also called out in the description on the walmart site.

 

[pyrate]

Actually, the procedure at my local Walmart for ship-to-store transactions is to open the FedEx package at the counter to confirm the item is what you ordered. Perhaps they have prior experience with brain dead employees at the Ft. Worth warehouse.

Good thing. They didn't make me do that when I picked up an item here in San Diego. But I opened it and checked.

 

[pyrate]

I received my 52 QT last night and its a nice addition to my 26 QT. Not sure if everyone is aware but the rubber feet on the 52 & 53 qt are actually reversible. From the factory the anti-skid rubber side is in place. However you can unscrew the 4 feet and turn them over where they turn into slide feet. I find the slide feel side nicer to putting in and out of my LR3 as the feet slide nicely on the cargo platform I have to push it all the way in....with the anti-skid side down I have to left it back as the anti-skid feet truly don't slide. This feature is also called out in the description on the walmart site.

Good to know they actually exist.