Frunk as a camping ice cooler - test prior to a family Summer road trip.

[21st Century Pony]

So, in prep for a major cross-USA trip with a 14-year old boy, I figured I'd test the frunk as an ice cooler for when we camp during the trip.

On Tuesday evening I emptied the frunk of its haphazard assortment of stuff, went to a grocery store and loaded it up with ice. It took 5 bags of ice, each bag with 16 pounds of ice, total = 80 pounds. See picture #1.

Yes, people loooked and stopped and pointed, and one guy actually was brave enough to walk over and ask... had a laugh when I explained why and wished me luck. His wife hung back though...

Nights this week were in the high 60s Fahrenheit. Days were in the high 70s to about 81 today.

Yesterday, I peeked into the frunk in the morning and during the day... the ice was mostly holding up well. About 3/4 volume by yesterday afternoon. I drove about 60 miles through the day as well as parking, always in the sun (driveway and no garage in this 1930s house). I forgot to snap a pic though.

This morning, the ice was at 40% volume. See pic #2. I'll bring a stout steel concrete chisel on the trip to break the ice up as it melts and solidifies into a carapace.

By about 3 p.m., the ice was visibly giving up the battle, although the frunk was still cool inside, by hand feel. See pic #3.

By 7 p.m., about 46 hours after I packed the frunk, the ice was a disappearing shadow. See pic #4.

I had hoped for 5 days in these temperatures (haha - I know) but am happy with 36+ hours. Good enough for orange juice and maybe cheese and meat for grilling... definitely not for eggs or mayo.

NOTE: My car is a star white Premium with a black top and a pano roof. Obviously, ice in a black-painted car will be gone faster.

Hope this helps someone plan during trips. Based on this test, we'll definitely use the frunk as an ice chest while camping in the national parks... at least 36 hours in warm temps (65 thru 81 degrees F). This will save cargo space by eliminating a cooler in the trunk for when we're roughing it.

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[kdonnel]

I stopped at the EA station in Gainesville, FL. Bought some items for our vacation that included cream cheese.

The back of the car was full of crap already so I put the bag in the frunk.

Drove 117 miles to my destination and found the cream cheese had got so hot it had liquified.

Under continuous driving with the AC going there are parts of the frunk that get very warm.

 

[PicoR]

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone to make an insulated liner for the frunk.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I stopped at the EA station in Gainesville, FL. Bought some items for our vacation that included cream cheese.

The back of the car was full of crap already so I put the bag in the frunk.

Drove 117 miles to my destination and found the cream cheese had got so hot it had liquified.

Under continuous driving with the AC going there are parts of the frunk that get very warm.

Florida... what time of year? And what color is your car? I did drive the car all the test days with ice in the frunk.

All this info is useful. Would a bag of ice have helped?

Based on my frunk test, I'm now sure we will use the frunk as a cooler in Yellowstone and maybe Glacier National Parks in June and July. Higher altitude + mid-latitudes are different than subtropics at sea level.

...and yes, this is a potential product R&D for the likes of AOSK, IMHO.

 

[Mach1E]

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone to make an insulated liner for the frunk.

Was thinking even cheaper.

Duct insulation would easily increase the cooler capabilities for under $20-

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-K...NA-aGy_TJogQoWFBleRoCm9kQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or they make the self adhesive stuff-

https://www.maxwarehouse.com/produc...zCqw2biWumHS5MAvfUj3b_etaViJzdGxoCdlMQAvD_BwE

 

[kdonnel]

Florida... what time of year? And what color is your car? I did drive the car all the test days with ice in the frunk.

All this info is useful. Would a bag of ice have helped?

Based on my frunk test, I'm now sure we will use the frunk as a cooler in Yellowstone and maybe Glacier National Parks in June and July. Higher altitude + mid-latitudes are different than subtropics at sea level.

...and yes, this is a potential product R&D for the likes of AOSK, IMHO.

It was June, mid 90's, Rapid Red.

I don't think the color would have made a difference in my example.

Based on how hot the cream cheese was I would expect a couple 8 lb bags of ice would not have been around after the 117 miles.

There is something around the frunk that gets very, very, very warm when driving at 70+ MPH with the AC running.

 

[21st Century Pony]

It was June, mid 90's, Rapid Red.

I don't think the color would have made a difference in my example.

Based on how hot the cream cheese was I would expect a couple 8 lb bags of ice would not have been around after the 117 miles.

There is something around the frunk that gets very, very, very warm when driving at 70+ MPH with the AC running.

That's what I drove at, so speed would be comparable. IMHO the presence (or absence) of a chilled energy absorbing material like ice allows a faster deterioration of heat-sensitive foods like, er... cream cheese

IMHO the heat source are the two heat exchanger pumps right behind the lower frunk, along with the two round coolant reservoirs there.

Florida temperatures in June are certainly another environmental factor. Ice in the frunk in South Dakota or Colorado would last a bit longer.

We're going to have to do a comparo test the next time you're in Arlington. You bring the cream cheese... I'll bring the ice. Deal?

 

[21st Century Pony]

Was thinking even cheaper.

Duct insulation would easily increase the cooler capabilities for under $20-

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-K...NA-aGy_TJogQoWFBleRoCm9kQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or they make the self adhesive stuff-

https://www.maxwarehouse.com/produc...zCqw2biWumHS5MAvfUj3b_etaViJzdGxoCdlMQAvD_BwE

I might visit Lowe's or Home Depot today for some thinnish, rigid high R Value cyanoacrylate boards... might just make a foldable liner myself for the long trip. Good idea!

 

[ChasingCoral]

Sounds like a business opportunity for someone to make an insulated liner for the frunk.

Sounds like a market for @AOSK

 

[PicoR]

It was June, mid 90's, Rapid Red.

I don't think the color would have made a difference in my example.

Based on how hot the cream cheese was I would expect a couple 8 lb bags of ice would not have been around after the 117 miles.

There is something around the frunk that gets very, very, very warm when driving at 70+ MPH with the AC running.

I wonder what the frunk temperature difference is between RWD and AWD?

 

[21st Century Pony]

I wonder what the frunk temperature difference is between RWD and AWD?

All we can do it empirically test.

 

[kdonnel]

I wonder what the frunk temperature difference is between RWD and AWD?

My MME is RWD so one would think cooler than AWD.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Theoretically plugging the drain so the cold water stays in the container would keep the space colder for between about 5% to 25% longer. It will depend on the details, but it might be worth testing.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Theoretically plugging the drain so the cold water stays in the container would keep the space colder for between about 5% to 25% longer. It will depend on the details, but it might be worth testing.

True... but unlike a standard cheapie styrofoam or plastic cooler, I'd prefer the car cooler to keep draining. No sloshing water reservoir, and all that.

Looking at my frunk now, I think the main heating culprit might indeed be the frunk's back wall, as per KDonnel's observation with cream cheese. That would make it an easy insulation problem, as it would avoid the convoluted shapes of side and front walls. Hmmm...

BTW, I think after living with the iced frunk for 2.5 days that the frunk hatch seal's design is pretty efficient. Maybe that frunk cover is insulated as well? The frunk's air felt cool to the hand until Thursday evening, and that is valuable.

 

[AZBill]

Just buy a 12V cooler and plug it in the rear hatch. I have one of these, but have not used it in the Mach E yet.

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Powe...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

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