Dometic Fridge in Pickup Bed and Bear Country

[NMBruce]

Yosemite National Park Bears

YosemiteFun.com; 20 years and counting.

www.yosemitefun.com

 

[Patman]

So we can all agree that the right thing to do is use a bear proof container to store any food when in bear country.

But, what is the real, logistically possible answer. I have a 60 qt. on a slide in the bed of my Gladiator. I keep camp clean, keep the fridge clean, and its covered when not being accessed (SoftTopper). Technically not sufficient for bear country. But its not high on my list of worries.

I'd love to know the numbers. Has anyone experienced a bear going after their fridge? I used to work in the insurance industry, and I would see claims for bear damage regularly during camping season. But out of all of the ones I dealt with, I don't recall any of them being the bi-product of a properly stored/maintained cooler that Yogi and BooBoo came after. It was always the bag of food on the back seat, or open food stuffs in the trunk on a hot day. Doors and backseats are bear fodder in those cases.

I also spent much of my adultish youth camping in the sierra's, and admit to being less than concerned with bear safety back then, but in 2 decades, never had any issues with bears. Saw plenty, but they never went after our supplies. Cleanliness is the way.

 

[lhoffm4]

I have not seen food storage hanging in a tree since the Boy Scouts, that has been 30+ years ago. These days, I keep the food coolers and dry boxes in the truck shell, in my case a metal contractor shell. Definitely not in my tent with me. I do also keep bear spray, and a .357 within reach, as well as a full sized dog (coincidentally named Bear) in the tent with us. His nose and bark have kept two-legged weasels as well as other 4-legged critters away from camp, I’m sure. I also keep the trash closed up and in the truck topper to keep the aroma of food to a minimum. I got a chuckle when I saw those bags hanging off the spare tires being used for trash containers. Kind of figured any food trash in them would be an invite to Yogi and Booboo.

 

[slomatt]

Out of curiosity, has anybody on here ever actually had bears (or other animals) get into their food or trash in the Sierras? We are always careful to clean up around camp to minimize smells, and we don't bring scented items like food or toothpaste into the tent. That said, we often leave the garbage bag just sitting out and in 20+ years of camping have never had an animal get into it. The only time I've been aware of bears being nearby was in an established campground with bear lockers, in that case a bear was dragging around a dumpster at 1am trying to get into it. There have been a couple cases where we had seen obvious signs of bear and hung our garbage between two trees, but the coolers and food were left in the trucks.

Please don't take this post as me recommending not to be careful about bears, they are definitely a concern. I'm just curious about first hand experiences with bears causing trouble.

 

[chartgpa]

I don't think a fridge is what you need to worry about the most. They will go after the trash first normally, more smells! Surprisingly i don't hear everyone panicking about trasharoos hanging on their vehicles.

 

[ThorC]

I have a Dometic fridge in my rig but store the food in a Yeti with bear proof locks I got from bearbolts.com
Both are certified bearpoof by the outfit in Montana that tests that stuff.

I don't want a bear clawing into my RV so the food get's stored remotely. Better than a "surprise" at night. I'm too old to fight off a bear.

 

[mep1811]

Just spray ammonia around the vehicle .

 

[HighVoltOverland]

^Not sure if that was meant as a joke but I think any sort of intentional long lasting chemical that can have negative impacts on multiple species well after you leave the area kinda goes against the spirit of overland bound as a community and actively contradicts the general ideas of “leave it better than you found it”/“Tread Lightly” / Leave No Trace

Reliable rated gear that has been tested/vetted by those committed solely to dealing with bear interaction and following the rules and regulations of the area your in is probably the best way to deal with the bears when we go into their habitats

 

[mep1811]

^Not sure if that was meant as a joke but I think any sort of intentional long lasting chemical that can have negative impacts on multiple species well after you leave the area kinda goes against the spirit of overland bound as a community and actively contradicts the general ideas of “leave it better than you found it”/“Tread Lightly” / Leave No Trace

Reliable rated gear that has been tested/vetted by those committed solely to dealing with bear interaction and following the rules and regulations of the area your in is probably the best way to deal with the bears when we go into their habitats

Bears don't like the smell of ammonia. I'm not saying flood the area with ammonia but spray by the fridge where the trash is , the trash. No smells to attract bears. A guy who lives in Osvaldo, MT told me about this trick.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

^Not sure if that was meant as a joke but I think any sort of intentional long lasting chemical that can have negative impacts on multiple species well after you leave the area kinda goes against the spirit of overland bound as a community and actively contradicts the general ideas of “leave it better than you found it”/“Tread Lightly” / Leave No Trace

Reliable rated gear that has been tested/vetted by those committed solely to dealing with bear interaction and following the rules and regulations of the area your in is probably the best way to deal with the bears when we go into their habitats

Bears don't like the smell of ammonia. I'm not saying flood the area with ammonia but spray by the fridge where the trash is , the trash. No smells to attract bears. A guy who lives in Osvaldo, MT told me about this trick.

I don’t doubt the efficacy or the source, I just think that one man’s experience in Montana may have a completely different impact than say, folks visiting Yosemite

I grew up being taught to mix diesel with corn for boar bait

Did it work?
Yes.

Is it a minor ecological disaster?
You bet.

Just because something works doesn’t mean we shouldn’t question if there is a safer/ less intrusive option to accomplish the same task

 

[jacobconroy75]

This post hasn't been active for a couple of years, but I have a relevant question. It's become known that the Forest Circus has been relocating Grizzlies into my area for some time, and they have finally posted new regulations about food/garbage storage...and I'd like to comply.

However, I'm lazy and would rather not be moving gear and trash about the campsite all the time.

I have a Jeep Wrangler with an RTT. In the rear there is a kitchen and fridge. I've always used a Trasharoo on the spare tire and have never had a problem (ten years at a dozen or more camping trips each year).

So, lately I've been thinking about buying a 24 inch IGBC dry box (certified bear proof) and permanently mounting it to the tailgate where the spare tire used to be. In other words, I'd have a heavy duty aluminim and lockable box on the rear of the Jeep while I sleep overhead.

Dumb idea? It has a gasket and may or may not be "smell proof". My other option is to use simple garbage bags for trash and store them inside the fridge at night (which is an option I'm not crazy about due to the WAG bags).

On one hand it seems like a genious solution, and on the other hand...I haven't heard of anyone else doing this before. Constructive criticism would be appreciated.

 

[K12]

This post hasn't been active for a couple of years, but I have a relevant question. It's become known that the Forest Circus has been relocating Grizzlies into my area for some time, and they have finally posted new regulations about food/garbage storage...and I'd like to comply.

However, I'm lazy and would rather not be moving gear and trash about the campsite all the time.

I have a Jeep Wrangler with an RTT. In the rear there is a kitchen and fridge. I've always used a Trasharoo on the spare tire and have never had a problem (ten years at a dozen or more camping trips each year).

So, lately I've been thinking about buying a 24 inch IGBC dry box (certified bear proof) and permanently mounting it to the tailgate where the spare tire used to be. In other words, I'd have a heavy duty aluminim and lockable box on the rear of the Jeep while I sleep overhead.

Dumb idea? It has a gasket and may or may not be "smell proof". My other option is to use simple garbage bags for trash and store them inside the fridge at night (which is an option I'm not crazy about due to the WAG bags).

On one hand it seems like a genious solution, and on the other hand...I haven't heard of anyone else doing this before. Constructive criticism would be appreciated.

You definitely could put it in a box on the tailgate... My only concern is that if a grizzly want to get into it they may atill try and destroy the box. You may wake up feeling as though an earthquale in ensuing. You can always get a container for any food or bear attrachtant discards and store it in the cab over night. Wag bags would likely deter the bears rather than attract them if the smell got out so could have a specific container just for those that stays outside unless you feel comfortable keeping it in the cab trash container.

 

[jacobconroy75]

You definitely could put it in a box on the tailgate... My only concern is that if a grizzly want to get into it they may atill try and destroy the box. You may wake up feeling as though an earthquale in ensuing. You can always get a container for any food or bear attrachtant discards and store it in the cab over night. Wag bags would likely deter the bears rather than attract them if the smell got out so could have a specific container just for those that stays outside unless you feel comfortable keeping it in the cab trash container.

I always keep a boom stick, bear spray, and handgun in the tent with me at night and can exit the tent onto the rack if I needed to see what's going on without being on the ground. As long as I don't get pulled out of the RTT without warning, then I feel like I'd have a chance to get out of a Grizzly situation. It may be wishful thinking, but the tools literally help me sleep at night.

Another option I thought of is to have a welder create some sort of quick-release bracket for the Aluminum bear box. I could detach it from the rig in the evening and run it elsewhere on the ATV, then pick it up in the morning. I should mention that it's a two-door Jeep and there is no more room for any gear inside (a bag or very small box might fit over night). Anything of any size must be outside the rig when I'm traveling.

I guess what I'd like to know is this: Do other overland/car campers leave their bear boxes in the car, in the camp, or over the hill? :)

There have only been two confirmed Grizzly sightings within 100 miles of me in ten years. Probably not likely to run into one.

 

[EZkampn]

Trail Pilot,

Perhaps for the trips to known bear country use a removable cooler (e.g - Yeti, Polar Bear or Pelican) if yours is secured to the rack/drawer system, along with a Bearbolt lock.
Just food for thought only, not for bears, lol.

 

[EZkampn]

Trail Pilot,

Perhaps for the trips to known bear country use a removable cooler (e.g - Yeti, Polar Bear or Pelican) if yours is secured to the rack/drawer system, along with a Bearbolt lock.
Just food for thought only, not for bears, lol.View attachment 294928View attachment 294930

Sorry,
This for orignal post to WRTuner-Arch.