Portable Fridge in Bear Country

I am going into the Sierra's soon and I have never used a portable fridge (in this case a Dometic) where there may be bears. Is it worth taking or should I just stick with my RTIC and ice?

 

Sub'd

By the way, if I had a fridge, I'd keep it in the truck anyway so that'd limit any bears being drawn to your campsite unless you left the windows down, or door open.

When I've gone in bear country in my other truck, I always put the ice chest inside the truck. Was a pain to move back and forth when I'd turn in for the evening; bears can associate ice chests with food so I didn't want the attention.

 

I am curious about this myself. Normally when I'm backpacking it's either hang it or bear can it or both. When you use the RTIC do you just keep it in the bed/camper covered or put it into the bear containers at the campsite? I know the new ones are bear resistant but I'd still be worried about a bear smelling it through the cooler and opening up my truck just to check...

 

As a backpacker, same here.

I'm assuming the OP is going to camp in BLM, where there are no "set campsites" so no "containers".

 

Basically, yes. I want to do back country dispersed camping off FS roads and the like.

I never store food in my car after dark regardless of what its in. I've had my share of bear encounters and they are not to be underestimated. I am super paranoid about anything with a faintly food like smell. I have personally seen what a bear can do to car just to get to a box of diapers (they have a faint perfumed smell).

 

I may be lucky; although when I venture to bear country, I don't take the same kind of food as if I were anywhere else IE meats to grill/cook, bacon, ham, sausage links, etc.

I'd like to hear out what others do then; aside from having a dedicated trailer that locks up, I can't think of anything else.

 

If I camp in an established site, I set my cooler and stuff away from my vehicle and as close to the next camp as I can.

BLM and elsewhere, I have chained my cooler to a tree via padlock. Helps keep it relatively stationary and adds an additional closure device.

 

I've wondered this as well. So far the best solution I can think of us to use the scent proof bear bags and pack your food in that, within the fridge.

 

If you have an ice chest full of food, anything short of a bear resistant food storage locker will not stop a bear. I have had a car broken into, and have seen an RV with the siding ripped off by a bear getting at people's food.
Bears have big sharp teeth and can openers for claws. Good luck!

 

Since I got my tonneau cover, I keep the food in the bed. Out of sight, and I guess I’d rather the bear rips up my $200 soft tonneau than my truck doors/windows/interior. I never leave a cooler out in bear country. That said, I’ve had them prowl around real close, with food in my car, but mosey on to the dumpster or another less clean site ina campground. Easier pickings. And I’ve never encountered bears dispersed camping ... yet. When I’m backpacking or motorcycle camping I usually bring a bear canister. Even coolers or bags which claim to be bear-proof aren’t legal for that purpose in some California jurisdictions.

 

By the way, we recently camped in a really nice BLM campground in Northern California. Huge, level, private sites, clean bathrooms, only a few other campers. $8/night which is $4 with my 50% off senior recreation pass. But no bear boxes.

 

I've not done any dispersed camping yet hence my question. Thanks for your input. All of my bear interactions have been in campgrounds (not my gear but less diligent neighbors) and I am assuming that backcountry interactions are far fewer. My plan for our upcoming trip is to the RTIC w/locks to make is bear resistant and bear cans as required for toiletries and trash. I have the bracket to cable the RTIC to a tree so it cant wander far if a bear does take an interest.

 

This was my last personal interaction with a bear. Just south of Ponderosa on The Great Western Divide Hwy.

 

Ouch!!

 

Did that bear shit on the side of your car? lol

 

Yes, yes it did. It got snot on the emblem as well.
This happened a few years ago and I was certain it was gonna be totaled but the adjuster did me a solid and it was fixed. Took a month and $13k of Safeco's money.

 

I’m not an expert but it’s generally accepted that if you don’t have a bear can or bear box you should put the cooler in the truck and cover it with a blanket. That’s assuming the cooler doesn’t reek of raw fish or some other strong tasty odor. Supposedly, bears that have interacted with humans and campsites know what coolers look like, and even if your RTIC holds up you may not want a 300 lb bear wrestling with a 50 lb cooler near your tent. BTW, I haven’t needed to try this, but I keep the remote close by in my tent at night and hope the panic button works to scary Smoky away.

 

All salient points @dman100

 

Sucks about the car but the bear shit is pretty funny . Same thing happened to my co worker. Hit a deer and got shit all over the side .

Anyways, I usually leave my coolers out of the way to the side. I rather loose my food then have my truck get destroyed.

 

Ok, good to know I'm not the only one leaving ice chests inside my vehicle.

Sucks what happened to the Evo.