5 Reasons a Cooler Won't Work for Van Life

Ice melts fast In a hot van, especially above 90°F, you will drain water and restock ice every 24 to 36 hours.

Food safety becomes a gamble Temperature swings make dairy and meat risky by day three.

You lose cargo space to ice A significant portion of your cooler is taken up by ice, not food.

It demands daily attention A cooler requires constant draining and restocking, unlike a 12V fridge you can ignore for a week.

It only works for short trips A decent cooler is fine for a weekend, but for full-time living, the chore becomes unbearable.