quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Oh crap, are we supposed to rotate them?

Yes, just like the spare magazines rule.

One is none, two is one, etc. lol

I rotate mine often. I have five coolers of various sizes.
Grabbing whatever size I need. The rotation happens naturally.

To answer OP question...my oldest was made about 1990.

quote:

I might get a yeti or most likely an rtic cooler.

I did get an RTIC, when they were on sale, based on a thread here. It's awesome.
But... the cooler I use the most is a 1987 (they are stamped on the bottom) mid-size plastic Coleman. It fits on the floor behind the drivers seat and works great on trips. It's also lightweight and keeps things cold enough for a one-day float on the river.

Here it is as we are about to get on the water:

I have that same design/vintage Coleman 16 for precisely the same reason: They fit pretty perfectly and secure in the floorboard between front and back seats.

Well Y'all got me be beat on coolers. My oldest is maybe 12 years old or so.

However, I do have a Coleman gas lantern and gas 3 burner stove I purchased brand new in the summer of 1977 at my summer job in college at Montgomery Wards. I still have both and they still work very well. I can't believe that was 44 years ago.
.

I used to have a bunch of junky coolers, mainly a result of last-minute, low-cost purchases of my youth.

Now I've minimized the clutter to three coolers:

Orion 55- The big dog, keeps things cold/frozen for over a week, use it for camping trips
Coleman 45- This is the oldest circa 1993, Coleman's retro, metal belted cooler was reintroduced to the market, I jumped on it. Its now relegated to being the drink cooler since it doesn't come close to matching the Orion in insulation.
Ozark Trail- This tall-sided, zippered oval, sits perfectly behind the drivers seat of my Tundra. Serves as a insulated container for multi-stop grocery shopping, or picnic choice with its straps & handles. Easy to clean and use, although the zipper seals just crapped-out recently so....

Cooler rotation?

I have a couple of of coolers. A small one and a bigger one. I "rotate" them according to what size I need.

As for oldest, who knows? I did have the metal Coleman my dad bought in about 1968, but it finally gave up the ghost four or five years ago.

Ever see them along side the road on the way to work? Its one of the best things, if not the only good thing about going in on Sunday mornings. Roads have no traffic, and others don't bother to stop. Its how my garage attic became full of junk coolers. Every size and shape is up there. I could open a museum of coolers. I do have a Yeti that I use to keep skimmed ice for ice balls for kids. I discovered its easier to grind it at home as opposed to carting along the shaver, the chunks of ice, and the generator.

Another of my crazy hobbies.

I have one from probably the early 80's made by Gott, it's a 50 quart and has held up very well for the amount of abuse it has incurred.

No high tech ones yet, but am considering. Also have a smaller Ozarks cooler that is much newer, but very handy.

I've got a red metal Coleman that we bought when we got married, 1984.

Jim

No rotation here I just have a couple I've had for years. Had this one since 1976, never saw the need to replace it. Lots of beer been thru this one.

quote:

Originally posted by hberttmank:
No rotation here I just have a couple I've had for years. Had this one since 1976, never saw the need to replace it. Lots of beer been thru this one.

She’s a beauty!

My daily lunch box is a little playmate from 1994. Besides a little wear it is still going strong.

My everyday cooler only holds 9 qts of ice and conceals real nice I hardly know it's there. the next one is my 40 quart when it get hot out these seem to be the last ones left on the shelves so it's always nice to have one around. but my favorite is my 45 quart it keeps everything cool and packs a nice Hawaiian punch.