YETI Tundra Haul
The cooler we used
Consider it when: You prefer an ice cooler without an electrical system, with wheels for moving it.
Keep in mind: It weighs 37.5 lb empty, before food and ice. Check hatch access and the space to open its lid.
Ice cooler vs portable fridge for camping
A YETI Tundra Haul and a GoSun Chill solve the same food-storage problem in different ways. Our cooler experience is firsthand; the Chill is a manufacturer-researched alternative we have not used.
Some links may earn us a commission. Guides distinguish our experience from manufacturer specifications. Read our disclosure.
Which makes sense for you?
Keep an ice cooler if ice resupply and food space work for your trips and you want to avoid adding a cooling power system. Consider a fridge when you can budget for daily energy use, recharging, ventilation and mounting. Compare the complete setup before paying for the box; we have no controlled ice-retention or Chill runtime results.
Listed differences
- Exterior dimensions
- YETI Tundra Haul: 28.1 × 18.6 × 19.6 in exterior
- GoSun Chill: 25 × 20 × 16 in exterior, per GoSun
- Empty weight
- YETI Tundra Haul: 37.5 lb empty
- GoSun Chill: 35.2 lb listed weight in GoSun’s visible specifications; another embedded maker field says 28 lb
- Power supply
- YETI Tundra Haul: Ice storage; no electrical supply needed
- GoSun Chill: DC compressor runs on 12 or 24V, per GoSun; confirm the compatible supply
- Accessories / bundle
- YETI Tundra Haul: Confirm the selected package and accessories with YETI; ice occupies part of the storage space
- GoSun Chill: Box list: AC adapter, 12V cord, bungee and manual. FAQ calls Power144 included; box list omits it. Confirm the exact bundle before ordering.
Manufacturer figures, not our measurements. The full table is below.
GoSun Chill
One of the fridges we're comparing for our camper
Consider it when: You are weighing an electric cooler against ice storage or our SnoMaster setup.
Keep in mind: Allow space and a compatible power supply. Battery inclusion is unclear: the FAQ mentions Power144, but the box list omits it. We have not used the Chill.
The full comparison
Manufacturer figures and buying constraints, not our measurements. On small screens, scroll the table sideways.
| What to compare | YETI Tundra Haul | GoSun Chill |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior dimensions | 28.1 × 18.6 × 19.6 in exterior | 25 × 20 × 16 in exterior, per GoSun |
| Empty weight | 37.5 lb empty | 35.2 lb listed weight in GoSun’s visible specifications; another embedded maker field says 28 lb |
| Power supply | Ice storage; no electrical supply needed | DC compressor runs on 12 or 24V, per GoSun; confirm the compatible supply |
| Accessories / bundle | Confirm the selected package and accessories with YETI; ice occupies part of the storage space | Box list: AC adapter, 12V cord, bungee and manual. FAQ calls Power144 included; box list omits it. Confirm the exact bundle before ordering. |
| Our evidence | Our field notes; current versions may differ. Checked 2026-09-29. | Manufacturer specifications. Checked 2026-10-02. |
| Main constraint | It weighs 37.5 lb empty, before food and ice. Check hatch access and the space to open its lid. | Allow space and a compatible power supply. Battery inclusion is unclear: the FAQ mentions Power144, but the box list omits it. We have not used the Chill. |
The field notes behind the choice
Choose the supporting system first
An ice cooler may fit: You want to avoid adding an electrical supply for food storage, and you can plan ice resupply and the space it occupies. Our wheeled Tundra Haul worked well in the early setup. We have no controlled ice-retention result to turn into a trip-length promise.
A powered fridge may fit: You can provide a compatible power supply and recharge it throughout the trip. Our SnoMaster worked well with its DFG Offroad slide, but the electrical supply was initially a problem. We added a second source of power and later solar charging.
That was a change to the whole vehicle setup, not just a swap of boxes. The SnoMaster and slide went with the 4Runner era and are no longer owned. Our purchase record identifies a SnoMaster Traveller TR42S and a DFG Offroad Fridge/Freezer Slide and Tilt for Dometic CFX50–65. Physical revisions and capacity remain unverified; the purchased pairing is not a universal manufacturer fit guarantee.
What changes in the car
- Usable food space
- Ice cooler: allow room for ice as well as food. Fridge: compare internal layout and usable capacity, rather than assuming equal exterior size means equal food space.
- Access at camp
- Our YETI needed an angled position to open above the drawers. Our fridge sat on a slide. For either approach, check hatch clearance, lid swing, drawer access and room for the manufacturer’s required ventilation.
- Weight and mounting
- YETI’s current Tundra Haul lists 37.5 lb empty and a 28.1 × 18.6 × 19.6 in exterior. Those are current reference figures, not measurements of our older cooler. Include contents, mount and slide in your load plan.
- Trip support
- Cooler: plan where and when you can replace ice. Fridge: check the input connection, usable battery energy, expected load and recharge route. Solar output depends on conditions; a panel’s rating alone does not guarantee replenishment.
- What we measured
- No side-by-side test, fridge power-draw measurement or controlled ice-retention test. Our SnoMaster experience cannot predict another fridge’s runtime.
Lay out the footprint in your car before buying. Open the lid and nearby drawers in that space, then account for hoses, cables and mounting hardware. Our cooler ownership notes and drawer kitchen story show why access mattered as much as the box itself.
Sources and the next decision
Manufacturer details: YETI Tundra Haul, checked September 29, 2026; GoSun Chill, October 2, 2026; BougeRV CRPRO30, September 30. These ordinary manufacturer links earn us no commission.
GoSun’s visible specification lists 35.2 lb, while an embedded maker field says 28 lb. Its FAQ describes an included Power144 battery, but its box list omits it. Confirm the exact purchase bundle; we cannot promise a battery, solar panel or runtime.
If you choose a fridge, start the power plan before ordering it. Use our daily energy-budget example to plan the battery, then compare the RIVER 3 Plus and AC70 against your own load and charging route. These are planning steps, not a fridge-runtime test. Then use the packing order checklist to keep food accessible.
Before you choose
Price the complete setup
Write down the exact fridge bundle, compatible power supply, charging equipment, cables and any mount or slide. Subtract equipment you already have. For the cooler, account for ice, resupply stops and food space occupied by ice. We have no measured cost comparison or universal payback period.
Check the hatch and lid
We tilted the YETI above our drawers to open it through the hatch. Measure your own arrangement, including lid swing and ventilation requirements.
Do not borrow another fridge’s results
Our SnoMaster ownership notes are useful context. Our experience with that fridge does not establish GoSun Chill performance.