Frunk storage for camping gear

[Eka]

1. Get a hard cooler such as https://canyoncoolers.com/collections/hard-coolers or https://www.yeti.com/coolers/hard-coolers

Add a lock to the cooler. Most, but not all hard coolers which accept a lock are designated "bear safe" by IGBC when locked.

2. Dry food can be kept in Ridgid or Milwaukee etc. ridgid box and lock the container.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...-Duty-Medium-Tool-Box-254065-254067/322035705

Keep ALL food AWAY from your vehicle and away from your sleeping area!

One needs to make sure the cooler or box is on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee approved list. List of approved products at link. Also requirements for bear fences. I guess the small portable fence chargers I have are not up to snuff. Too low of voltage. Also they require alternating power and ground lines. I used all powered. I used more posts to get around line tension issues. I cleared grass under my fence. When I was healthier I used a sickle to cut it. A battery powered string trimmer works. An electric fencer can start dry grass on fire.

Yeti's Tundra line when used with the right long shackle Master Locks is bear resistant. Note: Both lock spots must be locked. I don't think any of the other cooler lines Yeti makes are.

I should mention I put one electric fence around my food, etc, and a second one around my camp.

Sponsored

 

[Hookalakupua]

If anyone is considering going into Grizzly territory (a completely different situation than black bear country) and doing any level of dispersed, overnight camping, there really isn’t anything we’ve found better than this.

https://bearwatchsystems.com/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOoriro3UjAyYN-af8KBouivTQxPyNOIZwCRXNIS_Q5HzxuNxCGsc

We’ve used it on 4 different occasions, over 30+ nights while hunting or fishing, and it’s the only thing that gives us peace of mind that allows for a full nights sleep, without having someone run sentry duty every 2 hours. The weight penalty is minimal, especially if you go with the ultralight system and setup is pretty straightforward.

 

[Eka]

I noticed this:

Our fences are intended for black and brown bear deterrence.

And no mention of IGBC compliance.

I used standard fencing equipment mostly from Primer 1 Supplies. They have kits, even for a Bear net, with and without out energizer and other parts. Comments on it later. The kits tell you a minimum of what is needed.

I use the 48" version of these step in posts. Yes, they are bigger than the fiber rods, but you don't need leather gloves to touch them after a year or so. The more the merrier. Easier to see, and you don't need to stretch the polywire as tight. That means corner and end posts don't need bracing. I placed them every 5' or so. IGBC recommends a maximum of 8'.

I only used 4 strands all electrified. IGBC says a minimum of 7 wires for a temporary fence. I notice for temporary fences they don't say alternating power and ground. All electrified would be easier to maintain and more robust. More effective in damp conditions, but less so in dry conditions. You really need tight wires to alternate positive and ground wires.

A 1320' long roll of 1/2" wide electric tape/wire like this or A 1320' long Speedrite Premium Wire, 1320 ft, 9-SS. I know IGBC recommends 6+ conductor stainless steel, but I prefer tinned copper for the conductor. Lower resistance, and tinning will keep it good well past the life of the Polyethylene. The Polyethylene has maybe 3 years of use life out in the sun and wind. So if you are only using it for a month total a year, it might be better to go with stainless steel conductors.

The poly wire will eventually develop breaks in it. You can splice them. I do about a foot long overlap area where I twist the two poly wires together. The knots and twisting allows for many spots to arc, and then make good contact as the polyethylene melts and allows the wires to contact.

Bracing of a corner or end post. A second post can be driven into the ground diagonally, then it's top wired to the post to be braced. Obviously you need to get the force vectors right or it won't work. I ran loose enough fences I didn't need to brace.

I see they have a Bear net that can be hooked up as all electrified or +/-. Also available as a kit. A 100' long kit only makes a 25'x25' enclosure. I always made a much larger enclosure for camp. I made my enclosure fence at least 20' from my vehicle. That is a bit over 200' of fence. They have a 12.5' distance between posts. IGBC says a maximum of 8'. So more posts are needed. The solar fence charger in the full kit looks fine.

 

[Hookalakupua]

I noticed this:

And no mention of IGBC compliance.

For food containers, I use several different products that are IGBC Certified as they use actual bears to test them. Their testing procedure for electric fences is completely different as they can’t be considered bear proof by design, their effectiveness is set-up dependent and variable field conditions can alter their performance.

I know my Bearwatch system uses carbon polls and doesn’t have a large enough foot print based on their recommendations, so that’s probably why. With that said, it’s an ultra-lightweight system that 5 separate Alaskan guides were using on Kodiak Island back in 2020 and that’s all I needed to know, in order to make my decision. *(Note… if anyone thinks Grizzlies are intimidating, Kodiak Browns make them look like smurfs! Haha). Best of luck with your setup and post pictures when you have it up and running.

 

[gregr]

Just to follow up on my original post (which was supposed to be about storage, not so much about bears lol), I ended up going with the Front Runner Flat Packs. Two of them fit nicely side by side in the frunk. In one I have an induction cooktop and two pans. In the other I have other cooking/cleanup items - soap and water spray bottles, soap, utensils, espresso maker (outin mino) and coffee, spatulas and the like, plates and bowls, paper towels, wipes, and a few other odds and ends.

They’re small and light enough that it’s easy to grab one and move it to my table for cooking, or I can also just leave them in the frunk and get things out of them as I need to.

My only complaint so far is the strong smokey smell they have when new - I've read the same in some reviews, so it’s not just me. Must be something in their manufacturing process. I assume (hope!) it will go away eventually.

Sponsored