For tailgating with a crowd, the GATR 70 with Wheels ($450, 80 cans plus ice) is the right drinks cooler for five to eight people, and the GATR 110 with Wheels ($500, 150 cans or 100 water bottles plus ice) handles a big group or a backyard party. Both are made by GATR, the cooler and drinkware brand from Thibodaux, Louisiana, and both roll on solid rubber wheels that cannot go flat on a parking lot or a grass lot. For a smaller crew or a second cooler for food, add a GATR Egg 25 ($225, 30 cans plus ice).
What size cooler do you need for tailgating?
Start with headcount and how long you will be out. A morning-to-kickoff tailgate is a long day, and people drink more water and more cold drinks than you expect when it is hot. Count what your group usually goes through, add water, then pick the cooler that holds it with room for ice.
Two rules from our cooler size guide help here. First, a half-empty big cooler loses ice faster than a full smaller one, so do not buy bigger than you will fill. Second, the can counts below already include room for ice.
| Group | Pick | Holds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 people, short tailgate | GATR 45 | 42 cans plus ice | $300 |
| 5–8 people, game day | GATR 70 with Wheels | 80 cans plus ice | $450 |
| Big group, backyard party, all-day event | GATR 110 with Wheels | 150 cans or 100 water bottles plus ice | $500 |
| Second cooler for food or the walk to the gate | GATR Egg 25 | 30 cans or 15 bottles plus ice | $225 |
One cooler or two? Drinks versus food
For a crowd, run two coolers. The drinks cooler gets opened every few minutes. Every time the lid comes up, warm air goes in and ice melts. The food cooler with marinated meat, boudin, potato salad and dips should stay shut until it is time to cook.
- Drinks: the GATR 70 or GATR 110. Put it where people can reach it without digging through the food.
- Food: a GATR 45 or an Egg 25 next to the grill. Keep it in the shade and keep it closed.
- Ice for later: a full cooler of just ice is not a bad idea for an all-day event. It stays shut and refills the drinks cooler in the afternoon.
The Egg 25 is built for a day, not for multi-day ice. For a tailgate that is exactly the job.
Do wheels matter on asphalt and grass?
Yes. A full 70 or 110 is heavy. The GATR 70 weighs 42 lb empty and the GATR 110 weighs 50 lb empty, before you add ice and drinks. Wheels mean one person can move it from the truck to the tent.
The wheels on both are solid rubber off-road wheels. There is no air in them, so they cannot go flat. They roll on asphalt and on a grass lot. The cooler stays put in the truck bed, because it only rolls once you lift it from the far end.
Tip: the textured lid on the 70 and 110 is built to stand on with the latches closed, so it works as a step to hang the tent banner or see over the crowd. More on wheel sizes in our piece on coolers with wheels.
How to pack a tailgate cooler
- Pre-chill the night before. The foam holds the temperature it was left at. Sacrifice a bag of ice overnight, dump it and reload in the morning.
- Load drinks cold. Warm cans from the garage eat ice. Chill them in the fridge first.
- Use two parts ice to one part drinks. Pack it tight. Solid block ice or brick pellets outlast hollow tube ice.
- Park it in the shade. In our own 3-hour test, a cooler in the sun and one in the shade differed by over 55 degrees in surface temperature. Under the tent or the tailgate is better than out on the asphalt.
- Keep the meltwater for a while. Cold water around cans helps keep them cold. Drain it through the drain plug when it warms up or before you add more ice.
The reasons behind each step are in our article on GATR cooler ice retention.
Drinkware for game day
Cans in the cooler, but a cup in your hand. All GATR drinkware is double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, it does not sweat, and every lid is BPA-free.
- 20oz Tumbler, $25. Straw-compatible sip lid. The base is about 3.3 inches, so it fits most car cup holders on the ride in. 14 colors.
- 40oz Big Grip Tumbler, $40. Integrated carry handle and a sip and straw lid, straw included. 11 colors.
Laser engraving is $12 for a single logo, so a set of team or family tumblers is an easy add.
Team colors and custom lids
You can put your team colors, tailgate crew name or a logo on the lid with a custom Marine Mat cooler pad. It runs $100 for the GATR 70, $110 for the GATR 110 and $70 for the Egg 25. The pad is non-skid, softer to sit or stand on, absorbs heat before it reaches the lid and will not fade, chip or peel. It is installed free when ordered with a cooler. You supply the artwork. Custom orders take three to four weeks after proof approval, so order before the season opener, not the week of.
Which GATR to pick for tailgating
- Small crew, 2–4 people: GATR 45 ($300).
- Game-day group of 5–8: GATR 70 with Wheels ($450) for drinks, plus a GATR 45 or Egg 25 for food.
- Big crowd or backyard party: GATR 110 with Wheels ($500).
Orders over $75 ship free in the USA, and in-stock items typically ship the same or next business day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cooler for tailgating season?
For five to eight people, the GATR 70 with Wheels ($450) holds 80 cans plus ice and rolls on solid rubber wheels that cannot go flat. For a bigger crowd, the GATR 110 with Wheels ($500) holds 150 cans plus ice.
What size cooler do I need for tailgating with a large group?
For a large group, use the GATR 110 with Wheels for drinks (150 cans or 100 water bottles plus ice) and a second, smaller cooler like the GATR 45 or Egg 25 for food. Two coolers keep the food cooler closed and its ice lasting.
What cooler should I get for a big backyard party?
The GATR 110 with Wheels ($500) holds 150 cans or 100 water bottles plus ice and rolls across grass on solid rubber wheels. Keep it in the shade and pack it two parts ice to one part drinks.
Do cooler wheels work on grass and asphalt?
The GATR 70 and GATR 110 have solid rubber off-road wheels with no air, so they cannot go flat, and they roll on both asphalt and grass. The cooler stays put until you lift it from the far end.
Should I use separate coolers for drinks and food at a tailgate?
Yes. The drinks cooler gets opened constantly and loses ice faster, so keeping food in a second cooler such as a GATR 45 or Egg 25 keeps it colder and safer.
Can I get my team colors on a GATR cooler?
Yes. A custom Marine Mat lid pad costs $100 for the GATR 70 and $110 for the GATR 110, installed free with a new cooler. Custom orders take three to four weeks after proof approval.
