Tailgate Ice Tubes. It’s no secret that we love SEC football. It’s also no secret that we love hockey, and we spend a lot of time entertaining during football season, and a lot of time at the hockey rink all year long while our boys play their games…this means we have a lot of coolers being filled and refilled with drinks and ice. 

I was soooo tired of buying, or more accurately, forgetting to buy ice every week. The hubs in his infinite wisdom filled up some inexpensive food storage containers with salt water and popped them in the freezer. They were awesome, but not all that attractive or even festive. Pus, after just a few uses, the plastic would crack and then I would have to toss them into the recycling bin. I liked the idea, but we needed something more sturdy! 

1.5″ or larger PVC Pipe

Coordinating PVC Pipe Caps

PVC Glue

PVC Cutter or Saw

Water and Rock Salt

 

PVC was the answer! I cut the PVC to fit my coolers, allowing for the caps. I used my chop saw to cut the pipes. 

I used PVC cement and secured a cap on one side of each pipe. Then, I spray painted the PVC and caps. Next, I filled each pipe 3/4 of the way with salt water, and glued the second cap on the end. I stored them standing up to allow the glue to fully cure. At this point, I touched up the spray paint, and allowed it to dry. 

Finally, I placed them all in the freezer and I was ready for our next football party or all day hockey event. I love having reusable ice tubes, and with the little bit of rack salt in the tubes, they actually get a little colder than traditional ice.