Upcycle a Garage Sale Cooler Into a Surf/Catfishing Cart

This instructable takes a beat-up rolling cooler from a garage sale and breathes new life into it as a highly functional, heavy-duty fishing cart. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a welded aluminum cart, this upcycled cooler build gives you an affordable, sustainable way to organize your gear, keep your bait cold, and transport everything to the pier, lake, or surf in a single trip.

For more outdoor DIY builds on hunting and fishing, check out my blog at Reckon I'll Outdoors.

Note: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support future DIY builds!

Materials

1. Rolling Cooler (Or an upcycled garage sale find!)
2. Rod Holders (5)
3. Stainless Steel Bolts 1/4-20 1.75" (10)
4. Stainless Steel Fender Washers (10)
5. 1/4" Stainless Steel Nyloc Nuts (10)
6. Marine Goop

Tools

1. Power Drill with 1/4" Drill Bit
2. Wrench
3. Marker or Pen

Use one of your rod holders as a template to mark the mounting holes on the outside of your upcycled cooler. Position them carefully so they don't block the cooler's handle or interfere with the wheels. Once marked, drill 1/4" holes straight through the plastic walls.

Push your stainless steel bolts through the rod holder and into the newly drilled holes in the cooler wall. On the inside of the cooler, slide a fender washer onto each bolt before threading on the nut. Tighten everything securely with a wrench to ensure the hardware won't pull through the plastic when a rod is yanked.

To ensure your upcycled cooler remains leak-proof and holds ice perfectly, apply a generous dab of Marine Goop over each nut and bolt head on the inside. This seals the hardware completely and prevents cold air from escaping.

Repeat the templating, drilling, and mounting process for the remaining four rod holders. If you are using long-butted fishing rods, be sure to add a small stop pin at the bottom of the holders so your rods don't drag on the ground while rolling.

This weekend project is the perfect way to keep usable materials out of the landfill while building a durable, practical solution for any angler on a budget. If you decide to rescue an old cooler and build your own version of this cart, be sure to share your photos using the "I Made It!" button below!

For more outdoor DIY builds on hunting and fishing, check out my blog at Reckon I'll Outdoors.