How to Install a Yeti Cooler Tie Down Kit? | Straps Low, Holes Drilled Right

Installing it is a drill-and-bolt job, not a clip-on job: two stainless-steel deck plates get fastened to the deck, two straps run through the cooler’s molded tie-down points, and the cam buckles lock the cooler in place.

The sequence below covers placement, drilling, routing, and the three mistakes that ruin gaskets and lid fit. It also names the one model where the strap path differs.

What Comes In The Kit And Where The Straps Go

The kit ships with two straps on stainless-steel cam buckles, two deck plates, and stainless mounting hardware;

That length is the number to check before you drill. Run a tape from each deck plate location up and over to the cooler’s tie-down point — if the run exceeds 4.5 feet, the kit will not reach, and no amount of tensioning fixes a short strap.

• Molded tie-down points: standard routing on Tundra and most compatible containers.
• AnchorPoint slots: built into compatible Roadie models; YETI directs straps through these slots, run low and crossed over the body.
• Deck plates: stay bolted to the deck when the straps come off, leaving a low profile with no loose hardware to trip on.

Step-By-Step Installation

Set the cooler in its travel position first, then drill — plate locations are dictated by where the cooler actually sits, not the other way around. YETI’s Tundra owner’s manual confirms molded tie-down points and calls installation easy but does not publish a numbered drilling sequence, so the order below follows the hardware and YETI’s routing guidance.

1. Position the cooler where it will ride, and confirm the mounting surface can take the load and vibration — a boat deck, truck bed, or trailer floor with solid material behind it.
2. Lay out the deck plates so each strap can pull low against the cooler body. Keep plates clear of drains, handles, wheels, and walkways, and make sure the cooler still sits level.
3. Mark and drill the mounting holes, then fasten both deck plates with the supplied stainless hardware. Seat them firmly — a plate that rocks will work its fasteners loose.
4. Route each strap through the cooler’s molded tie-down point or, on an AnchorPoint-equipped Roadie, through the slot. Run the straps low and cross them over the body.
5. Clip to the deck plates and tighten the cam buckles evenly until the cooler will not shift forward, back, or sideways.
6. Check the bearing surfaces. Straps sit against the cooler body — not across the lid or gasket — and the lid must still open and close normally. If the lid binds, loosen and re-route; that clearance is your sign the job is right.

Mistakes That Cost You A Gasket Or A Lid

Routing straps over the lid is the failure that shows up first — it compresses the gasket and blocks access, which is why YETI specifically calls for low, crossed routing. Tension is the second trap: tight enough to stop movement, never tight enough to crush the cooler body or deform the lid seal.

Plate placement causes the quieter problems. A plate under a handle, over a drain, or in a footpath turns a useful accessory into an annoyance. Drill once, in the right spot.

One honesty note: the kit restrains the cooler, but it does not replace proper cargo-securing practice for your vehicle, trailer, or boat. The deck surface and fasteners have to handle the real load. If you want to compare kits and strap options before committing, this roundup of tested yeti cooler tie down options covers the field.

Recheck fasteners and strap tension before every trip and again after the first stretch of driving or rough water. Vibration is what loosens hardware, and a two-minute check beats a cooler sliding across a deck.

Common Questions

Will The Kit Fit A Roadie Cooler?

Yes. YETI lists all Roadie models as compatible and directs owners of AnchorPoint-equipped Roadies to run the straps through the built-in slots rather than the molded points. Run them low and crossed over the cooler body, keeping the lid clear so it opens and closes without binding.

Do I Have To Drill Holes In My Truck Bed?

The deck plates fasten with the supplied stainless hardware, which means drilling into the mounting surface. There is no clamp-only option in the kit. Confirm the surface is thick enough to hold the fasteners under load before you drill, and pick plate locations that stay out of the way when the cooler is removed.

How Long Are The Straps?

Measure your planned strap run before drilling.