While Yeti Coolers often last for decades, certain parts may need to be replaced a bit sooner. One of the most common to wear out are the rubber latches that hold the lid closed.
But the good news is, they’re relatively inexpensive and can be replaced in just a few minutes.
So how exactly do you replace the rubber T latches on a Yeti Cooler?
To replace the rubber T-Rex lid latches on a Yeti Cooler:
- Lever out the pan head pins on each side of your cooler’s lid using a flathead screwdriver.
- Remove the old rubber latches.
- Align the new latches in the recessed slots.
- Reinsert the pin, making sure you don’t catch or pinch the new latch.
- Gently tap the pin back into place with a hammer.
Then you’re done!
There are plenty of third party latches out there as well and I’m sure some work just fine. You can even get a variety of different colors making them a cool way to easily modify your Yeti cooler and add some color to it.
Still, I prefer to stick to authentic Yeti T-Rex Latches because I know they’re high-quality and will probably only need to be replaced once.
They’re not much more expensive anyway.
You can pick up a pair directly from Yeti or on Amazon, which are really the two best places to buy replacement parts for your Yeti.
If your latches have seen better days and need replacing then these are the same ultra-durable latches that new Yeti Tundra coolers come with.
What You’ll Need
- Replacement Yeti T-Rex lid latches
- Pliers
- A box cutter knife
- A flathead screwdriver, putty knife, or any other flat, sturdy tool
- A hammer
- A bolt to use as a drive pin (optional)
Step 1: Slide Out The Pins And Remove The Old Latches
There are 2 different ways to slide out the pins that attach the rubber latches. The method Yeti recommends tends to damage the pins slightly but keep the rubber latches in tact if you want to maybe reuse them.
Then there is a method which protect the pin from damage but at the sacrifice of destroying the existing rubber latches.
Pull The Pins Out Using A Screwdriver
Locate the rounded pan head pins on both front corners of your Yeti’s lid.
Slide a flathead screwdriver behind the head of the pin and gently pry it outward. The pin should loosen and slide away with a little encouragement. The pin is rather soft metal so it may dent slightly as you do this but it shouldn’t break completely.
Once the pin is loose, remove it the rest of the way by hand and slide off the old latches.
Pull The Pins Out Using A Knife and Pliers
The alternative method is to use a box cutter knife to first cut off the rubber latch where it attaches to the pin.
Then using pliers grab onto the pin in this location and use a hammer to hit the pliers and pull the pin out.
This will destroy your latches. That’s fine if you’re throwing them out anyway. But if you’re just changing out the colors or want to keep them spare then you shouldn’t use this method.
Step 2: Install The New T Latches
Slide the new latches into each recessed slot and insert each pin into place by hand, stopping once you start to feel resistance.
Make sure you’re not butting the pin against the new latch or pinching it between the pin and cooler. You may need to jiggle the latch a bit for the pin to slide through cleanly.
Step 3: Gently Hammer The Pins Back Into Place
Using a hammer, gently tap the pan head pins back into place.
The head of the pins should be just barely flush against your cooler, but make sure you’re not overdoing it — the slots for the pins are some of the most fragile parts of a Yeti, and may crack or split under excessive force.
If you don’t have the best aim, you can always use a bolt as a makeshift drive pin to make it easier.
As you can see it’s pretty easy to replace the T-Rex latches and it can be a great way to modify your Yeti cooler if you grab some colored ones from Amazon.
If your latches have seen better days and need replacing then these are the same ultra-durable latches that new Yeti Tundra coolers come with.
What About Roadie Coolers?
While all Yeti Tundras and Roadie 20s use the same T-Rex lid latches, other Roadie models use squared latches instead — which are surprisingly tough to find.
Your best bet is to contact Yeti’s customer service for the replacement part.