1) Recommendation for a cooler? He/she heard about an $85 one at Wal-mart
You want one with a good seal. I'd opt for a name brand, but prices vary widely, so shop around. I have a 50qt and a 100qt Coleman.
2) How many lbs of beads would be needed for that
http://heartfeltindustries.com/calculator.asp
3) are fans necessary as well?
Probably not
4) how often does the cooler need to be opened? He/she goes away for 3-6 months out of the country which is why he/she bought a temp/humidity controlled cab
I know people who don't open very often at all - a couple of times a year - and have no problems.
5) how many boxes will the above cooler hold?
What size did you buy and what are the dimensions?