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RTT With Portable Air Conditioner

Discussion in 'Outdoors' started by DFA1, Jun 24, 2019.

  1. Jun 24, 2019 at 7:23 PM
    #1
    DFA1

    DFA1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I searched and probably missed it, but I live in Texas and as most of you know, it gets hot as hell in the summer. I have been thinking about getting a portable air conditioner for my RTT. Has anyone tried this?
     
  2. Jun 24, 2019 at 7:43 PM
    #2
    Philrab

    Philrab Curator of useless knowledge

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    Bunch of Basic Taco mods.
    Could always make one. Old cooler, plumb a fan into one end and a flexible outlet hose, wire it to a twelve volt source, fill cooler with ice, route hose into tent. Even once the ice melts it’ll cool the tent a fair bit. If you’re handy it’s a DIY solution.

    I live in SE Louisiana, I feel your pain.
     
  3. Jun 24, 2019 at 7:51 PM
    #3
    DFA1

    DFA1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the reply. I thought about something like that, butI'm really looking for something more low maintenance than that. I will usually be in a campground that has electricity
     
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  4. Jun 24, 2019 at 8:11 PM
    #4
    Philrab

    Philrab Curator of useless knowledge

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    If you have 110 volt available I’d almost say get a small window unit, but I don’t believe anyone makes one small enough and it wouldn’t hold up to much off roading/abuse.
     
  5. Jun 24, 2019 at 8:32 PM
    #5
    DFA1

    DFA1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Here is the one I am thinking about trying out. It is a 110V, so should plug into most of the State Parks I camp at.

    upload_2019-6-24_22-32-18.jpg
     
  6. Jun 24, 2019 at 8:46 PM
    #6
    Philrab

    Philrab Curator of useless knowledge

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    Check out the square footage 8000 btu is intended for though. That is a LOT of air conditioning for a rooftop tent, even taking into account thermal loss from lack of insulation.

    Also get a good, thick, contractor grade extension cord to minimize voltage drop/pulling more amps. Voltage drop increases with longer distances.
     
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  7. Jun 24, 2019 at 8:53 PM
    #7
    DFA1

    DFA1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Keep cool with JHS: With 8,000 BTU fast cooling capacity and upgraded compressor, its cooling area is approximately 170 sq.ft. it will keep your bedroom, kitchen, dormitory, office and garage cool and comfortable in this summer

    Looks like its rated for 170 sq. ft.
    I am a wondering if I put the rainfly on if it will hold the cool air enough to keep it in the mid 70's at least. I would also use it in my bigger ground tent sometime
     
  8. Jun 24, 2019 at 9:06 PM
    #8
    whatstcp

    whatstcp currently drunk so don't listen to me

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    I have something similar to this back when I lived in a crappy $275 a month apartment. It works pretty good inside a building but IDK about a tent that has a non existent r value.

    They are also heavy. And pretty bulky. Also how much amperage does that 110v campground outlet provide? I remember mine sucking quite a bit of juice. IDK about putting it in a rooftop tent. Maybe consider something smaller like a small evaporative cooler. You can DIY like someone already said or buy it already made

    https://www.amazon.com/GREATSSLY-Po...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=S6PFSWSYQWREM0FMBFGJ
     
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  9. Jun 25, 2019 at 7:51 AM
    #9
    MagtechPA

    MagtechPA Thor

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    Do you live in a humid part of Texas? I think whatstcp is on the right track with the evaporative cooler. While they aren't practical in my part of the country due to the high humidity we have in the summertime, they work really well in dry climates.
    My dad grew up in El Paso and, as a kid, he remembers seeing window-mount evapoative coolers on most of the cars down there. They would fill them with wet wood chips and as the car went down the road, air was forced through the unit and into the car's interior, cooling it through the process of evaporation.

    You could probably rig up something similar with a fan and some duct work, as Philrab suggested.
     
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  10. Jun 25, 2019 at 7:59 AM
    #10
    Daria

    Daria Can I pet your dog? Moderator

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    RTTs in central and South America actually come with a/c cutouts. Looks similar to a window unit. I learned this while picking up RTTs in Miami that has a bigger presence down south, way south.
     
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  11. Jun 25, 2019 at 1:27 PM
    #11
    DFA1

    DFA1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if I can rig up a duct that runs from the RTT to the unit on the ground. The problem will be the seal from the vent on the unit. The one I am looking at has a remote control, so that would be nice if I was able to do this.
     
  12. Jun 25, 2019 at 1:38 PM
    #12
    DFA1

    DFA1 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Something that goes over this (outlined in red). And attach the duct below, then run to the tent. Any ideas?

    upload_2019-6-25_15-38-18.jpg
    upload_2019-6-25_15-37-14.jpg
     
  13. Jun 25, 2019 at 6:36 PM
    #13
    Bajatacoma

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  14. Jun 26, 2019 at 5:41 AM
    #14
    uploadadventure

    uploadadventure It’s all @ColoradoTJ’s fault

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  15. Jun 26, 2019 at 5:55 AM
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    BroID

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  16. Jun 26, 2019 at 9:46 PM
    #16
    Bajatacoma

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    Last edited: Jun 26, 2019
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  17. May 9, 2020 at 1:43 PM
    #17
    MightyMouseTom

    MightyMouseTom Balance off road vs on road performance

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    Interesting. Wonder if he powered it on the bed outlet inverter?
     
  18. May 10, 2020 at 6:05 PM
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    Bajatacoma

    Bajatacoma Well-Known Member

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    I can't imagine it would, it's only 400w max with small gauge wiring, and the truck has to be running to use it. The small Hondas will run one though.
     
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