Has Anyone Successfully Run a 5000btu Window Unit AC From Their Tacoma?

I worked in emergency response for the first 5 years I had my Tacoma, even living in it for a couple weeks at a time. I've run many inverters over the years but never successfully got a house window unit AC to run off of one.

Fast forward to today. I got hold of a Xantrax Freedom X 2000 inverter. Well powerful enough to handle a 5000btu AC.

The problem is when the AC compressor kicks on, even though the inverter can handle it, the sudden draw on the Tacoma can't.

The big 3 and every major cable in my electrical has long ago been upgraded to OFC 0 gauge to run the amps and winch. Just to keep the amps running I have to use 200A ANL fuses, so I know the charging system can handle a good amount of power draw.

So, has anyone actually run a window unit from their Tacoma?

 

i had a 2000 watt inverter on my taco but never tried A/C.

i was running power tools building a cabin and didn't want to bring a generator.

what i ended up realizing is that the 4.0L alternator couldn't keep up if my air compressor kicked on while two power tools were running. the battery would drain completely. it will permanently kill a cheapo starting battery.

i put the largest deep cycle battery i could find (27D optima) under my hood and this solved my problem.

also, keep a full spare battery or something to jump your truck if necessary.

 

Large inverters are a big ask for a 12v system.
2000 watts at 120v is only 16.7 amps, 2000 watts at 12v is 167 amps! The largest stock tacoma alternator is rated at 130 amps, probably puts out closer to 90 at idle. Also no inverter is 100% efficient so there is conversion loss to be factored in as well.

Larger A/C motors like compressors have a huge start current (typically 3-6x the running current), asuming a 5000 btu A/C uses 400-500 watts and factoring inverter loss you would need probably 35-50 amps continuous to run it and over 200 amps to start it.

 

For all the costs it usually takes for a large 12v to 120v to work on high draw tools [we have commercial quality 2500 watt inverters in our work vehicles and they are expensive, large and have cooling fans] it's cheaper to usually buy a 2000 watt gas inverter that can handle the start load. It's also way more efficient in the use of gas, a 6 popper 4.0 isn't the most fuel efficient engine out there when it's used to run an alternator to run a inverter. It's also way more useful as you can use it away from the vehicle and keep the power cords shorter to cut down on electrical losses. The advances on small portable inverter generator and reductions in prices mean they are reasonably affordable now.

Most inverters for vehicles fall into the ''toy'' category from what I see because people look at costs first. GOOD installs cost money.

 

https://invertersrus.com/product/sp...nH2Vaw-6BpjONBbfUJPdmbP_IZZ7SdcBoCjyUQAvD_BwE

 

Look for a soft start kit for your ac. It keeps the startup up amps lower.

 

There's no way I chance stressing the truck's capabilities running an ac unit when a small gas inverter generator can handle the task. During power outages at the house, I use a small ryobi one to run my 5000btu window ac. Why risk being stranded overloading the trucks 12V system?

 

To answer the question:

No.

But it seems to me like you could benefit from a slightly larger vehicle to live out of for weeks at a time. Even a conversion van would be more practical imo. But, I don't know your situation or what type of terrain you traverse, so hopefully you get it figured out. Worse case scenario, you could always install one of those max air fans through your roof like the van life hipsters do.

 

Put a cap on there like the boom boom guys do for the sound system.

 

Why not direct your efforts into adapting a 2nd belt-driven compressor and full AC system onto the truck instead? Since obviously the truck would need to be running either way.