A/C in tents?

[westjones]

I read on this board (a long time ago) about someone using an air conditioner in a tent at FW (putting it in the front zipper door and zipping around it).

Has anyone else done this? Does it really help? Is it common at FW?

We have thought about tent camping at FW again, but the heat was a bit much for us when we tent camped last time. We have never tried an A/C in a tent.

Anyone have pictures?

DJ

 

[becky1960]

There was a post not long ago about a "Boot" that is made for tents.
I believe the price was around $ 250.00, which I thought was a little high. I think a small air conditioner can help a lot and should not be to hard to rig up yourself.

 

[jmurphy625]

I read on this board (a long time ago) about someone using an air conditioner in a tent at FW (putting it in the front zipper door and zipping around it).

Has anyone else done this? Does it really help? Is it common at FW?

We have thought about tent camping at FW again, but the heat was a bit much for us when we tent camped last time. We have never tried an A/C in a tent.

Anyone have pictures?

DJ

I've looked into portable units for my business (we don't have any windows that open and can't break into the wall)..They're on casters and have a hose exaust..a little pricey but look great for camping. (I can't post the link but saw some at Sears online)

 

[ynottony99]

I have seen this done a couple of times. Just use a regular window a/c. Make sure the condensation drains away from your tent. Maybe set it on a couple of small 2x4's. Plug it in to it's own heavy cord. You may have to use some towels or something to help make it bug proof and all. My biggest complaint about doing the parks all day and coming home to a tent at night was the heat.

 

[mama4]

I have seen this done a couple of times. Just use a regular window a/c. Make sure the condensation drains away from your tent. Maybe set it on a couple of small 2x4's. Plug it in to it's own heavy cord. You may have to use some towels or something to help make it bug proof and all. My biggest complaint about doing the parks all day and coming home to a tent at night was the heat.

...I had to post when I saw this because my Dad did this all the time when we were little..from the early to mid 70's through late 80's. No matter where we were camping he always had his AC, TV and a hairdyer. Not that I'm complaining- anything to make tent camping more comfy is fine w/ me. So, speaking from experience, this does work! BTW, Dad has a camper now. No more tent camping for him I guess.

 

[bord1niowa]

I have a portable air conditioner that vents out a window with a hose. We are going to use it at Fort Wilderness in our pop up in a couple of weeks. It is 9000 BTUs and when we had temps in the 90s over the weekend here in Iowa it did a good job on a 22 foot opened up pop up. It does not have to be emptied for condensation either and yes it is an actual air conditioner not just an evaporator, there is a difference. A huge help would be the silver mylar emergency blankets you can buy for 1.88, I strongly recommend the Coleman ones as opposed to the off brand because the off brand you can see through whereas the coleman you cannot. The canvas on the sleeping bed areas of the camper stayed cool with the emergency blanket on it, even though it seems really flimsy. This will stop heat from radiating into your tent as you are well aware happens. The air conitioner we bought off of ebay but you can get them at Walmart.com too for anywhere from 200+ to 450. I wouldn't think you'd need much to cool a tent to a reasonable temperature. Just be careful you watch to make sure it is an airconditioner and not just an evaporator. Good luck and BTW only 10 days till we leave for Disney World! Woohoo!

 

[YellowXterra]

My pop up is just a big tent on wheels and It has a 13500 BTU AC on it. Running it on high and with the solor covers it will freeze your back side off and it's 26 foot long with a slide out.

 

[VAN]

Okay. I've been seeing these portable A/C units and thought I'd see what people thought.

So they work well in a pop-up? We don't really want to buy/install a unit on the pop-up for a variety of reasons. We just got a dog and don't want to get caught in real hot weather when we have the dog with us.

Anyway, what do you do with the emergency blanket? Do you fasten it to the outside of the sleeping areas to deflect the sun?

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[bord1niowa]

I have a coleman pop up so the top of the sides are more of a vinyl feeling material but the sides are a breathable type material which doesn't seem to hold and radiate the heat as much. The top ends (vinyl type in my case) is where you put the solar emergency blanket. It worked very well to keep the top of the end cool. I just fastened it to the edges of the side and top with clips.