Keeping cool?

[Parkers_girl]

I have been to FW many many times. But when we go it is usually after September, so the weather isn't as scorching. We plan on going in early June. What do you guys do to keep cool in your tent at night. We don't really hang around the tent during the high sun hours, just evening and morning. Any tips would help us greatly!!! Thanks

 

[dharmster]

Staying cool in tents in FL in June isn't always easy...I've only ever tent-camped in FW though, and my experience was always filled with middle-of-the-night trips to the pool. I remember not being able to sleep when I was little b/c of the heat and my parents would take me to the pool at 3:30 just to cool off. That is what DH and I will do when it becomes unbearable...we'll be tent camping at the same time as you!

Consider if you really want a sleeping bag...we'll just bring sheets and a light blanket because sleeping bags are too hot and bulky. Coleman makes tent ceiling fans for around $45 at Target. Also stay hydrated! We just bought CamelPacks for the parks and campsite. They're small backpacks with water pouches and a straw thing so you always have your water with you and don't have to hold on to a Nalgene the whole trip. I hear if you fill the water pouch with ice and water it keeps your back cool too!

 

[proudmomof4]

Look into an ACBoot, I saw it for the first time on this board and it looks very interesting, it is a way to hook up a window a/c unit to your tent. Just do a google search and I am sure you will find it.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

dharmster I thought we were the only ones that would go to the pool and cool off at 2am we use to go lay in the kiddy pool when it would get to hot.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Lowe's, Home Depot and Best Buy, all sell self standing A/C units

 

[bord1niowa]

WalMart.com also has the fre standing AC's. These are big though, much larger than a room AC. We bought one for our pop-up 9500 BTU's which if we cover our bunkends we should be ok. We're experimenting with that now.

 

[donac]

We have been there in August and we don't bring an ac unit but we do bring fans. We all have personal fans to cut the heat.

I also agree with the camelbacks. We all have then and we can each carry our ponchos and some snacks and things. With ice and if it is a new one with extra insulation the ice can stay almost half the day. Ask for a glass of ice water at the counter serves and refill it during the day. We love them.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I had posted the most recent comments on the ACBOOT--I had put the original thread in my favs(glad I did because it disappeared not long after) until I could buy it and for us this was the way to go====For those who posted about the free standing AC units be aware that these are not true AC units,they are evaporative coolers and in doing mounds of research found that these units don't offer a lot in the cooling area--generally they offer only a 10 to 12 degree change in temperature!!
So if it was 100 in your space it would only knock the temperature down to 88/90!!!
They do make tent fans but we found with our old tent that this just didn't do anything---Maybe for the smaller 2/3 person tent it would be ok but for anything bigger they are pretty much ineffective,bigger fans would be better for cooling a bigger area but if each person had one you could run into not enough outlets for all the fans plus other items you would need to run off electricity.

 

[bord1niowa]

There are actual free standing air conditioners. Different than the evaporative coolers which have been around. This must be vented outside just like a regular air conditioner and can be set as low as 62 degrees. An evaporative cooler is nowhere near the same as this type. In fact I used ours to cool the downstairs in the house when it got warm and it did a good job.