KoolerAire ???

[bsbkmacgowan]

Has anyone ever owned, heard of or seen one of these portable air conditioning units? Do they work at all? Even just enough to make tent camping bearable in the middle of the summer?

KoolerAire

While I'd love to own a Class C, or a travel trailer, or even a pop-up, given our current finances, we're just lucky we can afford a tent! Besides, you can't really tow a pop-up with a New Beetle!

And... summer is approaching (no current plans to go to FW, but where there's a will, there's a way!) and even if we just go camping here in Indiana, it's gonna be hot and humid from time to time!

So, any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Sandy (and Brian, Bonnie & Kellie)

 

[tim5055]

I have used similar devices (i.e. ice cooled a/c units) with a MUCH larger ice storage capacity and they worked poorly at best.

I'd say save your $39.95 + S&H

 

[minnieandmickey]

Go to Walmart, for $40 more you can get an actual air conditioner.

 

[bsbkmacgowan]

we're pretty limited for space, and even the smallest AC unit that Walmart sells would be too large for us to carry with us...

Yup, that's our only mode of transportation for the foreseeable future... and so far, we don't have any roof racks. (That's the four of us starting out on Dec. 26, 2003 for a week in Florida... and we weren't camping that time, but still the Beetle was packed solid!)

The upside to driving the Beetle? Since it's a diesel 5-speed stick, we get really great mileage... we can make it to Florida from here in northern Indiana on merely 2 tanks of fuel!

So, I'm in a quandry... although I greatly appreciate the suggestions left so far, a regular AC unit is just out of the question for us. (More so due to space than price... and the Kooleraire unit is so compact...)

Thanks again!

Sandy (and Brian, Bonnie & Kellie)

 

[Mikelly1221]

I'm bumping this up-anyone else have any experience with the KoolerAire? I really want to tent camp in summer, but don't know how to do it w/o roasting to death!

I like the KoolerAire concept, but before I shell out $40.00, I'd like to know if it works ok.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My hubby just bought one--tested it in our house tonight. It got really chilly--but house was already AC'd.

We are camping on Wednesday and Thursday 5/19 & 5/20. Will let you know how it goes.

 

[bsbkmacgowan]

I've been reading your other post with great interest, not to mention great envy!

It's about all we can do to keep from jumping in our Beetle and heading on down to FW! (Well, the kids still being in school does throw us a curve there!)

Thanks in advance for a personal review of the Kooleraire!

And have a awesome (and safe!) trip!

Sandy (and Brian, Bonnie & Kellie, too!)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Will do bsbkmacgowan!

The only caveat--it will not be nearly as hot and humid this week as it will be in July and August.

Also--the tips for the kooleraire suggest freezing pop bottles with water--that way you have a block of ice. Hubby used just ice from our icemaker last night on our test run--and it melted in a few hours--in an ACd house. Perhaps this is why tim did not like what he used before. Tim--can you share why you were not happy with your AC contraption (no disrepect meant--it seriously looks like a contraption )

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

To those with baited breath on the success/non-success ratio of the kooleraire....

I don't know that we have proven a thing. Our tent had open screen sides covered by the rain fly--so we did not have a completely enclosed room to operate our "ac". The frozen 2 litre bottles held up best for longevity--but the only time hubby tried to use it was in the daytime. Nightime temps dropped into the mid-60s at night and we were snuggly in our sheet and throw blankets. This does not compare at all to the conditions you will have in July or August. IMHO, I'm not sure the cooler aire will benefit--you might do best with a box fan and some frozen bottles standing behind it. The kooleraire fans are tiny!

I spoke with other campers there--one lady said that people actually have brought window unit ACs to put into their tents--not sure how safe this would be though.

We stayed in loop 1500--just across the road from Meadow pool.

Hubby really couldn't take the heat (it wasn't bad at all if you went swimming every once and a while). At one point said we are going somewhere--I asked where? He said I don't care, just so long as it has air conditioning

To think it was all his idea--priceless.

I say if you have ~$40-50 to spare--you can try this--but don't get your hopes up. This silly contraption hasn't proven itself to me just yet.

 

[Mikelly1221]

Thanks Lisa for the update-I think I'll keep my $40.00 and go when it's cooler!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry to bust your bubble, mikelly!

Camping was good for us the past two days--hubby just whines a bit.

October and later would be nice.

Space heaters--the itty bitty ones are excellent in November/December at night.

 

[tim5055]

Originally posted by Lisa loves Pooh
This silly contraption hasn't proven itself to me just yet.

With my past experience with "ice" air conditioners I had a feeling this would be less than spectacular.

Thanks for the report!