Tent Camping in July

[Millermouseketeers]

We are considering tent camping in July at the Fort. We will bring a portable AC to put in the tent. Will this be unbearable in the summer heat?

 

[Smooshdog]

All my family ever did was camp in the summer, I remember it being hot but since we were always to tired from the day we would just crash!

But it has been since 1998 since I've camped at FW...although I hope to return this August after taking the bar exam as a celebration...and we plan on bringing an ac unit as well. DGF does not like the idea of caming, so we have done value resorts our past three trips, but since the funds will be tight for our August trip FW is the only place we can afford to stay.

Any suggests would be appreciated here as well!

 

[clkelley]

If you've got the air conditioner, you should be fine!

 

[tbuot]

Where did you buy the portable a/c? I have never seen one for a tent. Was it expensive?

Thanks...we are planning on tent camping in June and would love to be cool!

 

[clkelley]

Most folks use a 5,000 BTU Window unit and set it on a Milk Crate, or some other type of table and zip a door around the front of the unit.

 

[Smooshdog]

Does any one have pics of how they set up the window unit to their tent? Would just like to see a few examples. Thanks!

 

[tbuot]

Do you cover the electrical cord with plastic or a cover? My thought is what do you do if it rains? I would think you just don't use it or a fan if it is raining?

 

[Millermouseketeers]

Where did you buy the portable a/c? I have never seen one for a tent. Was it expensive?

Thanks...we are planning on tent camping in June and would love to be cool!

My husband is planning on using a modified window unit but he also suggested checking spot-coolers.com. Good Luck! We have started checking out used pop-ups! We love FW!

 

[loriandmatt]

we have AC in our pop up (put it in specifically for a August FW trip about 5 years ago - camped in FW in Oct without it and didn't need it. Needed it in August though!!!!).

i have also camped in tents with friends (not at FW, but in the south in July, Aug) and holy smokes yes, we needed AC. nights were very hot and humid without it.

much like carol described, they put the small AC unit (walmart cheapo) on a milk crate right outside the tent "door". the crate is entirely outside - the AC unit is sticking in the door by about 4-6 inches. they found that digging or scraping a very shallow trench where the drips were landing helped them run away from the tent door, so as not to have a muddy mess outside the tent. they then zip up one zipper and zip the other zipper down to seal off around that unit as much as possible. my friend had rigged some foam around there was well to fill in the small gaps left. Wow did that cool that thing off.

i recomend that you vent at the other end of the tent, or (if using a multi room tent) in the rooms where you will be sleeping. condensation can build up and make things dampish.

they also wrapped the connection where the power cord went into the extention cord (used and outside grade extention cord) with several layers of electrical tape to keep out rain.

they (and we with our pop up) generally don't run it all day, just pop it on when we get back and within 10-15 min it is nice and cool in there. We messed up and left it on all day at FW once and came back to the artic tundra in that camper.

 

[loriandmatt]

oh, and to address the questions about the portable units and costs.....we found that they were quite expensive. we considered one of them before we decided on installing a standard RV AC unit in our pop up.

they ran around the same price and they took up more floor space than we wanted to sacrifice.

we have never regretted the $1000 that installing that AC unit cost us and we generally have the camper all the kids/adults want to hang out in when we camp with friends who don't have AC.

 

[clkelley]

Do you cover the electrical cord with plastic or a cover? My thought is what do you do if it rains? I would think you just don't use it or a fan if it is raining?

If I were using one, I would have the window unit plug plugged into my power strip inside the tent and then the only thing outside would be the master outdoor extension cord running to the campground power pole

 

[tim5055]

OK, here are a couple of helpful items for using an A/C in a tent:

The Official A/C Boot

High Tech Primitive Camping

I admit, I stole the links from previous "Tent A/C" posts, but they might help.

 

[Smooshdog]

Anyone with pics of their a/c and tent hook up?