portable ac for tent camping image
Amy B
Need advise. We are looking for a large tent to camp in for 2+ weeks. We also want to have air conditioning in the tent.
It will be in July so the weather will be VERY hot.
What is the largest tent availble that will feel more like a vacation home and can have a portable airconditioning system connected??
thanks
thanks to all that have responded...YES I know what real camping is, i have backpacked many sections of the AT and many other weekend trips.
we go camping every year for over a week and white water kayak everyday and return to camp every night to hang out with the other kayakers. THIS year I will be 6 months pregnant when we are camping, I won't be able to paddle most days (unless I am taking newbies down a very easy river), so I will be at camp during the day and prefer NOT to boil the baby in my belly when it is over 90 degrees in North Carolina. i just figured that if they can put an air conditioner on a pop up camper then I should be able to find a very small unit to very a tent cool. The camp site has power and trees for shade.
Answer
On hand I enjoy survival camping from time to time where I take the bare minumum and see what I'm made of. At other times it's nice to pamper myself a bit. I doubt that most of the posters here been pregnant. I haven't, but I have supported my wife through two.
My love for camping with modern conveniences started in boyscouts, when my friends and I took a cooler full of pop and candy bars and a boom box to scout camp. We were the envy of all the other boys. In college it was the mattresses off our beds, sheets and all, that we threw in the back of the pickup truck and took up into the mountains. There is nothing like sleeping under the stars in your own bed!
This summer I am taking my pregnant wife (5 mos) camping for a few days. She will have shared access to a trailer with A/C, but I am interested in putting A/C in the tent too, so she will have her own private space.
The best solution I have found is from this website:
http://www.deltablues.net/camping2.html
This guy seems to have the right mentality, cheap, low maintenence, simple, safe, and able to run for an extended period. It might be too expensive for my three day trip, but might be perfect for yours.
The key ingredients:
1. low amp ac unit - no more that 6 or 7 amps (author lists it at about $155)
2. a high amp (15 plus amps) extension cord (I bought 50 feet for about $20, they are more expensive because they can handle more load, important for your safety as the author notes)
3. Duct tape
In case the weblink doesn't work, he has placed the ac unit on bricks at his rear tent door, zipped it up and kept it all together with duct tape. The low amp unit and high amp cord keeps the cord cool and reduces fire risk. The ac unit on its lowest setting is plenty to cool the tent.
I echo the other posters concern about theft. Tents are tough to secure. One idea off the top of my head, if you are worried about someone swiping your ac unit, is to drive a large metal stake (like an electrical grounding stake) a couple of feet into the ground. (You will probably need a small sledge hammer, like an 8 pounder.) Then you could bolt a chain or cable (heavy duty grounding cable might work) to the ac unit and to the stake. You may have to drill holes in the ac unit housing, but I imagine it would have mounting holes in it already. You could use security bolts or locking bolts that tighten easily but are difficult to remove. The materials should cost less than $10 at a hardware store. The stake will be difficult for anyone to remove (including you at the end of your stay, you might want to bring a shovel to dig it out).
If your tent or powersource happens to be hit by lightning your ac unit will be grounded too! Bonus!
Happy camping and best of luck/blessings with your pregancy.
On hand I enjoy survival camping from time to time where I take the bare minumum and see what I'm made of. At other times it's nice to pamper myself a bit. I doubt that most of the posters here been pregnant. I haven't, but I have supported my wife through two.
My love for camping with modern conveniences started in boyscouts, when my friends and I took a cooler full of pop and candy bars and a boom box to scout camp. We were the envy of all the other boys. In college it was the mattresses off our beds, sheets and all, that we threw in the back of the pickup truck and took up into the mountains. There is nothing like sleeping under the stars in your own bed!
This summer I am taking my pregnant wife (5 mos) camping for a few days. She will have shared access to a trailer with A/C, but I am interested in putting A/C in the tent too, so she will have her own private space.
The best solution I have found is from this website:
http://www.deltablues.net/camping2.html
This guy seems to have the right mentality, cheap, low maintenence, simple, safe, and able to run for an extended period. It might be too expensive for my three day trip, but might be perfect for yours.
The key ingredients:
1. low amp ac unit - no more that 6 or 7 amps (author lists it at about $155)
2. a high amp (15 plus amps) extension cord (I bought 50 feet for about $20, they are more expensive because they can handle more load, important for your safety as the author notes)
3. Duct tape
In case the weblink doesn't work, he has placed the ac unit on bricks at his rear tent door, zipped it up and kept it all together with duct tape. The low amp unit and high amp cord keeps the cord cool and reduces fire risk. The ac unit on its lowest setting is plenty to cool the tent.
I echo the other posters concern about theft. Tents are tough to secure. One idea off the top of my head, if you are worried about someone swiping your ac unit, is to drive a large metal stake (like an electrical grounding stake) a couple of feet into the ground. (You will probably need a small sledge hammer, like an 8 pounder.) Then you could bolt a chain or cable (heavy duty grounding cable might work) to the ac unit and to the stake. You may have to drill holes in the ac unit housing, but I imagine it would have mounting holes in it already. You could use security bolts or locking bolts that tighten easily but are difficult to remove. The materials should cost less than $10 at a hardware store. The stake will be difficult for anyone to remove (including you at the end of your stay, you might want to bring a shovel to dig it out).
If your tent or powersource happens to be hit by lightning your ac unit will be grounded too! Bonus!
Happy camping and best of luck/blessings with your pregancy.
any tips on how to keep cool overnight when camping on the beach.?
hostile ta
I'm going on a camping trip with some friends in a couple weeks and i need some tricks on how to keep cool while i'm there. I'll be good during the day. I'm talking overnight, so I'll be able to sleep a little. This isn't my first time camping, so no obvious smart remarks please. I also can't afford a portable ac unit, so hopefully some good suggestions from you seasoned campers out there. I've already thought of having a box fan, I was hoping for something else. Thanks
and yes they have electrical hookups.
i'll be on ocracoke island outerbanks n.c.
i'll be at an actual camp ground not directly on the beach.
Answer
Guessing if it's that hot, you probably have mosquitos to contend with at night. First, you might try taking the rain fly off the tent so you can get a breeze thru.
Just say no to the blow up mattress - the rubber mattress will make you sweat, and you'll wake up in damp bedding.
Try a "Cool Bandana" http://www.coolbandanas.com/coolorder.htm
If you keep your head cool, and your inside of your wrists, you can keep your temp down.
wear light, loose fitting clothing that wicks water to sleep in.
Guessing if it's that hot, you probably have mosquitos to contend with at night. First, you might try taking the rain fly off the tent so you can get a breeze thru.
Just say no to the blow up mattress - the rubber mattress will make you sweat, and you'll wake up in damp bedding.
Try a "Cool Bandana" http://www.coolbandanas.com/coolorder.htm
If you keep your head cool, and your inside of your wrists, you can keep your temp down.
wear light, loose fitting clothing that wicks water to sleep in.
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