Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Swamp coolers (fan and water, or ice? Not sure how you can have an unlimited supply of ice camping in an antique TC) only work in very low humidity. That’s why you never seen them east of Texas.
You have options but they will require money, some handy work or more money and someone else’s handy work.
Honestly it’s a stretch goal with that camper unless you’re handy.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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You're not going to find any non-RV options that don't involve some modification for installation, or at the very least, building something to make it work.
I still think your best bet will be an 8000BTU portable air conditioner. Maybe you just don't understand what one is. It is a free-standing appliance, sits on the floor like a skinny R2-D2. It is NOT a window unit, which sticks through the window. There's one hose that goes to the nearest window, and a cord that plugs into a wall outlet.
You will need to come up with a way to hang the hose in a window, and block off airflow to the rest of the window. That's the minimum amount of work you can expect to try to adapt a non-RV air conditioner to your camper.
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
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Francis
Lyman SC
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Our windows are crank-out jalousies with attached interior screens so using a window is out of the question: we do not want to remove the whole window unit for a retro. The issue of draining the moisture from the A/C won't work with the window. Perhaps a bucket with a cover that has been cut for a hole to fit the drain hose. This works for us to drain gray water out to an enclosed bucket when necessary. We also have a portable dehumidifier but it is ineffective.
1978 NuWa TC on 03 Chevy Silverado Duramax, with Airlifts, Tork Lifts and Fast Guns. No TV, no pets, semi-retired for a road trip with DW to Alaska 09. DW does all the writing and both of us are learning to play banjo!
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jimh406
Western MT
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You might be able to find a used RV AC and there are a few sites that sell blemished/dented one for less.
However, if you are handy, a cheaper option is cut a hole to fit a window AC, or remove a window and build a frame to go around the AC to fill the empty space. Remove it for traveling and put back in when you get to the destination.
In the mean time, try parking in shade or use sunshade/screens to block out most of the sun. I don't think there is a lot that can match the wind stirred by a box fan.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Guessing the OP is looking for very inexpensive and very little effort. Never usually a successful combination for things that are generally expensive and require effort.
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Francis
Lyman SC
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Guess this 83-year old guy will stick to the table fan. We are unable to get out camping much (sigh) and will just keep it simple (yes, cheap). Thanks for so many replies though, perhaps to help someone else with the same challenge.
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Bedlam
PNW
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I want to be that 80+ guy still going out camping. Neither father nor father in law lived that many years, so I hope to break the cycle.
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notsobigjoe
southeast
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OP, I would not hesitate for a minute using this small unit in my TC. Basically it's 2 ft. tall by 1 x 1 "Not actual size" Get a pc of that thick hard pink insulation from Lowes, cut a hole in it, tape it in the window of your choice and run it out the window. It's 199 on amazon prime so that means it's cheaper somewhere else. Good luck buddy!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Uhome-Portable-Conditioner-Dehumidifier-Included/dp/B0B21DJWNG/ref=sr_1_8_sspa?crid=3UW7KL5A33NLJ&keywords=portable%2Bac&qid=1692479587&sprefix=portable%2B%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-8-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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StirCrazy wrote:THIS is a neat unit that I have been looking at. It's 12V and it's a heat pump so it replaces both your furnace and gives you an ac and draws just over 11 amps on full load. Best of all compared to other 12V AC's it's a little more affordable, but it would take a bit of work to install.
Steve
The link you provided goes to a 115v (per the website) unit.
Also, heat pumps are not great with actual cold temps. 40-50F, they do pretty well. By the time you get into the 20'sF, they lose a lot of heating power.
For the price of this unit, probably cheaper to get a standard RV roof mounted unit.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Francis wrote:Our windows are crank-out jalousies with attached interior screens so using a window is out of the question: we do not want to remove the whole window unit for a retro. The issue of draining the moisture from the A/C won't work with the window. Perhaps a bucket with a cover that has been cut for a hole to fit the drain hose. This works for us to drain gray water out to an enclosed bucket when necessary. We also have a portable dehumidifier but it is ineffective.
That's not an issue for a "portable" air/con unit. No need to remove the windows or screens. Also, most splash the condensate into a mist to send out side with the heated exhaust air, so no draining.
This doesn't work with a dehumidifier as there is no exhaust air. It pulls air out of the room, over the condenser and evaporator and then exhausts the now dryer air back into the room.
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