air conditioning van? type

[gymrat]

HI, I'm new here but have been lurking for awhile. I recently decided to sell my 8 year old gulfstream b touring cruiser, lots of problems and no longer suited what i wanted to do. Bought a 2013 chevy express passenger van and have installed a kitchen cabinet and built and installed a bed, i've pulled out the seats and tacken out the heavy beam runners the seats attached to, laid down plywood, and put down an indoor outdoor type carpet. As i live in texas and travel alot around the state and thru the southwest us i need to decide on an air conditioner. I am camping in state parks and rv parks so 98% of the time i have hookups. Question, do you think i would be better suited with a portable air conditioner or a window unit, and if a window unit the best way to install in back drivers side door.

 

[karen]

I've thought about when I get a van that that would look for a 10000 BTU portable air conditioner/heat-pump that has two air ducts (don't get the one hose units as it sends a large volume of your cool inside air outside - total waste) and then crack the unit open to remove any weights there are in it that keep it bottom heavy - don't need them. Then I'd enclose it behind cabinetry. Currently I'm considering venting to underneath the van for stealth, but that's easy to say when I don't even have a van yet.

 

[VanFan]

I live in Texas, too, and have been going back and forth on this issue for three years now (arghh!).&nbsp; Rear window installation is not an option for me because it feels unsafe.&nbsp; If I go with a window unit, it will be installed only when needed in the passenger side front window.&nbsp; My back has argued with me a bit over this one.&nbsp; It would make coming and going a bit more of a headache, too.<br><br>As for rear window installation, there was a company in Canada that made a nice kit, complete with plexiglass cover.&nbsp; I'll try to find a link.<br><br>A portable would be nice, but I have yet to hear from anyone who has been happy with one in a van, although Brenda Curtis' blog makes a few references to appreciating hers last summer.&nbsp; Good luck with finding the right solution for you.&nbsp; I will definitely stay tuned!<br><br>Vickie

 

[gymrat]

I've seen the kit from Canada somewhere, If I remember correctly it's not sold in the US. It is the best looking installation I've seen for a window unit, most just use a piece of plywood and lots of duct tape. The kit from Canada was around 6 or 7 hundred dollarscomplete with the a/c if my memory is working.

 

[MrNoodly]

Maybe you need a reefer van.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br>http://www.refrigeratedtrucksandvans.com/individual_in_stock2.php?productid=72<br><br>But if stealth isn't an issue, then rooftop RV AC might be an answer.

 

[VanFan]

I have also seen window units installed in the lower part of a back door, as well as in side doors both with and without a slide out.&nbsp; The back door wouldn't work for us, because 1) our doors wouldn't handle the extra weight very well, and 2) we store stuff in the back which would block the flow.&nbsp; The side door would be better, I think, but I can't bring myself to put it to the test by cutting up the door.&nbsp; (Shoot, I haven't even put hanging one out the passenger window to the test yet.&nbsp; LOL!)<br><br>Vickie

 

[MK7]

I bought an $800 portable A/C unit (Sears) about 8 years ago because the room I was renting was unbearably hot in San Jose and it had no A/C. It went from unbearably hot to OK, but the noise was unbearably loud. And it had to stay on, almost constantly to keep this room cool. Can't imagine what it would be like in a van that's much smaller. I returned it because I couldn't deal with the constant noise.

 

[VanFan]

Thanks for sharing your experience MK7.<br>Vickie

 

[Ballenxj]

I have never liked the looks of rear door portable A/C installations. They always seem to remind me of the grapes of wrath. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> With of course the exception of factory installations like on Sports vans etc.<br>

Maybe you need a reefer van.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br>http://www.refrigeratedtrucksandvans.com/individual_in_stock2.php?productid=72<br><br>But if stealth isn't an issue, then rooftop RV AC might be an answer.

<br>I like the idea of a reefer van. I think that is the best idea yet. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>The first thing I thought of was the rooftop model like you will find at an RV store. <br>-Bruce

 

[MK7]

I saw (I think on here) a guy who cut a hole on the side of hisvan, opposite the sliding door for his A/C. The window A/C unit sits on the van's floor, so much easier to install and no worries about it crashing down nor sagging the van doors. Then he keeps the A/C unit inside as much as possible, so only a little bit of it protrudes from the van. Then he plumbs the drip line (or whatever) with a hose leading to the van's undercarriage. The he installed some vents (probably custom fabricated) to disguise the fact that it's a home A/C.

 

[gymrat]

One of my issues is that I bought a new express passenger van and the conversion idea is to do nothing that I can't undo easily, so no cutting holes in the roof or sides. Going in I had the idea of a portable unit, until I started reading report from people on this and other forums about how ineffective portable units seem to be. Only one or two folks had anything good to say about them. So I'm pretty well going to have to resort to a window unit in rear cargo door of van. That unit made in Canada would be ideal ( Safari condo ) but they don't sell to the states. So I'm going to have to figure this out myself with maybe the help of a body shop to fab some type of a plate to replace the rear window of the van. If anyone has any pictures or ideas please pass them on, they will be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrNoodly]

The he installed some vents (probably custom fabricated) to disguise the fact that it's a home A/C.

<br><br>Many work vans have a big vent on the driver side for a generator (which would be enclosed in a box inside).&nbsp;<br><br>

<br>

<br><br>That location, though, takes up some prime space in the van. That's why I favor a rooftop unit. Or getting out of TX in the summer.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br>Oh, and notice on the Chevy above that placement of the generator/AC unit depends on the location of the gas filler.

 

[VanFan]

Safari Condo.&nbsp; That's it!&nbsp; I looked for the longest for the name of that company.<br>Vickie

 

[MK7]

Wow, that's a clean install. I guess a generator would take up lots of space. But a little window unit A/C should be fine . I would go for the smallest A/C unit to lessen power consumption and space. Then a nice, small Honda generator that makes the least noise. It shouldn't take much to cool a van considering that they were meant for a small room.

 

[Coffee Tim]

My 6K BTU home A/C unit is built into the rear wall of my home made truck camper and when I'm plugged into power it keeps the camper cool all the time and it is pretty quiet.&nbsp; I have seen some vans that took out the rear passenger window of the door and bolted plywood over the window opening, and cut it out, &nbsp;as a mounting frame for the window air to be installed.&nbsp; It seemed to work well for them.

 

[wagoneer]

GET USED TO THE TEMP in the sahara desert when it's really hot I have seen the tribes pulling wool covers on to protect them from the sun wool blankets will keep the sun off and act like a AC when you sweat it really works yes not less clothes but more wool clothing will equalize the heat. Shorts wearing tourists were very uncomfortable with the skin exposed to the sun where the natives simply covered up and were hot but not burning up try it you will like it

 

[fadrickbills]

We are thinking of the portable air because of <span id="IL_AD1" class="IL_AD">cost</span> mainly. The rooftop air is at least twice the cost of portable. I don't really want to go with a window unit. I think these look, well, out of place, to put it nicely.

 

[offroad]

Try this<br><br>http://www.climaterightair.com/

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Vantrekker has installed a portable in his van...lemme see if i can find his blog post...it looks very clean if you dont mind losing access from the driver area.<br><br>http://vantrekker.blogspot.com/2012/04/stealthy-onboard-air-conditioner.html

 

[coultergeist]

I have an 8000 btu portable air conditioner installed in my GMC Safari conversion.&nbsp; It sits between the two front seats and vents out through a hole cut in the floorboard just in front of the passenger side seat.&nbsp; It does a great job at campgrounds or anywhere where there is access to shore power.&nbsp; I have a 10000 btu unit that is going in the E350 I'm building now.&nbsp; I made a space in the cabinets to hold it.&nbsp; It will duct out through the bottom of the van.&nbsp; Newer ones aren't as loud as older ones were.&nbsp; Also they are getting to be a good bit more energy efficient than they were in the beginning.&nbsp; My big one actually uses less power than the older smaller one in the Safari.&nbsp; I should have it completely installed in another week or two.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have build threads on both in the Share your conversion section.&nbsp;