My dog and the heat

[howardsells2000]

<p style="margin: 0px;">I'm still considering living in a camper&nbsp;van or small class c camper.&nbsp; I love my little dog very much and I can't just give him up.&nbsp; How will I keep him cool in the summer.&nbsp; I have to go to work during the day. &nbsp;I can crack some windows or if it's equipped with vents I could open them.&nbsp; I don't think I could afford to&nbsp;run the&nbsp;generator all day to power the A/C. &nbsp;I know cars get very hot in the summer but will a van or camper stay cooler?&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Howard</p>

 

[akrvbob]

Ive got bad news, there is nothing you can do short of running an air conditioner to drop the temperature inside the van. Usually the inside will be much warmer than the outside, but there are things you can do that will make it the same as the outside temps (park in the shade, put a roof rack on with plywood to cover the whole roof). BUT if its 100 degrees outside, it will be 100 degrees inside, still too hot for someone you love. Only an air conditioner will drop the inside temps lower than the outside temps.<br><br>If you heavily insulate the van, you could run an air conditioner before work so it got cold inside, go to work, and then go out on your lunch and run the air conditioner for an hour till the van was cold again, then turn it off and go back to work. That might work. Buy a cargo van so it is easier to insulate and put in LOTS of insulation.You will need a van that comes with a wall between the back and front and heavily insulate that wall. You will want to cover all the windows with insulation. Basically, you are going to turn it into a chest freezer. An added plus is that it will be just as easy to keep it warm in the winter. Get it warm before work, and it would stay warm the whole time.<br><br>A van is such a tiny space, that with enough insulation I think that really could work. Bob<br><br>

 

[ped]

<P>Where do you plan to be working? Might consider an evaporative AC. </P>

 

[She]

The only thing I can think of is a dog sitter.&nbsp;

 

[SoulRaven]

This may be a possible solution... I have a neat lil 12V fan that is about 10" in diameter and works great for me... I can run it all day without worry but I have solar also... You might go to an auto parts store and find one and try it out... You could have it blowing onto a comfortable area for the dog to keep it cool... Its worth a try and will cost less than $20.00 for the fan, plus is that you also can use it, so it serves a dual purpose which is very good... Put the bed and fan as close to the lowest part of the vehicle for the best results, remembering that heat rises...<br>

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Where will you be temperature wise? Dogs are very adaptable to outside temperatures providing they have water and shade.&nbsp;I would never leave a dog inside in heat without ac. A running line, free of obstacles, works great<br>for my girl. Depending on where you are set up campmates would most likely<br>be happy to check on the dog once in awhile for you. I bet everyone on this board would volunteer!<br>

 

[sl1966]

I wouldn't recommend ever leaving your dog in an RV alone (during the summer) AC or not. The AC could die due to some sort of internal failure or there could be a power outage while you're at work. I've been in an RV with open windows and a fan sucking out the hot air before, and can confirm that it's not cool enough. This was in south Texas.<div><br></div><div>What you can do will cost you money. The Petsmart chain offers a doggie day care service in almost all major cities. However if you're someplace that they're not then you'll have to look for a local petsitter.</div>

 

[howardsells2000]

<p>I'm currently in West Virginia.&nbsp; It's a very small town.</p>

 

[SoulRaven]

There are issues here about being a responsible dog owner and also speaking for other people (Owl)... If you have people camping around you and you ask them to watch your dog all day and all week while you work, you assume I have nothing going on in my life... Never forget that your burden is not my burden, I and others have things going on from grocery shopping to site seeing to just going out for a beer... never assume nor burden or you will find yourself alone... I myself dog watch on occasion with no worries, but never for days on end without a very good reason...<br><br>""Depending on where you are set up campmates would most likely<br>be happy to check on the dog once in awhile for you. I bet everyone on this board would volunteer!""<br>

 

[owl]

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp; Key words " most likely and once in awhile&nbsp;" Howard, don't ask soulraven!</P>

 

[howardsells2000]

<p>I don't think I will have anyone to ask.&nbsp; My plan is to live in the van or rv and park&nbsp;at wal marts and such.&nbsp;&nbsp; I ultimately would like to live in Florida.</p>

 

[Willy]

Large computer fan, hooked up directly to solar, pulling air OUT through a high vent. ..Willy.<br>

 

[She]

Im looking into that Willie. What size solar?

 

[Willy]

My big fan runs off a single 15 Watt panel (1 amp) and it moves a truly tremendous amount of air. It's a computer fan that's aroun7" in diameter. With this running, I can lie down in front of an open window (by my bed) and it's almost as if I've got a wind blowing through the window pretty hard. I just open a window on the shaded side and PRESTO.. nice cool breeze. Right now I have a smaller one set up (5" and 0.6 Amps) and it really pushes 'er too. I'd rather use the bigger one, but there wasn't enough room where I wanted to put it.<br>&nbsp;As you can see in the pics, I used the old fridge vent (don't need it since I've replaced the absorption fridge with a Waeco compressor cooler) and you can just barely see the coroplast flap that's held on to the fan with a 'hinge' made outta hurricane tape. When the fan is off the flap drops down and seals against insects 'n stuff. There's an on off switch, thogh the fan (when the switch is turned 'ON') comes on automatically when the sun rises and turns off when the sun goes down. It's hooked up directly to the solar panels and draws NO juice from the battery. You can also see my solar panels,, a 64 Watt Unisolar and 3 15 Watt amorphous glass panels. These panels power EVERYTHING.. fridge, fan, lights, laptop, etc. ..Willy.<br>

 

[SheketEchad]

<span style="font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I think one of the best benefits of this forum, other than meeting like-minded folks, is the incredible innovations that people on here think of. &nbsp;</span><div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia;">I don't think like this a'tall, so, thank you again to all of you who post your alternate ideas in their&nbsp;pictorial&nbsp;glory!</span></div><div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia;">~SE</span></div>

 

[oldnjung]

All of the above (especially insulation!) . Cardboard (If stolen or blown away you don't lose much) on outside of windshield, triple windshield shades taped together on inside. Two or three layers of reflectix on windows. Check out how to make homemade icechest, "redneck" air conditioners on YouTube. If you have access to ice or a freezer to freeze plastic containers of water. Then buy 12 volt fan in WalM auto dept. I made one for our bedroom (with AC fan) and froze water during day. Kept 11x12 room very cool all night. Have run small 12 volt fan all night and not run down battery in van. Good Luck! <br>jb<br><br>

 

[owl]

<P>Hey Howard, don't let some negative stuff from a real minority on this board run you off. Almost everyone here is very positive and helpful. Check in and let us know how things are going and how you solved your issues. Thanks</P>

 

[angeli]

I applaud you for sticking by your furry friend, Howard.&nbsp; I'm the same way, and won't consider going anywhere without mine.&nbsp; I signed up to provide care, food, and shelter for them, and that's just the way it is.&nbsp; Plus I love the knuckleheads.<br><br>That said, be careful in FL.&nbsp; If you are spotted leaving your pooch in your van unattended, and get reported, you can get into a great deal of trouble and/or jail time.&nbsp; The reason for that is, of course, the bloody awful heat, along with animal cruelty laws.<br><br>However, there are lots of animal rescue friendly type people all over the state, that might just be very happy to refer you to someone to pet-sit in your area for a very small fee.&nbsp; Consider it really cheap child-care.&nbsp; Even if you are living in Walmart, you may have to drop off your little monkey in the morning before you go to work.<br><br>There are some really good animal people here, and I'm sure you can find someone to help you out, who might even appreciate that tiny fee, especially if your dog is well-socialized and plays nice with others.<br><br>Good luck!&nbsp; let us know how it goes for you.<br><br>

 

[mockturtle]

A lot of towns have 'doggie day care'.&nbsp; I'd suggest that's the safest answer and might be more fun for your dog, too.&nbsp; Otherwise you'll have to be parked somewhere with electrical hookups. <br>

 

[howardsells2000]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks for all the replies.&nbsp; I'm learning a lot from this site.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks again</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Howard</p>