Camper shell AC

[Justin Lackey]

Trying to get input from others on an idea. We have a full size truck with a camper shell we use for travelling and we take our dog with us in the back. The problem is he gets extremely hot in the summer. We did a trip last year with a seal between the cab and shell, the truck AC on full blast and a 10" fan mounted in the camper shell and it could barely keep him cool.

Trying to find better solutions I came across the Dometic 12v roof top AC units. It seems like a lot of people are using these for Van rv setups so i was thinking it would work mounted to the top of the camper shell blowing down on the dog in his crate. Any thoughts?

The only other solution I can think of is to get a full size SUV like an Excursion so he is in the climate controlled portion but thats rather expensive.

 

[lhoffm4]

You could try one of those ice chest diy swamp coolers that has a pvc elbow mounted into the ice chest lid, with a 12v fan also mounted into the lid pointing into the chest. Fill it with ice and turn on the fan. It blows cold air where ever the pvc elbow is pointed. I made one a few years back. I used 1-gallon frozen water jugs (could fit 4 in the ice chest I used). They last several hours and make the enclosed truck topper a very comfortable place to sleep, or in your case your pup to travel. You can get bag ice almost anyplace to replenish, depending on how long between stops you are driving. Whole project may cost $50 unless you have an old cooler, 12v fan, 4-6in pvc elbow and a way to route 12v power to your truck bed on hand, then it would be cheaper to build?

 

[GrumpyRam]

How about something like this Noggle | The Ultimate Child Comfort System, you may even be able to diy something similar.