As for those tailgate gaps; get a black pool noodle, cut it lengthwise and you can make custom seals to match the irregular dimensions of the gaps, and they’re reusable.
I love the setup! When I was a kid we used to take camping trips down to the Florida keys. Of course we didn’t have 2 nickels to rub together so my dad took a Ford E350 van that was probably a church bus before we bought it. Anyways he made a bracket that screwed to one of the back doors & we were able to pop out one of the windows & boom instant hotel. Our family of 4 slept in that van many many weekends over a period of 3-4 seasons. Best years of my life. What times we had!!!
Brother thanks for the shoutout. Definitely not necessary but I appreciate it and I’m glad others have found my random ideas useful. Safe travels and best wishes 👌
It is probable youve already considered it, but fixing solar panels on the roof will provide off grid power and also block a lot of the heat from the sun that causes it to heat up in there to begin with.
I’ve watched several of your camper shell vids and this is the best one I’ve seen, for me at least. I’ll be living out of my truck over summer when we’re at our home unit, and I’m buying a 5000 BTU window unit to keep me cool at night. Those Mississippi summer nights can be brutal. This is genius. I was planning on building out an entire back enclosure for the AC and leaving the window up and getting a little camper shell tent, tent but I love how much simpler this is. This and the angled bed platform KayakUSA1 did are the best videos I’ve seen.
I did something like this and installed 2 air conditioning units. When one of them is taking a break,,,the other is starting up and pumping out cool air. A con when dealing with window units. Both air-conditioning units are running off from 6000 watt hours of batteries stacked up in the back. Also put two 400watt solar panels draped across the top of camper shelI and truck roof. also used pool noodles sliced down the middle to slide on the window and the plywood to create the barrier this guy made. Works incredibly well
Really nice design Brian. You are right camping is a great way to relax from the city day to day grind during the week. You really need AC during the hot humid nights to sleep I can deal with the heat during the day but need to sleep in cool air at night. Love the tail gate board looks original to the truck, nice job enjoy the summer with this. Ottawa Ontario Canada.
If you get to camp with no shade to park in, consider putting a tarp over the truck or at least the part being AC'd, be sure to leave a gap and not resting the tarp on the truck. This will eliminate the direct sun and greatly reduce the work the AC has to do to keep it cool.
If that’s all you have then kudos to you for creating it. I abandoned trucks years ago and started running vans. Right now I’m running a 2019 Ford Transit 350 HD w/the ecoboost. I’ll never go back to trucks.
Nice build, man. I’d like to share a tip with you if you’re interested. I did a similar build, but added a hinged door to pass through. Here’s the tip. Build a “box” or a “sleeve” to slide over the back of AC unit when it isn’t being used. I used 3/8” luan to build sleeve. It will protect your cooling fins on the back. Use a bungee or some other way to keep sleeve from falling off. Cheers!
Cool set up. I had put a ac unit in my van. Used to much power, didn't want to get a generator and also I wanted to get use to the heat. Got an exhaust fan and a small fan to put on me. Works for what I needed.
@@BrianWatersOutdoors I got a buddy an Electrician that works for Nagel sign company, you know those big advertising billboards on the side of the interstate? I guess he went out there on a service-call to see why the electric bill was so high. You guessed it, a homeless guy had set up a comoflauge tent & was stealing electricity off the meter plug getting free electricity for his K-Mart air conditioner just like yours. He laughed about it & just told the guy not to do it anymore. He took the service plug out & put a blank cover over it.
One thing, I like about your channel is that you finish things out like they were supposed to be there initially, with the carpeting and painting the wood black and adding your logo it really looks nice. The only problem I hate with this setup is having to crawl over the partition. I’m really surprised nobody makes like a 1 or 2k btu window unit that would fit into the sliding window space and somehow vent between cab and bed. Or maybe like a cap manufacturer that would have a dividing rear glass. Half aluminum half glass to accommodate a smaller a/c unit in the aluminum section cut to fit the unit by the customer. Idk just brain storming. The person who does invent something like that will be a rich person.
@@messagesystem333 I think if anybody will come up with something like that it will be ecoflow, they already have the wave and from what I’ve seen the wave 2 is smaller
you did a great job on that instalation, i have been thinking about doing something like that but really didnt know how to began it gets hot down here in Alabama too. # brianwatersoutdoors #truckcamping #camping
You can’t beat window units, best cooling out there hands down, challenge is finding the lowest size and btu you can, 5000 btu seems to be the smallest. Always wondered why they didn’t make 3000 btu size units which would be even more ideal for small spaces. Btw did you see Shark Tank this week, Lavabox was on there and all the investors were interested. Seems to have great sales, I made my own for about $80, using harbor freight ammo can and sweating copper pipe. love those small form factor fire pits.
Another great idea! I wouldn't even bother plugging those gaps, unless you just want to, but I would put reflectics in your windows. Well, you usually just overnight, so it shouldn't be much of a problem, but if you did multiple days reflectics would save your bacon. You usually arrive at camp as the day starts cooling off (if ever), so set it up first thing, and take it down last thing. As my grandpa used to say," you are a fart smeller, I mean a smart feller". Lol
@@BrianWatersOutdoors sorry, I had a senior moment, totally forgot about skeeters. I may need a check up, I'm from Alabama and have been being eaten on the past two months by skeeters. Carry on, you obviously know what you're doing. BTW, I think your Texas wind escaped, come get it before my trash can relocates to Tennessee. Lol
If you drill a hole in the tray you cannrun a hose to a small igloo and collect cold water off the condensation. You would be suprised how much you would get.
Boxing in the area over the tailgate gives you that much more room; put the wooden tailgate at/near the end and have the hatch sit on it. It just adds extra space for longer people to sleep.
Its a great idea. I think Id insulate the windows and maybe even another layer on the roof. Use the klix together floor mats from Harbor Freight on the floor... the more you insulate the easier the ac unit can keep the temps down. Depending on where you are camping a large causality blanket/tarp with the reflective side towards the sun can also help
@@BrianWatersOutdoors Hi Brian..great video..but where does the water goes??..from your A/C?.and you mentioned you had a "Zero brezze"?..so it didn't keep you kool at night to get a decent sleep?..just curious on the information you can share before I make any money decisions..thank you sir for your time..much appreciated 🙏
@@BrianWatersOutdoorsI would get some duct bubble wrap insulation and Velcro it to the windows will help drop the need to cool a lot. And be a privacy screen too. My question is what do you do about it draining? Does it come into the cab?
If any of you are deer hunters save a few hides and sew them together so you can throw it over your camper shell and you will have easily removable insulation, I've never tested it with AC because I've never had AC in my shell but works great for heating so I bet it would work for AC to
He doesn't have to do all of that because he's NOT living in it. It's just for getaway comfort when he's out with his buddies with the beer cooler next to it & nothing more but a temporary 24 hour thing. It's like asking yourself if you need a 10'x10' piece of plush carpet for a tent. Me & I've done it before by putting the ac unit on a milk crate then a painter's drop cloth draped over the back. Petty.
Nice work! 👍 One issue I think you may have is that rear support. Window A/C units are supposed to tilt away from the interior so that the moisture can drain, if keep it lvl you may end up with water inside campershell. I would suggest using a thinner support AND adding a drain hose or plastic sheet so that your bed rug doesn’t get wet. Just my thoughts
Not so on newer ones made after 2001 because now they go into a 1" drip pan so as to allow the splash of condensate to better cool the unit through both convection & evaporation. Hence the slinger ring on the evaporator fan making the swish noise. Lastly I'd imagine he'd just park slightly up hill because the unit only needs a 1/4" slope. Petty.
As well as insulation around the sides. You should add a layer of reflective insulation as a layer on the inside as well. The outside will reflect the incoming heat, but a layer on the inside will help as well. Also reflective inserts for the windows will further help in addition to added privacy.
In my opinion the small gaps are a good thing. will allow air to escape and slightly "vent" the truck bed while the AC is running. great work !! The dripping might become an issue overtime coming from the back of the AC unit though
Thanks👍🏻 these newer ac units though don’t even have a drain hole. They use the condensed moisture and “spray” it back onto the condenser to help cool the unit down. I had this same model ac in my DIY camper and I never saw an ounce of water dripping. Hopefully this will be the same👍🏻
@@BrianWatersOutdoors ohh wow. shows what I know. lol Thanks for the reply. I might have to look into a small AC unit for my setup now. We are also in Texas (North East) and these summers are not fun. Thanks for the info.
Many ways to improve that design, but it looks like you've done all the hard work! My first thought? Put a tarp/sun shade over the top. Then you're just sitting in shade. Reflectix/insulation of the camper of course. Parking in shade, etc.
You can always setup an inverter in your vehicle and only run the AC for limited hours/while you idle the vehicle. This would be useful not to have it run all night, but to cool down a hot space for an hour or so before going to sleep so it's comfortable when you go to sleep without having to wait for it to cool naturally overnight. With a bigger battery system, you could run it overnight.
You might already do something like this but when I was a kid my parents got an inflatable boot that sealed the space between the sliding windows and hooked a plastic dryer hose to an a/c vent and ran it through the windows. That and a 12 volt fan kept us kids cool. Maybe you could use that on the drive to give the window unit a head start.
Neat setup! Like a few other commenters, I'm wondering about the condensation issue. Are you going to put in a tray to protect your bed liner from mold?
So, I’m not worried about mold because the BedRug is not carpet, it’s plastic fibers. But this ac unit, and most newer ones do not even have drain holes in the bottom. They reuse the water that gets condensed and have a “spinner ring” on the fan that picks up the water and throws it on the condenser to keep the unit cool. 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Nice work. I built something similar a few years ago for the 10-14 nights we need it here in WI. Kudos to you that live in that environment. I’d never last.
I just got my ARE cap installed yesterday and will be working on this AC project this week when the rain stops tonight. I'm thinking of adding a vent fan [I have one extra from another project that I decided against]. The fan will be great on those nights when just a little air flow is all I need. I'll make the AC hole so that I can close it up with a piece of plywood when I don't need AC and will just store the AC unit inside the truck bed [8 foot bed] or on the campsite picnic table. I'm looking for ideas on a double bed setup since there will be 2 of us camping - hoping to make a long trip out West from NM/AZ up to Montana.
Problem is you can literally drive hundreds of miles and still be in Texas. Haha. If he’s in Austin / Houston there’s nowhere “nicer” to go that is anywhere close! 🤣
Love this stuff.. I live in a 19 ft box trailer with 2000 watts of solar 300 amp hours of 24 volt lithium iron batteries and 3000 watt inverter also 2 2000 watt solar generators mounted 2 midea 8000 btu ac’s right through front of trailer fridge freeze 60 in tv stereo and loading ramp is chained up as a deck.. comfortable off grid portable home.. also installed wood stove and water filtration..
Very cool. Looks like it will work out well. I feel like it is not really possible to eliminate absolutely all of the gaps and make it air tight but it will still work perfectly. I know you and I knew how you were going to do it and make it look like it is actually part of the truck. Great work!
Hello and greetings from Georgia, USA. What an amazing build! Thank you very much for sharing this. Hopefully, I can construct something similar to this for my 2006 Dodge RAM. As you mentioned, the heat is already on! I’m in my mid-40’s and will tough it out from time to time, but it seems that the heat has certainly made those trips few and far between lately. That being said, this modification gives us the opportunity to get plenty of good rest, so we can enjoy any other outdoor activities to the fullest! Also, that’s really cool that you mentioned the other content creator’s who helped inspire your build. Take care Brian, - Chris from Georgia🇺🇸 (New subscriber here)👍🏻
Some great hillbilly inginuity! And as we edge toward the home foreclosure epidemic, a lot of folks living out of their trucks will need this rig! lol.
I would recommend a box fan for the window into the cab, crack the windows slightly in the cab. Should cool off faster, since you're just building up pressure in that air tight space.
Very good job. I am impressed. I thought you had 4 A,C unit that set in the back seat and came through the window. Thank you for sharing. Jake McClellan The Oregon Boy 👦
Very impressive! You will be very comfortable in your truck bed during hot Texas summers. My thought is that you will spend most of your time inside your truck while out camping...
A great quality tarp with pegs about a foot up on each corner of the canopy and the tarp can go straight out or tied down at angle to still see out the windows and shade the windows and AC. Swap pegs for any spacer you can think of
Good on you thanks,the AC compressor will freeze up and be less effective set on max cold , crack it down to about 7o percent cooling just for a test ,I'd get some foil n foam insulation thin stuff n make inside window coverings,I've got similar on my boat it makes a huge difference , because U lose the green house effect off glass ,neat install though good effort thankyou
I guess the next step will be rain-proofing this setup. A couple of shop rags or if you can get ahold of some of that basic gray package insulation (the kind made out of recycled rags, safe to handle with bare hands), those would be good for filling the side gaps. Neat looking build.
Install ceramic window tint on your camper shell windows - that will really help reduce radiant heat coming through the windows. I just did mine on my ARE topper and can tell a huge difference.
I only added 2 receptacles on my camper. One for the shore power and one SAE for my solar power. That way I don't have any cables hanging out from my tail gate. Inside I put a power strip so when shore power is available I don't have to use my battery power.
I wonder if you could use some Star Board, it's a marine grade plastic sheeting, really heavy duty and you can get it in all sorts of thickness'. It can be lighter than wood depending on the thickness you get. Another thing you might consider is nano-ceramic/charcoal window tint. It blocks something like 95% of the infrared light that is the cause of why car interiors get hot. Normal window tint adds some shade, but the infrared light still gets through with no problem. Since it looks like your windows are tinted already, you can get a zero tint cover (they make it for windshields so they can stay clear).
I have a Frigidaire energy star unit that I will be connecting to a Bluetti 200 Max solar generator and running it in a 2003 Chevy Blazer. And then I pull a 5x8 cargo trailer that I’m currently setting up to run. Bougerv portable air conditioner ( like the breeze ) my portable air conditioner will be set up outside running the intake and outtake ducts to a window to cool the cargo trailer. I’m almost ready to test both set up’s
Next next step would be see maybe find a good solar setup.. I went out and got a old army navy tarp threw over the entire truck it really helped out with sunblock.. then I put up cheap blackout curtains..
Thanks to Dakota and Brian Waters, I just completed my air conditioner install! Can't wait till June to camp with Brian and put the a/c units to the test at the lake!
I like the setup with one exception. I think I'd set it up with a split "false tailgate". The window shaker in one section and make the other section easy to move to get in and out. Maybe have the A/C side braced to the siderail for sturdiness and hinge the moving side off the A/C side. Just a thought.
I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast, I think about this come hurricane season every year. Would be cool for evacuation. I could just plug in where I end up. Looking forward to see how it works for you.
I couldn't tell to look at your camper shell interior... Did you insulate the ceiling? Or the sides (interior of shell & truck bed sidewall)? That would be a good bit of work, but I would think that that would make a huge difference to help maintain temperature difference between inside and outside, without your A/C running as much. Would save hugely on energy (if you're running it off a solar generator or battery, when shore-power isn't readily or at all available). Great idea with the false tailgate. Informative video.
I'm in NW Louisiana. Doesn't matter the season to me although I prefer fall and spring but as long as the temperature is above 50 during the night and below 80 during the day, I don't care what time of year it is. I'm going camping and I tent camp.
That's an awesome setup, I have a bed platform in the back of my Tacoma and been thinking of something like that, I seen the same video link you shared and that got me thinking I need to get it done now. I live in Indiana and it gets hot here and humid but not like it does down where you are at but all the same it gets hot in the back of those trucks and mine is all black to so that doesn't help, lol. Good luck with your new setup, I love it, awesome work on your build.
One idea I had when I saw this was just to build a; box/shroud/mount, that houses that AC and lines it up with the window of your choice. It would take up room inside, but it could just stay in there and all you have to do to use it would be open a window plug it in and turn it on. You could make underneath of it a storage cabinet.
If you drape a space blanket over your camper . You'll have super-sade . If you get the kind that's orange on one side . The orange side goes toward the truck.
Nice job Brian. Definitely streamlines your ac set-up when you get to your camping spot. Looks like at least 1-2 banquets of saved time per trip! Cheers my friend
I want to do this in a hatchback. I also need to build it out about a foot because I'm 6'3". Plywood/styrofoam walls need to be able to take apart and store on roof top or back carrier basket. I'm looking at heat pumps as they also provide heat
I love the concept, but here in Fla, alot of campgrounds don't have power available, as there bare bones grass lots. Hmmm, this gives me food for thought, especially during our hot an humid hunting seasons. Thx for the vid
If you want to go where there is no shore power check into a mini-split AC. Add some solar panels on the roof and you can run it for free in the sunshine.
I like the setup. I'm looking for an A/C Setup for "Long Term" cooling, during the summer months. I wanted to get the EcoFlow Wave, but they are sold out, and not sure when they'll be back in stock. They are A LOT more pricey than your setup, but the efficiency of the EcoFlow is pretty good. I was wondering what type/brand Battery/Solar Generator I would need to run about 6hrs or more, if I went with your setup? I travel for Healthcare, and I usually travel with a pull behind camper. However, I'm letting my stepson use it now, because rent where he's at is very expensive. By using my camper, he's able to work and save money. Unfortunately, that leaves me with my Camper Shell setup. When I'm on call, I stay/sleep in the hospital. However, when I'm not on call, I stay in my truck. Now that it's getting warmer (I'm currently in Georgia), I need something that will keep me cool when I'm sleeping. I feel I would do fine with a couple fans setup for "Air-Flow", but I'll eventually need something cooler as the summer progresses. Not to mention when my wife visits me here, and we go camping for the weekend. She would rather have the A/C. while sleeping after a hike. Thanks for your time.. D
So, I’m reality you will only get a max run time of 3-4 hours on a very large 2000 watt hour power station like an Ecoflow Delta Max, Bluetti AC200…. Because you lose a lot of efficiency using the built in inverter to power the a/c. I might be trying out the new WAVE II because I believe that model will be able to run off of an external dc source (not positive) and that should make it much more efficient and give you longer run time. But that unit is about 8 times more expensive than a bare bones 5000 BTU window air conditioner. You really would need some type of small generator to run this all night long if you can’t connect to ac grid power.
@@BrianWatersOutdoors As always.. Thank you for your response. I have thought about the EcoWave A/C, because of the run time and the excellent reviews. It is quite a bit more expensive, but seems to be the best option.without wanting to use a generator while off grid. Unfortunately, they seem to be totally out of them, but I’m on the wait list. However, I have seen the “Glorified” Swamp Cooler that has been getting great reviews. That may be another option for me, especially since I really won’t need it, except for night time when sleeping. I figure that cooler thing with the rechargeable USB Fan that I have would be sufficient for evening/night time use. The fan I have is very powerful and last close to 8hrs on a charge.
if the a/c unit fully fits in front driver or passenger window, it seems like those would have been good locations. Obviously you'd still have to frame up some holding shelf thing for it, but you're good at that. Then no need to open rear at all of course.
I wish I could have used a 5K window unit, but since I have a Harker Outdoor EDC that includes the tailgate in the space, I found a used Bouge RV 2900 BTU unit. With Dometic acrylic windows in the shell that let me run the hot exhaust out of one window, and since it is an awning style, it keeps water out of the duct. I let the "outside" air intake pull from the interior as well as the input for the cool side. If I am in the camper, I point the cool output duct at me. I can also add a longer duct up into the bed area. It only uses about 250w at 24vdc on high cool, so I can run it off the LFP battery for some time. A 120v utility source, of course, lets me run it continuously as needed. For condensate, I simply drop the hose into a clear container that peanuts came in.
My grandfather put an RV a/c on top of his camper shell when I was a kid, I've been thinking about trying it with a newer style lower profile more efficient unit.
Find a used tailgate in the junkyard and install the A/C in the used tailgate. Add and remove when needed.
Now that’s a good idea
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Seriously yea, great idea. Seems obvious once you’ve said it, but I wouldn’t have thought of that. Bravo sir!
I bow down!
As for those tailgate gaps; get a black pool noodle, cut it lengthwise and you can make custom seals to match the irregular dimensions of the gaps, and they’re reusable.
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They "dry" out over time; needs maintenance, i.e. replace with new noodle pieces.
I built a tiny camper on a 4x 8 trailer. I have the same size ac and it gets very cold in the middle of summer. Nice build! Love it! Enjoy!
Thanks Eric👍🏻
I love the setup! When I was a kid we used to take camping trips down to the Florida keys. Of course we didn’t have 2 nickels to rub together so my dad took a Ford E350 van that was probably a church bus before we bought it. Anyways he made a bracket that screwed to one of the back doors & we were able to pop out one of the windows & boom instant hotel. Our family of 4 slept in that van many many weekends over a period of 3-4 seasons. Best years of my life. What times we had!!!
Sounds awesome! That’s what memories are all about👍🏻
I hope your family is still sticking together still bro keep doing fun things if you can 😊
Brother thanks for the shoutout. Definitely not necessary but I appreciate it and I’m glad others have found my random ideas useful.
Safe travels and best wishes 👌
Thanks for the inspiration bud👍🏻👍🏻
It is probable youve already considered it, but fixing solar panels on the roof will provide off grid power and also block a lot of the heat from the sun that causes it to heat up in there to begin with.
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I read a few comments before I wrote this. You like it? I love it. Great work man ! Enjoy using it. I couldn’t camp without an AC either.
Thanks bud👍🏻
I’ve watched several of your camper shell vids and this is the best one I’ve seen, for me at least. I’ll be living out of my truck over summer when we’re at our home unit, and I’m buying a 5000 BTU window unit to keep me cool at night. Those Mississippi summer nights can be brutal. This is genius. I was planning on building out an entire back enclosure for the AC and leaving the window up and getting a little camper shell tent, tent but I love how much simpler this is. This and the angled bed platform KayakUSA1 did are the best videos I’ve seen.
Thanks bud👍🏻
Never seen this before. What a smart way to extend the camping season. Thanks for sharing!
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I did something like this and installed 2 air conditioning units. When one of them is taking a break,,,the other is starting up and pumping out cool air. A con when dealing with window units. Both air-conditioning units are running off from 6000 watt hours of batteries stacked up in the back. Also put two 400watt solar panels draped across the top of camper shelI and truck roof. also used pool noodles sliced down the middle to slide on the window and the plywood to create the barrier this guy made. Works incredibly well
Sounds awesome👍🏻👍🏻
Really nice design Brian. You are right camping is a great way to relax from the city day to day grind during the week. You really need AC during the hot humid nights to sleep I can deal with the heat during the day but need to sleep in cool air at night. Love the tail gate board looks original to the truck, nice job enjoy the summer with this. Ottawa Ontario Canada.
Thanks Tom👍🏻
Ha! Love your shows man. Incidentally I was just looking at AC solutions for my own truck. Perfect timing.
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Good engineering on design. Like the way it fits in and locks in place
Thank you👍🏻
Brian, that is one sweet set up. Your gears are always turning and making something that betters your outdoor adventures. Good job!
Thank you sir👍🏻
@@BrianWatersOutdoors also I want to thank you for sharing your ideas with us. Thanks Brian.
If you get to camp with no shade to park in, consider putting a tarp over the truck or at least the part being AC'd, be sure to leave a gap and not resting the tarp on the truck. This will eliminate the direct sun and greatly reduce the work the AC has to do to keep it cool.
Good tip, thanks👍🏻
@BrianWatersOutdoors
The guy on RUclips channel "5 bites" installed an RV ceiling in his truck camper shell. You should check it out.
If that’s all you have then kudos to you for creating it. I abandoned trucks years ago and started running vans. Right now I’m running a 2019 Ford Transit 350 HD w/the ecoboost. I’ll never go back to trucks.
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Nice build, man. I’d like to share a tip with you if you’re interested. I did a similar build, but added a hinged door to pass through. Here’s the tip. Build a “box” or a “sleeve” to slide over the back of AC unit when it isn’t being used. I used 3/8” luan to build sleeve. It will protect your cooling fins on the back. Use a bungee or some other way to keep sleeve from falling off. Cheers!
Thanks! I did notice I bent a few of the fins just moving it around. I’m assuming you’re just talking about the box for transport to protect them?
@@BrianWatersOutdoors exactly! Just for transport and storage. 👍
Cool set up. I had put a ac unit in my van. Used to much power, didn't want to get a generator and also I wanted to get use to the heat. Got an exhaust fan and a small fan to put on me. Works for what I needed.
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Awesome design Brian! Very clean and functional. Glad you won’t be in an oven this camping season!
Thanks Brandy👍🏻
Excellent work. It has given me several ideas on mounting an AC unit
Dude, I recognized those wood shims right off the bat, you took those Lincoln Logs out of your kids playset toys!
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@@BrianWatersOutdoors I got a buddy an Electrician that works for Nagel sign company, you know those big advertising billboards on the side of the interstate? I guess he went out there on a service-call to see why the electric bill was so high. You guessed it, a homeless guy had set up a comoflauge tent & was stealing electricity off the meter plug getting free electricity for his K-Mart air conditioner just like yours. He laughed about it & just told the guy not to do it anymore. He took the service plug out & put a blank cover over it.
One thing, I like about your channel is that you finish things out like they were supposed to be there initially, with the carpeting and painting the wood black and adding your logo it really looks nice. The only problem I hate with this setup is having to crawl over the partition. I’m really surprised nobody makes like a 1 or 2k btu window unit that would fit into the sliding window space and somehow vent between cab and bed. Or maybe like a cap manufacturer that would have a dividing rear glass. Half aluminum half glass to accommodate a smaller a/c unit in the aluminum section cut to fit the unit by the customer. Idk just brain storming. The person who does invent something like that will be a rich person.
Thanks Ross👍🏻
Wish Dometic or some other company would make micro roof mounted AC's!
@@messagesystem333 I think if anybody will come up with something like that it will be ecoflow, they already have the wave and from what I’ve seen the wave 2 is smaller
Could likely add a partial door in their to get into the aisle?
@@messagesystem333 roof mounts won't fit in garage
"Double your pleasure, double your fun" with two window units. (...or just one larger window unit). 🌬️🌬️. Super cool.
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you did a great job on that instalation, i have been thinking about doing something like that but really didnt know how to began it gets hot down here in Alabama too. # brianwatersoutdoors #truckcamping #camping
Thanks Pete👍🏻
You can’t beat window units, best cooling out there hands down, challenge is finding the lowest size and btu you can, 5000 btu seems to be the smallest. Always wondered why they didn’t make 3000 btu size units which would be even more ideal for small spaces. Btw did you see Shark Tank this week, Lavabox was on there and all the investors were interested. Seems to have great sales, I made my own for about $80, using harbor freight ammo can and sweating copper pipe. love those small form factor fire pits.
I didn’t see that! That’s awesome. I talked to the owner several times and he seemed pretty cool👍🏻
Another great idea! I wouldn't even bother plugging those gaps, unless you just want to, but I would put reflectics in your windows. Well, you usually just overnight, so it shouldn't be much of a problem, but if you did multiple days reflectics would save your bacon. You usually arrive at camp as the day starts cooling off (if ever), so set it up first thing, and take it down last thing.
As my grandpa used to say," you are a fart smeller, I mean a smart feller". Lol
Only reason I’m going to work on the gaps is to try and stop easy access to my skin with these devilish Texas skeeters
@@BrianWatersOutdoors sorry, I had a senior moment, totally forgot about skeeters. I may need a check up, I'm from Alabama and have been being eaten on the past two months by skeeters. Carry on, you obviously know what you're doing.
BTW, I think your Texas wind escaped, come get it before my trash can relocates to Tennessee. Lol
If you drill a hole in the tray you cannrun a hose to a small igloo and collect cold water off the condensation.
You would be suprised how much you would get.
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Boxing in the area over the tailgate gives you that much more room; put the wooden tailgate at/near the end and have the hatch sit on it. It just adds extra space for longer people to sleep.
Its a great idea. I think Id insulate the windows and maybe even another layer on the roof. Use the klix together floor mats from Harbor Freight on the floor... the more you insulate the easier the ac unit can keep the temps down. Depending on where you are camping a large causality blanket/tarp with the reflective side towards the sun can also help
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@@BrianWatersOutdoors Hi Brian..great video..but where does the water goes??..from your A/C?.and you mentioned you had a "Zero brezze"?..so it didn't keep you kool at night to get a decent sleep?..just curious on the information you can share before I make any money decisions..thank you sir for your time..much appreciated 🙏
@@BrianWatersOutdoorsI would get some duct bubble wrap insulation and Velcro it to the windows will help drop the need to cool a lot. And be a privacy screen too. My question is what do you do about it draining? Does it come into the cab?
If any of you are deer hunters save a few hides and sew them together so you can throw it over your camper shell and you will have easily removable insulation, I've never tested it with AC because I've never had AC in my shell but works great for heating so I bet it would work for AC to
He doesn't have to do all of that because he's NOT living in it. It's just for getaway comfort when he's out with his buddies with the beer cooler next to it & nothing more but a temporary 24 hour thing. It's like asking yourself if you need a 10'x10' piece of plush carpet for a tent. Me & I've done it before by putting the ac unit on a milk crate then a painter's drop cloth draped over the back. Petty.
Wow, really clean install! Wish I had your skills! lol thanks for sharing Brian. Cheers from Michigan.
Thanks👍🏻
Nice work! 👍
One issue I think you may have is that rear support.
Window A/C units are supposed to tilt away from the interior so that the moisture can drain, if keep it lvl you may end up with water inside campershell.
I would suggest using a thinner support AND adding a drain hose or plastic sheet so that your bed rug doesn’t get wet.
Just my thoughts
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Yes enough tilt to drain condensate out. . Is that a 5000 ? That is all you need I need one for my very small Toyota motor home
I had the same thought. However, I believe many of the newer units are actually using retained condensate for additional cooling to gain efficiency.
Not so on newer ones made after 2001 because now they go into a 1" drip pan so as to allow the splash of condensate to better cool the unit through both convection & evaporation. Hence the slinger ring on the evaporator fan making the swish noise. Lastly I'd imagine he'd just park slightly up hill because the unit only needs a 1/4" slope. Petty.
As well as insulation around the sides. You should add a layer of reflective insulation as a layer on the inside as well. The outside will reflect the incoming heat, but a layer on the inside will help as well. Also reflective inserts for the windows will further help in addition to added privacy.
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In my opinion the small gaps are a good thing. will allow air to escape and slightly "vent" the truck bed while the AC is running. great work !! The dripping might become an issue overtime coming from the back of the AC unit though
Thanks👍🏻 these newer ac units though don’t even have a drain hole. They use the condensed moisture and “spray” it back onto the condenser to help cool the unit down. I had this same model ac in my DIY camper and I never saw an ounce of water dripping. Hopefully this will be the same👍🏻
@@BrianWatersOutdoors ohh wow. shows what I know. lol Thanks for the reply. I might have to look into a small AC unit for my setup now. We are also in Texas (North East) and these summers are not fun. Thanks for the info.
New ac units shouldn't drip they don't have drains anymore
@@carlstephens1532 It's so humid here they still drip :p
@@spencers4121thats correct, with enough humidity they will collect a lot of water.
Many ways to improve that design, but it looks like you've done all the hard work! My first thought? Put a tarp/sun shade over the top. Then you're just sitting in shade. Reflectix/insulation of the camper of course. Parking in shade, etc.
Good idea!👍🏻
The problem is finding power
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You can always setup an inverter in your vehicle and only run the AC for limited hours/while you idle the vehicle. This would be useful not to have it run all night, but to cool down a hot space for an hour or so before going to sleep so it's comfortable when you go to sleep without having to wait for it to cool naturally overnight.
With a bigger battery system, you could run it overnight.
@@JimmyNewCakes and you could die from carbon monoxide too. Better idea is have a solar setup and run it off that
That is the dumbest thing you can do.. Are you trying to get people killed?@JimmyNewCakes
Honda eu 2000
You might already do something like this but when I was a kid my parents got an inflatable boot that sealed the space between the sliding windows and hooked a plastic dryer hose to an a/c vent and ran it through the windows. That and a 12 volt fan kept us kids cool. Maybe you could use that on the drive to give the window unit a head start.
I ended up using a bicycle tube👍🏻👍🏻
Neat setup! Like a few other commenters, I'm wondering about the condensation issue. Are you going to put in a tray to protect your bed liner from mold?
So, I’m not worried about mold because the BedRug is not carpet, it’s plastic fibers. But this ac unit, and most newer ones do not even have drain holes in the bottom. They reuse the water that gets condensed and have a “spinner ring” on the fan that picks up the water and throws it on the condenser to keep the unit cool. 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
@@BrianWatersOutdoors yeah what little will go out there will evaporate and if it ever became a problem a man could engineer something.
Nice work. I built something similar a few years ago for the 10-14 nights we need it here in WI. Kudos to you that live in that environment. I’d never last.
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If you had the 7.2kwh power boost, then u can live in your truck and beat the housing market
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I just got my ARE cap installed yesterday and will be working on this AC project this week when the rain stops tonight. I'm thinking of adding a vent fan [I have one extra from another project that I decided against]. The fan will be great on those nights when just a little air flow is all I need. I'll make the AC hole so that I can close it up with a piece of plywood when I don't need AC and will just store the AC unit inside the truck bed [8 foot bed] or on the campsite picnic table. I'm looking for ideas on a double bed setup since there will be 2 of us camping - hoping to make a long trip out West from NM/AZ up to Montana.
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WHY I CAMP IN MY TRUCK: Because I can go to where the weather is nice. 🤪
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Problem is you can literally drive hundreds of miles and still be in Texas. Haha. If he’s in Austin / Houston there’s nowhere “nicer” to go that is anywhere close! 🤣
@@JonValtandtheEvilRobotsthis is true on the I-10 take me 2 days to get through. 😂
Very interesting. Now you just need a small Honda generator and your good for boondocking. Great video!
Thanks👍🏻👍🏻
For recently single men in their 40's. Paying child support, health insurance and alimony. Soon to be getting harassed by the police.
Love this stuff.. I live in a 19 ft box trailer with 2000 watts of solar 300 amp hours of 24 volt lithium iron batteries and 3000 watt inverter also 2 2000 watt solar generators mounted 2 midea 8000 btu ac’s right through front of trailer fridge freeze 60 in tv stereo and loading ramp is chained up as a deck.. comfortable off grid portable home.. also installed wood stove and water filtration..
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Wow sounds awesome... how much did all the solar and batteries cost?
Very cool. Looks like it will work out well. I feel like it is not really possible to eliminate absolutely all of the gaps and make it air tight but it will still work perfectly. I know you and I knew how you were going to do it and make it look like it is actually part of the truck. Great work!
Thanks bud👍🏻
Hello and greetings from Georgia, USA. What an amazing build! Thank you very much for sharing this. Hopefully, I can construct something similar to this for my 2006 Dodge RAM.
As you mentioned, the heat is already on! I’m in my mid-40’s and will tough it out from time to time, but it seems that the heat has certainly made those trips few and far between lately. That being said, this modification gives us the opportunity to get plenty of good rest, so we can enjoy any other outdoor activities to the fullest! Also, that’s really cool that you mentioned the other content creator’s who helped inspire your build.
Take care Brian,
- Chris from Georgia🇺🇸
(New subscriber here)👍🏻
Thanks👍🏻👍🏻
@@BrianWatersOutdoors 🫡
Nice work.
Cut it in half and add hinges in the middle. then you can store it, and open it into place easily from both sides.
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Some great hillbilly inginuity! And as we edge toward the home foreclosure epidemic, a lot of folks living out of their trucks will need this rig! lol.
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Brian I must admit that you did a great job.
Thank you
Looks awesome. Great idea. Thanks for the video.
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Looks good. I need to finish mine. All I've done is make a bed frame. I really like your setup.
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Fantastic Brian! What a great idea and great execution. Well done.
👍🏻👍🏻 thank you
I'd add a Reflectix roof cover so I could hide under it from the sun! Nice addition!!
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I would recommend a box fan for the window into the cab, crack the windows slightly in the cab. Should cool off faster, since you're just building up pressure in that air tight space.
thanks. good idea
That’s genius! Now we know what to do to be able to camp this summer!
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These Texas summers usually stop us from camping too.
Great job Brian it looks like it will work out well for you.
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you can also DIY a stove jack for the cold weather and put a small stove for hot tents in there. i would put it right next to the door of bed
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Very good job. I am impressed. I thought you had 4 A,C unit that set in the back seat and came through the window. Thank you for sharing. Jake McClellan The Oregon Boy 👦
I did last summer Jake. I used a Zero Breeze unit, but it was quite a pain to get setup
Very impressive! You will be very comfortable in your truck bed during hot Texas summers. My thought is that you will spend most of your time inside your truck while out camping...
It might be a good escape after out there slaying the fish😉👍🏻
Great idea. Getting that truck in the shade too while you’re out would obviously help, but I’m sure you know that already.
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A great quality tarp with pegs about a foot up on each corner of the canopy and the tarp can go straight out or tied down at angle to still see out the windows and shade the windows and AC. Swap pegs for any spacer you can think of
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Good on you thanks,the AC compressor will freeze up and be less effective set on max cold , crack it down to about 7o percent cooling just for a test ,I'd get some foil n foam insulation thin stuff n make inside window coverings,I've got similar on my boat it makes a huge difference , because U lose the green house effect off glass ,neat install though good effort thankyou
Thanks for the tip👍🏻👍🏻
I guess the next step will be rain-proofing this setup. A couple of shop rags or if you can get ahold of some of that basic gray package insulation (the kind made out of recycled rags, safe to handle with bare hands), those would be good for filling the side gaps. Neat looking build.
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Install ceramic window tint on your camper shell windows - that will really help reduce radiant heat coming through the windows. I just did mine on my ARE topper and can tell a huge difference.
Yes, nice setup there ! Me too did it like Idakota, almost exactly 👍
I only added 2 receptacles on my camper. One for the shore power and one SAE for my solar power. That way I don't have any cables hanging out from my tail gate. Inside I put a power strip so when shore power is available I don't have to use my battery power.
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Awesome Brian. Always great ideas + some fun.
Thanks👍🏻
Nice Brian!! Yea that’s a lot easier than your old AC setup for sure👍
So much easier👍🏻👍🏻
I wonder if you could use some Star Board, it's a marine grade plastic sheeting, really heavy duty and you can get it in all sorts of thickness'. It can be lighter than wood depending on the thickness you get.
Another thing you might consider is nano-ceramic/charcoal window tint. It blocks something like 95% of the infrared light that is the cause of why car interiors get hot. Normal window tint adds some shade, but the infrared light still gets through with no problem. Since it looks like your windows are tinted already, you can get a zero tint cover (they make it for windshields so they can stay clear).
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That’s really awesome for my camping adventure!! I only need me a really long extension cord.
Or a generator 👍🏻
I have a Frigidaire energy star unit that I will be connecting to a Bluetti 200 Max solar generator and running it in a 2003 Chevy Blazer. And then I pull a 5x8 cargo trailer that I’m currently setting up to run. Bougerv portable air conditioner ( like the breeze ) my portable air conditioner will be set up outside running the intake and outtake ducts to a window to cool the cargo trailer. I’m almost ready to test both set up’s
Sounds like a nice setup👍🏻👍🏻
Next next step would be see maybe find a good solar setup.. I went out and got a old army navy tarp threw over the entire truck it really helped out with sunblock.. then I put up cheap blackout curtains..
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Thanks to Dakota and Brian Waters, I just completed my air conditioner install! Can't wait till June to camp with Brian and put the a/c units to the test at the lake!
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I would look at putting a tarp with a solar backing over top the cab to help keep Temps down.
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I like the setup with one exception. I think I'd set it up with a split "false tailgate". The window shaker in one section and make the other section easy to move to get in and out. Maybe have the A/C side braced to the siderail for sturdiness and hinge the moving side off the A/C side. Just a thought.
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This is simple but awesome set up! I might copy your set up since i have only one truck to use for work and for camping.
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I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast, I think about this come hurricane season every year. Would be cool for evacuation. I could just plug in where I end up. Looking forward to see how it works for you.
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I couldn't tell to look at your camper shell interior... Did you insulate the ceiling? Or the sides (interior of shell & truck bed sidewall)? That would be a good bit of work, but I would think that that would make a huge difference to help maintain temperature difference between inside and outside, without your A/C running as much. Would save hugely on energy (if you're running it off a solar generator or battery, when shore-power isn't readily or at all available).
Great idea with the false tailgate. Informative video.
It’s not insulated, just carpeted
That is WAY cool. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks Guy👍🏻
Very innovative pal. Nice job. I know you happy.
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I'm in NW Louisiana. Doesn't matter the season to me although I prefer fall and spring but as long as the temperature is above 50 during the night and below 80 during the day, I don't care what time of year it is. I'm going camping and I tent camp.
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That's an awesome setup, I have a bed platform in the back of my Tacoma and been thinking of something like that, I seen the same video link you shared and that got me thinking I need to get it done now. I live in Indiana and it gets hot here and humid but not like it does down where you are at but all the same it gets hot in the back of those trucks and mine is all black to so that doesn't help, lol. Good luck with your new setup, I love it, awesome work on your build.
Thanks Jerry👍🏻
Nice job Brian now you can extend the camping season in comfort!
Yessir👍🏻👍🏻
One idea I had when I saw this was just to build a; box/shroud/mount, that houses that AC and lines it up with the window of your choice. It would take up room inside, but it could just stay in there and all you have to do to use it would be open a window plug it in and turn it on. You could make underneath of it a storage cabinet.
thanks
If you drape a space blanket over your camper . You'll have super-sade . If you get the kind that's orange on one side . The orange side goes toward the truck.
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Nice job Brian. Definitely streamlines your ac set-up when you get to your camping spot. Looks like at least 1-2 banquets of saved time per trip! Cheers my friend
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I want to do this in a hatchback. I also need to build it out about a foot because I'm 6'3". Plywood/styrofoam walls need to be able to take apart and store on roof top or back carrier basket. I'm looking at heat pumps as they also provide heat
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Clean looking install, looks like it will work great.
Thank you sir👍🏻
Well done Brian!
Thank you👍🏻
Great job. Gives me an idea on how to rig something for my tailgate.
Thanks👍🏻
I love the concept, but here in Fla, alot of campgrounds don't have power available, as there bare bones grass lots. Hmmm, this gives me food for thought, especially during our hot an humid hunting seasons. Thx for the vid
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I just put a portable room AC in mine when I used to truck camp. Didn't have to do all that messing around. Just vent it out the topper window.
If you want to go where there is no shore power check into a mini-split AC. Add some solar panels on the roof and you can run it for free in the sunshine.
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That setup is awesome! Good video 👍🏻
Thanks👍🏻
Super cool thanks for sharing I would love to do this to my truck but it has a 5 1/2 foot bed and I am 6.3 …
Yeah. I just came from a 5.5’ bed so I get it
I like the setup. I'm looking for an A/C Setup for "Long Term" cooling, during the summer months. I wanted to get the EcoFlow Wave, but they are sold out, and not sure when they'll be back in stock. They are A LOT more pricey than your setup, but the efficiency of the EcoFlow is pretty good. I was wondering what type/brand Battery/Solar Generator I would need to run about 6hrs or more, if I went with your setup?
I travel for Healthcare, and I usually travel with a pull behind camper. However, I'm letting my stepson use it now, because rent where he's at is very expensive. By using my camper, he's able to work and save money. Unfortunately, that leaves me with my Camper Shell setup. When I'm on call, I stay/sleep in the hospital. However, when I'm not on call, I stay in my truck. Now that it's getting warmer (I'm currently in Georgia), I need something that will keep me cool when I'm sleeping. I feel I would do fine with a couple fans setup for "Air-Flow", but I'll eventually need something cooler as the summer progresses. Not to mention when my wife visits me here, and we go camping for the weekend. She would rather have the A/C. while sleeping after a hike.
Thanks for your time.. D
So, I’m reality you will only get a max run time of 3-4 hours on a very large 2000 watt hour power station like an Ecoflow Delta Max, Bluetti AC200…. Because you lose a lot of efficiency using the built in inverter to power the a/c. I might be trying out the new WAVE II because I believe that model will be able to run off of an external dc source (not positive) and that should make it much more efficient and give you longer run time. But that unit is about 8 times more expensive than a bare bones 5000 BTU window air conditioner. You really would need some type of small generator to run this all night long if you can’t connect to ac grid power.
@@BrianWatersOutdoors As always.. Thank you for your response. I have thought about the EcoWave A/C, because of the run time and the excellent reviews. It is quite a bit more expensive, but seems to be the best option.without wanting to use a generator while off grid. Unfortunately, they seem to be totally out of them, but I’m on the wait list. However, I have seen the “Glorified” Swamp Cooler that has been getting great reviews. That may be another option for me, especially since I really won’t need it, except for night time when sleeping. I figure that cooler thing with the rechargeable USB Fan that I have would be sufficient for evening/night time use. The fan I have is very powerful and last close to 8hrs on a charge.
if the a/c unit fully fits in front driver or passenger window, it seems like those would have been good locations. Obviously you'd still have to frame up some holding shelf thing for it, but you're good at that. Then no need to open rear at all of course.
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@@BrianWatersOutdoors put your second unit in one of the front windows. Those TX summers are brutal.
I wish I could have used a 5K window unit, but since I have a Harker Outdoor EDC that includes the tailgate in the space, I found a used Bouge RV 2900 BTU unit. With Dometic acrylic windows in the shell that let me run the hot exhaust out of one window, and since it is an awning style, it keeps water out of the duct. I let the "outside" air intake pull from the interior as well as the input for the cool side. If I am in the camper, I point the cool output duct at me. I can also add a longer duct up into the bed area. It only uses about 250w at 24vdc on high cool, so I can run it off the LFP battery for some time. A 120v utility source, of course, lets me run it continuously as needed. For condensate, I simply drop the hose into a clear container that peanuts came in.
Sounds like a good setup though👍🏻👍🏻
Add a plastic boot tray under the AC to catch dripping water and keep your tailgate dry .
This doesn’t drain any. Has a fan that splashes water back onto condenser to keep it cool👍🏻
My grandfather put an RV a/c on top of his camper shell when I was a kid, I've been thinking about trying it with a newer style lower profile more efficient unit.
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Some small wedges to go between the tailgate latch and the partition you made would make the fit much tighter.
I actually just made a few!👍🏻👍🏻