AC modification for your Roof Top Tent

Video shows my attempt to make a portable AC hookup for my roof top tent with and intake port as well to allow circulation of air from inside the tent without allowing the atmosphere air (outside the tent) from going in.

[@robr471]

Great job. Very smart build

[@johnbrizendine7716]

You may want to put a bit more space between the metal plenum you made and the air conditioner, that way the air will spread around a bit more and not cause the evaporator to freeze up; the air will only blow through the air conditioner mainly where the hose comes in and not blow through the outer edges of the evaporator and cause it to get too cold on those spots and freeze up into a solid block of ice.

[@averagedadbuilds5813]

Thanks for the advice!

[@warrioratthewall1969]

Exactly what I was going to suggest

[@docink6175]

how did it work? With only the one 4" intake Id think the unit would be air starved and freeze up.. Id go with at least a 6" and do like John suggested and build out the plenum a little more.. You can buy insulted ducting for homes in lots of sizes, its like dryer hose wrapprf in fiberglass and plastic, that may also help get more cool air to your space... Ive never roof top tented but have used an AC in a tent here in Florida, we cut a hole in the tent the whole unit sat in and attached it with velcro, a 5k struggled during the day to cool an 8man/2rm tent. A 5k also struggles to cool my full size van during the summer

[@averagedadbuilds5813]

It actually worked better than expected. It didn't freeze and kept the tent cold in Fl weather. Since I put the aluminum cover over the plastic face of the AC, in my opinion, it must still allow for enough air movement to not freeze over. If it starts to become a problem I will definitely redesign as suggested!

[@genoory5090]

So, how it holds up? Because I'm gonna buy a small 5000 btu with remote for my tent. So is it mandatory to cut another hole on front for the return air or leave only the top opening for the dryer hose so cold air can flow inside?

[@averagedadbuilds5813]

It’s been holding up great. I do summer camping here in FL and it’s a must! I bring my small generator and it’s a wrap! Going with a small unit that has a remote is smart since it sucks to have to wake up to go outside and adjust because it’s freezing inside the tent. I only cut one hole on the unit which is the one that sends cold air out. I cover the usual spot where cold air comes out the unit with the styrofoam that came with the unit. I then just created a face that accepted a dryer hose for sucking in the hot air from the tent. I love it, definitely worth the money to do!

[@genoory5090]

@@averagedadbuilds5813 Awesome! I live in houston tx. Weather is now is 100+!...but that hose on the front was my concern about the face part where the filter is? Do that also need a venting dryer hose as well?

[@averagedadbuilds5813]

@@genoory5090 i personally used a dryer hose because it compacts well when it’s time to pack up. I’ve seen others use a plastic type of hose but I’m not use where they sell that type of hose.

[@averagedadbuilds5813]

Since the unit sits out side I run two hoses up to my roof top tent. One that blows cold air in and one that takes hot air out. But I guess if you are using the unit on a ground tent then you may not need either hose as long as the back of the unit is outside the tent.

[@genoory5090]

@@averagedadbuilds5813 no ground tent. Its my adventure overland kayak fishing trailer that has a rooftop tent platform above it? Its pretty loaded. It has a pressurized water tank, a 8ft 8" pvc rod tube, rgb led strips & 4 rgb 7" light pods, propane tank mount, 60" plano rifle case for hardware & tools plus other gear, & 4 on side waterproof dry storage boxes for more gear and tie down straps, & 2 flip out side tables, and also a plug in inverter and soon purchasing a remoted inverter generator & ice cooler fridge and now TIG up a aluminum platform basket for placing my ice cooler fridge & dual fuel inverter generator on front & another platform on the rear for placing my ac unit. And to top it off, adding 4 600lb rated actuators to lift the whole platform when I'm cooking or cleaning my fish for clearance. So overall on long night trips of fishing? I need a ac unit to keep me cool