Always trying to give as much information as possible with the things I learned along my way. I talked about a bunch of different A/C units and if you do a search on any of the names then you'll find all the info you need on them. This is what I believe in that works and that I've done my research on and have spoke to my network of van builders. I know what works and what doesn't. Here are some more playlists below: Tours Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejEMWv5kclacXhH6atb3ax6tl.html Van Informational Vlog Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejEMseRhXNwNjrs5BU7RLpvhg.html Entertainment Vlog: ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejENxc67U9B7IO0r2H9F5K0oa.html GHOST Build Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejENEalXZqQCA2zR64OG_5yM1.html
There’re always going to be adults who used to be the kids who tried to catch the teacher making mistakes. You’re never going to get through to them. They annoy your fans as much as they annoy you. Thing is, if you reply, you become half of the bickering, when you could use this space for so much more. You’ve risen to a position where you don’t need to qualify yourself to a huge percentage of people watching. Please stay above the bickering and only speak to the people here to learn from experts vs. those only here to try to discredit one.
OriginalNightshade you can always find an expert around when one is really not needed. Maybe since everyone now knows you are the expert here you can enlighten us with your vast knowledge of people on EGO trips? Come on champ let’s have some of that knowledge! What’s this dude’s “EGO issues” all about?
@@originalnightshade4582 I was going to say something along those lines but you said it better and you have the degree to back it up. Agreed, there is some good content in between the I am so full of ... knowledge
I do not have a/c in my van, but I did find a way to keep it a little cooler inside. Even after I insulated with the pink foam and thinsulate with an air gap it still reached well over a hundred, hitting 109-113 often, and even 126F one time last August. BTW, I'm in hot humid Florida. I built a 3/4" plywood deck on top of my roof rack that is 8ft x 5ft, painted it white, and put my solar on top of that. I have aprox 8" of space between the roof and that deck, which provides constant shade and airflow over my van. It's made a huge difference and hasn't gotten over 91F since then. Fingers crossed that continues. It's not perfectly pretty, but it works.
@@zacworld2061 HI, on my channel there are a couple of videos, which I believe show that part of my build. About to post a van tour video soon, but on the road to New England right now.
Great idea , if you have ever seen a freight wood pallet (about 8-12 ft) I think that would work great as a deck it would sit right on some roof rails ! Super easy and obviously would be able to to supports tons of weight !
How much additional weight? Decrease in fuel mileage? Would coating the roof with some super reflective white mobile home or flat roof coating be beneficial?
Hello, can we talk maybe on instagram or on mobile or email? I really need somebody who has more research or experience than me so that I can survive. I dont wonna make a stupid decision
I have a air cooler, two solar fans, insulation and a couple small vents I put on my 6x12 cargo trailer, it works great for me in dry climates, but when I go back to humid FL to see family i plan on buying a window AC
I have a cooler with a 12v fan and a vent on the front. A dual zone freezer/fridge to freeze blue ice. As to parking in the sun, I have two sets of panels; 2 on the roof for driving, and 2 portable so I can park in the shade and put panels in the sun.
Jarrod thanks so much for all you do. Keep up the great work. Hope to meet you someday. Get my MB this fall to start my build. I have used so much of your info to refine my choices. Thanks again.
Hey JT, you do a really good job man, and I appreciate your content. It’s cool. Hope the shop goes well, and the stand up revival, and hope you get your container home/ tiny house soon. “Power to your elbow” as we would say in the UK. Weird , I know. Stay safe.
Love the vids. Glad you chose PTLD to live for this moment, Me too. Starting my own Van conversion on a 3500 Dodge Sprinter turbo dually. Needs work!! Don't know what I'm doing. Watching LOTS of videos. This will take me a year or 2. Good luck on your ebook. Sounds like you have given it a lot of thought and you have a lot of great info to share. Putting it all in one place is a very good idea.
In addition to insulating the van I would suggest using ceramic or 3M crystalline window tint. You can put the lighter stuff on your front windshield and still be legal and it gets rid of about 35% of the heat. The next one darker gets rid of about 55% of the heat. I used it on my poorly insulated 1967 MGBGT when I added AC so my wife would go on vintage car rallies with me. The AC didn’t cool on 85°F/29.4°C days until I added the tint. I used the lightest tint so it does not look like the windows are tinted which in my opinion would ruin the vintage look. On hot days I used to feel the heat coming through the windows. After adding the tint that is no longer the case.
@@jamieharrington9037 ya, ceramic helps but makes sure the tint place is certified with the tint they sell by checking the brand's website for certified installers. many tint installers lie about the brands.
Hi Jarrod. In Florida here. Blasting the van's OEM A/C for 30 minutes while parked under a tree can really cool your van down. I have an off-grid lot with a shallow well, I've hosed the van down and it really helped too. understand not an option for most. I recently updated the ventilation on my van putting two custom 12v fans/vents under a giant solar panel. The solar panel keeps the elements out out and also blocks the sun while providing more solar than I need. On a cloudy day at 5pm I still get enough solar power to run both fans, my fridge, a 12v 27inch monitor, my phone and laptop. But really I try not to be inside the van between 11am and 4pm. Video on my channel.
Hi @@amalgamating. 2018 Promaster city cargo van. I ripped out my OEM battery tray and dropped in custom tray for a giant 155AH AGM Deep cycle as my only battery. Cut two big holes in my roof and fabricated a single 320 Watt solar panel roof rack over my ventilation fans. Victron solar controller. 2000 watt inverter under my seat I turn on as needed.. 12v 15L fridge set to 40F is on 24x7 where I store almond milk, mozzarella cheese, Greek yogurt, vegan dogs and patties. Been running like this without issues for 3 years on the same battery. When I van life I sleep with the fan on and usually watch TV or surf for a few hours before bed. It's a small van and Florida is hot, so I'm rarely inside the van unless driving or taking a nap between 10am and 8pm.
Seriously, we’re trying to decide on a fresair or a cruise n comfort or just two overhead fans right now. This topic and insulation are so so important to figure out! Thanks for this video :) you make this experience more fun!
Nice video. I learned something today :) Also, in your land search, be absolutely sure to review any and all land use ordinances in the jurisdiction of the land you want to use for a tiny home or a collection of tiny homes. The prohibition of this kind of development may be more common than not. Good luck!
I think the main problem with the Fresair is that it doesn't deal with humidity so well. Only a split unit will handle that properly since the separate evaporator and condenser units are really what helps take the humidity out of the air.
I wish you had published this several months ago. To late for me but not to late for others. Based on my experience you are spot on. I bought a fresair for my van based on the recommendation from a couple on you tube. I believe it is the same couple you make reference to in your video. The company that sells this unit could not have been more accommodating and sent me the unit as they promised. However, it does not cool down the van anywhere near what I expected. I have since removed it from my van and chalked it up to experience ( a very expensive experience).
Very helpful! I’ve been researching for quite a while. I was thinking of getting the zero breeze mark 2, But I need something that’s quite powerful because I do not like being hot!
I appreciate all the time you're spending I devoted a lot of time to this air conditioning problem and in stress and me out because usually if you have money you can solve any problem life this is not the case it's not money that has solved my problems it's basically trying to figure out the answer to a problem you can have all the money in the world but you have tremendous amounts problems but if you can solve the problems that are in front of you your life becomes much easier
Looks like that pic is from Green Anchors under the Saint John’s bridge. I built my tiny house there years ago. Great place to build a tiny home with a community of helpful like-minded peeps! 👌🏽
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences. What do you think of the idea of line x as insulation, and foam boards or havelock to complement it? Thank you.
@@PaDutchRunner that's the conclusion I came to for my build. Waiting for more 24v split units to hit the market. Going from 12 or 24v to 120 back to 12or 24v is just silly
i hope to have enough power to run ac someday, but in the mean time i can offer a small bit of advice for someone who doesn't have AC... don't let the van get hot! put those window coverings on early (shiny side out). those sun rays can heat the van up so quickly and there is no way to cool the van back down. thanks for the vid jarrod!
Paint the outside roof walls with Reflective White Roof paint @ Home depot / Lowes 35$ gal. Doing so will keep metal @ near ambient . As for inside Window A/C works fine with R5 insulation & Heavy mover blanket to separate the cab here in Houston .
Cool man! This helps a lot. I gotta figure out how to get an ac unit into my 2004 Chevy suburban, yesterday. Lol! Im living up near Edwards Air Force Base, and my chevy is black (in color). It identifies as black 🤣… ok but seriously, I don’t want to melt in my car this summer. All I need is legit ac, that can keep my vehicle a nice 65 F (or have that ability), while parked in the desert, exposed with no shade from the desert sun.
1st thing is Paint the roof side walls with White reflective roof paint available at home depot lowes excreta for 35$ , Here in Houston Tx in direct sun untreated paint can get to 140 degree Treated paint gets to 100 or ambient . Inside at ambient is Easier to treat. Been there done that for decades.
I am experimenting with an emergency blanket right on top of the roof, to reflect the incoming heat away. So far doing tests on parking lots and securing it with magnets to the roof
Regarding the under van compressor, I would guess that that unit is for city stealth while the roof top is for rural usage. One factor I hear from rural campers is rodents and such getting into the vehicle. I would guess the under van compressor would get compromised easily. But I frankly do not know anything from experience. Thank you for another good video Jarrod.
For land you might look into old trailer park sites or campgrounds with potential to start a community. It would be a great service to van lifers who need a base.
Hello Jarrod I am following your channel like 2 years ago. Learning van build stuff. But I have a question. I am ready to buy my Promaster, I am not sure if it will be the promaster extended or the 159 because I have a family of 5. I will install 6 seat from a Ford Transit Torneo from Germany that I shiped to the state. My question is What A/C do you recomend to install in the Promaster that can be use while we traveling? All of those that you mention in this video are for only when your park your van or we can use those while we are moving? Thanks in advance!! I really like your videos.
Hey, i was wondering if you knew of any 12V Peltier plate aircon units. I really want to avoid any stepup in voltage as well as any compressors. The lower my power draw, the less i have to generate right ? Anyways, not sure if they even exist in reality yet, but if you know of any it would be greatly appreciated. If not, i'll build it myself.
In addition to the microphone a reason why the air noise in your installation was loud is because you reduced the size of the ducting which according to you in the video Cruise N Comfort told you not to do. From my experience with noise and AC systems increasing the size of the ductwork or branching off from one duct to multiple ducts will reduce noise. Also use smooth ducting instead of flexible ducting. You can see that Cruise N Comfort does that with their optional ducting unit. www.cruisencomfortusa.com/hd-series
Thanks for the informative video Jarrod. I'm curious if any of these recommended units can run effectively (continuous or near continuous use) in the south Eastern U.S. (hot and humid) using only a Jackery 1000/1500 or an Ecoflow delta power unit or a combination of 2 units that can be swapped out when one needs to be charged. I'm trying to find a way to build a van completely modular using no hard-wired elements that can't be easily removed later on like spray form, wiring, hole-drilling, etc. I understand the 'undoable' factor here will be cutting a hole in the van somewhere for the unit, of course. Thanks for any input on this. If you're not familiar with any setups done this way, perhaps you might know someone who is? Thanks again!
Jarrod, I think it is a mistake to not include in your analysis of air conditioning options more conventional compressor driven 120V systems. Your audience I suspect is nationwide, and van owners who live in the South and in the Southeast, especially those who have limited financial situations but still wish (or need) to be able to stay cool in high temp and humidity areas, need to consider these systems. It is possible to stay very cool with a minimum amount of money spent by, for example, incorporating a conventual home window unit in the 5K to 8K BTU AC with a small generator. Several class B manufacturers have successfully used this combo for many years, and this option has also been put in place by van builders as well. The cost advantage is enormous as compared to the investment required to have a DC powered AC with a combo of large solar panels,, large VERY expensive LI-ION or similar battery banks, a VERY expensive DC powered AC that can produce enough cold air to sufficiently cool a van in 95 degree 100% humidity conditions, and a big inverter, wiring, etc. I currently run a 8000 BTU window unit with a 2.8KW Onan, burning 1/3 gallon of gasoline from my main gas tank. The AC unit cost $220, the used genny cost $1000. I have 2 105AH Walmart flooded cell deep cycle batteries at $80 each, 200W of solar panels, and a good MPPY controller, and a 2000W sine wave inverter that handles everything I need in climates that do not require AC. When I need AC, with a full tank of gas I can run it for 90 hours straight and still have 5 gallons left to drive away. As to whether or not a home window unit can handle bouncing around in a vehicle, over the last 20 years of using this type of system I have never had a window unit fail. Just sayin' my man.
All of this. North Florida guy here trying to get into the van life. Ttttooooooooooooooooooo hotttttttttttttttt to not have what many might consider to be an overkill ac system.
how does this compare with leaving your car engine idling and running the car ac? or idling with a 1000W inverter and window ac. how many gallons per hour?
Appreciate your experience and details. It’s probably my biggest concern going into this. Everything else I can handle. I like to be comfortable WHEN I sleep in the south, NC
@@kevinwelsh7490 Sorry, I left out that my 2.8KW Onan burns 1/3 gallon PER HOUR when running my 8000BTU AC (1/3GPH). Also I'm not sure if a 1000W inverter would be big enough to run even a 5000BTU AC, and I have no idea what GPH your engine would use at idle as it would depend on it's size and what fuel it requires, but not only do I suspect that it would burn more than a 2.8KW genny, which is designed to run for extended periods of time; with the exeption of large truck desiel engines, your van motor, whether gas or desiel powered simply is not designed to run at idle for hours on end. Additionally, Your alternator, unless considerably oversized, would fry pretty quickly as well.
If you live in the american southwest an evaporative cooler is actually a really good option. Dry climates can do with a humidifier, and evaporative coolers also humidify, while air conditioners often dehumidify. The advantage of evaporative coolers is low power consumption.
Another issue with trying to use an inverter to power a plug-in a/c, is heat generation. Often the inverter is located in the garage and it warms the underside of the bed. Ultimately the a/c has to displace this heat as well.
Just a correction getting into van life has many many reason and i honestly would say "being outside" as you said would be one of the leaser of the reasons other reasons would be just liking living in a small space maybe cause rent is extremely expensive and cant afford an appointment or house maybe one could be to save money to buy a house land or save up for an apartment another reason could be the persona like to travel and want to see other states not necessarily outside that van though. Just wanted to bring that to your attention. I personally have been living in a van for 2 and a half years and peior was living in a home built tow behind camper for 2 years and me personally dont care for the out doors i do it cause i like the small space and dont need an apartment or a large space it allows me to really see what i spend money on and see what i do and do not need in my life
Can you advise me. I bought someone else’s sort of converted van. It has a max air fan but no AC. It has a zero yeti 500 X battery which has a 300 watt capacity. I ordered a Alpicool ac but was told my set up wouldn’t handle it. I was then advised to get an icybreeze for the cheapest way to cool here in Florida. But looks like you don’t recommend It even if it’s not supposed to be swamp cooler. What is the least expensive way for me to cool this van which is already been insulated? Thank you so much I miss single retired woman with a 2017 pro master 85 k Miles
I like the pioneer mini spilit with heatt pump ac. But the outside unit can give you some stress if you are stealth. But if you are not stealth and have 200ah battery and 500 watts solar. you can run it for 10h daily. This mini split draw 10amp per hour
have seen these on tow-behinds. when designing my van, I considered putting the outside unit on the roof using actuators to lift it during use. Envisioned a lot of maintenance problems. Went with Cruise N Comfort
Jarrod with the set up you had in your van with the power you we're pushing to the A/C how long could you run it before you had to recharge up? It's funny you said you're looking for land and a container. And I just recently purchased 20 acres and I already had a container but I'm still deciding on what I want to do with it. But I'm looking to get into the van life but I live in probably the hottest most humid state there is in Florida lol. So for me being able to stay relatively comfortable is going to be something really important to me! Is it possible to be able to run your basic things and still be able to get through the night with your A/C with just battery power?
Good stuff Jarrod. Thank you. What's your thoughts on the IcyBreeze cooler/air cooler? It has small ice water radiator that pumps out cold air. Thanks and keep up the great work 👍
47 amps this is working for the effects like because you're insulated that van airflow has a lot to do with airflow that's a lot to do with the cooling system
There are some options on alibaba for DC split units that have been mounted under at least 3 sprinter vans and detailed installation on sprinter-source threads. The units come in 12V or 24V and include all coolant lines and wiring for a 7k-9k btu unit. The cost is from $400-$800(includes shipping) depending on which seller is chosen and what shipping method is used. . This is a small fraction of what cruise n comfort charges. Yes, the quality may be different but I think this is a good option for those that are handy and not loaded with spare cash. The units that have been installed on sprinters seem to be holding up well. I've just purchased one for a Ford Transit and can report back when it's installed but don't plan to install until early May 2021 I've done a lot of research and this seems to be the best solution for cost and functionality I can find. I have 480 amp hours of lithium but will add more and 660 watts of solar.
Yes I'm sure there are ways to do it that way. I'm also a advocate for you get what you pay for. If you have the confidence to build a unit yourself then why not and save the money. For me it's more so a peace of mind thing but I totally understand why others would go and build one your way
I'll be living back in a new vehicle ,as soon as I buy a good used one. I'll have to get a Toyota Sienna . So can I get one or two ceiling fans on the roof of a Sienna?
ya, the floor is better and fewer holes in the roof = more stealth. Anyone have a suggestion for a dc fan that I can use with a 4 in. to 6 in round hole in the floor?
As I get closer to buying an ambulance I'm rewatching my saved videos and this is one of them. The video brought up a question in my mind. In these big trucks that I drive we have units called APU's. Have you run into anybody using one of these units?
I'm a full time teacher and have two dogs; I'd like to get a van soon. I'm in the deeeeep south and that teacher parking lot gets pretty smokin' in the summer time - I would have to have a reliable/dependeable AC every day while I'm at work. I welcome any suggestions!
You are absolutely correct about insulation, adding 2" of polyisocyanurate(highest R-Value of any foams) foam board to the roof, floor, and walls, this would be in addition to filling all the spaces between the inner and outer walls of a van, it would go a long way in keeping heat out in the summer and warmth inside during winter making heating and cooling systems more effective. DC Power Solutions (Sales) has a line of 6 different DC air conditioning units both rooftop and mini split styles called B-COOL. They offer both 12v and 24v systems. Do you have any experience with this brand of air con units.
Air coolers are fine when humidity levels are lower than 25-30 percent. Above that, they are much less effective and above 50 percent they are completely useless
I used 3M SM400L insulation with a barrier.. It works great.... And swamp coolers are worthless...They only reduce the temp maybe 10 degrees. As the water will end up reaching outside temp.....
Yeah really interested buying just a small piece of land after I get this small piece of land I'm going to put the Winnebago right and then what I'm going to do is I'm going to try to get a little piece of Atlanta adds to that and then try to start building the foundation
Hi, dumb question maybe but why not just run the car ac off of a secondary battery? Is it just not powerful enough? I've tried googling this and all I get are reviews for rv specific ac like the dometic, etc... EDIT: for some reason I thought the fan and compressor were electric. Big oof :p
Did you say your AC is running at 40A but your battery system is only 600Ah? Maybe I'm being confused by the voltage/current/resistance equation here but that seem like a massive amp draw for the efficiency that you're claiming. When I pull with all my electronics at once I'll get to like 16A tops, so I feel like I must be missing something here?
A/C is the biggest power draw no matter what do 30-50 amp draw is about right depending on unit, temp control, how it's wired, etc. That is a huge draw yes, but like other items the A/C will cycle on and off so it won't be a constant 30-50 amps. Having a A/C is a luxury and you need to have enough power. That being said I typically tell others that managing power consumption when running the A/C is very important
I use a cheap Walmart window a/c, run it 6 to 8 hours of comfort on a gallon of gas in a 350 dollar 2000 watt generator, total investment of under $500. Go to Adventure van man channel, Man follows his dreams video to see my setup. You have to do it right with cool air not mixing with the hot exhaust air. I have been using this setup for 3 years with no problems.
thank you! i dm'd you on ig and you asked about my budget but perhaps got busy, didn't hear back from you. you should have told me about this video! thanks for your channel! I'm about to start my van life!
Always trying to give as much information as possible with the things I learned along my way. I talked about a bunch of different A/C units and if you do a search on any of the names then you'll find all the info you need on them. This is what I believe in that works and that I've done my research on and have spoke to my network of van builders. I know what works and what doesn't. Here are some more playlists below:
Tours Playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejEMWv5kclacXhH6atb3ax6tl.html
Van Informational Vlog Playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejEMseRhXNwNjrs5BU7RLpvhg.html
Entertainment Vlog:
ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejENxc67U9B7IO0r2H9F5K0oa.html
GHOST Build Playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLHrnevETejENEalXZqQCA2zR64OG_5yM1.html
There’re always going to be adults who used to be the kids who tried to catch the teacher making mistakes. You’re never going to get through to them. They annoy your fans as much as they annoy you. Thing is, if you reply, you become half of the bickering, when you could use this space for so much more. You’ve risen to a position where you don’t need to qualify yourself to a huge percentage of people watching. Please stay above the bickering and only speak to the people here to learn from experts vs. those only here to try to discredit one.
@@ChrisW228 As a 34 yr retired psych nurse I can tell you this dude has EGO issues however YOU have given wise & sage advice.
OriginalNightshade you can always find an expert around when one is really not needed. Maybe since everyone now knows you are the expert here you can enlighten us with your vast knowledge of people on EGO trips? Come on champ let’s have some of that knowledge! What’s this dude’s “EGO issues” all about?
@@originalnightshade4582 I was going to say something along those lines but you said it better and you have the degree to back it up. Agreed, there is some good content in between the I am so full of ... knowledge
Kinda hard to search for the ones you recommend when you don't give model numbers. Dometic must have a dozen, Kingtec at least a half dozen.
I do not have a/c in my van, but I did find a way to keep it a little cooler inside. Even after I insulated with the pink foam and thinsulate with an air gap it still reached well over a hundred, hitting 109-113 often, and even 126F one time last August. BTW, I'm in hot humid Florida. I built a 3/4" plywood deck on top of my roof rack that is 8ft x 5ft, painted it white, and put my solar on top of that. I have aprox 8" of space between the roof and that deck, which provides constant shade and airflow over my van. It's made a huge difference and hasn't gotten over 91F since then. Fingers crossed that continues. It's not perfectly pretty, but it works.
This sounds like a great idea. Do you have any pics of it (or a video) ?
@@zacworld2061 HI, on my channel there are a couple of videos, which I believe show that part of my build. About to post a van tour video soon, but on the road to New England right now.
A simple but brilliant idea, it puts the area that gets the most direct heat into the shade 👍
Great idea , if you have ever seen a freight wood pallet (about 8-12 ft) I think that would work great as a deck it would sit right on some roof rails ! Super easy and obviously would be able to to supports tons of weight !
How much additional weight?
Decrease in fuel mileage?
Would coating the roof with some super reflective white mobile home or flat roof coating be beneficial?
6 months living in my car, preparing my van build, ventilation and insulation are the 2 things I am going to spend without limit
Hello, can we talk maybe on instagram or on mobile or email? I really need somebody who has more research or experience than me so that I can survive. I dont wonna make a stupid decision
I have a air cooler, two solar fans, insulation and a couple small vents I put on my 6x12 cargo trailer, it works great for me in dry climates, but when I go back to humid FL to see family i plan on buying a window AC
Update?
I have a cooler with a 12v fan and a vent on the front. A dual zone freezer/fridge to freeze blue ice. As to parking in the sun, I have two sets of panels; 2 on the roof for driving, and 2 portable so I can park in the shade and put panels in the sun.
Love your style of presentation and your content. So honest and real! Keep these coming!
Jarrod thanks so much for all you do. Keep up the great work. Hope to meet you someday. Get my MB this fall to start my build. I have used so much of your info to refine my choices.
Thanks again.
Hey JT, you do a really good job man, and I appreciate your content. It’s cool. Hope the shop goes well, and the stand up revival, and hope you get your container home/ tiny house soon. “Power to your elbow” as we would say in the UK. Weird , I know. Stay safe.
Love the vids. Glad you chose PTLD to live for this moment, Me too. Starting my own Van conversion on a 3500 Dodge Sprinter turbo dually. Needs work!! Don't know what I'm doing. Watching LOTS of videos. This will take me a year or 2. Good luck on your ebook. Sounds like you have given it a lot of thought and you have a lot of great info to share. Putting it all in one place is a very good idea.
PTLD?
so excited to see how you'll build your tiny, you got the best ideas of everything Jarrod!!! Thanks for everything :)
In addition to insulating the van I would suggest using ceramic or 3M crystalline window tint. You can put the lighter stuff on your front windshield and still be legal and it gets rid of about 35% of the heat. The next one darker gets rid of about 55% of the heat. I used it on my poorly insulated 1967 MGBGT when I added AC so my wife would go on vintage car rallies with me. The AC didn’t cool on 85°F/29.4°C days until I added the tint. I used the lightest tint so it does not look like the windows are tinted which in my opinion would ruin the vintage look. On hot days I used to feel the heat coming through the windows. After adding the tint that is no longer the case.
Just recently heard about this. Planning to do it on my van.
@@jamieharrington9037 ya, ceramic helps but makes sure the tint place is certified with the tint they sell by checking the brand's website for certified installers. many tint installers lie about the brands.
Kudos on the car!!!
Hi Jarrod. In Florida here. Blasting the van's OEM A/C for 30 minutes while parked under a tree can really cool your van down. I have an off-grid lot with a shallow well, I've hosed the van down and it really helped too. understand not an option for most. I recently updated the ventilation on my van putting two custom 12v fans/vents under a giant solar panel. The solar panel keeps the elements out out and also blocks the sun while providing more solar than I need. On a cloudy day at 5pm I still get enough solar power to run both fans, my fridge, a 12v 27inch monitor, my phone and laptop. But really I try not to be inside the van between 11am and 4pm. Video on my channel.
What kind of set up do you have where you can power all that ?
Hi @@amalgamating. 2018 Promaster city cargo van. I ripped out my OEM battery tray and dropped in custom tray for a giant 155AH AGM Deep cycle as my only battery. Cut two big holes in my roof and fabricated a single 320 Watt solar panel roof rack over my ventilation fans. Victron solar controller. 2000 watt inverter under my seat I turn on as needed.. 12v 15L fridge set to 40F is on 24x7 where I store almond milk, mozzarella cheese, Greek yogurt, vegan dogs and patties. Been running like this without issues for 3 years on the same battery. When I van life I sleep with the fan on and usually watch TV or surf for a few hours before bed. It's a small van and Florida is hot, so I'm rarely inside the van unless driving or taking a nap between 10am and 8pm.
Love the idea of an ebook!! A definite must have. You can break it up or multiple books on certain topics
Didn't see you on the live but I mentioned you and announced that I'm doing my website over
Seriously, we’re trying to decide on a fresair or a cruise n comfort or just two overhead fans right now. This topic and insulation are so so important to figure out! Thanks for this video :) you make this experience more fun!
go with the pros cruise n comfort
Love your videos - thanks as always for the great info!
This West, Aussie has been waiting for THIS video 😁 Thanks Jarrod!
West Aussie No.2 here
Thank you for your informative video. This will help me to decide on AC in the future. Take care.
I am glad you tell it like it is. It gives me something to aspire to!
Nice video. I learned something today :) Also, in your land search, be absolutely sure to review any and all land use ordinances in the jurisdiction of the land you want to use for a tiny home or a collection of tiny homes. The prohibition of this kind of development may be more common than not. Good luck!
I think the main problem with the Fresair is that it doesn't deal with humidity so well. Only a split unit will handle that properly since the separate evaporator and condenser units are really what helps take the humidity out of the air.
Great video and info, keep up the great work.
Thank you Jared for sharing, definitely will look into the one you suggested.
I wish you had published this several months ago. To late for me but not to late for others. Based on my experience you are spot on. I bought a fresair for my van based on the recommendation from a couple on you tube. I believe it is the same couple you make reference to in your video. The company that sells this unit could not have been more accommodating and sent me the unit as they promised. However, it does not cool down the van anywhere near what I expected. I have since removed it from my van and chalked it up to experience ( a very expensive experience).
Thank you. I’m planning to buy a van after some research in the next 3 weeks!
Very informative. Thank you for making this video. 🎥
Very helpful! I’ve been researching for quite a while. I was thinking of getting the zero breeze mark 2, But I need something that’s quite powerful because I do not like being hot!
Great video, very educational. Thanks.
Van life in Australia, without air conditioning not a good idea 🥵
There are passively cooled rooms on the railways in the Pilbara
Same in Spain. 🇪🇸
Great info, Jarrod! Thanks!
I appreciate all the time you're spending I devoted a lot of time to this air conditioning problem and in stress and me out because usually if you have money you can solve any problem life this is not the case it's not money that has solved my problems it's basically trying to figure out the answer to a problem you can have all the money in the world but you have tremendous amounts problems but if you can solve the problems that are in front of you your life becomes much easier
Thanks for your tips!!!
Heating a van is much easier. Cooling down it very hard
Icybreeze is REAL air conditioning. ( extracts moisture)
Looks like that pic is from Green Anchors under the Saint John’s bridge. I built my tiny house there years ago. Great place to build a tiny home with a community of helpful like-minded peeps! 👌🏽
That's exactly where that picture was taken
Good discussion thanks for the great infos.
I enjoyed this, informative! Looking forward to your book! Send me a copy! 😁😁😂🤣
I will be watching for your ebook!
Thank you! I hope to have 2 types and one out in late November and the other in December.
Great information!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences. What do you think of the idea of line x as insulation, and foam boards or havelock to complement it? Thank you.
Love it! You are so generous with your knowledge. I love that you love this stuff. When you do your container home would love videos/info too!! (-:
Jarrod only speaks the truth! I'm sold on cruise n comfort for my next van.
I think they take up too much space inside the van. I’m pretty sold on ductless minisplits.
Those are good too. Just have to sacrifice roof space
Thanks bud!
You can get them for the back door instead of the roof
@@PaDutchRunner that's the conclusion I came to for my build. Waiting for more 24v split units to hit the market. Going from 12 or 24v to 120 back to 12or 24v is just silly
i hope to have enough power to run ac someday, but in the mean time i can offer a small bit of advice for someone who doesn't have AC... don't let the van get hot! put those window coverings on early (shiny side out). those sun rays can heat the van up so quickly and there is no way to cool the van back down.
thanks for the vid jarrod!
Paint the outside roof walls with Reflective White Roof paint @ Home depot / Lowes 35$ gal. Doing so will keep metal @ near ambient . As for inside Window A/C works fine with R5 insulation & Heavy mover blanket to separate the cab here in Houston .
Great information thanks.
Cool man! This helps a lot.
I gotta figure out how to get an ac unit into my 2004 Chevy suburban, yesterday. Lol! Im living up near Edwards Air Force Base, and my chevy is black (in color). It identifies as black 🤣… ok but seriously, I don’t want to melt in my car this summer. All I need is legit ac, that can keep my vehicle a nice 65 F (or have that ability), while parked in the desert, exposed with no shade from the desert sun.
I like your pic of the St. Johns Bridge . My old stomping grounds.
Bet it’ll be inspiring as u have been to me as I try to work the same future plans brother 👍👍👍
1st thing is Paint the roof side walls with White reflective roof paint available at home depot lowes excreta for 35$ , Here in Houston Tx in direct sun untreated paint can get to 140 degree Treated paint gets to 100 or ambient . Inside at ambient is Easier to treat. Been there done that for decades.
I am experimenting with an emergency blanket right on top of the roof, to reflect the incoming heat away. So far doing tests on parking lots and securing it with magnets to the roof
Very cool cool video 😍👍👌
Regarding the under van compressor, I would guess that that unit is for city stealth while the roof top is for rural usage. One factor I hear from rural campers is rodents and such getting into the vehicle. I would guess the under van compressor would get compromised easily. But I frankly do not know anything from experience. Thank you for another good video Jarrod.
Awesome info
Do you have any experience with Lunos heat recovery and do they help with humidity in the summer and winter?
Hey Jarrod, have you tested the Dometic RTX 2000 12v AC running off a house battery or battery+solar?
For land you might look into old trailer park sites or campgrounds with potential to start a community. It would be a great service to van lifers who need a base.
Check out Raynor's van shop in ontario... he offers van people an apartment while he works on their vans. Showers and laundry rooms
which Cruise N Comfort 12v A/C cooler did you get?
Hello Jarrod I am following your channel like 2 years ago. Learning van build stuff. But I have a question. I am ready to buy my Promaster, I am not sure if it will be the promaster extended or the 159 because I have a family of 5. I will install 6 seat from a Ford Transit Torneo from Germany that I shiped to the state. My question is What A/C do you recomend to install in the Promaster that can be use while we traveling? All of those that you mention in this video are for only when your park your van or we can use those while we are moving?
Thanks in advance!! I really like your videos.
URL to buy the underbody AC?
Hey, i was wondering if you knew of any 12V Peltier plate aircon units. I really want to avoid any stepup in voltage as well as any compressors. The lower my power draw, the less i have to generate right ? Anyways, not sure if they even exist in reality yet, but if you know of any it would be greatly appreciated. If not, i'll build it myself.
In addition to the microphone a reason why the air noise in your installation was loud is because you reduced the size of the ducting which according to you in the video Cruise N Comfort told you not to do. From my experience with noise and AC systems increasing the size of the ductwork or branching off from one duct to multiple ducts will reduce noise. Also use smooth ducting instead of flexible ducting. You can see that Cruise N Comfort does that with their optional ducting unit.
www.cruisencomfortusa.com/hd-series
Nice to know!
Thanks for the informative video Jarrod. I'm curious if any of these recommended units can run effectively (continuous or near continuous use) in the south Eastern U.S. (hot and humid) using only a Jackery 1000/1500 or an Ecoflow delta power unit or a combination of 2 units that can be swapped out when one needs to be charged. I'm trying to find a way to build a van completely modular using no hard-wired elements that can't be easily removed later on like spray form, wiring, hole-drilling, etc. I understand the 'undoable' factor here will be cutting a hole in the van somewhere for the unit, of course. Thanks for any input on this. If you're not familiar with any setups done this way, perhaps you might know someone who is? Thanks again!
Hi Jarrod : thanks for the words
Do you do Box Vans, cube walk thru doors to cockpit? Back door/ loading pull down door.
I have a few videos on the cruise N Comfort as well. 👍 Jarrod can be an amazing help to you
Jarrod, I think it is a mistake to not include in your analysis of air conditioning options more conventional compressor driven 120V systems. Your audience I suspect is nationwide, and van owners who live in the South and in the Southeast, especially those who have limited financial situations but still wish (or need) to be able to stay cool in high temp and humidity areas, need to consider these systems. It is possible to stay very cool with a minimum amount of money spent by, for example, incorporating a conventual home window unit in the 5K to 8K BTU AC with a small generator. Several class B manufacturers have successfully used this combo for many years, and this option has also been put in place by van builders as well. The cost advantage is enormous as compared to the investment required to have a DC powered AC with a combo of large solar panels,, large VERY expensive LI-ION or similar battery banks, a VERY expensive DC powered AC that can produce enough cold air to sufficiently cool a van in 95 degree 100% humidity conditions, and a big inverter, wiring, etc. I currently run a 8000 BTU window unit with a 2.8KW Onan, burning 1/3 gallon of gasoline from my main gas tank. The AC unit cost $220, the used genny cost $1000. I have 2 105AH Walmart flooded cell deep cycle batteries at $80 each, 200W of solar panels, and a good MPPY controller, and a 2000W sine wave inverter that handles everything I need in climates that do not require AC. When I need AC, with a full tank of gas I can run it for 90 hours straight and still have 5 gallons left to drive away. As to whether or not a home window unit can handle bouncing around in a vehicle, over the last 20 years of using this type of system I have never had a window unit fail. Just sayin' my man.
I wish I can talk to you about this
All of this.
North Florida guy here trying to get into the van life. Ttttooooooooooooooooooo hotttttttttttttttt to not have what many might consider to be an overkill ac system.
how does this compare with leaving your car engine idling and running the car ac? or idling with a 1000W inverter and window ac. how many gallons per hour?
Appreciate your experience and details. It’s probably my biggest concern going into this. Everything else I can handle. I like to be comfortable WHEN I sleep in the south, NC
@@kevinwelsh7490 Sorry, I left out that my 2.8KW Onan burns 1/3 gallon PER HOUR when running my 8000BTU AC (1/3GPH). Also I'm not sure if a 1000W inverter would be big enough to run even a 5000BTU AC, and I have no idea what GPH your engine would use at idle as it would depend on it's size and what fuel it requires, but not only do I suspect that it would burn more than a 2.8KW genny, which is designed to run for extended periods of time; with the exeption of large truck desiel engines, your van motor, whether gas or desiel powered simply is not designed to run at idle for hours on end. Additionally, Your alternator, unless considerably oversized, would fry pretty quickly as well.
Evaporator coolers work great in dry climates only!
Can enough outside solar run an air on ? Say top , sides , back ? Blended for aerodynamics ?
Guapo! Precioso! ❤❤❤❤❤😊
If you live in the american southwest an evaporative cooler is actually a really good option. Dry climates can do with a humidifier, and evaporative coolers also humidify, while air conditioners often dehumidify. The advantage of evaporative coolers is low power consumption.
You need a water supply and they go through water pretty quick.
Another issue with trying to use an inverter to power a plug-in a/c, is heat generation. Often the inverter is located in the garage and it warms the underside of the bed. Ultimately the a/c has to displace this heat as well.
Just a correction getting into van life has many many reason and i honestly would say "being outside" as you said would be one of the leaser of the reasons other reasons would be just liking living in a small space maybe cause rent is extremely expensive and cant afford an appointment or house maybe one could be to save money to buy a house land or save up for an apartment another reason could be the persona like to travel and want to see other states not necessarily outside that van though. Just wanted to bring that to your attention. I personally have been living in a van for 2 and a half years and peior was living in a home built tow behind camper for 2 years and me personally dont care for the out doors i do it cause i like the small space and dont need an apartment or a large space it allows me to really see what i spend money on and see what i do and do not need in my life
Can you advise me. I bought someone else’s sort of converted van. It has a max air fan but no AC. It has a zero yeti 500 X battery which has a 300 watt capacity. I ordered a Alpicool ac but was told my set up wouldn’t handle it. I was then advised to get an icybreeze for the cheapest way to cool here in Florida. But looks like you don’t recommend It even if it’s not supposed to be swamp cooler. What is the least expensive way for me to cool this van which is already been insulated? Thank you so much I miss single retired woman with a 2017 pro master 85 k Miles
I like the pioneer mini spilit with heatt pump ac. But the outside unit can give you some stress if you are stealth. But if you are not stealth and have 200ah battery and 500 watts solar. you can run it for 10h daily. This mini split draw 10amp per hour
have seen these on tow-behinds. when designing my van, I considered putting the outside unit on the roof using actuators to lift it during use. Envisioned a lot of maintenance problems. Went with Cruise N Comfort
Thats what I am building now, with 1200 watts of solar panels and 400 amp hours of lithium batteries
@@Scrambler85 Heck yeah. I will have same electric system on my "ultimate expedition vechicle"
Do you have links to these 12V A/C units?
How about installing the factory rear ac n heat from the sprinter
Do you need to have the engine running all night with these AC units?
I don't have a/c in my van will a 12v a/c work while you are driving too
How heavey is that o breeze? I have seen other reviews saying they like them! Just wondering about the weight!
OKAY, Cruise N Comfort. Thanks for the review.
Have you had a chance to check out the cruise n comfort yet?
@@susanbabcock3917 No. Thanks for the nudge.
Jarrod with the set up you had in your van with the power you we're pushing to the A/C how long could you run it before you had to recharge up? It's funny you said you're looking for land and a container. And I just recently purchased 20 acres and I already had a container but I'm still deciding on what I want to do with it. But I'm looking to get into the van life but I live in probably the hottest most humid state there is in Florida lol. So for me being able to stay relatively comfortable is going to be something really important to me! Is it possible to be able to run your basic things and still be able to get through the night with your A/C with just battery power?
Good stuff Jarrod. Thank you. What's your thoughts on the IcyBreeze cooler/air cooler? It has small ice water radiator that pumps out cold air. Thanks and keep up the great work 👍
Tired that in my first van and in my opinion it doesn’t work. Water evaporator systems aren’t the best, but maybe just me
47 amps this is working for the effects like because you're insulated that van airflow has a lot to do with airflow that's a lot to do with the cooling system
There are some options on alibaba for DC split units that have been mounted under at least 3 sprinter vans and detailed installation on sprinter-source threads. The units come in 12V or 24V and include all coolant lines and wiring for a 7k-9k btu unit. The cost is from $400-$800(includes shipping) depending on which seller is chosen and what shipping method is used. . This is a small fraction of what cruise n comfort charges. Yes, the quality may be different but I think this is a good option for those that are handy and not loaded with spare cash. The units that have been installed on sprinters seem to be holding up well. I've just purchased one for a Ford Transit and can report back when it's installed but don't plan to install until early May 2021 I've done a lot of research and this seems to be the best solution for cost and functionality I can find. I have 480 amp hours of lithium but will add more and 660 watts of solar.
Yes I'm sure there are ways to do it that way. I'm also a advocate for you get what you pay for. If you have the confidence to build a unit yourself then why not and save the money. For me it's more so a peace of mind thing but I totally understand why others would go and build one your way
@@JarrodTocci thanks for your reply. I completely agree with your thoughts
Did you install it?
In Texas and Florida…will Have to do it…..
I'll be living back in a new vehicle ,as soon as I buy a good used one. I'll have to get a Toyota Sienna . So can I get one or two ceiling fans on the roof of a Sienna?
Hey Jarrod you can put a hole in the floor it always in the shade and cooler
Not if you’re parked over hot tarmac!
ya, the floor is better and fewer holes in the roof = more stealth. Anyone have a suggestion for a dc fan that I can use with a 4 in. to 6 in round hole in the floor?
@@tex959 computer fan,s
How does that work in a cold climate like Canada with the snow and -40, the salt on the road, etc?
It's an a/c so don't think you'd be using it in very cold climate. You'd want a really nice heater and I'd say spend the money on a good heater
As I get closer to buying an ambulance I'm rewatching my saved videos and this is one of them. The video brought up a question in my mind. In these big trucks that I drive we have units called APU's. Have you run into anybody using one of these units?
APUs are junk. Have run three brands and they couldn't keep the cab cool in SE US summers. Not to mention the noise, vibration and poor reliability.
I'm a full time teacher and have two dogs; I'd like to get a van soon. I'm in the deeeeep south and that teacher parking lot gets pretty smokin' in the summer time - I would have to have a reliable/dependeable AC every day while I'm at work. I welcome any suggestions!
You are absolutely correct about insulation, adding 2" of polyisocyanurate(highest R-Value of any foams) foam board to the roof, floor, and walls, this would be in addition to filling all the spaces between the inner and outer walls of a van, it would go a long way in keeping heat out in the summer and warmth inside during winter making heating and cooling systems more effective.
DC Power Solutions (Sales) has a line of 6 different DC air conditioning units both rooftop and mini split styles called B-COOL. They offer both 12v and 24v systems. Do you have any experience with this brand of air con units.
Air coolers are fine when humidity levels are lower than 25-30 percent. Above that, they are much less effective and above 50 percent they are completely useless
?[micro camper] ..can i run my doblo std air con without the engine on?
I used 3M SM400L insulation with a barrier.. It works great....
And swamp coolers are worthless...They only reduce the temp maybe 10 degrees. As the water will end up reaching outside temp.....
When it’s super hot outside and humidity is high. In Florida is too much. Any suggestions
Yeah really interested buying just a small piece of land after I get this small piece of land I'm going to put the Winnebago right and then what I'm going to do is I'm going to try to get a little piece of Atlanta adds to that and then try to start building the foundation
Thank you
Hi, dumb question maybe but why not just run the car ac off of a secondary battery? Is it just not powerful enough? I've tried googling this and all I get are reviews for rv specific ac like the dometic, etc...
EDIT: for some reason I thought the fan and compressor were electric. Big oof :p
Did you say your AC is running at 40A but your battery system is only 600Ah? Maybe I'm being confused by the voltage/current/resistance equation here but that seem like a massive amp draw for the efficiency that you're claiming. When I pull with all my electronics at once I'll get to like 16A tops, so I feel like I must be missing something here?
A/C is the biggest power draw no matter what do 30-50 amp draw is about right depending on unit, temp control, how it's wired, etc. That is a huge draw yes, but like other items the A/C will cycle on and off so it won't be a constant 30-50 amps. Having a A/C is a luxury and you need to have enough power. That being said I typically tell others that managing power consumption when running the A/C is very important
I use a cheap Walmart window a/c, run it 6 to 8 hours of comfort on a gallon of gas in a 350 dollar 2000 watt generator, total investment of under $500.
Go to Adventure van man channel, Man follows his dreams video to see my setup. You have to do it right with cool air not mixing with the hot exhaust air. I have been using this setup for 3 years with no problems.
Wouldn't the undermount a/c collect too much dust if off road camping?
Jerrod has a vid on the undermount installation.
your elevator pitch should 20 to 30 seconds-- yours is minute and half. GREAT VIDEO very useful info thank you :)
thank you! i dm'd you on ig and you asked about my budget but perhaps got busy, didn't hear back from you. you should have told me about this video! thanks for your channel! I'm about to start my van life!
Did I ever reply? I rarely check requested DM’s because of the amount. If I did reply then write something again so it goes back to the top
So it’s like an big icy breeze cooler?