Sleeper A/C hacks. With no idle becoming real.

My split AC system uses 700 - 800 watt power running at full blast. Of course start current is higher. Is difference in power consumption related to different refrigeration agent I don't know.

 

not cheap is being nice. $1000 plus what $500 for an extra battery so it will run 10ish hr. And takes 10hr to recharge... is if your take 11 plus hr break it won't work... my backup 2,000 watt portable generator is smaller. And my main 3,500 watt generator is only 2db louder.and you still have to vent it thru the windows

 

I have the Parksmart it’s made by the same manufacturer.. I use a house fan and between the 2 it does a reasonable job if you precool truck I find 12 volt fans suck more battery juice and don’t work half as good as a regular house fan running off the inverter.. in your case after 8 to 10 hrs I suppose you could use generator to power a battery charger to recharge the bunk batteries.

 

Ps watch latest video by junkerup aka Chris birdsong .. he installed a cheap AC in his charger maybe you can get a idea on a homemade unit from that ..it’s a standalone system so if you could run ac compressor off a small diesel engine or maybe a Honda unit it might work for you

 

i have a portable ac and it works great.

The window is open 3" and i have pice of hard fome to fill the gap

I keep it strapped to the side of the passenger seat pointing to the back. A few weeks ago when it was 110° in AZ I was sleeping under a blank...

I have 2 generators main a 3,500 and a 2,000 backup. My 3,500 will run the ac on max for 12hrs The 2,000 will run it for 8.5hrs (smaller fuel tank)

 

No I haven't done a thread about it..

The system i have on my truck for almost 3 years.. I've made few change over that time so I will list from start to finish.. I'll post pic's when I get the truck back from the body shop.

I chose the predator 3,500 super quit invertor generator, reason was its quarter than a Honda, run time (over 12hr at 25% load, warranty (extended 2 year) the only thing not covered is lost or stolen... drop it, backup pull start breaks, bad fuel, COVERED.. no send it off for repairs as long as you can take it back to any harbor freight you'd walk out 30min with a new one in the box.. cost was $750, now $900

My truck is a 2015 prostar with full skirts so Fram space is limited...

1st install was mounted on the catwalk with 4 ratch straps. 2 front to back and 1 at each end around the handles and 2 cable locks around the fram.

I store the 2 2gl cans on the steps to the catwalk 1 per step. I reach strap per step.

2nd install had I had a custom side box made. Had to be custom so it would fit behind the skirt and top open. (to refill fuel) Custom vent all 4 sides custom cutouts to check and change oil, added I also added a wireless remote start/stop so yes I can lay in bed and just push a button to start or stop it.l gas cans on steps..

Install 3.. the invertor went out so i (under warranty) I got a new generator the new model the change a few things, moved the oil drain and the backup pull start to the other side. The generator wood still fit but all the cut outs would be in the wrong place.. so back to the catwalk.

Now after 2 day of no generator between install 2 and 3 and having to idle to stay comfortable on breaks when I saw the changes installed it on the catwalk I decided I would never be with ac again so I went back and got a 2,000 as a backup..
I now use the side box to store the backup (I can have the backup out an up and running in about 5min) i also now 4 2gl gas cans, spair oil and straps. If both generators are full (2gl & 1.25gl) and 4 2gl cans I can sit anywhere and be comfortable for 70hrs and never start the truck.
I also added a 8amp battery charger..

The portable ac I use is 5,500 btu GE.$300
The reason was size, the reason is it was the only one that that would fit between the passenger seat and the dash. After using it fir 4 months found it didn't cool as much as I wanted so I moved it to the side of the passenger seat with a ratch strap so it doesn't move. Added a 2"×4" pice of hard fome under the front (between the wheels to give it a slite tile back) the reason was for better draining. It has 2 drains on the back 1 for the ac & I for the Dehumidifier. I took sum rubber hose and ran both drains together and drip it out under the door.. the vent hose goes in the passenger window (open about 3") I use a pice of the same hard foam cut to fill the rest of the opening...

If I had to do it over I would get a 6,500 - 7,000 btu

BTW the ac has remote.

Part of my pretrip I always fill the generator so at the end of the day I don't need to. I always setup the vent up even when I may not need it. But if I do in the middle of my break I just grab the remote start the generator and the ac and back to sleep in 2 min...

I know it's long... sorry