Easy Steps to Air Conditioning a Tent

Summertime means vacation, and for many of us vacation means the great outdoors. Hiking, fishing, and roasting marshmallows by the campfire are just a few of the pleasures we look forward to when we disconnect from civilization for a week and get back to nature. Bug bites and excessive summertime heat – not so much.

If the idea of sweltering through days and nights without relief from the heat has put you off the idea of camping all together, it’s time to reconsider. More and more, tent campers are enjoying the cool comfort of air conditioning in their homes-away-from-home.  While the idea of air conditioning a tent may seem crazy to some die-hard campers, we say if a tent AC makes you happier, why not enjoy it?

There are a few air conditioned tents available on the market, but adding AC to the tent you already own is easy enough to do. We’ve gathered the basic info you need to get started.

Choosing your Tent Air Conditioner: Window or Portable?

There are two primary choices for the type of tent air conditioners you can use, window ACs and portable ACs.

A portable unit is the easiest to set up, though it will take up a bit of floor space inside the tent, so keep that in mind. Portable ACs come with one or two exhaust hoses – all you need to do is put the end of the hoses through the tent door and secure the flap around them.  Hot air will be expelled outside, and cold air will stay inside.

Window units require a bit more prep work, but because they usually cost less than portable ACs they might be a preferable choice. To start with, you will need a stand of some to rest the box-shaped unit on. Remember that the back part of the AC needs to be outside in order to properly expel heat. Place the unit in the door of your tent and zip the flaps around it as closely as possible. Use duct tape to secure the opening and prevent cooled air from escaping.  (If your tent only has one door, you may need to skip this last part so you can get in and out easily.)

Alternatively, you can install an opening in the side of your tent to accommodate the air conditioning unit. This takes some planning, and you’ll want to reinforce the area you plan to cut through with some Ripstop Nylon. You’ll find full instructions for cutting a window in your tent for an air conditioner on Instructables.com. (http://www.instructables.com/id/Air-Conditoned-Tent-for-those-hot-months)

Power Supply for Air Conditioning a Tent

Of course, the idea of a tent with air conditioning goes nowhere without a proper power supply. Fortunately, many campgrounds provide electric outlets to campsites, so it’s easy enough to connect your tent air conditioner. Here are some important recommendations from one regular user of tent air conditioning:

• Choose an air conditioner that pulls a max of 6 or 7 amps
• Use an extension cord rated for 15 amps or more
• Make sure your extension cord is rated for outdoor use

This difference in amps will ensure your extension cord plug-in doesn’t get overheated, leading to a risk of fire in a very flammable tent. (http://www.deltablues.net/camping2.html)

If your campsite doesn’t have power outlets, or you are planning on a true wilderness experience, you can still enjoy air conditioning if you want tote along a portable generator as well.

Additional Considerations for Camping with AC

• Tents are poorly insulated, so they won’t retain heat long after the unit is turned off. To increase the air conditioner’s efficiency, try to put your tent in a shady area or erect a tarp over the tent to divert the sun’s rays. Reflective blankets are especially useful in keeping off the heat.
• Air conditioners are tempting targets for thieves. If you plan on leaving your campsite for any length of time, you might want to protect your tent air conditioner by stowing in the car while you are gone. Alternatively, you could secure the unit with a heavy chain to a stake hammered into the ground, to prevent anyone from easily carrying it off.
• If you are camping in the desert or other dry climate, a swamp cooler is a less-expensive alternative to an air conditioner for a tent. They don’t require venting, so set up is as simple as plugging it in. Swamp coolers do require water to function, however – as much as 15 gallons a day – so be sure there is a ready water supply before choosing this tent cooling option.
• Extend your camping season by choosing a portable air conditioner with a heat pump. A simple reversal of the air conditioning cycle lets it function as a safe and efficient space heater, so you can keep comfortable while you camp even in the spring and fall.

Ready to enjoy the great outdoors without having to give up the comforts of your air conditioned home? Check out our selection of window air conditioners and portable air conditioners today!