TheSamba.com :: View topic - How to keep cool on long hot drives in a split bus?

Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:37 pm

So, any tips for when you are on long hot drives in an older aircooled VW bus without air conditioning, for keeping cooler and more comfy. Most specifically, for split buses. I have seen those evaporative coolers for bugs but I don't think that design will fit a split bus window.

I wonder if they ever made a bus versions of those coolers?

Anyway, I found a $10 bandana at REI that you soak in water and some crystals inside the bandana help detain the moisture for hours or days per the packaging. So, if you keep your head cool, you feel cooler. Have the wing windows pointed at you and let any breeze, even if hot, hit you.

Any other ideas folks have come up with?

tj

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:05 pm

Safari windows. 'Nuff said...

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:06 pm

Wind wing = bee stings = swelling = fun lost. I fill a large Windex bottle and spray myself all the time. A wet shirt helps too. A cooler of ice cold soda. Jump in every clean stream. Head to high country.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:24 pm

BarryL wrote: Wind wing = bee stings = swelling = fun lost.

truer words have never been written. For me it's side windows open. Overhead vents as well. I have safaris as well so I will just barely crack them and it makes a world of difference. Beyond that everything else Barry said works quite well. Really though it's no different than when the buses were new.... ask your parents what they did before the age of A/C. We dealt with it the best we could

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:31 pm

One thing I like about my bus is that with wing slightly open, my window slide back and the vent turned on and blowing sideways the air circulates without having to blow directly on me-so much that I can light a cigar on the freeway (sometimes with adjusting...look, my interior is already crappy, I can smoke in my bus...)

It's been pleasant enough even in Sacramento where it's like the surface of the sun...As long as I'm moving that is. As soon as I drop below 35 miles an hour, I can bake bread...

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:42 pm

BarryL wrote: Wind wing = bee stings = swelling = fun lost.

soooo true. never fails. always getting bees in the bus. luckily im wearing my sunglasses when it happens. one alomst hit me in the eye one time. :shock:

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:54 pm

I recently went to a car show....and like a giant baby I left my bus home and took the wifes jetta (180 mile trip one way) I really felt bad leaving the bus home while I cheated on it with a jetta.

But the temp outside was 102 and the a/c sure felt nice 8)

Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:16 pm

purplepeopleeater wrote: But the temp outside was 102 and the a/c sure felt nice 8)

It'll be 112deg on my way home in stop an go traffic. I freeze a bottle of water to take with me.

Just sweat an smile as everyone checks you out driving a cool bus.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:17 pm

Mowser wrote: BarryL wrote: Wind wing = bee stings = swelling = fun lost.

truer words have never been written. For me it's side windows open. Overhead vents as well. I have safaris as well so I will just barely crack them and it makes a world of difference. Beyond that everything else Barry said works quite well. Really though it's no different than when the buses were new.... ask your parents what they did before the age of A/C. We dealt with it the best we could

I have had many mobiles without AC but must admit, I have had AC for a long time too and normally, if it will be 100 outside, we are in a AC ride. This time that is not an option. I will try all these ideas.

Thanks

tj

Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:47 pm

no one has mentioned this yet so I will. It helps to open the rear most pop outs if your bus has them. I find that if I open all of my popouts ( I have six) it negates itself somewhat but just the two in back create enough vacuum to keep the air flowing through.

It does help to live/drive in high country.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:53 pm

I threw out an idea a while ago and this might help:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=294774&highlight=ghetto

Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:28 pm

Driving back from OCTO this year we went through Yuma when it was 115 outside. I stopped at a grocery store and bought a 6lb block of dry ice. I unscrewed my fresh air vent cover and stuck it inside there... it was an instant swamp cooler! We closed all the windows and ran with the swamp cooler going full blast. It cooled the inside air down considerably.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:42 pm

big bus mike wrote: Driving back from OCTO this year we went through Yuma when it was 115 outside. I stopped at a grocery store and bought a 6lb block of dry ice. I unscrewed my fresh air vent cover and stuck it inside there... it was an instant swamp cooler! We closed all the windows and ran with the swamp cooler going full blast. It cooled the inside air down considerably.

How the heck big is the fresh air vent space? I have never purchased dry ice before so how big are they and is it a tight fit for your fresh air vent area?

What will dry ice do to the sheet metal?

tj

Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:50 pm

Dry ice won't do anything to the sheet metal and as long as the windows are open to keep the air circulating there won't be a problem with CO2 build up. Unique solution Mike.... I like it.....

Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:11 pm

i drive my bus if it is 15 or 105 outside. if you drive a vw it's something you get used to; not having much heat in winter and being hot in the summer; if you're hard core that is 8) drink ice-water and sing cristmas carrels maybee?
the dry ice solution is an interesting idea

Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:20 pm

I moved to Erie, PA. It was only 76 degrees today.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:24 pm

big bus mike wrote: Driving back from OCTO this year we went through Yuma when it was 115 outside. I stopped at a grocery store and bought a 6lb block of dry ice. I unscrewed my fresh air vent cover and stuck it inside there... it was an instant swamp cooler! We closed all the windows and ran with the swamp cooler going full blast. It cooled the inside air down considerably.

Very creative. I must say I'm impressed.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:18 pm

How long did the dry ice last you, Mike?

What area of New Mexico are you in? My fiance is in Carlsbad, so I will be driving my bus out there every once in a while when I finally get it back on the road. I will have to keep a cooler with me full of dry ice if it works well 8)

Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:27 pm

The.Walrus wrote: One thing I like about my bus is that with wing slightly open, my window slide back and the vent turned on and blowing sideways the air circulates without having to blow directly on me-so much that I can light a cigar on the freeway (sometimes with adjusting...look, my interior is already crappy, I can smoke in my bus...)

It's been pleasant enough even in Sacramento where it's like the surface of the sun...As long as I'm moving that is. As soon as I drop below 35 miles an hour, I can bake bread...

i like to smoke stogies too in the bus(at least i did in my old bus-if i can only get the new old one to run right!) you have to think that you are cool when you are actually sweating your arse off. it is a psychological thing for me when i am driving w/o A/C

Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:32 pm

I hit Pep Boys and got this little fan that plugs into your cig lighter adapter. It may only circulate hot air on hot days, but circulating air is better than still air in stop and go traffic. I've also been known to just remove the fresh air vent panel and let all the air just flow straight in.