window AC in a Eurovan

[MrPulldown]

Going camping in the desert to a campsite that has AC power. I had this idea and and now have this coming in the mail:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N6ZKDCY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Am I brilliant or what. Turns out more of a what as there seems to be plenty of folks that have done this already (but not in an eurovan). Tell me about the pit falls I might encounter.

http://vanagonwestfaliaaccessories.com/

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

https://www.vanagonhacks.com/2014/05/window-unit-air-conditioner-in-a-vanagon/
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2002 EVC

[Abscate]

Slight tip outwards to keep the condensate draining outside.
You will be a cool cat with a small 5000 BTU/ hr unit
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.ssS!

[volkybus]

This is very common in Puerto Rico in most vans on campouts . On my Eurovan I make do w fans but I only camp out in winter months when there. But also , I put mine(AC) on the roof over the cab in my Westy. I open the screen and then wrape the canvas around it.I say go for it and u can use a gen w inverter when u have no shore power.. those gens are very quiet compared to the other gens which are too nosy to use overnight in most areas . also most people have only a tempory mount in the door but I've seen some perm. mts.. Good luck. Bill Vt & PR

[MrPulldown]

I thought about mounting/placing it on the luggage rack and blowing into the front window of the pop top. But was trying to figure out how to seal it up. After seeing a bunch of these window mounts, I figure I would try it first.

I do have a inverter generator.
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2002 EVC

[MrPulldown]

First cut

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2002 EVC

[MrPulldown]

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2002 EVC

[MrPulldown]

Coming back to close out this thread with some more detail on performance and installation.

The thermometer pictured was under ideal conditions; van still cool, mid morning sun hitting the east side of the van where the thermometer was (block from direct sun expose). When it was about 110 outside (in the sun), the inside could only maintain 85. When we returned from a day hike with the AC off all day, the inside was 125 and outside was 110, it took many hours to cool down the van. The AC had to not only cool down the air, but everything inside from 125. If I was to do it again, I would buy the next larger size unit. 6K BTU. The outside dimension is the same, weighs only an additional 5 lbs, 70 more dollar at $230, and has a better thermostat controls. With a larger unit I believe that I could cool down the van faster and leave the unit off more when not inside the van. We ran the AC 24 hours for 3 days after our first 125 experiment day.

To mount the AC I used a section of ~1/2" plywood, cut slightly larger than the size of the base. Next I cut 2 squares to locate the "feet" of the AC unit. I did not secure the AC to the board. NExt I screwed in 2 long blocks of wood to locate the mounting board to the inside of the door. Since the board was to be slopped to the outside, I only put locating tabs on the inside. Installed an eye bolt with big washers. Finally, fully rolled down, the window glass would protrude above the mounting surface of the door. I did not want the glass to take any of the AC's load. Thus I nailed 2 wooden trim pieces so that the AC mounting board would rest on the 2 surfaces to the side of the glass. Put the AC on the board, put a towel over the door, rest the AC and board on the door, attached a cam lock strap to the luggage and the eye bolt, adjust the strap till the back of the board was supported at a slight angle. Sealed up the rest of the window with Reflectix insulation. Used masking tape to secure and seal gaps.

A key to this operation is to have a fan inside to circulate the air from the front to back. Most of the time I had the fan sitting on the 2 arm rest. This will allow not only the fore to aft air flow, but flow to the upper tent area. The AC is not powerful enough to cool with the uninsulated pop top up during the day. But at night when it is 85 degrees out, the AC can keep it a cool 75 inside (on low) . A sun shade helps reduce exposure during the day.

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2002 EVC