racing75
Mt. Pleasant, Texas
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Joined: 05/20/2007
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Sorry TraciK....I asked kinda the same question you did...LOL. Thats what happens when you get on here without having your first cup of coffee.....Maybe the good folks on this forum will give us some pointers.
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Ozimo
NU/RSA
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Joined: 02/04/2006
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A/C? That sorta flies in the face of idea of camping out. I guess if you're dependent on that sort of thing, you should really evaluate what tent camping is all about - communing with nature - no generators - just solitude. You need to come up here in Summer. For that one or two weeks of the year when it gets to a 38C or so - a fan is sufficient, but then every night it dips to 4C. We have six tent camps set up between 1980-2850m and it's never been asked of us.
Capt. Abraham Quasuittuq
F/V Ozimo II
Cape Town, RSA
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turninghawk
Gatlinburg, TN
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Joined: 09/11/2003
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Tent camping in 100-degree weather is just plain nuts. Don't put your family through that.
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Kamper_Kelly
Texas
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Joined: 04/18/2005
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I also don't see the point of camping out if you have to take an A/C. We live south of Houston and it's hot and humid here too. We take a battery operated fan but, this doesn't do anything about the humidity. If we camp June to September we go someplace cooler and with less humidty (i.e. Colorado, Arkansas, even the mountains in New Mexico). Why not try driving a little further?
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jtbeck
Kentucky
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Joined: 04/23/2008
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What's with the rude replies? racing75 wants advice not a sermon.
It wouldn't be my personal preference to camp in 100 degree weather, but give the OP a break. Maybe he can't get enough time off work to drive several states away to enjoy cooler temps, maybe this, maybe that. He didn't post asking where he could go to be cooler, he wanted to know how to keep his tent cooler in Texas.
And as for telling him he's camping wrong. Lighten up. Just because you choose to camp differently doesn't mean that the OP needs to "evaluate" anything.
Camping is what you make it, with what you've got in the time you have. The OP wants to spend time with his family doing something they all enjoy. He simply wants to know how to be a bit more comfortable while he's doing it.
Me (69), DW (69), DD (95), DS (00), DS (01) and 1 camping toy fox terrier (08)
06 Aerolite Cub 23BH, '00 Chevy Suburban LT 1500
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pudellvr
NE, South Carolina
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Joined: 09/06/2008
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We live near Myrtle Beach. IT IS HOT AND HUMID!!! I do not choose to camp during the summer unless I can make it to the deep Blue Ridge Mts. Even then it can be a scorcher. I have thought about ac as well; but I don't need it at night in the mtns as much as in the day. Who wants to stay in the tent during the day?
I empathize with you. I love my big tent. I would also like to have one bigger! I really like the idea of the multi-room tent posted above. We tent camp cause we pay cash for toys.
We are actually going to start school back this week so we can plan some cooler weather activities in the fall. The kids don't want to be out in the heat even to play.
Find a cooler place to camp or wait is my answer.
Good Luck!
Swiss Gear 12x17
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Gunship Guy
Florida
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Joined: 08/09/2003
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jtbeck wrote:What's with the rude replies? racing75 wants advice not a sermon.
It wouldn't be my personal preference to camp in 100 degree weather, but give the OP a break. Maybe he can't get enough time off work to drive several states away to enjoy cooler temps, maybe this, maybe that. He didn't post asking where he could go to be cooler, he wanted to know how to keep his tent cooler in Texas.
And as for telling him he's camping wrong. Lighten up. Just because you choose to camp differently doesn't mean that the OP needs to "evaluate" anything.
Camping is what you make it, with what you've got in the time you have. The OP wants to spend time with his family doing something they all enjoy. He simply wants to know how to be a bit more comfortable while he's doing it.
Amen, jtbeck. Amen.
To the OP, if your family wants to enjoy summer camping with some degree of comfort you might want to check out the A/C Boot.
I have seen many tent campers with an a/c rigged up some way. Mostly just shoved in one of the doorways and sealed with duct tape. The A/C Boot is a much cleaner, out-of-the way solution.
PICS OF STUFF
I like chicks with nice tents.
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graybeard
Elizabeth, CO USA
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Joined: 01/20/2004
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In the past, DW and I have tent camped, with 2 kids, and usually traveled to a National Park, or State Park in the mountains. Living in Colorado (then) and camping in northern or mountain campgrounds, we used to giggle when we saw a pop-top camper with an A/C in the middle. Nights were 35 to 60 degrees, and A/C was the farthest thing from our minds. We now live near Dallas, and a 'cool' night this week is 80 degrees.
If you camp "in place" for several days, and if you have a campsite with 20 or 30 amp electric service, you should be able to equip your tent with A/C. Traveling with a full load of kids and a full load of camping stuff, I envision a trailer of some description (open-box with a tarp cover??) or careful packing of a van or a big body SUV. Maybe a rack on top.
You have a chance to plan several aspects of this kind of camping experience... and the comments here are a good start for you. The "A/C Boot" looks like a really neat, expensive, easy substitute for a cheap fabric/plastic coated tarp, a spool of Duct Tape, and $2 worth of cheap lumber for an off-the ground support. Of course a 120 VAC air conditioner, and a good (heavy) extension cord. How long, how heavy?? part of the planning. My guess, 50 foot, 12GA minimum.
The tent, of course, should have an extra doorway or two which could be used to allow the 'tarp window' (or your A/C Boot) to be sealed somehow (more plan time).
If your tent has inside walls separating 'rooms', you might want to plan for just A/C in one room - buy a smaller A/C unit, quieter and more 'campground friendly'. (less poundage to pack and carry, also). I have been AMAZED at the Really Large Tents on the market, and many seem to have room dividers.
The idea of a 'Sun Shade' cover is a good one, and the family togetherness that comes from chasing it down and putting it back up when the wind blows will be memorable. All of the experiences you will have (seriously, now) should be much more personal and much more memorable when you get the family involved in the (setup, teardown, packing, unpacking).
And you are right, cooler is better. My forecast for next week is 99, 99, 100, 101, 101, 100, 99, and maybe 98 after that...... Or you could camp all summer in Montana.
It does sound like a fun project. Get the kids involved in the plan, and they will learn and grow, too.
Empty Nesters
2001 R-Vision 7250
2007 Nissan Titan CrewCab
3.33 gears, 4x4, Ham Radio Aboard
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racing75
Mt. Pleasant, Texas
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Your exactly right jtbeck. It would be hard to drive from here to Colorado or Wyoming for a weekend. I'm off work from 3;30 pm Friday till Monday. That plus the money. Driving there, feeding 7 of us, just don't have the finances to do that. We'll probably get us a small AC unit and some fans and stay here in Texas and Arkansas for now. Really nice campgrounds around here too. Thanks for the advice.
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racing75
Mt. Pleasant, Texas
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Graybeard, my forecast is the same as yours.....I'm about a hour east of you.
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