Fuel for Thought
Keeping cool
I don't like the heat, then again, I don't know too many other people who really do. Currently, down here in Laredo, it is 107*, and a cool 73* in the sleeper of our van.
After spending hundreds of dollars on hotel rooms, for all of the times that we have come down here, we decided that it would be cheaper to buy a generator and roll around home air conditioner and put it in here. That way we can set it up and not worry about dispatch calling in the middle of the night and us wasting $80.00 on a room.
The generator is a 2000w, 17amp gas generator. We bought it at Camping World for around $550.00. The tank on it is 1.8 gallons. When running it in eco mode we can go about 6 hours before fueling it, so it costs us $27.00 for a full 24 hours of running it, which we RARELY ever have to do. We also find cheap campgrounds to stay in that have electricity so it cuts the cost also.
The air conditioner we bought at Home Depot for $299.00. It is and LG 9000 BTU roll around home unit. It is 9.2 amps. so there is plenty of power after the initial "power on surge" to plug our tv, laptop, and cell phones into the power strip. For the hot air vent out of the back we cut a hole in our curtain, modified a breezeway #3, which we bought at a truck stop for $30.00, and it vents out the drivers side window. We just take the headrest off from the seat, and slide it all of the way forward.
The bracket that the air conditioner sits on was made from supplies from Home Depot as well that we screwed into the top piece of the bulk head that we left in. The drain of the unit is at the back bottom. When the internal tank is full, we drain it by just removing the cap and drain plug, allowing the water to drain into a large plastic cup.
The air conditoner still leaves us enough space to fold our bed against the wall when we have three skids to carry.
So for the investment of about $900.00 we have a cool van everywhere we go. I know that sounds like a lot, but you also have to take in the cost of idling. Idling wears on the engine, and cooling system. An EGR valve on a Sprinter costs about $500.00 from a dealership BEFORE installation. (a part that is notoriusly known for being damaged by idling). We have also been down to Laredo 8 times since March. 8 hotel rooms at $80.00 each is $640.00. To us it is worth it to be comfortable.
Jenny Marcu
Leased to: Load1