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Regular
Posts: 99
Location: Phoenix AZ | We are planning a trip this summer that will take us across the scorching AZ desert in June. Our extended cab in the truck is not large enough to accommodate our dogs so our thoughts were to transport them in the living quarters part of the horse trailer. In order to do this we would install an air conditioner. My question is: Is it possible to run an air conditioner off of a generator while the trailer is being towed? We were thinking about some how putting the generator in the stalls since we won't be transporting the horses on this trip. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks! |
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Veteran
Posts: 109
Location: Florida | Yes, but put the gen in the back of the pickup, no matter how sealed you think the living quarters is, I would hate for you to open the door to sleeping dogs, if you know what I mean... And the gen would stay cooler with fresh air on the outside then in the inside of a 120* stall with minimal air flow. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: high desert, CA. | Seems too bad there is not a "swamp cooler" type setup that could run off of the air flowing over the trailer as it goes along the road. I remember my Dad had one on our old Hudson twin H Hornet when we lived at China Lake in the 50's. ( Oops showing my age!) The cooler did not need any power, just the water replaced from time to time. It went in the window, and was quite nice. |
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Regular
Posts: 99
Location: Phoenix AZ | Thanks, all good points. There is a portable swamp cooler out there but doesn't work very well in the humidity, which may or may not be present in AZ in June. I'm thinking about going with a portable ac unit though, venting it through the floor in dressing room as opposed to cutting a hole in the walls or trying to use the flimsy windows. But then there's that exhaust thing from the truck and generator to worry about. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: high desert, CA. | Daafy;NO problem with humidity in Arizona in summer, except during the monsoons. I too live in the high desert, and the only cooling we have in summer is by swamp cooler. I did not know they still made swamp coolers for cars and trailers. I would be interested to know more. |
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Regular
Posts: 99
Location: Phoenix AZ | siseley, I'm not aware of a cooler that is made specifically for cars or trailers. I am looking at the portable ones sold at Home Depot with the idea of retro fitting it for my dressing room. The portable ac or swamp units are appealing due to no real installation required. As far as I can tell all that would be needed is a way to secure and vent them. A generator would be needed and the specs all say not to use an extension cord so that's an issue as well.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 736
Location: Western WA | Is it legal to run a generator while going down the road? |
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Regular
Posts: 70
| I'm not really too sure I'd want to run a generator on a road trip like that.
This is what I'd get:
http://www.turbokool.com/
Edited by Fancy That 2013-04-25 7:50 PM
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 Veteran
Posts: 218
Location: Ohio | "Fancy That", I have never seen one of these. Have you used one before? That looks intriguing for when we move back to Texas. We bought a white trailer instead of the black for that reason. I would be curious if anyone has experience with these. |
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Regular
Posts: 70
| Hi Goz - Nope, I haven't used one "yet" :) But plan to install in next trailer :) |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
 
Location: Vermont | The downside of energizing your trailer while on the road is the possibility of an electrical fire...and your first indication of a problem will be when the smoke from the fire rolls out of the trailer, by then you'll be lucky to get stopped and get your horses out before your trailer will be a complete loss along with the possibility of your tow vehicle being consumed as well...:(
Edited by PaulChristenson 2013-04-28 1:48 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: high desert, CA. | This "TURBO COOL" thingy looks like a great idea. It seems to work the same way our old Hudson Hornets's cooler worked. air pulled in by movement, or by a 12V fan,running over a wet pad, and into the compartment. I would think running on only 12V, and only about 4.5 amps on high, it should be fine. Although you might not want to leave it on while stopped, and no engine charging going on. I see it has a solar, but that would probably not be enough to power the unit at 4.5 amps. Only to recharge an online battery. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | How do semis that pull large load of refrigerated goods do it? Just thinking they have to have a pretty heavy duty frig unit keeping all that stuff frozen.. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by flyinghfarm on 2013-04-28 9:38 PM
How do semis that pull large load of refrigerated goods do it? Just thinking they have to have a pretty heavy duty frig unit keeping all that stuff frozen..
You'll notice the engine and fuel supply are OUTSIDE the trailer...but they can burn up as well...I'll stop the station and see if we have a trailer fire pic that involves just the cooling unit...
[/IMG]http://www.matrco.com/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Pup-Trailers-FoodSvc-2-e1289767868238.jpg[IMG] |
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Possible to run AC in trailer while traveling?
