Tent Camping w/AC

[bigmike585]

Three or four times a year I'll take the family camping to the beach state park or other state park during summer months. We have a huge cabin tent that we attach a window unit air conditioner to cool it down and dry it out at night. Works great and makes camping very doable during these hot months (as long as you've got power). The tent we've been using is getting some age on it and leaking in a spot. I've re-water proofed multiple times but I'm ready to get something new.

Anyone ever use an ac unit on their tent when camping? Got any recs on a decent setup with ac?

Long shot probably bc a rarely see anyone else using a setup like this. We've thought about an rv but it's just not worth it at this point in our lives. Lemme know your thoughts thanks!

[Briar Friar]

Can you post pics of your setup MrMike?

Ive only seen people use the interior upright units with the exhaust vent hose run out the tent door flap. Ive never seen an actual window unit in a tent.

[jdg13]

My fiancée's family does a lot of summer camping. Her parents use one of those portable AC units you just run the hose out the side. Much more flexible with regards to what tents you can use. If you get a cabin tent with 2 doors you can run an regular window unit out of one. Just go all out though. We stayed in a "glamping" tent last summer. Big ol canvas tent with a window unit and a real queen bed. That was deluxe

[bigmike585]

So the cabin tent we have has multiple doors so we just designate one door for the window unit. I usually flip the hitch haul basket over and set the unit on it angling it with the rear lower so condensation from the unit drains. I can't find any pics of it tho, sorry. I really ought to take one next time bc people are always asking me about how well it works when we're out camping in the heat.

[salth2o]

I've seen people just use a regular tent with a window unit ac sitting on a milk crate. They used one of the tent windows for the ac portal.

[flywise]

I believe thats called glamping

[BlessedVeteran0305]

I believe thats called glamping

To anyone without a family member that has an autoimmune disease that can't get to hot yes it would be glamping. If you have a family with an autoimmune disease it would be doing what you can to have the camping experience 👍🏼

[BrianL]

https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Shield-Person-Instant-Cabin/dp/B07WJV2534/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Tent%2Bwith%2BAir%2BConditioner%2BPort&qid=1683036856&sr=8-3&th=1

[S-3 Ranch]

I just use a small window unit and cut & sew on a grommet to put it in and put it on 4x4’s @ ground level

[justletmein]

I have a buddy that brings out a big Cabela's 12x12 Alaknak tent with his family when we do the big crab boil down at fish camp in July. He brings a portable a/c and generator and runs it, keeps it pretty nice in there. That tent is pretty great with the mini vertical walls and it's darn comfortable in there with a table and such setup with the cots. He just sticks the vent hose for the portable a/c out the front door and zips it closed on it. They look comfy and that tent is oddly really easy to setup the way it's designed. He sets it up by himself when we camp down at Amistad for hunting trips.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-ultimate-alaknak-12x12-outfitter-tent

[bigmike585]

Lol to me any camping in a 'state park' esp with water or power aint real camping BUT it's how we're 'lodging' on a few trips a year. I certainly don't mind 'glamping' with the family if it gets the wife and kids on board, it's fun.

justletmein i've checked into those alaknak tents and am considering it. I'm torn between price, ease/speed of setup & function with the ac unit. I need to look into the whole set up process on those in more detail.

The canvas wall tents would be pretty good because there are no open mesh air vents on top to let the cool air out. I typically cover the top with a small tarp then put the rain fly on, but that setup is time consuming. My concern is how long one of the canvas wall tents to set up.

I've looked at some new 'air tents' by Kampa? but they're only marketed over seas and the cost stateside is ridiculous. But, they're sealed up and would work well with the ac unit plus set up looks easy and quick (but i just cant justify ~1500 - 2000 for a freakin tent.

I've also checked into bushnell instant cabin tents similar to what brianL posted. For the ease of set up and price, with a few mods to cover the roof mesh vents i'm thinkin this could work.

[Vargas 1695]

I would look at the springbar’s for easy setup. I think the family camper model would work for what you need. You could use one of the three full length windows for your ac I would think.

[justletmein]

justletmein i've checked into those alaknak tents and am considering it. I'm torn between price, ease/speed of setup & function with the ac unit. I need to look into the whole set up process on those in more detail.

The canvas wall tents would be pretty good because there are no open mesh air vents on top to let the cool air out. I typically cover the top with a small tarp then put the rain fly on, but that setup is time consuming. My concern is how long one of the canvas wall tents to set up.

I can say for sure it's really easy to setup, design is super simple just stake out the footprint and then slap the middle pole in and stake out the upper portion of the vertical walls. I thought for sure all his mesh had closable flaps, but that sure looks like a vent up at the tip point. I can ask him if you're strongly considering this one.

I think the canvas would be far superior in general and it'll breathe also. I think it'll be a lot heavier though, and for us Texas folk what's always kept me away from them was not having a real floor in there to keep scorpions and such out. There was a really nice quick-setup Davis tent somebody posted links for in a thread a couple months ago, it was sort of a rapid setup type canvas tent and looked darn nice. You may try to google that one up or search for the thread here on TBH.

I think no matter what tent you have you'll only be cool while the a/c is running, probably not going to be much cycling off and holding the cool in.

[Sasqy]

We bought the girls a big tent, big portable AC, and kicked them out of our camper !
Some people gotta sleep. We had a big portable one with exhaust hose and drain line.
Could really freeze out at night and comfortable during the day.

[Southbound 85]

I have an IcyBreeze that I use in a tent for my kids during swim meets. It’s the bees knees.