How to keep a tent cool in the summer? No electric outlet
March 4, 2024 10:58 AM Subscribe
I'm going to be living in my car/a tent during the summer. I would like to keep it as cool as possible. Only difficulty: Texas, couple of hundred dollars budget, and it's a Chevy Spark. Help please.
I have an air mattress. I can probably fit a tiny generator in somewhere. Solar power? I don't know. Please give me lots of great options.... And yes, I'm moving out of this bigot run hole soon. But not before a last summer of pain 🙃
I have an air mattress. I can probably fit a tiny generator in somewhere. Solar power? I don't know. Please give me lots of great options.... And yes, I'm moving out of this bigot run hole soon. But not before a last summer of pain 🙃
So I'm a comfort glamper and do a lot of browsing in vanlife and RV communities, and mostly the answer here is nope. It takes a LOT of wattage to actually cool and dehumidify. Your generator is going to need to have a peak output around 2200w to run real air conditioning; you'd need an array of batteries and panels plus a battery controller and inverter to run A/C on solar (as a comparison, only in the past 5ish years has this been both feasible and functional...if you have a large motorhome blanketed in solar panels, and even then you have to pick which 6 hours a day you really want A/C unless you want to run the engine part of the day as a generator).
Would you be making any income over the summer? I see state park campsites with electric hookup for $18/night, and you will get the most bang for buck just plugging in a freaking air conditioner instead of spending a shitton of money on multiple crap half-solutions. You'll have to move every 14 days (unless they've shortened it); you might be able to find a deal with power, water, and toilets on Hipcamp on a monthly basis.
There are rechargeable fans that are surprisingly good for what they are, but all they can do is blow air on you.
If you can get your hands on a shade/shelter to go over your car, or rig a white or silver-side tarp over it to shade/reflect sunlight off, you can probably keep your car (with the windows down) maybe only 15 degrees hotter than ambient temperature.
You can also use cold packs or ice packs (carefully) to cool your core. Don't waste money on DIY cooler-blowers, cooling the air is simply not within reach. But cool packs on your back and torso, top of head, around the neck and wrists, and/or on your thighs will cool your core temp.
If you can get to the driest parts of the state, do that. Like, I grew up camping in ETX and I'm visiting family here now and stuff like evaporative cooling isn't feasible because there's no goddamn evaporation, only swamp-ass air all day every day. (If you are in the vicinity, maybe memail me and let's put our heads together to see if we can find SOMETHING that's a better solution than living in your car?)
While I understand this IS reality for a lot of Texans, it's damn dangerous. It's just too hot. You'll want to stay researched on every single possible indoor way to spend time while the sun is out, at the very least.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:07 PM on March 4 [13 favorites]
Would you be making any income over the summer? I see state park campsites with electric hookup for $18/night, and you will get the most bang for buck just plugging in a freaking air conditioner instead of spending a shitton of money on multiple crap half-solutions. You'll have to move every 14 days (unless they've shortened it); you might be able to find a deal with power, water, and toilets on Hipcamp on a monthly basis.
There are rechargeable fans that are surprisingly good for what they are, but all they can do is blow air on you.
If you can get your hands on a shade/shelter to go over your car, or rig a white or silver-side tarp over it to shade/reflect sunlight off, you can probably keep your car (with the windows down) maybe only 15 degrees hotter than ambient temperature.
You can also use cold packs or ice packs (carefully) to cool your core. Don't waste money on DIY cooler-blowers, cooling the air is simply not within reach. But cool packs on your back and torso, top of head, around the neck and wrists, and/or on your thighs will cool your core temp.
If you can get to the driest parts of the state, do that. Like, I grew up camping in ETX and I'm visiting family here now and stuff like evaporative cooling isn't feasible because there's no goddamn evaporation, only swamp-ass air all day every day. (If you are in the vicinity, maybe memail me and let's put our heads together to see if we can find SOMETHING that's a better solution than living in your car?)
While I understand this IS reality for a lot of Texans, it's damn dangerous. It's just too hot. You'll want to stay researched on every single possible indoor way to spend time while the sun is out, at the very least.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:07 PM on March 4 [13 favorites]
Shade is the key. If you can get some shade cloth to cover the car and tent, great; if not just cover your tent- it needs to not rest on it though, but be raised above. We once made an arched shade cover for a car with twine, shade cloth, two long pvc poles and stakes.
Pitch your tent on the north side of your car/other shade. Barring that, try to have shade for whatever time of day you prefer to sleep. Usually for me that means shade when the sun is coming up.
That foil covered bubble wrap works really well for insulating car windows from heat if you have double sided tape. We also wrapped our coolers in it when desert camping.
Put something absorbent between you and the air mattress so that you're not sleeping right on plastic. A wool or cotton blanket works best.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:08 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Pitch your tent on the north side of your car/other shade. Barring that, try to have shade for whatever time of day you prefer to sleep. Usually for me that means shade when the sun is coming up.
That foil covered bubble wrap works really well for insulating car windows from heat if you have double sided tape. We also wrapped our coolers in it when desert camping.
Put something absorbent between you and the air mattress so that you're not sleeping right on plastic. A wool or cotton blanket works best.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:08 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
Big light silver tarp over the tent. Shade, if possible. I'd put solar panels on the top of the car; they'll make power as well as keep the car cooler. Solar and a battery is a great setup for Texas; secure the panels well, keep the battery in the vehicle, because, theft. Solar is silent and doesn't smell; with the cost of generator fuel, it's probably less than a generator. Then you can run a fan. Once the sun is down, remove the tarp. Get a big mister and store a lot of water. Mist the tent top. Evaporating water takes heat with it; it's the principle of a swamp cooler.
Consider making a structure, put the silver tarp over it to shade the tent. One of those popups they use at outdoor exhibits. Use silver or white tarps facing the sun to reflect heat. Find a stealthy site if you can, vandalism is a thing. Pile up brush to insulate from the sun and be stealthy. Shade is the key to being less hot.
Will you have a job with a kitchen? Get 1 or 2 liter soda pop bottles, wash, fill not quite full, squeeze, put on the lid, freeze. Water expands, so squeezing makes room for that. Freeze them at work, take back to tent. Wrap in bubble wrap to slow how fast they warm up, but 4 of these would help cool it down. Definitely insulate between yourself and the hot ground. If you can shower at work, shower before you leave as well as in the morning.
Drink several liters of water a day. If your urine is any darker than apple juice, you're not hydrated enough. Learn to make Oral Rehydration Solution, there's a bunch of recipes on the web, basically glucose from white sugar, and and salt. Dehydration sneaks up so fast and can make you really ill. Even a really good cooler will struggle in the heat, but store water. Visit libraries, malls, maybe churches to hang out, read, use the web, during the hottest parts of the day. During the night, you can even go outside, and get your head and hair wet, to cool off. The forums at CheapRVLiving.com may be useful.
posted by theora55 at 12:14 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Consider making a structure, put the silver tarp over it to shade the tent. One of those popups they use at outdoor exhibits. Use silver or white tarps facing the sun to reflect heat. Find a stealthy site if you can, vandalism is a thing. Pile up brush to insulate from the sun and be stealthy. Shade is the key to being less hot.
Will you have a job with a kitchen? Get 1 or 2 liter soda pop bottles, wash, fill not quite full, squeeze, put on the lid, freeze. Water expands, so squeezing makes room for that. Freeze them at work, take back to tent. Wrap in bubble wrap to slow how fast they warm up, but 4 of these would help cool it down. Definitely insulate between yourself and the hot ground. If you can shower at work, shower before you leave as well as in the morning.
Drink several liters of water a day. If your urine is any darker than apple juice, you're not hydrated enough. Learn to make Oral Rehydration Solution, there's a bunch of recipes on the web, basically glucose from white sugar, and and salt. Dehydration sneaks up so fast and can make you really ill. Even a really good cooler will struggle in the heat, but store water. Visit libraries, malls, maybe churches to hang out, read, use the web, during the hottest parts of the day. During the night, you can even go outside, and get your head and hair wet, to cool off. The forums at CheapRVLiving.com may be useful.
posted by theora55 at 12:14 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Bob Wells (CheapRVLiving) has a bunch of videos on ways of keeping cool in a vehicle. He's mentioned pretty frequently in the RV/vanlife groups I browse, though I haven't put any of these specific recommendations in to action.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:20 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
posted by cocoagirl at 12:20 PM on March 4 [5 favorites]
If you can find a campground, ideally a state park, that will give you a place to camp in exchange for work, which will be cleaning toilets, it would be a smart move. You could have a good setup, access to water, showers, etc., maybe electricity. for some labor.
If you can get a big battery, jackery is popular, could you charge it at work? Get an inverter for the car, charge battery stuff as you drive.
posted by theora55 at 12:20 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
If you can get a big battery, jackery is popular, could you charge it at work? Get an inverter for the car, charge battery stuff as you drive.
posted by theora55 at 12:20 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
Can you move your tent into a river-bottom type area, perhaps with a big culvert, cave, or tunnel that funnels air towards it? Be as close as you can to water, as that provides natural cooling.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:52 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:52 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
For one, listen to Bob at CheapRVLiving.
For two, a rechargeable fan positioned over a cooler full of ice is a real treat.
posted by advicepig at 12:58 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
For two, a rechargeable fan positioned over a cooler full of ice is a real treat.
posted by advicepig at 12:58 PM on March 4 [2 favorites]
Planet Fitness is pretty cheap, and they have showers.
posted by H21 at 1:11 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
posted by H21 at 1:11 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure what your exact plan is, but, if you're unable to manage it so that conditions are tolerable, at least, in your vehicle/tent, you cannot stay out in the boonies. A little bit of bad luck, and the heatstroke will kill you. You need to be within reach of aid, and that means a population center. There, you'll have to be aggressive in your use of any public/semi-public resources for cooling yourself off (libraries, grocery and convenience stores, public pools...you can linger for a long time in a McD's on the strength of a $1.50 cone...if the local ER is busy or not well-run you can probably kill some time in the waiting room there, too). This is, of course, in tension with trying to keep under the radar, as would otherwise be wisest, but the worst outcomes are still more likely if you're frying alone in your tent on a plain than if you're getting moved along from the grocery store by shitty Texas cops.
Hydration is important but it's possible to overhydrate; you need to maintain electrolyte balance. Oral rehydration powder is very cheap and I'd stock up.
posted by praemunire at 1:25 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Hydration is important but it's possible to overhydrate; you need to maintain electrolyte balance. Oral rehydration powder is very cheap and I'd stock up.
posted by praemunire at 1:25 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Hang out indoors in a/c as late as you can; sleep in a screen house with a fan blowing on you the whole time after sundown.
posted by metasarah at 2:53 PM on March 4
posted by metasarah at 2:53 PM on March 4
When I was living in a very hot climate without reliable electricity, I found wetting your clothes really helps provide relief - more so if you're in the humid part of TX. I would sometimes even stand under the shower in my PJs right before bed - a little weird feeling at first, but one can adapt.
But yeah, my main plan would be to hang out in the public library during the day.
posted by coffeecat at 3:19 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
But yeah, my main plan would be to hang out in the public library during the day.
posted by coffeecat at 3:19 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
If possible, look into the bigger portable batteries with solar panels. I have a 1000 watt one I use when I go out to the desert. With the solar panels plugged in, I could run a swamp cooler. A smaller one could run a regular fan ok.
posted by luckynerd at 4:29 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
posted by luckynerd at 4:29 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
From a friend who has some awareness here: "If [you]'re going to be staying in one spot for any length of time, setting up a multi-layered shade area with great airflow. Zero, one, or two walls, no more. Hanging shade tarps on top of each other with a little air gap between helps with insulation. Speaking of: insulation - cheap foam is better than nothing, again on the hottest side. Keep an eye on the wet bulb temperature, once it's in the danger zone evaporative cooling doesn't work as well."
My own two cents: choice of campsite can go a long way. I know from experience that identical cabins a stone's throw apart can vary noticeably in summer livability if one's in a hill's shade and the other isn't, even for part of the day. The_Vegetables pointed out the utility of being near water, and everyone's pointing out shade in general, but don't miss the potential of hills or, even better, canyons/gulches/etc. My friend also pointed out that lower is better for cool air settling. Some of this will inhibit natural wind cooling, but I don't think there's a lot of that at midday in Texas anyway? As for terrain shade, morning shade is better because heat builds up through the day, but the efficacy of that is limited when you have such little insulation or thermal mass; it might be more useful if you're forced to stay on rock or something like that that retains heat. Not sure how much flexibility you'll have here but I hope keeping it in mind proves useful.
posted by dick dale the vampire at 5:49 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
My own two cents: choice of campsite can go a long way. I know from experience that identical cabins a stone's throw apart can vary noticeably in summer livability if one's in a hill's shade and the other isn't, even for part of the day. The_Vegetables pointed out the utility of being near water, and everyone's pointing out shade in general, but don't miss the potential of hills or, even better, canyons/gulches/etc. My friend also pointed out that lower is better for cool air settling. Some of this will inhibit natural wind cooling, but I don't think there's a lot of that at midday in Texas anyway? As for terrain shade, morning shade is better because heat builds up through the day, but the efficacy of that is limited when you have such little insulation or thermal mass; it might be more useful if you're forced to stay on rock or something like that that retains heat. Not sure how much flexibility you'll have here but I hope keeping it in mind proves useful.
posted by dick dale the vampire at 5:49 PM on March 4 [4 favorites]
Nthing the power station + solar panel rec. Consider checking used options on Facebook marketplace and ebay.
You might want to get window shades/ screens for your car since you might need to rely on your car's A/C at some points.
Consider a bug/mosquito net + hammock.
posted by oceano at 10:36 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
You might want to get window shades/ screens for your car since you might need to rely on your car's A/C at some points.
Consider a bug/mosquito net + hammock.
posted by oceano at 10:36 PM on March 4 [1 favorite]
Can you move your tent into a river-bottom type area, perhaps with a big culvert, cave, or tunnel that funnels air towards it? Be as close as you can to water, as that provides natural cooling.
If you do this, please be careful that you're not somewhere where a flash flood could kill you in your sleep.
Camping in flash-flood zones is BAD.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 5:15 AM on March 5 [6 favorites]
If you do this, please be careful that you're not somewhere where a flash flood could kill you in your sleep.
Camping in flash-flood zones is BAD.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 5:15 AM on March 5 [6 favorites]
Taking your tent down during the day will do a lot to prevent the heat getting trapped inside it. If you use it just for sleeping and it can be put up quickly that could help a lot. Even taking the tent down in the evening and flapping it in the air before erecting it again will help make sure you don't have the heat of the day trapped in it when it comes time to sleep.
The tent fly will trap more heat than if the tent is standing without it, so it should only be on the tent when it is going to rain. It is so close to the roof of the tent that it doubles the tent's capacity to retain heat. You will also want to take it off to help the tent dry off after the rain is over, as this will reduce the humidity in the tent, which is important to prevent mildew, and to ensure your bedding is bone dry. Moisture can get trapped in the tent once it gets in there, such as if you go inside it with damp clothes.
During the daytime you really will not want to spend any time in the tent. None. You'll be able to cook in it. Under a dining fly in the shade where there is a breeze maybe. Location is really important - if you can find a location where you get good air circulation it will potentially make the cooler days doable. Heat rises, but you still want to pick a spot that is higher than some of the surrounding ground, as that means there will hopefully be an updraft going on that sucks the hot air away and creates a bit of a breeze. Hilltops and slopes are good places to pitch.
If you haven't already got a tent, and you will need to keep it set up in order to hold your spot, consider getting a tipi with the opening in the centre of the roof. The flap gets folded over in the rain or when it is cold and left open to let the warm air out the rest of the time. The ones that people live in are huge, to allow room for a fire and the opening in the roof is the smoke hole, but I would NOT advise you to ever do this, as you have to know what you are doing and use fuel that produces a minimal amount of fumes and only light the fire when there are the conditions to draw the smoke straight up and out.
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:52 AM on March 5
The tent fly will trap more heat than if the tent is standing without it, so it should only be on the tent when it is going to rain. It is so close to the roof of the tent that it doubles the tent's capacity to retain heat. You will also want to take it off to help the tent dry off after the rain is over, as this will reduce the humidity in the tent, which is important to prevent mildew, and to ensure your bedding is bone dry. Moisture can get trapped in the tent once it gets in there, such as if you go inside it with damp clothes.
During the daytime you really will not want to spend any time in the tent. None. You'll be able to cook in it. Under a dining fly in the shade where there is a breeze maybe. Location is really important - if you can find a location where you get good air circulation it will potentially make the cooler days doable. Heat rises, but you still want to pick a spot that is higher than some of the surrounding ground, as that means there will hopefully be an updraft going on that sucks the hot air away and creates a bit of a breeze. Hilltops and slopes are good places to pitch.
If you haven't already got a tent, and you will need to keep it set up in order to hold your spot, consider getting a tipi with the opening in the centre of the roof. The flap gets folded over in the rain or when it is cold and left open to let the warm air out the rest of the time. The ones that people live in are huge, to allow room for a fire and the opening in the roof is the smoke hole, but I would NOT advise you to ever do this, as you have to know what you are doing and use fuel that produces a minimal amount of fumes and only light the fire when there are the conditions to draw the smoke straight up and out.
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:52 AM on March 5
Keep in mind that you can die doing this, and be prepared to bail before you become too fuddled by the heat to make good decisions. Don't try to tough it out - find a way to cool down that works before you go torpid or pass out.
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:54 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
posted by Jane the Brown at 8:54 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]
Don't bother with anything that needs a generator - it's going to be way outside your budget and too big for your car and too much cost to run. Anything that needs an inverter is also out of the question, as you'll never keep up with the power draw unless you have several batteries, great solar panels and lots of sun.
Shade for your tent will be the key - a large silver-coated tarp and a few poles and ropes will provide enough shade for the tent and some space outside for cooking. In very hot climates, you're never going to be able to be actually cool, but you can use 12v fans and shade to keep yourself below the danger zone and at least moderately comfortable. If you can find somewhere with natural shade, even better, but also use the tarp to make sure that shade lasts all day. The tarp will also keep your stuff dry if it rains, because modern tents are barely waterproof unless you spend a fortune. Definitely don't ever camp in dry river beds. A perfect place would be somewhere where a river or creek meets the ocean, but that's a tough call I guess. Being close to fresh water can be a great bonus for cleaning yourself and your clothes but also for cooling off during the day.
If you can find a battery and solar panel within your budget, you have the basis for a lot more comfort than otherwise. 12v LED lighting is cheap and efficient and there are plenty of 12v fans you can use when needed. I don't recommend using your car battery unless you absolutely have to, because you run the risk of disabling your only transport.
To the extent possible, make use of public spaces to keep yourself cool and out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. You can often find places where you can charge things like phones and laptops to save your battery power.
If possible, use this as a chance to experience the area rather than staying in one place the whole time. Staying in one place too long also increases the risk of interference from law enforcement.
posted by dg at 5:45 PM on March 5 [1 favorite]
Shade for your tent will be the key - a large silver-coated tarp and a few poles and ropes will provide enough shade for the tent and some space outside for cooking. In very hot climates, you're never going to be able to be actually cool, but you can use 12v fans and shade to keep yourself below the danger zone and at least moderately comfortable. If you can find somewhere with natural shade, even better, but also use the tarp to make sure that shade lasts all day. The tarp will also keep your stuff dry if it rains, because modern tents are barely waterproof unless you spend a fortune. Definitely don't ever camp in dry river beds. A perfect place would be somewhere where a river or creek meets the ocean, but that's a tough call I guess. Being close to fresh water can be a great bonus for cleaning yourself and your clothes but also for cooling off during the day.
If you can find a battery and solar panel within your budget, you have the basis for a lot more comfort than otherwise. 12v LED lighting is cheap and efficient and there are plenty of 12v fans you can use when needed. I don't recommend using your car battery unless you absolutely have to, because you run the risk of disabling your only transport.
To the extent possible, make use of public spaces to keep yourself cool and out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. You can often find places where you can charge things like phones and laptops to save your battery power.
If possible, use this as a chance to experience the area rather than staying in one place the whole time. Staying in one place too long also increases the risk of interference from law enforcement.
posted by dg at 5:45 PM on March 5 [1 favorite]
Jacen, please check your MeMail. Thanks.
posted by Bella Donna at 4:04 AM on March 6
posted by Bella Donna at 4:04 AM on March 6
Checking in; were you able to get most of this sorted out? Is there anything you still need?
posted by xedrik at 5:35 PM on May 2
posted by xedrik at 5:35 PM on May 2
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Will there be cooling centers (shelters, public libraries, senior centers, etc. that are air conditioned and freely open to the public) that you can use? That might help with the hotter parts of the day, and may influence where you decide to set up camp? Best of luck, and don't be afraid to set up a gofundme or Amazon wishlist or something if needed. I hope you can escape Texas soon.
posted by xedrik at 11:58 AM on March 4 [5 favorites]