Keeping Your Bus Interior Cool

[claydbal]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd make it longer and with more gradual a slope. Like sort of a mini upside down john boat.

that makes me think of those cargo haulers like you would put on top of a car. the top of one of those would look like the upside down john boat.

[Tyania]

Has anyone fashioned a mini split on their skoolie. They are the most energy efficient, especially the newer inverter technology ones. Would love to see an example if anyone has one.

[Ronnie]

I saw a real good post on mini splits, think it was on "Tin can tourist". I have an old silver streak that I am thinking of doing this. I use it as a home office, so it does not see road use, although it is road worthy. My concern is vibration, will these units hold up to road rash? My bus has two rv roof top units, ok boring but reliable.

[somewhereinusa]

It's been done a bit. See my build thread for mine.

[Maggie01]

I'd like to bump this thread up for more ideas and pictures of what people do to keep their skoolies cool.

We were thinking either two roof top RV air conditioners or a mini split. But could a mini split cool a 37' bus?

[Ronnie]

Our two roof tops are still working great. In reality we only use one because that is all we need. Arizona in the summer I expect we would need two running, but otherwise one does all we need.

Mini splits come in many sizes and would seem like a good way to heat and cool as long as you have shore power readily available. I do not know if anyone is useing a mini split while driving, the roof tops can be run while driving, we do it running off the generator. Most RV's are set up this way.

How do you plan to use your bus? On the road a lot, or moving from time to time, but mostly in place? will you have electric available most or all the time?

[Maggie01]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

How do you plan to use your bus? On the road a lot, or moving from time to time, but mostly in place? will you have electric available most or all the time?

My husband says he wants to move about every 5-6 days. We have never boondocked, but that's what we actually bought the bus for.

[Ronnie]

We do a lot of boondocking. Best to avoid really hot weather so a/c use is minimal. Otherwise you will find yourself running a generator a lot. There are some threads on running a/c from solar. For the most part it is not realistic, but it can be done at least a little. The mini splits are more efficient so they will have the advantage if trying to use solar as much as possible

[sojourner]

Check beginning post #404 on my build to see how I built a plenum on the front of a window unit to make a basement AC. You could possibly box in something like this but your profile will be higher than a RV roof mount unit. I have not finished it and am seriously considering going with standard RV roof mount AC's. I need the space where the basement unit is to relocate my brake air dryer to clear room for an auxiliary transmission install.

[kazetsukai]

Originally Posted by Maggie01

We were thinking either two roof top RV air conditioners or a mini split. But could a mini split cool a 37' bus?

Parked: Keep cool? Idk. A single 9k BTU split kept our rig heated through the winter. At speed, not a chance. Only the bus heat/AC can keep up at speed.

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Maggie01

I'd like to bump this thread up for more ideas and pictures of what people do to keep their skoolies cool.

Don't overlook the non-mechanical things you can do to help that AC. Painting my roof white brought my interior temps to within 10-15 degrees of ambient (summer). Interior insulation and a roof deck later, and I'm within a few degrees of ambient.