Securing Portable AC unit When traveling

In the summer I do spend a lot of time out west.
From the very first time I traveled in the RV 20 years ago it did not keep us cool.
We ran 2 roof AC's and the dash and it would not cool the fish bowl.

So we have been dealing with it and not traveling more than about 4 to 5 hours a day before we parked for the day.

This trip each day will be longer so I wanted to try some different solutions to see if we get improvements.

I will let you know how it works out.

I also had a tech check out my dash AC, and he worked on it and got it a bit colder. Every little bit helps.

AllegroD wrote:

JCat wrote:
Thanks Rick for answering my question instead of asking questions on items that I have already figured out.

What is wrong with asking questions? What is wrong with people adding suggestions, tangent to your OP scope? How do people know you have those items figured out? People are trying to help and may see things you overlooked. This is a public forum with a lot of varying input.

Bingo, I wanted to know how he will handle the water condensation problem. People with Trailers have installed these units when camped and drill a 1 inch hole thru a wall and run a drain tube out. Doug

JCat wrote:
Thanks Rick for answering my question instead of asking questions on items that I have already figured out.

What is wrong with asking questions? What is wrong with people adding suggestions, tangent to your OP scope? How do people know you have those items figured out? People are trying to help and may see things you overlooked. This is a public forum with a lot of varying input.

Good Luck, I hope your efforts are rewarded! :)

Please keep us posted!

~Rick

Do you regularly drive around the desert southwest in the summer?
Seems a lot to go thru just to get outta Dodge, since your profile says everywhere.

I know it’s an older Moho but if 3 ACs can’t keep it cool driving down the road in hot weather, how do you live in it in the same weather with only the 2 roof top ACs?

Trying to help with your mounting exhaust and condensate issues, only 1 of which you’re considering now.

Let us know how it goes, hope it helps.

Update: I created a platform as Discovery explained using 8 inch 2X4 at the corners, rubber stoppers on the bottom of each corner.
Then screwed that into a 3/4 piece of plywood with holes drilled to allow the wheels to hang through.
I then screwed in 4 more 2x4x4 pieces at each corner
Top piece was plywood, cut to the shape of the AC unit.

AC unit sits down into base about 3 inches
I added a strap around the AC unit which ties off in the back for extra support.
With most of the weight of the AC unit in the bottom it is very secure in the base.
First trip with it is Friday we will see how it does.
I also had my windshield tinted over the weekend to cut down on the IR and heat coming in.
I will be traveling up highway 15 thru Vegas and Salt lake and it will be a hot one, so a good test.

Thanks discovery, that is the kind of first hand experience I was looking for in a solution.

I built a platform out of plywood that was roughly twice the base of the portable AC. Where the wheels on the AC lined up with the plywood I drilled holes for them to set down in the platform and then built it up high enough that the wheels did not touch the floor. Then ran a strap from eye hooks on the platform over the top of the AC to tie it all together. I ended up gluing and screwing four pieces of 1 inch plywood together if memory serves correctly. This was in a FW and for transport only but after I forgot to strap the platform to the trailer floor and it arrived in one piece and the same place it started I never tied it down again.

The wife carries a curtain rod and a sheet in our DP for really hot travel days. She places it right behind the front seats so the dash AC air is somewhat trapped up front. It makes a difference although it looks a bit tacky.

Hope the descriptions make sense.

Thanks Rick for answering my question instead of asking questions on items that I have already figured out.
Dash air is ****.
Portable unit is 12K BTU
I sealed up dash leaks a few years ago.
So I'm looking at the wood and straps