Renting a Class C and using the generator/ ac for pets

Go with the Gen exhaust system, it's cost is reasonable, you may even be able to borrow one from someone if you are renting a unit, and you will be fine. They require them at a lot of special events where groups of motorhomes are camping close together in a group.

Another vote for watch the weather and RVs DO NOT HEAT UP LIKE CARS!

Car people don't understand this and I often see them express concern when they see us take the dog out to pee, put him back in the RV and then walk away.

I explain that he has roof vents with thermostats and the inside won't get any hotter than the outside air. As long as he would be comfortable outside, he can be comfortable inside.

In the heat of summer I do occasionally leave the generator running and the A/C on. If it quits, the temp will still be reasonable inside as long as we're not gone for too long. The RV won't go from 70 (A/C running) to 95 (if 95 is the outside temp) instantly.

My Class C has a white roof, heavily tinted windows, window blinds, and an overhang shading the windshield. It just does not heat up like a car. Especially with the roof vent fans running.

I've hung out on hot days in my trailer, with no A/C, because it's still cooler than outside as long as it was pre-cooled with the A/C or windows opened overnight. It wont even warm up to ambient temp until evening hours.

There are wireless temperature monitors out there you could use as well, so you'd know if you need to come back. Or, even setup a baby monitor so you see how the doggies are doing, for temperature and other reasons.

Ponderosa wrote:
Rvs don't heat up like cars.

This. If the AC quits the coach will not heat up immediately like a car.

As far as the paranoia that has been expressed, the odds of those problems from a well maintained generator are very minimal. Use common sense and check on your pets every hour or two. If you are that concerned, don't travel with your pets, because all sorts of bad things can happen while traveling.

Rvs don't heat up like cars. They have a much, much smaller ratio of window area and the non-window area is insulated. The windows are vertical and can be shaded with blinds/curtains or reflective panels to reduce radiant heat gain. The roof is highly reflective. So, you will find that a vent fan like a Maxx or Fantastic will keep the inside temp at the same as the outside temp. If it's 80, it'll be 80 in the RV. I live in the desert. When I park in my driveway for getting ready, I run the fan on high and it is always within a degree or two of the outside temp, even with the blazing AZ sun

Many major tourist attractions (amusement parks, etc.) will have pet boarding facilities on site. Even the smallest cities now have "doggie daycare" businesses, and if you are staying at a campground you can always ask the host or a neighbor to contact you in case of power outage, etc. There are remote monitoring systems that can work with your cell phone to alert you if temperatures get too high.
Cover the windshield with a sunscreen, open the vents and use backup, redundant systems (battery powered fans, cooling pads, ice water, etc).

Interesting point about the power going out and therefore the a/c going out. That did happen to us and our small dog and my son's larger dog was in there all day. Fortunately we were somewhat shaded, but it was very warm in there and we felt horrible. Never thought about the power going out.

My pets are like my kids, which is why I asked this question. I could never forgive myself if something happened to them. My intention was never to leave them in there for more than a couple of hours. Stop to get a bite to eat, or pull in some tourist attraction etc. I am definitely rethinking this and do appreciate all of your opinions and warnings. I really thought this would be the answer. Now that we are retired and can travel, we can't so to speak. I would NEVER EVER give them up so I was looking for a solution.

We leave our dog in our small motorhome all the time in warm weather with the A/C running.

However as backup we also leave the rear and front vents open, with the front vent fan pushing or pulling air on HIGH so as to provide maximum airflow throughout the length of the motorhome just in case the generator should ever quit for whatever reason.

NOTE: For the first time ever ... this January in Arizona we left the dog in the motorhome in 80 degree weather and when we came back the GENERATOR HAD QUIT ... but the backup roof vent approach I mentioned above had managed to keep the interior no hotter than about 80 degrees. This incident has cost me sleep ... the generator immediately afterwards, and now, starts and runs fine ... why on Earth did it quit in Arizona at the wrong time? (The motorhome had plenty of gas in it's tank at the time.)

Come on life is to short to worry about small things.Run the gen. and keep the pets cool.If the wind is blowing under the M H it w ll blow it away or the mixture will be sufficient to render it harmless.@ many worries not enough fun.If you park in the shade a tree might fall on the M H.Anything can happen just try your best to be safe the pets will be O.K.And You will also.

We travel with two cats and a small dog.

We have left them in the camper, on mild days, with windows open and fans on.

I have left pets with air running, for their comfort. I would not leave them if their life depended on the air conditioning!

If the temp is going to get hot enough to KILL THEM if left in the camper, we change our plans.

I, for one, could not live with myself if the unthinkable happened.

PS - Our pets LOVE coming with us. If I head over toward the camper in the yard my little dog runs ahead and sits on the camper steps to go in. Ha Ha