Pets and Florida Heat

[Dutch4204]

I tried searching for what I'm looking for but didn't have any luck. I think I'm just not searching the right terms as I'm sure I've seen this discussed before.... anyway, we are temporarily living full time in Florida. We have two dogs that are in the camper during the day while we are at work. I do get home at lunch time to take them for a walk. Our concern is what would happen if the electric/AC would go out? We know it gets hot quick! We have some good neighbors that would call us if they are home and know about it, but there could always be a chance nobody would be home. I thought I read about a vent fan that turns on when it gets to a certain temperature. That sounds like a great idea, but if the electric goes out how would that fan work? What do others do with their pets in situations like this?

Any suggestions appreciated!

[rockhillmanor]

BCSnob wrote:
We unhitch the van and park with the side door just under the trailer awning. I then drape a shade cloth from the end of the awning over the top of the van (propping it up off the van roof) and down the other side of the van. This creates a cool cave in the van and under the awning. If I am lucky the prevailing breeze will blow between the trailer and van.

The key is to keep the shade cloth off the roof; if it is touching the roof you still get solar heating of the van roof.

Since all of our "camping" is in the middle of open pastures you have to create your own shade.

Now THAT's a good set up idea. I am surprised that not more of my show friends with a TT haven't thought of parking the TV side by side like that.

Ditto on the open air CG parking at sporting events. Sometimes You really do have to get creative.

[BCSnob]

We unhitch the van and park with the side door just under the trailer awning. I then drape a shade cloth from the end of the awning over the top of the van (propping it up off the van roof) and down the other side of the van. This creates a cool cave in the van and under the awning. If I am lucky the prevailing breeze will blow between the trailer and van.

The key is to keep the shade cloth off the roof; if it is touching the roof you still get solar heating of the van roof.

Since all of our "camping" is in the middle of open pastures you have to create your own shade.

[rockhillmanor]

BCSnob wrote:
Rock, have you considered using a sun shade above your RV with an air space between the RV and the shade cloth? Not necessarily easy to set up but it does minimize solar heating of the RV body. We do this with our full size van and it helps keep the inside of our dark green van cool. The key is the air space between the shade cloth (big enough to cover the van and hang down the sides) and the vehicle.

That is a good tip.

When I was showing the dogs with my hitop van that's what most of us did to keep the van's cool for the dogs. And it really DOES work. It is amazing how well those silver loose woven sun shade cloths work just hung over the open side door on a van.

But When traveling in my 31 ft MH it would be a bit difficult to do :W

I do have custom shade cloths cut to match the angle of the sides of my awning and I put their ex-pens under the awning with shade cloths all around and a box fan at one end. They prefer to be there then inside on real hot days anyway when the ac can't keep up. At least outside they get a breeze.

I also make sure the side of the MH with the awning is not facing east or god forbid ever facing the west. 2:00 sun in Florida will just about kill you........sometimes the dogs and myself get really homesick for Wisconsin. :C

[BCSnob]

Rock, have you considered using a sun shade above your RV with an air space between the RV and the shade cloth? Not necessarily easy to set up but it does minimize solar heating of the RV body. We do this with our full size van and it helps keep the inside of our dark green van cool. The key is the air space between the shade cloth (big enough to cover the van and hang down the sides) and the vehicle.

[rockhillmanor]

Florida hot weather is like not other place on the planet.

That said there are now many choices of electronic devices where you can visually check and/or be alerted of a temperature change.

This will only work IF you are 'close' enough to get back to your RV before they expire from the heat. And hope that you have consistent coverage where you have gone to 24 7's to receive the alert.

An RV is a non insulated box sitting and baking in the sun nothing more.
I have been in my MH when the power went out in the blazing Florida heat. Opening windows and turning 12v fans did absolutely NOTHING to relive the mounting heat inside an RV. The temp goes from 80 to well over 100 inside an RV in literally seconds. The only relief is getting OUT of the RV until power is restored.

Relying on a thermostatically controlled fantastic fan will drain your battery faster than you can say expired pets. And the fan would have to be the model that 'opens' the lid. Not all have this option.

I do NOT leave pets in the MH unattended when in Florida. It's just way too dangerous. Just saying.

[down_home]

wrong post

[MetalGator]

Happytraveler wrote:
Does anyone have this Temp. Alert? The MarCell Cellular Connected Monitoring System

The system uses Verizon Cellular
You probably can pay as you go and not be locked in a contract

I use the USB Temp alert in our TT. I just connect to the campsite Wifi or if the site doesn't have wifi, I leave my wife's phone in the TT as a internet hot spot. I have an old laptop that I plug the USB device into and it will email or text me if the temperature gets to a certain level which I can check on my iPhone. You can also have it send messages/texts if you want to continuously monitor the temperature. I have it set to email be every 15 minutes so when we are away from the TT I can keep an eye on the temperature.

Temperature Alert USB

[Opie431]

Not a solution to your problem but put out extra water for you pets in case the power does go out.
Our cat would drink more when it was hot.

[Happytraveler]

The only thing I worry about is data. I do not have an extra iPhone.

[Dutch4204]

That MarCell Temperature monitor looks good but a bit pricey for me. I setup some old Iphones as suggested above. Downloaded a free app called Presence. I setup two phones that we can switch between watching. In front of one we put a large thermometer so we can monitor the temp. We didn't really need both phones setup, but since we had them we set the other up on the dogs bed so we can see them during the day. If the electric goes out the app sends a message saying that the phone has been unplugged. If just the AC would go out, then we can see that by the thermometer. I think this will work perfect for our situation and best of all it didn't cost us a dime!

[Happytraveler]

Does anyone have this Temp. Alert? The MarCell Cellular Connected Monitoring System

The system uses Verizon Cellular
You probably can pay as you go and not be locked in a contract

[cmcdar]

Don't think a vent fan would do much good with all the windows closed.

Check out doggy daycares.

[WandaLust2]

Dutch4204 wrote:


Any suggestions for make/model of a vent fan?

Look at the "Fantastic" fans. But if you take that route you have to leave a window open for cross ventilation/heat dissipation while gone.

[Dutch4204]

Thanks for the great advise! We've been hooked up to shore power for a bit and didn't think about fan running on 12v.

The cam idea is also a great idea that I will be looking into.

Any suggestions for make/model of a vent fan?