Keeping cool while boondocking

[Jesshopes]

We leave for a 2 week trip on Friday. Our first night we are boondocking in a Cabela's parking lot. The problem is that it's going to be warm...and there are 13 of us in a TT. I keep thinking that there has to be a reasonable way to run a couple of fans for one night...anybody have an great ideas? We do not have a generator and I don't want to buy/take one for this one night.

[Community Alumni]

The trailer may be a lot warmer than you think. You have to remember that you'll have a decent amount of heat built up from the day and it all needs to be exhausted out of the trailer. Everything will be heat soaked and things like the beds will take a while to cool down without AC.

Battery operated fans could take the edge off, but you're going to need quite a few of them and the batteries to go along with them to keep 13 people cool. The cost of the fans and batteries would be considerable. I'd rather put that kind of money into upgrading the vent fan to something like a Fantastic Fan.

Unless you and the family are used to sleeping in the heat, it's probably going to be an uncomfortable night when doing small fans only. If I were in your shoes, I would be looking for an outlet somewhere to run the AC or some real 120v box fans. Either borrowing (with permission) an outlet from a business or a quick campground stay.

Try Lowe's or Home Depot. Sometimes they have 20 amp outlets installed on their light poles in the parking lot. When I see them, they're usually in the garden center area. They're normally used for parking lot events like when selling Christmas trees or rug sales. Normally these outlets are inactive to prevent people from mooching electricity, but you could talk to the manager and they probably would activate it for you. Especially since you have a little soccer team with you.:B

[Jesshopes]

profdant139 wrote:
Jesshopes, I must say that I admire your can-do spirit. Most people with a family that large would just give up on travel and sit around in the back yard. You are undaunted!

Things may get crowded, but in 2100, your kids will still be telling their great-grandchildren stories about the adventures that the family had, way back when. Hang in there!

Thanks! I sincerely appreciate your kind words. It's nice to be admired as opposed to mocked or talked down to 😉

We wouldn't trade camping as a large family for the world. We've been all over the country and seen some amazing things!

[Jesshopes]

ppine wrote:
13 people camping in a hot parking lot? Is this for real?

Its kind of like a joke that starts "So these three blind sheep step into a gay bar in San Francisco....."

Not a joke. My family. My life. Not complaining...we've boondocked in warm weather before. Apparently we are tougher than the average campers...just looking for friendly advice on how to make it even more comfortable.

[hawkeye-08]

Hopefully it will cool down at night, so you really only need to figure out the evening before it cools down.

[profdant139]

Jesshopes, I must say that I admire your can-do spirit. Most people with a family that large would just give up on travel and sit around in the back yard. You are undaunted!

Things may get crowded, but in 2100, your kids will still be telling their great-grandchildren stories about the adventures that the family had, way back when. Hang in there!

[ppine]

13 people camping in a hot parking lot? Is this for real?

Its kind of like a joke that starts "So these three blind sheep step into a gay bar in San Francisco....."

[captnjack]

F1bNorm wrote:
We’ve had good luck with the 5” battery powered O2Cool fans. They are quiet and will run several nights on 2 D cells on the low setting. Get one for each person so there is no fighting over where it’s pointed. https://www.amazon.com/O2COOL-Portable-Desktop-Circulation-Battery/dp/B001B16VT6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1535506811&sr=8-4&keywords=o2cool%2Bfan&th=1

Norm

How much for 13 fans and 26 D cell batteries that last one night (two at best)? Campground sounds cheaper.

[Jesshopes]

Jesshopes wrote:

RoyB wrote:
We do a pretty good job with our roof mounted fantastic fan where we can turn-on and it will pull cool night air through a couple of vented window vents... Also we have one of those 11-inch O2COOL portable fans in each tent bed ends...

If I can find one we try to stay at a BASS PRO SHOP parking lot overnite.

Never been to a Cabelas. I always figured they would be too high dollar for us...

BASS PRO SHOPS usually have some small sites set aside for over-nite camping complete with shrubs for privacy and most often have a 20AMPS Receptacle service at each of those site.

Roy Ken

Good info! Thanks! I appreciate it. We've boondocked before and of course I've considered finding a campground. I'm just looking at all of our options so thanks for giving me an alternative that might work!

How do you know if a Bass Pro has those types of spots?

[Jebby14]

Campground if you can. if not each kid runs on the hamster wheel generator for 45 min. this gives you a comfortable 8 hour sleep.

[SpeakEasy]

downtheroad wrote:
OK....let's be honest here...battery powered FANS! Really?
13 people, (and probably the family dog) one trailer, a hot night in an asphalt parking lot, no electricity?

I agree with others. Do yourself and your family a favor. Find a campground. This is a vacation. Don't turn this into a, "can't wait to get home," vacation.

anyway....good luck, have a good time, and stay cool.

X2 and again and again

-Speak

[Jesshopes]

shelbyfv wrote:
Would be interesting to hear details about your rig. What tow vehicle and TT accommodate 13? I too suggest a campground.

15 passenger Chevy Van pulls a 37 ft camper.

[Jesshopes]

RoyB wrote:
We do a pretty good job with our roof mounted fantastic fan where we can turn-on and it will pull cool night air through a couple of vented window vents... Also we have one of those 11-inch O2COOL portable fans in each tent bed ends...

If I can find one we try to stay at a BASS PRO SHOP parking lot overnite.

Never been to a Cabelas. I always figured they would be too high dollar for us...

BASS PRO SHOPS usually have some small sites set aside for over-nite camping complete with shrubs for privacy and most often have a 20AMPS Receptacle service at each of those site.

Roy Ken

Good info! Thanks! I appreciate it. We've boondocked before and of course I've considered finding a campground. I'm just looking at all of our options so thanks for giving me an alternative that might work!

[downtheroad]

OK....let's be honest here...battery powered FANS! Really?
13 people, (and probably the family dog) one trailer, a hot night in an asphalt parking lot, no electricity?

I agree with others. Do yourself and your family a favor. Find a campground. This is a vacation. Don't turn this into a, "can't wait to get home," vacation.

anyway....good luck, have a good time, and stay cool.

[RoyB]

We do a pretty good job with our roof mounted fantastic fan where we can turn-on and it will pull cool night air through a couple of vented window vents... Also we have one of those 11-inch O2COOL portable fans in each tent bed ends...

If I can find one we try to stay at a BASS PRO SHOP parking lot overnite.

Never been to a Cabelas. I always figured they would be too high dollar for us...

BASS PRO SHOPS usually have some small sites set aside for over-nite camping complete with shrubs for privacy and most often have a 20AMPS Receptacle service at each of those site.

Roy Ken

[shelbyfv]

Would be interesting to hear details about your rig. What tow vehicle and TT accommodate 13? I too suggest a campground.