Running A/C while driving

[johndeerefarmer]

Wondering if anyone runs their A/C while driving to the campsite? It gets pretty darn hot around here and would like a cool trailer when I get there. I would also like to leave my pet back there as he has more running around room

My genny sits in the back of the truck. The power inlet is at the back of the trailer The standard cord will not reach and even if it did I would have to find some way to tie it along the side the TT. I am thinking about installing another AC inlet at the front of the trailer and then I could run the power cord over the tailgate and to the trailer.

Any thoughts on this? Good? Bad?

[Ole_Man_Dan]

I'd rethink the idea of traveling with your pet in your Trailer.
Nothing good comes from it, but potential for bad.

Besides there are too many things for a dog to get into when left to his own devices.

Lot of car insurances won't cover you carrying a pet in the trailer.

Your trailer is not a stock trailer, not designed to transport animals or carry people while moving.

[rbpru]

I would not leave my dog in the trailer or a truck bed crate simply because he has not been trained for it. Many hunting dogs are and “kennel-up” with no difficulties.

Running a generator to cool the trailer while traveling seems a bit over the top to me but to each his own when it comes to comfort.

My wife and I are in Florida traveling with our dog. He has a bed on the back seat of an extended cab pick-up. Coming from the north, when we needed to leave him in the truck, we could keep the windows down a bit and the cab would stay cool. Once we reached FL it was a different story.

It is hot down here. So the dog stays in the trailer if we are gone for any length of time. I assume the “Do not leave the dog unattended” means chained outside.

I learned a long time ago that "Any fool can make a rule; the greater fool ignores his commonsense and follows the rule."

[Caveman_Charlie]

You know I have one outside dog that lives outside all year long even in the 20 below F winters we have here in MN. She has a nice insulated dog house to get into out of the cold and she has no problem with it. I bet there are some people that would flip out about that too.

[ddschuman]

After showing up at a campsite and finding a light globe from the ceiling fan under the kitchen table and the movable island all loppy jawed even though it was properly secured, I would be afraid to put my pet back there. In a cattle trailer, the cattle are confine to small area and are probably too heavy to be to be tossed around unlike like the average dog. Also in a cattle trailer there is nothing to fall on the animal. I would think there is a difference. We have cattle trailers, cattle, FW and dogs. I'd let me dogs ride in the cattle trailer before I'd let them ride in the FW just because I feel it is safer but that is just my thoughts. Do whatever you feel is best for your situation. As for the AC...I live in Texas too and am not sure I would want to run a generator all the way to whatever my destination is. I would think it would make for a noisy ride and use a lot of unnecessary fuel. Again, just my opinion. I am sure it can be done.

[Caveman_Charlie]

dadmomh wrote:
IIRC, most all of the CGs we visit have a "Do Not Leave Pets Unattended" rule. Now whether this means inside or outside, I don't know. What I do know is that at Petit Jean SP in AR, a family across from us left their small dog and a cat inside while they went off for the day. The poor dog barked, screeched and cried all day....not to mention that they shredded the blinds and Lord knows what else inside. Being "dog people" we were more concerned for the pets that what damage they were doing. "dog people" can turn off the sound of barking when they know the pet is freaking out. As totally non-destructive as my beloved Sam was, and now Foxy, I would not even consider for a second leaving them loose in the trailer and likely not even in a crate for any barking that would disturb others nearby.

When we know that we're going to be going out for a long day or even taking a much longer trip that we'll be in and out, we leave our camping dog home. Re the hot car?? NO!!! If you don't have a neighbor who will feed and tend to your dog for a few days, your other choice is to board them and consider the cost just part of your camping weekend.

Also consider how blasted hot that trailer is going to get if the power should go off and you're gone for several hours. Coming back to find your pet dead from the heat would pretty much ruin your fun day out.

I have heard of folks who have been asked to leave when they returned after leaving a barking dog alone.

I understand not leaving the pet unattended outside. My dog (dogs actually but, I don't take them both at the same time) are trained not to bark when I'm gone.( There was another thread on this recently.) Your concern for what happens when the power goes off is valid but, electricity is really reliable in my area, I camp in the shade , and I'm not gone for that long. Power could go off in the house with the dog inside of it too and if it were off for all day it would get hot in here too. TT could get hit by lightning too for that reason and kill the pet. (or tornado, or fire, or thousands of other things that would just as easily happen if the pet were at home) You can't prepare for everything you just have to be cautions and pray for the best.

[johndeerefarmer]

uintafly wrote:
I don't really see any problem with it as long as the generator is securely fastened to the truck and the wiring is secure as well.

As for the dog, hunting dogs travel long distances in the back of a pickup bed all of the time. Even down some serious 4x4 roads. Usually they are in a kennel, so I don't see why it would be a problem to put the dog in the TT inside a kennel. If you are one of the growing # of Americans who treat their animals like they are small humans then maybe not, but if you have trained the dog to be a dog they will be fine.

Genny is both chained and ratchet strapped to the safety loops for my B&W gooseneck hitch. That's where it always rides. I see no problem with running the genny while driving. If you don't realize it your truck engine is running too. LMAO

[johndeerefarmer]

benbovac wrote:
to the op, yes its very easy to do providing you have the proper set up to run the ac. Ive done the same thing with my fifth wheel. Just wish I could convince mother-in-law to ride in the 5er!!

Now that's funny- I don't care who you are. 🙂

[dadmomh]

IIRC, most all of the CGs we visit have a "Do Not Leave Pets Unattended" rule. Now whether this means inside or outside, I don't know. What I do know is that at Petit Jean SP in AR, a family across from us left their small dog and a cat inside while they went off for the day. The poor dog barked, screeched and cried all day....not to mention that they shredded the blinds and Lord knows what else inside. Being "dog people" we were more concerned for the pets that what damage they were doing. "dog people" can turn off the sound of barking when they know the pet is freaking out. As totally non-destructive as my beloved Sam was, and now Foxy, I would not even consider for a second leaving them loose in the trailer and likely not even in a crate for any barking that would disturb others nearby.

When we know that we're going to be going out for a long day or even taking a much longer trip that we'll be in and out, we leave our camping dog home. Re the hot car?? NO!!! If you don't have a neighbor who will feed and tend to your dog for a few days, your other choice is to board them and consider the cost just part of your camping weekend.

Also consider how blasted hot that trailer is going to get if the power should go off and you're gone for several hours. Coming back to find your pet dead from the heat would pretty much ruin your fun day out.

I have heard of folks who have been asked to leave when they returned after leaving a barking dog alone.

[Caveman_Charlie]

Bisker wrote:
In California it is illegal to have an animal in the bed of a pickup truck unrestrained, in fact they must be crosstied. Every see a dog that was leashed to a truck bed jump out? Yeah, think about that.

I'm sure the OP also leaves his pets unatended in the TT which for most parks is against the rules.

Do what you do and quit posting stupid questions.

Since when is it against the rules to leave your pet in the TT when you leave. Send me a list of those parks and I'll avoid them. Might even send them a nasty e-mail. What are your spose to do with the dog on a hot day? Take him along in the car and then leave him in the not running vehicle on a hot summer day while you go into the store to go shopping? That would be a hell of a lot worse wouldn't it! My dog love it in the air conditioned TT while I go out for awhile. He lays down and takes a nap in the cool air.

Do what you want to do and stop posting stupid answers.

[Huntindog]

I installed 4.0 Microquiet and a 26 gallon gas tank in my last TT. I set it up so that it could be run while on the road.
One consideration was a fuel pressure regulator to keep the gas from flooding the carb when going up or down hills.. This could cause a fire. Not sure that this would be a issue with a portable unit, but the oil level shutdown could be.

As far as the dog goes, I recommend kenneling him. You won't know if he is getting into trouble back there... So a kennel will contain the damage.. A kennel trained dog actually prefers it anyways as it becomes his "den".

[Bisker]

In California it is illegal to have an animal in the bed of a pickup truck unrestrained, in fact they must be crosstied. Every see a dog that was leashed to a truck bed jump out? Yeah, think about that.

I'm sure the OP also leaves his pets unatended in the TT which for most parks is against the rules.

Do what you do and quit posting stupid questions.

[dadmomh]

BTW....I did take my son's goat to the vet in the cab of our truck. After the vet visit DS was hungry and we pulled into McD. Ordered at the drivethru and when I pulled around to the window, the girl waiting on me just screamed, "Oh, my God, it's a GOAT!!!" Well, yes it is. He didn't care for the fries, so he waited until we got home for some hay. I wouldn't put him in the back of a pick up either....all creatures great and small.

[dadmomh]

Ok, a nerve has been hit...letting your dog ride in the back of a pickup, unless in a crate, is IMHO, THE STUPIDEST thing you could do to a pet. Ever seen one fly out of the back when you have to make an unexpected swerve??? It's not pretty and the animal is usually hit by other vehicles. After working in a Veterinary ER, there is not much I haven't seen. Don't do it. May even be against the law in some places, but stupid in all places.

Now what was the original question??? Oh, re the dog in the trailer. May or may not be legal - against the law for people to ride in a towable trailer. Can almost guarantee that you'll have a major mess to clean up from an urpy stomach or other. Or the dog freaks out and trashes the trailer. Bad idea. Any reason the dog can't ride INSIDE the truck???

Agree that livestock are living creatures and it would be wonderful if there were another way to transport, but there isn't.

Re the A/C...just plug in and turn it on the minute you get in the site...it'll be cool enough in a few minutes while you're setting up the outside stuff. I can't see running a gen to cool an empty trailer, but whatever.

[2oldman]

You can even put them in the front of a pickup bed.