Heating/Cooling the bed

[46mech]

I'm not sure where I'll get the most response for this so I'm gonna post this under General Diesel Topics also. I'm wondering if any of you have any feasible ideas for heating and/or cooling the bed area of the truck.

I have a shell and when we travel we always take the dogs, cats, etc. . On our recent trip to and from Cheyenne, WY, the temps outside were in the low 20's or lower. Obviously, summer is just the opposite. I don't know if cutting holes in the cab and the bed to jury-rig some sort of hose will look too good, but I'd like to hear all ideas.

I know I could always line the shell and bed with foam & lauan, and that may be my initial step, but I'm just wondering if it's possible to "install central air. " Thanks

 

[Fuzz]

Old Heater Core??

Year ago,had a 1979 Ford 1/2T with a shell. Kids were little and we wanted to make a Xmas trip to Las Vegas.



Got a heater core from a wrecked car. old one,with the fan control on the heater. Tapped into the cab heater hoses under the hood

insulated the hoses and ran them back t o the bed.

Cut some styrofoam sheets to wedge along the sides of bed.

Worked great. Only downside was the windows in shell fogged up from recirculating the heated air. (I guess). Was always going to scout junkyards for a wrecked bus and look for a large underseat core. Never did tho'.

Don't know about cooling

 

[DRR-24V]

Check Out Vans A/C

Some vans have an extra A/C and heating unit in the rear. Might work.

 

[Bill Lins]

You could install sliding windows in the cab backglass and front window of the cap, if you don't already have them. Then install a "boot" to seal between the cab and cap. Your A/C and heat would then pass through. It would definitely help to insulate the bed and cap.

 

[SLVRBLT]

46mech-



Northern Tool & Equipment has a cab heater listed in their catalog for $129. 99. 17,500 BTU on high and 12,500 BTU on low. You would have to splice into heater hoses and run power to it. Size is 8. 6"L x 7. 7"W x 7. 5"H. It states that mounting kit is included, but I don't know what that might contain?



Don't know if this would be enough output without insulation though? You could insulate the bottom of the bed with styrofoam and carpet. They make a foam insulation that you spray on that you could insulate the shell with although that probably wouldn't be to pretty. The A/C question is another story, don't know how I would attach that?



Hope this helps.



Dave

 

[Snow man]

I wonder if the Cummins would generate enough heat in a flat road,in 20 degree weather to heat the bed thru another heater core,I know mine barley has enough heat to heat the cab unless im towing,or block the radiator.

 

[46mech]

Thanks for the inputs.

 

[rich m]

How-bout the double-sliding windows to share cab heat. To make the winter-time engine-water heating more efficient, block your grill. This guy's product looks good on a truck #ad
That's not my truck, but mine looks that good, too. Here's his e-address -- email address removed -- and his alternate -- email address removed --





In order to keep the air-volume involved to a minimum, cage the critters near the front of the campershell, and then partition off the rear portion of the camper with plywood, or big sheets of styrofoam. If you still want to see out, instead of something opaque like that, use some 1x1's to make a framework, then staple clear sheet-plastic to the forward and rearward surfaces of the wood. Then you'll have 1" of "dead air" space, and still be able to keep track of headlites in the rear mirror..... a double or triple layer of carpet under the cages, and up the sides of the sheetmetal will help reduce heat loss. Once you've done all that, the critters will make enough bodyheat, supplemented by cab heat, to ride good. For the summer cooling, the truck's A. C. is a well-documented fridge-monster, so there should be no problem there. maybe just enhance the air movement with a couple of 12V clip-on fans right in the window. (by the time this is a concern, be sure to remove the grill-blocks )