How to keep my Labs cool in summer

[hammersley]

OK - Help me find a way to keep my yellow labs cool in my truck - canopy - in teh summer... ...



I looked at one of these. . Welcome to the Thermo King Corporate Web Site but I have no idea how $$$$ and how they work. I also thought about buying an RV ac unit - mount it on the Pickup Shell - BUT now eher do I get the power. If I have a generator - somebody could steal it - or turn it off... ... could I run it off a 110 convertor?????? But then the truck must be running - a temptation to steal everything - screw the truck - I don't want to loose my dogs!!!! I even thought about a jerryrigged ice block and a portable 12 volt fan... ... now I don't mean I would leave my dogs in a hot rig for hourd and hours BUT iI would like to have the option... . is there a solution - without being Bill Gates??????

 

[DCreed]

i remember seeing solarpowered window fans... JC WHITNEY??

 

[DCreed]

u can also insulate cap and bed.

 

[Tinman]

I looked into this last year for our dogs. Never did find a satisfactory answer. I just leave the truck running with the A/C on and the motor idled up to about 1200RPM. I wish I could find a cheaper alternative.

 

[CDonaldson]

There are solar powered window vents. I have seen them in pet catalogs. You might find them at Jeffers Vet Supplies or Petco, one of those on-line sites. They work very well, I have a friend who has them. I will try to get you some info. You can also get an RV roof vent with a 12V fan, small solar panel to run it, they are not too expensive to put together. I run a solar panel system on my RV. When traveling and stopping for whatever I put my dogs in the RV and turn on the fans. I had looked at the window fans for the truck a few years ago, just can't remember where I saw them.



CD

 

[HGreen]

What you need is what is known as a APU which are made for larger trucks to eliminate idling for either heat or cooling. The ThermoKing site has what they call TriPac, there are other manufactureer - Kohler, Carrier makes the ComfortPro, I know there are others, just can't recall the names.

 

[BTowler]

Looks expensive! Powered by onboard 2 cylinder diesel engine!

 

[NoSeeUm]

Put in a wading pool?



Jim

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Ditto on the engine running and A/C on. Having tried to treat (and lost) too many patients to heat in cars "I just ran inside for a minute"; I am sceptical about window fans, etc. Remember too that the dawgz are also contributing heat AND humiditity (to their own demise) to the interior. It may actually be the humidity that kills them since dogs are evaporative coolers. I HAVE saved several heatstroke victims simply by getting them loaded into the cold and DRY cab - a window fan can't do that!! You'd be surprised just how quick a labs core temp can hit 106°!!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

just get a quality alarm system. mine would allow you to leave the engine running with the alarm armed. if the alarm is tripped, the engine shuts down and you can set it to call your cell phone.



so, if you're inside a store or something, you'll get a phone call telling you that the alarm has been tripped, and you can go out and check on the pups!

 

[CRuth]

My dog stays in the cab. I leave the windows down. I have a camper so as long as I park with the sun behind me the cab is always in shade. I must be doing something right. He's almost 14 and I haven't killed him yet.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

you must not live where I live

 

[EricBu12]

If you have large side vents, the RV roof vent called "fantastic Fan" has a large fand and is variable speed. at full speed it can pull all heat out of a 12' room in seconds. It runs on 12 volt and don't draw much on a medium setting. so intake cool side air to RV roof vent... that should work. to augment the power, a 50 watt solar panel would power it nicely and the vent is motor powered with a remote switch... Search for fantastic fan on RV dealer stores.

 

[ttbird]

I've had a rear cap on for ten years with a aux. a/c unit mounted in rear bed. Tied the a/c lines into stock compressor and recharged the system. Still have to leave the truck running but with five labs the cab is out of the question.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I've had a rear cap on for ten years with a aux. a/c unit mounted in rear bed. Tied the a/c lines into stock compressor and recharged the system. Still have to leave the truck running but with five labs the cab is out of the question.

very clever idea! would work perfect w/ a good alarm w/ all the bells/whistles

 

[C. Harlan]

Y'all must never come down to Texas. . If you try to keep anything in the car in the summer sun, it will either melt, crack, or cook. . Best of luck with whatever decision you make, but to make sure it will work, try out your idea(s) that you decide on yourself, to make sure you get adequate ventilation/circulation of air, so you do not find out the hard way and lose your pet. Just a little word of advice. .



-Chris-

 

[CRuth]

Whats a dog do outdoors? It lays in the shade. No different in the truck.

 

[Spooled-up]

I've had a rear cap on for ten years with a aux. a/c unit mounted in rear bed. Tied the a/c lines into stock compressor and recharged the system. Still have to leave the truck running but with five labs the cab is out of the question.

ttbird,



Where did you get this aux AC system? Got any pics?

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Whats a dog do outdoors? It lays in the shade. No different in the truck.

Think about that for a sec ..... yeah it's the words IN THE TRUCK ... That can =130*+



Why the Labs stayin in the truck in the first place? How long? What color is the cap? Rule of thumb is a "Box or enclosure in the sun with cross ventilation add 20-30 degrees even if it is white, 40-80 if dark or black.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Whats a dog do outdoors? It lays in the shade. No different in the truck.

wow... just wow...