mellowbo
Carlsbad, CA USA
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Joined: 06/30/2002
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I was wondering if a Honda or Toyota van could be somewhat converted? Can a generator be put in one that would run an AC unit when the van is parked and the engine is off? I know this sounds like a dumb question but I want to be able to travel with my dogs and when we stop to sight see on a really hot day, the dogs could stay in the van and be cool and safe.
Thanks,
Carole
EJ and Carole
Dillon, Vinny and Lulu (furkids)
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ARcruiser
Benton, AR USA
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Joined: 12/19/2001
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I was wondering if a Honda or Toyota van could be somewhat converted?
Yes, anything from a simple bed platform to a PopTop Westy conversion by GTRV.
Can a generator be put in one that would run an AC unit when the van is parked and the engine is off?
Not that I am aware of - in a van that small.
Westy Toyota coversion by GTRV.....
* This post was
edited 01/10/08 08:50pm by ARcruiser *
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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Does anyone know if there is a way to run the minivan's own A/C off of auxiliary batteries- or would that be as heavy as a generator?
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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I dunno enough about minivans' weight numbers & handling to suggest this with any certainty, but maybe a Honda 2000 on a small hitch-mount cargo tray and a small roof-mount RV A/C would work. It'd probably use up most of the CCC and cause some negative change in the handling. I dunno how small RV A/C's go; my Tiger has a 9,000 Btu unit that'd be more cooling than you'd need.
Or you could go with the same Honda and a 4-5,000 Btu home window unit thru the tail gate, but it'd take cutting a hole thru the van's sheet metal. I think this would make the tailgate unusable.
Dogscometoo, the engine has to run to turn the dash A/C's compressor. I think there are some pretty new 12V A/C's for parked semi's, but I'm pretty sure they take a lot more battery weight than a minivan could comfortably carry, and cost mega-bucks.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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As Jim suggested I'd go with a hitch mounted cargo carrier to haul a small generator with sufficient capacity to run a roof mounted AC unit.
Photo of Sienna shown is to display a visual of trailer hitch
Toyota Sienna
As for the clearance when empty. About 9 inches. Measured from the bottom of the raiser bar.
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Lynne Jayzee
Asheville NC
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Joined: 04/01/2003
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Even if it could be done, would you really feel comfortable leaving your dogs in the vehicle on a very hot day?
I left my dogs in the Pleasure-Way (with the generator running the AC) for about 3 hours in early July one time when the outside temperature was about 95 and could not relax while touring Monticello. All I could think about was what would happen if the generator or AC quit.
That was pretty much the last time I left the dogs in the van for an extended period of time in the middle of summer. It's just too much anxiety.
There are many posts in this forum by people who have the same concern, and a lot of us seem to be looking for some kind of remote alarm that will send a signal to a beeper if the van temperature rises above a certain level.
- LJZ
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Walldo
Great Falls MT
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Anything can be converted, it all depends on how much money you are willing to spend. Do some research and find a good customizer in your area and give them a call, explain to them what you want, they will let you know if they are willing to take on such a project or they might suggest a company that can do it. Good luck
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ARcruiser
Benton, AR USA
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Yankee (LJZ) has made a very good point. We have had serious misgivings involving the dog in the van as related to the a/c and generator dependability. We have pretty much decided not to do it anymore.
The Fantastic Fan in the Westy conversion (or a DIY version) would, in my mind, be more reliable than depending on a generator and a/c combination. In my experience, the pop-top does not get as hot inside (with the top raised) as a hard topped van.
But, for an even simpler conversion, I'd consider a bed platform like this Honda conversion along with a roof mounted Fantastic Fan....
or maybe a small roof mounted a/c and Honda on a hitch carrier as mentioned earlier.
Main thing is to frequently check on the status of your pet... anybody can walk by and shut down the generator, it could run out of gas, the a/c could quit, etc.
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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WRT leaving dogs in the RV- there are temperature alarms that will page you if the temperature in the van goes over a certain point. I've read about them before on this forum.
Would the weight of batteries to run a 12 V A/C unit really weigh more than a generator with fuel?
IN that Toyota conversion it looks like there is a small fridge. Does it run on 12V?
This is all interesting.
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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I just found: www.dcbreeze.com
What do people think?
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