Most Energy Efficient 12V Air Cooler for Vans/RVs/Overlanders

#summer #12v #offgrid #travel #entertainment #arizona #vanlife #fresair #swampcooler #aircooler #ac
In this video we show off the most energy efficient and eco-friendly 12V air cooler for surviving the summer heat of van life. It’s our new Fresair evaporative air cooler! It works just like a swamp cooler, but it’s mounted to the roof of our van. It’s a 12 volt unit that pulls a maximum of 8 amps/hour at the highest setting, and averages a 20 degree fahrenheit cooling power. Crazy! Right?? We also appreciate that it has a sleek low profile design because it fits under our Thule travel box, giving the van no added height. It’s even eco-friendly!
Enough sales, now watch the video. We’ll show you how to install the unit, and talk about how it’s been performing for us so far as we travel through Arizona, reaching peak temperatures of over 105 degrees fahrenheit.
If you’re interested in learning more about evaporative coolers and whether they’d be right for your van conversion, RV, or Overlander, check out Fresair’s website: fresair.com/
Disclaimer: Fresair partnered with us for this collaboration, but we receive no benefit if you decide an air cooler is right for you! This video shows our actual experiences while using our new unit in the Arizona desert.
If you’re looking for the same exact model that we installed in the video, check it out here: fresair.com/units/s6-van-conv... BUT keep in mind, they have an even newer model out now!
A huge thanks to all our patrons and one time donors who make these videos possible!!!
If you have any questions make sure to shoot us an email at [e-mail] or leave a comment!
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You can still get a hold of us at [e-mail] with any questions or if you just want to say hey!

[@jfxl1977]

Evaporative cooling is always about compromise. Y'all did a fantastic job making this perfectly clear while also keeping it informational, real, and humorous. This was, yet again, a joy to watch! Rocky and Reli are the best co-conspirators on the channel! I absolutely love you all!

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks so much! And true point; living in a van itself is mostly about compromise haha

[@WendyBeall]

I'm a longtime Arizona resident and swamp cooler user and I suggest, as another commenter did, that you open a window a little at the farthest distance from the incoming air to allow hot air to move out as cool air is blowing in and circulating. That's what you must do in a house to make a swamp cooler work. Also, the cooling comes from water evaporating from the pads, not from adding water to the air, which is why evaporative coolers work when it's dry but not when it's humid. But the best bet for you guys for staying cool(er) in the hot months is to use your mobility to go up in elevation. I will never have a van, but I love watching your content because you're amusing and it's interesting to see your clever tactics for making things work. 😃

[@dogcatmanvan]

All good points! We did leave Phoenix immediately after filming. No point in pushing the unit to its max when we can just drive elsewhere to cool off!

[@Ckatzrun]

So glad Ben finally got his ice cream.

[@dogcatmanvan]

It was ice cream flavored water after about three minutes haha

[@seantyler7140]

You two are so good together.. I really enjoy your content.

[@philltwose4088]

And another one for Rock (squeak) go Rock

[@pangeyi]

This was done at the beginning of the build!!! You guys did plan the long way. 👍🏽 Good job.

[@dogcatmanvan]

Haha yeah this was a long time work in progress video!

[@bchurchill3551]

Oh yeah, reminder to Ben/Julie supporters: LIKE the VIDEO, COMMENT on comments, and then LIKE everyone’s COMMENTS, too. It’s about trying to show engagement to influence the tubes algorithm, right? Come on, take a few moments to 👍 everything possible, team!

[@roannathephoenix8561]

Bless your hearts. No way could I survive in 80* but in Iowa the humidity is inhumane at times.

[@kylieanneking2606]

Funny as ever😂♥️

[@bchurchill3551]

You DRAINED THE SWAMP cooler. Wohoo! DBVB.

[@bchurchill3551]

Joke there.

[@phoenixgirl70]

@@bchurchill3551 I laughed!

[@dogcatmanvan]

I see what you did there:)

[@bchurchill3551]

@@phoenixgirl70 and commented for engagement! Yay.

[@denisecafferky2248]

Cool 😉

[@philltwose4088]

Have you thought of using the larger return fitting to run a pipe to the kitchen area to allow periodic remote top ups, admittedly the flow would not be as great as a full size pipe but it would allow a top up, thinking about it you could rig up a collapsible water bottle which would gravity feed into it from the kitchen work top for when it’s getting heavy use and when not remove the bottle and stow it collapsed 🙃

[@dogcatmanvan]

We did think about drilling a hole in the side of the couch wall and running a line from the resevoir in the garage to it, that way we could use the sink and top it off more conveniently. All good suggestions:) We'll probably head north to avoid the major heat for now while we weigh the options and wait for a good location/time to do a few other renovations too.

[@KT-ox1rs]

This is so cool!!! 😁🤩

[@Nunan726]

stay frosty

[@staciebamsch2810]

I think I'm going to give the window AC a try 🤞.. appreciate the videos! 👍🏼❤

[@robertjosephmurphyii4947]

Very cool thanks for the info. Love the nips and wish we could see ya running around with nothing on LOL

[@nicktheavatar_]

❤❤❤

[@acdefg1001]

Great review!

[@susancrowther3649]

I love Julie's animations and how you talk for the pups great video guys ❤

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks so much Susan:)

[@philltwose4088]

Liiiikkkke!!!!

[@bchurchill3551]

Subscribe and comment on comments, too. Thank y’all.

[@phoenixgirl70]

A good man shares his ice cream with his dogs in the heat. Good job Ben! Also lots of dog video lately even in the background is always a treat. Btw You guys have made some great shorts for You Tube! I’d advise everyone to check them out!

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks for saying that! Our analytics tells us that our Shorts viewers are mainly new people, not returning viewers, so it seems like most of our core audience misses the Shorts

[@phoenixgirl70]

@@dogcatmanvan I wouldn’t have known because usually I don’t watch shorts! I am scared of getting sucked into a mindless scroll. But now I see them on your regular page too. It’s a great way to get new viewers I’d think! I swear I think YT analytics are just to discourage people. I know it’s hard, but try not to look. Your change hasn’t been that long in place and your video will be fantastic. I think they just look at the last 24 hours or so after you upload? I try, but I get behind. So not all of us can watch right away and the analytics I don’t think take late views into account? Please keep doing what makes you happy, I’m seeing great comments! And forget the analytics. I’ve seen them torture some fantastic creators who are in a constant race to make them better, even with tons of views they just destroy your confidence. But I don’t remember you guys mentioning the shorts so we might not have known?I found them by accident.

[@bchurchill3551]

@@phoenixgirl70 GREAT advice! 🙈

[@phoenixgirl70]

@@bchurchill3551 Yeah, but someone would probably have to tie my hands together to not look! I can imagine it’s tough, but I never hear ppl speak of them positively. And of course I’m not a YT’er so I feel weird giving ideas, yet I still give them!🤐

[@eppell]

Nice setup! You should look at some IOT (internet of things) options like sprinkler automation/water projects that could make filling easier…a Bluetooth solenoid valve and a pex or pvc tee/splitter connector could make it much easier! Adaftuit and rain bird have lots of systems that are under 25-50 dollars

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks I'll check those out. I'm leaning towards just plumbing the air cooler's water pump directly to the 50 gallon water tank but maybe those are more cost effective or conventient

[@jeffsteinmetz7188]

Good content. Thanks for sweating it out in Phoenix to demo. That said, word is you live in a van and can drive to the mountains (Flagstaff) or the Oregon coast to be more comfortable.

[@bchurchill3551]

…or Washington State!

[@dogcatmanvan]

We did immediately leave Phoenix after filming. The reason we went there was to film the Salt River and we thought it would be a great idea to push our air cooler to the max while we were there. But then run away to Payson and Flagstaff to cool off

[@caddymeep]

Thank you for your hard work!

[@dogcatmanvan]

Hey thanks again:) glad you enjoy the videos!

[@bwbrady8372]

Good video. My husband used a 3D printer to make custom gaskets to fit the ribs of the van roof. Worked much better than all the ugly goop they want you to use. We haven't been happy with our Fresair. It's great if you're lying on the bed directly under it, but in the rest of the van, it's still hot. And we live/travel in dry climates. And our van is light colored. And we use insulated window covers. And I use 1-2 small portable fans to move the cool air forward (with our Maxxair fan running to pull air forward as well. Just doesn't cut it. It's also frustrating that there's no way of knowing how much water is in the tank. So we avoid camping in hot weather which, where we live, is most of the summer. Sigh.

[@philltwose4088]

Marshmallow!!!!!

[@dogcatmanvan]

crispy marshmellow

[@philltwose4088]

Just on my fumphtieth watch and thought re my earlier comment about the tank 🙃 there shouldn’t be any reason why you couldn’t fit the pump and float to either your existing fresh water tank or fit a larger water tank where that one is as usually the tanks come sealed and you add your own fittings, edit I noted jules mentioned the 50 gal tank…………….I’ll get my coat 🤪

[@allegrosotto2126]

I'm in winter here but still happy to watch your great demonstration all the way through👍

[@dogcatmanvan]

While we were in Phoenix we were dreaming of winter...thanks for watching!!

[@allegrosotto2126]

@@dogcatmanvan Yes, I know the feeling after five years on the road!

[@philltwose4088]

Commennnttttt!!!!

[@bchurchill3551]

Exactly!

[@phoenixgirl70]

Commenting…like this? Perhaps, yes!

[@dogcatmanvan]

We're going to be bigger than ever with this kind of engagement!

[@bchurchill3551]

@@phoenixgirl70 yup!

[@bchurchill3551]

@@dogcatmanvan bigger and bigger and…. mostly due to the ice cream.

[@philltwose4088]

Rock = Prez

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

We lived in an old postwar apartment for a few years with a swamp cooler. (Frogs love the things 🤣 I seriously doubt you'll have that problem.) We learned the best thing to do is open a window just a little. Ours was in the living room and we opened the master bedroom window down a hall and around the corner. Just a quarter inch of air flow dropped the temp quite a lot.

[@dogcatmanvan]

Haha we havent seen any frogs sneaking their way in but youll be the first to know if I find one

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

They drove us nuts one year. The cooler acted like a speaker box. Also, try that RV insulation coat stuff. Reports are it cuts heat by 15 to 20 degrees, so you'd be down a good 35, 40? You've got a smaller roof, lucky you. We're looking at two 5 gallon buckets. 😑

[@bear8046]

Removing heat from air seems like one of those things that should be easier, but there's really no universal good solution to it. Either you need copious amounts of electricity or copious amounts of water. The only thing I've read about swamp coolers are mostly negatives / cons, so it's cool to see you guys getting some reasonable results with it. Is the idea for now to spend the hotter months down where it's dry enough to use it consistently? Or do you guys have a different solution for summering in the PNW?

[@dogcatmanvan]

We try to just avoid the heat the most natural way, by running away from it haha we are working our way north before summer actually hits, but it's nice to have the system for when we need it. I think the majority of areas we like spending time are naturally drier climates, which is why we chose the swamp cooler.

[@babaganoosh1969]

Live in a rv... lucky for me the ac worked..however had to buy a generator to run all my electrical

[@rodolfoherrera1409]

Maybe attaching a long hose to extend the refill port on the reservoir of the AC? That way you could route it right out to the door past all the gear, they sell some with a pre-threaded end, and caps with rubber gaskets.I Guess if you really wanted to go all out you would just route a line to the evaporators reservoir from your main water tank.

[@keliplourde5601]

♥

[@aarongarmon3809]

Thumbs up just for the intro! 😅

[@Biffmin]

Peggy Hill had the best take on Pheonix - "This city should not exist. It is a monument to man's arrogance."

[@dogcatmanvan]

Haha nice one!

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

Someone said the same about Los Vegas, didn't they? But, hey, humans love a challenge.😂

[@wilderjess]

can you maybe Mac guyver a short hose attachment with closure like valve or screw that you could hose the water into? tricky but you will figure it out!

[@therugglet]

Thank you for making this video; I had never considered an evaporative cooler on a van before. The water consumption is a big deal; sure, you can power it on solar and battery, but carrying an extra 10 gal per day to stay cool would be tricky in a rig that small. Nice to know you can keep the dogs cool in the van while doing short errands. What do you use to monitor the van temp remotely?

[@dogcatmanvan]

I agree that carrying the extra water would be tough if you're operating out of a smaller rig or especially one with only like a 5 gallon water jug under the sink. It's a great option if it works within your build and geography constraints! We're personally looing into Waggle for a new monitoring system. We have a bluetooth thermostat but it's not our favorite

[@philltwose4088]

Comment thrice!!!!!!

[@Bellasafari]

No bueno for my rig. That is too much water usage. Thanks for the great review!

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks for your input!

[@ekoms108]

There are 12v air conditioniners for this they are called "backpack 12v ac"

[@fboest]

You guys really should consider to go with Truma Saphire…this unit you have can’t do the job unfortunately

[@fishingandcampingchannel8682]

😂😂😂😂😂 get a real AC

[@shauncooke9837]

Shit unit

[@FB-qt2vx]

COMMENT

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks so much for watching and engaging!

[@FB-qt2vx]

@@dogcatmanvan I am dreaming of the day when I convert my van or a school bus and we meet on the road and in that moment I will yell "COMMENT" and I hope you will remember me ❤️❤️

[@bchurchill3551]

@@dogcatmanvan Have I earned a T-shirt that says, “Like, subscribe and comment on comments! “. MERCH! Haha.

[@bchurchill3551]

Oh yeah, reminder to Ben/Julie supporters: LIKE the VIDEO, COMMENT on comments, and then LIKE everyone’s COMMENTS, too. It’s about trying to show engagement to influence the tubes algorithm, right? Come on, take a few moments to 👍 everything possible, team!

[@bchurchill3551]

Comment on the comments and 👍 everythang. Yes.

[@phoenixgirl70]

@@bchurchill3551 Commenting on your comment. Great comment!

[@dogcatmanvan]

Commenting on your comment's comment's comment! Thanks guys!

[@bchurchill3551]

@@phoenixgirl70 Thank you, thank you very much. (Channeling Elvis).

[@phoenixgirl70]

@@bchurchill3551 I picked up on the Elvis. Look, comment telepathy!