Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

When we camp we almost always take our SUV tent and attach it to the side of the teardrop.
Our two boys sleep in the tent and we sleep in the teardrop.
The teardrop door on the tent side stays open at night.
I then had an idea for an easy way to "install" our AC unit.
We don't alway need AC when we camp so I didn't want to permanently install it in the tear.

So here is what I came up with. I "installed" it in the tent!!
I cut a flap in the side of my tent.
I talked my mother inlaw into doing the sewing.
She sewed on some edge tape and some velcro.

Pull the flap down and slide in the AC unit.
The flap is on the side of the tent closest to the
teardrop so when in position it is under the teardrop and for the most part hidden from view.

Here is the flap in the closed position.

Here is the flap open.

AC unit in position

Close-up of AC unit


We did a test run in the gargage.
It was 89 degrees and humid, it worked well.
We also have a small fan for the tent which will help
circulate the air back towards the teardrop if needed.

I think this idea should work well.
On the trips when AC is not needed we can leave
it at home and just keep the flap closed.

Kind of funny when you think about it.
I have an airconditioned tent!

That's really slick, good job.

Do you have any shots of how that tent attaches to the side of the TD? I've never seen an SUV tent attached as a side tent.

Ira wrote:Do you have any shots of how that tent attaches to the side of the TD? I've never seen an SUV tent attached as a side tent.

Ira I don't have any clear shots of how I attach it. The "boot" part of the tent wraps around the front edge and side of the tear. I stap the boot in place across the top of the tear with bungee cords. The bungee cords go over the top and attach to the frame on the opposite side of the tear. I then tuck the window flap of the tent under the matress (you can see that in the above pictures). I also have a rain fly/awning that I mount across the top of the tent. I position it so the awning part extends over the tear. This helps shed any rain water. I hope that makes sense. Next time out I will try to get some clear shots.

If you check the hall of fame look at the pictures of Bill R's 46 Kit. He has a SUV tent and has a few pics. His tent is slightly different but it will give you an idea of how it is attached. Here is a link:
http://www.kitteardrop.com/photo.htm

This is the tent that I have.

Thanks for taking the time to reply! Can I assume it has another door, as opposed to the side that attaches to the TD?

Ira wrote:Thanks for taking the time to reply! Can I assume it has another door, as opposed to the side that attaches to the TD?

Ira I just updated my post with a picture of the tent I use. Yes It has an opening on the boot side of the tent and it has a door.

Yeah, I was wondering how you attached it to a flat surface.

Nice idea. Neat little modification you did there to your Sportz tent. I saw somethin' similar once that someone had done to a pop up tent trailer. Cut a hole as you did in the tent and placed the AC unit on a little stand outside the tent they had made just for that purpose. They claimed it worked very well, cooling the pop up tent, and as you said they just didn't bring it when not needed. I rigged my camper with the AC near the rear door so the AC could blow into my Sportz tent. Dang sure knocks the heat down in the tent.

Really slick solution to your particular needs. Good idea, and great work. Oh yeah, thank your Mother-in-Law for the help! (now does she get to use the teardrop?)

Thanks for all the nice replies.


Chris my father in-law would love it if I built him a 5X10.....but I don't think my mother in-law would ever use it. She likes her 32 ft. travel trailer. A teardrop is alittle too small/confined for her.

Great idea I had been wondering how to have AC or an as needed basis, you definitely nailed it .

asianflava wrote:Yeah, I was wondering how you attached it to a flat surface.

Ira wrote:Do you have any shots of how that tent attaches to the side of the TD? I've never seen an SUV tent attached as a side tent.

I just returned from a trip to Silver Lake Michigan.
I was able to take a few pictures of the side tent attached to the tear.
It wraps around the front and the top of the tear.
Once all the straps and cords are tight it rests snug against the side of the tear (the flat surface).

You probably do not have the humidity that we have in TN, but do you have any problem with the drainage from the A/C unit soaking into the tent?
When I turn my A/C unit on, it pulls about a cup of moisture from the air in about 15 minutes.
I am going to attach some callapsible tubing to the drain and run it several feet away from the TD. I don't want mud oozing between my toes in the morning.

Bandit wrote:You probably do not have the humidity that we have in TN, but do you have any problem with the drainage from the A/C unit soaking into the tent?

Well we used the A/C unit this weekend. It was in the 90's and very humid. We would have not been able to sleep if we didn't have it on this trip. As far as the water drainage from the A/C unit it really wasn't an issue. I always set up the tent on a tarp. I do my best to position the tent and the tear so the water drains away from the tent. Even if the water would go under the tent the bottom of the tent is "waterproof" so the interior does not get wet.

Very nice job!

Smart too

Rob