Swamp Cooler on a Budget

For those who boondock in the arid climates, there are plenty of times when it's plenty hot out, but dry enough that the massive power consumption of an air conditioner just seems a shame. We priced evaporative ("swamp") coolers built for 12-volt use and were amazed at the relatively high cost of these systems. Here's a potential alternative:

Does your rig have a "power vent," say a "Fantastic Fan"? If you do, crank the lid up, turn the fan on, and hang a damp towel in the window--or windows. The power vent will pull dry, outside air into your rig, and the damp towel will add that refreshing bit of humidity, while actually dropping the temperature. All this for a lot less power consumption.

Of course, if you want a "real" factory made swamp cooler, here's one source.

Photo: turbokool.com