Maybe I’m getting addicted to building this cargo trailer conversion or maybe I’m just having fun. No matter, as I progress I’m finding new, and sometimes better ways of doing things.
One such thing is the mini-split air conditioner. It’s not what you might think… I didn’t find a different brand or a better price or change my thinking about a roof-top RV style AC. What I did discover was a completely new type of air conditioner! Well, maybe not a completely new type but certainly new to me.
Flipping through YouTube I ran across a van build video that caught my eye. They were talking about a backpack mini split. Wait… what!? I had to investigate! It turns out that semi trucks have been using a type of mini split that runs on 12 volts for quite a while. These backpack mini-splits have been successfully used for cooling small spaces for a long time and can be adapted to installing on other vehicles easily.
The advantages that something like this backpack mini split air conditioner seem obvious: It runs on 12 (or some on 24) volts and requires much less space to install. I haven’t thoroughly researched the install process so I don’t know the details and limitations.
A quick look on Amazon reveals quite a few brands with minimal reviews that range from very poor to excellent. If you have any interest in one of these I would suggest doing thorough research before jumping in. They’re not relatively expensive but for the price point it would be worth doing your due diligence.
