Budget?
I'm generally not a fan of installing window ACs on vans; the lack of vertical support always seemed sketchy to me, and van bodies lack the space to install a proper support bracket like on a house. However if you are 100% sure that you will be parked and not moving the van at all for 4 months, maybe you can build a bracket to support it on the ground. Make sure to get an inverter unit, otherwise the constant bang-bang-bang-bang of it turning on and off will keep you awake at night.
Alternatively, get one of Midea's hose-in-hose portable units, preferably the smaller 10,000 BTU/hr one. Use the hose outline to make a cardboard template, then cut an adapter template out of plywood and install it in a window. There might be someone on Etsy who sells one already.
The most vanlife friendly (and most expensive) option would be to buy an EcoFlow Wave 3. Sure it's only 6100 BTU/hr, but it does have an inverter, can be mounted outside, and there are plenty of hose adapters available for van windows.
You're wrong. They exhaust air from your home and air comes in through the window seals and door seals and any other leaky spots. Mini splits and window air units do not exchange any air with the outside. They only pipe the coolant to the outdoor radiator.
There are multiple videos and articles online explaining this. I can find one for you if you need.
So, portable AC units are pretty much useless UNLESS they are dual hose. Single hose units don't suck air from the outside but they exhaust air from your house, meaning that the air has to be replaced somehow. Usually this means air will enter your house through door seals and window seals to replace the air thats been exhausted. For all intents and purposes this means it's sucking in the outside air. This drastically lowers the efficiency of the unit because its always working against itself.
A dual hose unit will not bring in outside air because it pulls in outside air and blows it back out when it's done with it. This minimizes any gas exchange between the inside and outside of your house.
I reccomend to friends and family to only buy portable units if you can get a dual hose setup. I have a dual hose setup myself. They are more expensive but I got one on sale at home hardware for around 600 dollars. Traditional window units are still much better than any portable AC unit, but dual hose will get the job done.
I got this one on sale:
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/midea-duo-real-cool-portable-air-conditioner-ac-dual-hose-10-000-btu-0438821p.html
I got this when my 41 year old AC started getting real loud in the summer of 2024. I replaced that unit and now use this in a large bedroom until I get the window unit it.
It works well. Looking back, I should have got the 14,000 BTU at that time but they didnt have any in stock. The phone App is nice. Much better that the Friedich.
Midea Duo 12,000 BTU (10,000 BTU SACC) High Efficiency Inverter, Ultra Quiet Portable Air
I have the dual hose version from Menards (black, no heat) and it’s great. It cools the larger part of my house (with the help of a box fan to get the air to move from the living room to the kitchen)
hx87
