Running A/C at idle for long periods with Hurricane SO I6

[capelee]

I will be replacing my old 318 Dakota whose frame succumbed to extensive rust and looking at a Ram
and the Hurricane engine for power. I'll be taking a months long trip through the South and will need to
leave the A/C running for my dog for at least 2 hours a day while I run errands, eat at a restaurant, etc.

I know cop cars run their engines extensively at idle, but I need to keep this truck for 10 years or more
and I am worried about how this new turbo'd engine would deal with the A/C load at idle for say an hour
at a time, day in and day out for months?

Am I better off getting a little gas generator to put in the bed and some kind of little window A/C unit?
After the trip I will still need to run the A/C in the summer daily when I need to leave the dog in the truck.
Appreciate dog owners and other thoughts on this kind of situation!
Thank you.

 

[crash68]

The turbo won't be making any boost at idle, so other than run time wear-n-tear there shouldn't be any outstanding issue over a naturally aspirated engine. You'll probably want to do oil changes based more on run time verse mileage and use a good full synthetic oil.
If using a window unit and a generator is probably the better scenario as you won't accumulate truck engine wear. Luckily your considered the Hurricane instead of the Hemi, the later would probably suffer accelerated cam/lifer wear.

 

[Daw14]

Be careful where you stop , in lots of places it is legal to bust your window out to free an over heating dog.

Even just an unattended pet is good enough reason, according to Karen.

 

[Magfan2]

The car or truck can heat REALLY fast. Running or not, I would not leave one of my boys in the vehicle except for a very brief period of time.

 

[capelee]

Thank you!

 

[mikeru]

Yeah this is not something I'd do with any pet. But if you decide to do that be sure you're parked in the shade for the entire time you're away from the truck.

 

[Daw14]

Back in the eighties , I had a 73 B200 van.
I had a Rottweiler/pit bull mix , I named Hemi Dog.
I did a lot of traveling, took him to Mopar Nationals in Ohio.
Visited family in Pa.
And other trips up the east coast , plus all over Florida.

He was my ride companion, I never had problems with people saying he was overheating, or not treated well.

But ,nowadays I would never think of leaving any pet in a car , because everyone has cellphones, and thinks everything is their responsibility .

Lots of people have trouble minding their own business, so they tend to other people’s lives.

I would put a visible sign stating your phone #, and please don’t smash my window. Just to try and protect yourself and pets from know it alls.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Back in the eighties , I had a 73 B200 van.
I had a Rottweiler/pit bull mix , I named Hemi Dog.
I did a lot of traveling, took him to Mopar Nationals in Ohio.
Visited family in Pa.
And other trips up the east coast , plus all over Florida.

He was my ride companion, I never had problems with people saying he was overheating, or not treated well.

But ,nowadays I would never think of leaving any pet in a car , because everyone has cellphones, and thinks everything is their responsibility .

Lots of people have trouble minding their own business, so they tend to other people’s lives.

I would put a visible sign stating your phone #, and please don’t smash my window. Just to try and protect yourself and pets from know it alls.

You ARE correct about nosy folks.... but it's nothing new, cell phones be damned. Remember Gladys Kravitz from Bewitched, with the hubby named Abner?!
I will say this: We are currently in the 20's here in Houston. My next door neighbor has 2 tiny breed dogs in a doghouse in their yard (allegedly has a heat lamp according to them).
What say you?

 

[Daw14]

Well I stopped taking my dogs with me , unless it’s the vet.
But , I would search for the cord supplying power , or at least do a sneak delivery of a blanket or two for those pups.
As long as I did not get hit with bullets , it’d be a success.

 

[capelee]

Yeah I'm super aware of heat buildup in vehicles, that's why I'm trying to figure a safe way to keep her cool. With my last dog I didn't take her unless I knew I could park in the shade and it would be brief, but if I am going to be on the road for a month, that is a whole different ball game. I've gotta find a bulletproof solution, putting her in a kennel for a month is not acceptable to me.

 

[mtofell]

You might look into a battery pack in lieu of a gas generator is you go that route. The technology and ability of batteries has really come a long way in the last few years. I got one for my elderly mom to power her gas furnace when the power goes out (takes about 300W for the blower fan, inducer fan, igniter, etc.). The furnace can run for about 12 hours which gives some time for the power to come back on or for me to get to her and get her somewhere warm.

Of course, an A/C takes a lot more power but if you're only running it for an hour or two at a time it could work and you could charge it back up while driving (fwiw, it charges super-quick - IIRC and hour or two). The one I got is on the larger side and you might be able to get away a smaller one. A definite benefit of the battery route is that it's virtually silent and won't draw attention. Costco has some good options.

And yeah, be mindful of well-meaning folks that are worried about your pooch. You might even put a sign on the window with a thermometer in sight.

 

[White six four]

What about changing your "errands"? I hate going places especially with a lot of people so I always get in and get out. In your case eating at a restaurant. Plenty of sit down restaurants have carryout options. Order ahead pickup the food and eat in your truck.

I wouldn't leave my dogs alone in a vehicle any longer then I'd have too. Whether the Karen's are around or not.