Using HVAC with Campstream One?

[JjamesS]

So the Campstream One looks like a great solution to occasional hot nights with my RTT, however I'm not sure exactly how controlling the HVAC works and am hoping some people with experience here can help me out.

I assume you start by going into camp mode, setting camp courtesy, turning Manage Energy on, and allow it to stay 'on' all the time (probably turning off the screens).

On initial setup you turn on the HVAC, shut all the vents except the center two, and head into the tent. Now obviously you don't get any true 'thermostat' feature, since the HVAC can't sense the air temp in the tent, but no matter, you just want to blow cold air in until it's comfortable. However, what if you do want to adjust the temp? Testing in my garage, you can connect with the app and adjust the temp, but that seems to set the entire system to Auto and open up a lot of the vents you closed, greatly diminishing effectiveness (which may be fine, if it's just overcooling you), but also affecting overall efficiency. Getting out and going into the cabin seems... dumb.

What are people doing? just setting it to max cool for the early part of the night and keeping it there, or maybe just shutting it off entirely halfway through the night?

(Also, anyone who's compared this to one of the portable AC solutions like ZeroBreeze or EcoFlow, your input is welcome! I'm suspecting the Campstream is more effective since the Rivian HVAC simply has more BTUs, but wondering if efficiency losses through cabin vents and longer hoses may offset that somewhat.)

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[gvardan]

Did you find any answers? I'm in the same situation. I was testing it out in my garage, and I'm not sure what I'm missing. Not only does it open the other vents, but it also seems that camp mode closes the middle vent, effectively defeating the whole purpose..

 

[DaveA]

That thing looks like hot garbage for $499. Plug in a $150 window unit ac in the bed and run 5 ft of ductwork into the tent....saved you $350 and the air won't heat up during its 15-20 ft of hose travel.

 

[KBabione]

I have a stupid question for you: Can't you just put duct tape over the vents you want to keep closed? A good tape (Gorilla Tape) won't leave any residue especially since it will be a short period of time.

 

[gvardan]

As the original post suggests, the camp mode or app control, for some reason, seems to be closing the middle two vents and opening the side ones. So, it’s not just about closing the other vents but also keeping the middle ones open. Additionally, the vents under the seats are not easy to close

 

[EVTrukHog]

I’ve been considering one of these units myself… if it could eliminate the diesel heater and diesel fuel, then it would be a win.

if you leave the driver seatbelt fastened, can you trick the Rivian into thinking the vehicle is occupied and let you retain vent control via the app?

any feedback from Campstream users that have some actual experience?

 

[cadueitt]

Bit late on the reply here but I do own a Campstream one and while nice, it is not without its drawbacks.

As mentioned it is designed to work with the center two vents and close off all others. The problem is that even with the vents closed on the screen there is still airflow from those other vents so you end up heating/cooling the cab anyway.

I haven't found any way to guarantee those vents stay open to push air into the tent other than to physically go back into the cab of the truck and adjust on the screen.

There are significant losses in the external hose to the tent even using the included insulation. In one of the coldest days I stayed in the tent which admittedly was in the 20s, I had heat coming out of the vents at 120 degrees but at the outlet in the tent I was seeing 60. This was at max temp and with the leakage at the other vents the cabin temp got up to 95 degrees. If you set heat at any actual value it would kick off the heat so I was forced to use max temp. I saw a massive 3kwh/hr decrease that night with my gen1 heater.

It is better with AC at least in my experience at 1kwh/hr and losses through the external hose were much better.

I'm working through a hybrid solution to use an inline fan instead of the center vents which will give me the ability to use the app to control temp.

 

[PhatDaddy]

Also considering RTT cooling/heating options. As the OP mentioned, “…anyone who's compared this to one of the portable AC solutions like ZeroBreeze or EcoFlow…” Feedback would be helpful… Anyone?

 

[strykerwsu]

Ecoflow unit works great with an extra battery. However it is big and heavy.

 

[PhatDaddy]

Ecoflow unit works great with an extra battery. However it is big and heavy.

Is drainage or condensation an issue with the Ecoflow?

 

[strykerwsu]

Is drainage or condensation an issue with the Ecoflow?

Hasn't been for me. Unit stays in truck bed and up to my rtt. Worked great in mild cold 40s and mild warm upper 80s.

If R1s, might try to rought drain plug into small container.

 

[EVTrukHog]

Also considering RTT cooling/heating options. As the OP mentioned, “…anyone who's compared this to one of the portable AC solutions like ZeroBreeze or EcoFlow…” Feedback would be helpful… Anyone?

This is my summer setup for A/C:

This setup works great... I typically use shore power or R1T AC outlet to avoid having to charge the unit batteries. It'll freeze you out of the RTT... and provide some moderation in the Annex Plus tent enclosure.

 

[PhatDaddy]

This is my summer setup for A/C:

This setup works great... I typically use shore power or R1T AC outlet to avoid having to charge the unit batteries. It'll freeze you out of the RTT... and provide some moderation in the Annex Plus tent enclosure.

That is the ZeroBreeze, right? Mark 2? Mark 3? No issues with drain/pump while laying on it’s side like in photo?

 

[EVTrukHog]

That is the ZeroBreeze, right? Mark 2? Mark 3? No issues with drain/pump while laying on it’s side like in photo?

I’ve always left the unit outside my tent… it needs to be kept upright for the condensate hose to drain properly. The hose creates quite a bit of condensation as well so be aware of that when you route it. It’s worked great for me in sweltering heat and humidity. YMMV.

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