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Some people have different tolerance I guess. I barely use my A/C and have taken a lot of long trips without it on hot, humid, Mid Atlantic days. Cold water helps.
A wet bandanna around your neck can help with feeling cooler. Taking a rest somewhere shady in the early afternoon between about noon thirty and two might help. Perhaps driving on the slower roads where you can have your windows down would be nicer? Sometimes the slow roads have more shade, parks and a lot less concrete that heats things up than the interstate. Plus it's a lot more interesting to look at than endless miles of hot concrete interstate.
Those would work when humidity is very low, but probably not going from eastern Texas to Minneapolis. When humidity is high, they just add more humidity. We had one of those that fit in the car window back in the early 50s. We used it on a trip out west (from eastern Kansas), iirc, but only that one time.
OP, you might consider watching the weather forecast/outlook before leaving. If it looks like a cool week, go for it. If the forecast is for high temps, just rent a car (if you can afford it). It can get VERY, VERY hot and humid along that stretch. I remember briefly visiting with a guy from Dallas at a rest area just outside of Sioux City several years ago in late July. We were both sweltering, as was everyone else. He said he'd never seen it so hot anywhere. (I hadn't either.) I think it was about 98 degrees/98% relative humidity.
My AC had gone out of my car the week before; luckily we had my wife's car to drive (or we' have driven the truck).
It doesn't usually get really hot in Iowa, etc. until mid July, but it was supposed to hit 101 degrees in Rapid City today. That would surely be an all-time record for the date. We could be in for another HOT summer across the U.S.
About 20 years ago my late wife and I took a trip back east from mid-June to late July. We stopped in Minneapolis one night to visit with my brother, and it was over 100 degrees. Bro assured me that when we got to the shores of Lake Superior it would be cool from the lake. It was 106 degrees in Thunder Bay!
If you're going to have to fix it before your Rockies drive, why not get it over with and fix it now? No need to suffer needlessly. Those ice chest coolers will make very little difference and you'll be buying ice several times a day. I just drove from Arizona to Alaska and I needed my air conditioning every single day. No way would I have wanted to do it without air.
Feel for ya. Poor musician here, I have made 2 x-country trips right through the hot center midsummer in a Dodge van with no AC and the engine hump inside the cab. daytime temps in the van - 118F. Heatwave of 2006 was a memorable one. Anyhow, the key is water: in addition to drinking a lot so you can sweat effectively, wet cotton and moving air will cool you. Rolling down the windows alone will not do it, a loose cotton shirt dampened will be heaven. wet cotton bandanna around the neck and even wrist/forearm cooling the blood in major arteries close to the surface and acting as your body's own radiator. These are all small things, but when you're poor you have to be creative It can be done. Driving at night is really the best suggestion, or at least not driving between noon & 6 pm or so
Didn't anyone catch that the heater wasn't working as well..
Each of these systems is in use by itself and do not crossover each other.. The only thing that would tie these two together is the blower (fan) motor as that is what both systems use to push their air into the vehicle...
So it isn't that the a/c doesn't work it is that the motor to push the air is on the fritz... And $1,000 to fix that seems kind of high.....
If you're young, in good shape, and acclimated to the heat, you'll probably be alright. Just don't drive during the hottest part of the day. Driving in intense heat makes me sleepy. I have a/c but I always carry extra water, tools, and duct tape when traveling long distances. If I have a breakdown in the heat, I can use the water for cooling myself or for the radiator if a hose bursts.
Didn't anyone catch that the heater wasn't working as well..
Each of these systems is in use by itself and do not crossover each other.. The only thing that would tie these two together is the blower (fan) motor as that is what both systems use to push their air into the vehicle...
So it isn't that the a/c doesn't work it is that the motor to push the air is on the fritz... And $1,000 to fix that seems kind of high.....
$1,000 does seem a bit steep. If the a/c evaporator is leaking, then it's most likely buried in the dash beside the heater core. Maybe that's what they were getting at??? If so, the whole dash will have to come out.
I'm going to Minneapolis in 2 weeks, the only issue with our vehicle though is the air conditioner does not work. We have 3 fans installed, 2 at the front and one at the back. It's okay at night but in the day during 80+ temps, it barely helps. We are discussing renting a car to go up there, though I personally do not want to do that, it will cost a hell of a lot more. Is there any suggestions of what to do to further cool the car, and how viable/economical is renting anyway? We are very low budget.
Last summer while driving our vehicle to Seattle from Atlanta our AC went out in Utah. We had to drive through Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in triple digits to mid 90s. Our two kids kept asking me to turn the sun off.
Windows down work, but destroy in car conversations. Better than nothing though.
Another suggestion is to drive at night and early morning before it gets blistering hot.
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It can be done. Driving at night is really the best suggestion, or at least not driving between noon & 6 pm or so
