Reviewer Profile
Tested Performance
Visual Highlights
Cooling Performance:Dropped from 79°F to 73°F within 20 minutes on turbo mode with front cab curtains left open.(31:06)
Noise Level: Measured 62 dB on turbo – a dramatic reduction from the old unit's 78-79 dB, making normal conversation possible again.(30:27)
Power Consumption: Held steady around 374W (31A) at 12V while maintaining low temperature setpoint – less than one-third of the old 110V unit's draw.(31:30)
Off-Grid Runtime:Runs longer than 6 hours continuously on a 600Ah lithium bank.(33:53)
Recommendation: A game-changer for off-grid camping – highly recommended for anyone wanting to eliminate generator reliance and keep pets safe in hot weather.(32:25)
Detailed Analysis
Unboxing & first look: OutEquipPro 12V components
The OutEquipPro 12V arrived with all necessary parts. Inside the box:
- Indoor ceiling unit with LED control panel
- Approximately 15 feet of 6-gauge wiring
- Two metal support bars to sandwich the unit between roof and ceiling
- Mounting bolts (two different lengths) and brass fittings
- Closed-cell foam gasket for sealing
The unit itself is slim – just over six inches tall, roughly 28 inches wide and 28 inches deep.
Interior cinching: foam, bracket trimming & bolt drama
The gasket was laid down first, then sealed around the perimeter with a flexible roof flashing caulk from Home Depot. Nothing fancy, but effective for the job.
From inside the camper, the process to secure the unit involved:
- Insert extra foam (provided in the kit) into the gap around the opening to block air leaks.
- Cut down the metal support brackets: remove about 3/4 of an inch on each side to fit the interior cutout.
- Place the brackets against the ceiling.
- Choose the correct bolts: the shorter ones were not long enough to reach through the fiberglass roof and interior panel.
- Switch to the longer bolts and thread them into the brass fittings on the AC unit (smaller thread up first).
- Tighten all bolts until the unit is firmly sandwiched between roof and ceiling – the foam gap becomes compressed.
- After tightening, the longer bolts extended too far downward. Cut the tips of the bolts with a grinder so the face plate (beauty ring) can sit flush.
Wiring through the roof: marine gland & cable routing
The most difficult part was routing the 6-gauge DC cable from the roof to the battery bank. The sequence:
- Identify a thin fiberglass section that used to be the top of the old fridge – drill a 2-inch hole there.
- Prepare a marine-style cable entry gland to seal the penetration.
- Attempt to pass the factory DC plug through the gland – it was too bulky.
- Solution: Slit the rubber boot of the gland, feed the wires through individually, then re-seal with extra caulk.
- Apply sealant over the slit and around the gland to make it weatherproof.
- Inside the van, tuck the wire behind the wall.
- Run the wire past the inverter and connect directly to the battery positive and negative terminals.
The owner noted that if the AC is installed early in a van build , this wiring step would be much faster.
First power-on: turbo mode, amp draw & decibel test
With the install complete, the owner powered up the OutEquipPro. Testing conditions and results:
- Van interior starting temperature: 79°F (almost 80°F), battery SOC around 70-75%.
- Remote set to turbo mode, target temperature 63°F.
- Compressor kicked in and quickly settled into a steady draw of 375W.
- After 20 minutes, interior dropped to 73°F (6°F reduction).
- Unit then settled into a lower draw of 375W (≈31A).
- Noise level measured 62 dB on turbo – compared to old 78 dB, significantly quieter.
- The test was done with front cab curtains open (no extra insulation), intentionally stressing the unit.
The owner noted that conversation inside is now possible without yelling, and the cooling feels effective.
Would the owner recommend it? Yes – for off-grid desert camping
After three days of install (including hail, bolt trimming, cable routing hacks, and wiring hide), the verdict: the OutEquipPro 12V is absolutely recommended for anyone wanting to run AC off battery/solar without a generator. The ability to keep dogs cool while away from the van, combined with lower power consumption and noise, makes it a game-changer for the 2002 Shinook.
