Anyone tried making one of these? I want to build one just for the hell of it.

If you use the ice from your refrigerator you're not actually cooling your house. Thermodynamics, bitches.

More of a "tailgate AC" with dry ice or 1 gallon frozen water jugs you brought.

Nah, it's all good. I just leave the refrigerator door open.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1600419_Homemade_Air_Conditioner.html

PI's have been using "swamp coolers" inside surveillance vehicles for years. Only recently did most cars start coming with electric radiator cooling systems, you can run most oof those cars all day long with the ac at full blast and not overheat them. The old fan/clutch style coolers would overheat, that's why you saw police cars idling with their hoods up.

PI's would make those swamp coolers so they could stay longer in a parked car without the engine running. They're a great way to catch pneumonia with extended use.

Better than nothing but definitely don't expect to be cool. I drive a VW bus with no AC and in the summer, my dogs and I are sweating our balls off. Our homemade "AC unit" does a little more than a good fan. YMMV.