Portable A/C

[mudge]

I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with these portable a/c units?    I have been looking for pop-ups without a/c (because they are cheaper).   I am sure my husband would be capable of installing a unit on top.   But,  these seem pretty handy.   Does anyone know if they work ok or not?   Thanks a bunch!   Great stuff on this site.  Best site that I have been to.

[dthurk]

What do you mean by portable AC units?  I know that some have installed window AC's or through the wall AC's that install by adjusting the tenting or window material on their camper.  There are examples of this type of mod on various web sites.  You may be able to find them if you do a web search.  I don't have time to research it now, otherwise I'd include some links.  Sorry.    They'd have to be some rather hefty units, as the roof RV AC's are either 13,500 or 15,000 (I think) BTU's.  We don't have AC in our camper.  Haven't really needed it yet.

[mudge]

I saw some on the home depot website.   It has little wheels on the bottom and you can move them from room to room.   They have a few from 8,000 - 10,000 btu. $299.00-$499.00.   It says it come with two exhaust hoses.   One exhausts hot air outside and one bring air from the outside through the unit.   And you got cold air.    I dont know how good they are.   I just thought it might be easy and handy.   I don't know though.

[tlhdoc]

You would have to have a way to seal the two hoses so that the outside air doesn't just come right into the PU.  You would also have the unit sitting in the PU and it might be in the way.  A roof top unit is always there and not in the way.  A portable unit may have to work, especially if you can't install a roof top AC in your PU (not all PUs can have an AC unit mounted on the roof).

[mbutts]

I haven't used a portable A/C unit in the PUP yet, but I've had one running "temporarily" in a server closet at work for about 18 months now, 24 hours a day.  That one's a GE 13,500 BTU model purchased at Sam's Club for about $400.  I'm thinking about a smaller one for the camper, since I'm really concerned about mounting anything to the Santa Fe's ABS roof.

[flyfisherman]

I have a portable Delonghi 7500 btu unit that I use around the house during the real hot time of the year. Also, have a couple of relations that I visit during the summer and their A/C is simply not adaquete ... so I bring my own! Have also used it in the popup a few times but usually in the hot months you'll find me in the mountains where you'll need covers over you before the sun rises.

Have made three hot weather trips where it got downright muggy at night. Did an o.k. job of cooling down and keeping the camper comfortable. Should say that I only used the unit at night; and I use Refectix over the canvas bunk ends for both hot and cold extremes, which do make a difference inside. My little Starcraft measures out to something like 16' when opened. This Delonghi unit has a "window kit" where you open a window just a crack and then close on this  long, narrow vent, which is connected to the unit. It exhausts the condensation with a little hot air. Using with the popup, simply unzip a section of the canvas by the door just enough to stick the exhaust hose out (without the window kit), zip back snug and then use a towel to make sure all is closed. Works fine for me ... AND ... I get to use this little A/C unit for different places, kinda getting my money's worth! When tarveling down the road I have a special place where it rides in the back of the truck. It's a tad too high to travel upright in the folded down camper.

Now, I understand my little unit is no longer available; the newer one is 9000 btu but about the same size and weight (and more money, too!)


Fly