Im looking at a new pop up with a/c. Is it worth it? With it being in the 90's outside does it really cool the camper down? Will it take away some of the humidity?
Yes, yes, and yes. Worth it. Cools the camper down. Takes out the humidity. One thing about pop-up ACs, they are often the same ones they put in larger RVs.
Granted, nothings's better than camping in beautiful weather where you can leave it all unzipped and take in the fresh air, but when you happen to be camping in the 90s, it's nice to have that available relief...especially when trying to relax at bed time.
Yes. Get AC
Do not buy a popup without Air Conditioning any more than you would buy a new car or truck without AC. The AC in the pop-up works great, and allows you to camp on days when you otherwise wouldn't due the heat and humidity. And, even if you never use it (unlikely), it will certainly keep your resale value higher.
Quote from: cst34mil;206598Im looking at a new pop up with a/c. Is it worth it? With it being in the 90's outside does it really cool the camper down? Will it take away some of the humidity?
What area do you live in?
We live in SoCal and have only used the AC a few times. We mostly beach camp in the summer and just don't use it.
It cost about ~$1000 additional for a PU with AC. If you use it 4 times in 5 years, it's not a very good investment.
If you do a lot of summer camping in a bug infested area with high humidity, you will shoot yourself if you don't have it.:eyecrazy:
Food for thought...... If it's 90 degrees outside, it will be 110 degrees inside the PU. I camp down here in GA, and it's hard to find one without A/C.
Also in this region, most dealers will install them for about $ 650.00 when purchasing a new unit.
We just got back yesterday from our first trip with our new pop up. 6 days in the Ozarks. It was a nice trip, super Corp of Eng. campground, gorgeous blue lake and I have just one word for you,
[SIZE="6"]GET THE AIR CONDITIONER ![/SIZE]
It was in the high 90s with a heat index of 105 to 110! With the camper fully open, it was still hotter in the pop up than outside. The fan was nice but not enough help. I will be ordering one from E-Bay. New, in the box, full 2 year warrantee, 13500 BTU delivered for $496.00. It's the lest expensive one I've found, if anyone can find a better deal please let us know. We will be ordering one soon.
Quote from: Ol'Guy;206916We just got back yesterday from our first trip with our new pop up. 6 days in the Ozarks. It was a nice trip, super Corp of Eng. campground, gorgeous blue lake and I have just one word for you,
[SIZE="6"]GET THE AIR CONDITIONER ![/SIZE]
It was in the high 90s with a heat index of 105 to 110! With the camper fully open, it was still hotter in the pop up than outside. The fan was nice but not enough help. I will be ordering one from E-Bay. New, in the box, full 2 year warrantee, 13500 BTU delivered for $496.00. It's the lest expensive one I've found, if anyone can find a better deal please let us know. We will be ordering one soon.
That's one way to ensure that it won't be hot when your camping, ever again....:sombraro:
Yes, get the air....We also live in S.Cal and have used the A/C many times don't listen to Wavery he's a sailor never gets away from the Ocean Breeze....Luv Ya Wayne.....
We had our A/C installed after market for $500 well worth the price!!
Yes, get the A/C. Would not camp in the summer without it. If only for a few minutes of relief during the day when it hits 90 degrees plus outside it's worth it. Most units are long lasting with no problems. Ours sat in storage for 6 years and ran cool the first time back out.
Ya..............that's the other side of the coin :p..............if you don't get it, it'll be hotter than......well........you know......
It's kinda like Life Insurance........it's something that you buy and hope you never have to use it..........you don't buy it and........well........you know......:morning:
Thanks for all the a/c info. I thought that being surrounded by canvas, the cooliong would not be so effective. I would think in hot temps that it would not do to much. Here in Wisconsin, camping season can go from 20 to 95 degrees in amatter of a few short weeks or even days. Our camping season goes from April to October. I was planning a summer trip to Florida and I know how hot it can get. If it is 90 outside how cool can it get inside a pop up camper?
We originally purchased our PUP without A/C, after all we are only going to camp where it is cool. WRONG! Our first cross country trip in 2002 from AZ to PA at the end of July is where we learned our lesson. Checked the temps where we were heading, mid to high 80's. Didn't even think humidity. First night was in NM, camped, not bad. Second day we made it to Branson, MO. We were to be there for 2 nights, couldn't stay dry. We ended up going to a water park during the day and had the worst night trying to sleep. We pulled the PUP and only used it for 4 nights because the humidity was so bad across the midwest and PA. We ended up hotelling it the other times just so we could sleep. After we returned from that trip I shopped around for an A/C unit and we ended up purchasing online and our dealer installed it for us. Now I can turn on the A/C at home and pack or clean the PUP when it is 100+ degrees outside and we can camp in the heat.
When using the A/C at the campground we also use our Pop Up Gizmos covers. It definitely helps keep it cooler inside.
GET THE A/C!
Quote from: cst34mil;207096If it is 90 outside how cool can it get inside a pop up camper?
True, the "R" factor of the tenting and the unit is close to "0", but the A/C really helps removing the humidity inside the PU.
As I mentioned in my earlier response, we camp in GA, and the summer months will be in the mid nineties, with the humidity close to 100 %.
I have an indoor / outdoor thermometer that I use to monitor the inside 3-way fridge temperature, and it will show the inside PU temperature near 76 F when it's around 95 F outside the PU. The water coming out of the A/C is constant.
We have camped in 95 weather (ugh) with high humidity. That a/c does a fabulous job of cooling the camper. It's definitely worth the money. Despite the canvas, keep in mind the amount of space it's cooling is pretty minimal. I'm guessing that helps. We don't have bunk end covers, and it still functions just fine. I would not even consider camping during the summer (I live in Tennessee) without it. And, I'm not sure we have ever run ours on high (even in that heat).
When we were shopping around for campers, my wife told not to even look at one if it didnt have A/C. That may have been the smartest thing she ever told me. We love it. It's so nice to walk into that camper and it's nice & cool & refreshing inside.
I dont know about you, but I cant sleep when I'm sweating. Get the A/C.
Quote from: cst34mil;207096Thanks for all the a/c info. I thought that being surrounded by canvas, the cooliong would not be so effective. I would think in hot temps that it would not do to much. Here in Wisconsin, camping season can go from 20 to 95 degrees in amatter of a few short weeks or even days. Our camping season goes from April to October. I was planning a summer trip to Florida and I know how hot it can get.[COLOR="Red"] If it is 90 outside how cool can it get inside a pop up camper?[/COLOR]
General rule of thumb is a 20 degree heat reduction if you block up all the air leaks that you can. If it's 105 outside, don't expect to get the PU down to 70, it's not likely to happen. The big thing is the humidity. You can also expect about a 20-50% reduction in humidity (depending on how air tight you can get).
The other thing that you can do on extreme temperature days (hot or cold) is to block off one of the bunk ends if it's not in use. If it's really extreme, block off both ends and sleep in the dinette. We carry a couple of "Block-out" drapes for that very reason. We've used one with good results in cold weather. It made a big difference.
i agree with everyone else here........AC is worth every penny.........and it increases your resale value.........when i was looking for my PUP i didn't even consider not getting one with AC( live in South Carolina).........in fact, mine has a rooftop unit and a wall unit ( 5000 BTU's that someone else put in)........we had both going alot of the time........it was cold in the PUP
last time we went out it was 107 with the heat index.......you bet we loved having AC...i did like you suggested above and blocked off the bunkends with curtains and it helped alot( along with gizmos,etc).....always better to have AC and not need it than not have it and need it.........oh and we camp at beach CGs for the most part too.........SCmomma
yup, yup, yup... Could not do without A/C. Especially with 3 small kids. Mine I think is the 13500btu unit and it cools my 99 coleman niagara nicely. Ive camped out in Rocky Point ON the beach with it and it worked great. But like some of the others said, the bunk ends warmed up quite a bit. I dont have the gizmos but during the day we put our blankets on top and clipped them down and used our fans to "boost" the air so the kids could nap.
Unless we go winter camping we use it at least for a little while every trip. Also it is nice to turn it on when loading/unloading all your stuff at home.
Chiming in (again) to say I'm so very glad my pup has a/c. It's been a wonderful and relatively cool 10 days or so in Tennessee. Low humidity and temps in either 70's and low 80's. Naturally, as soon as normal hot and humid temps are hitting the region again, my a/c at home is not working. It was 85 in my house when I got home tonight. It's supposed to cool off so I'm hoping it will be tolerable tonight (with fans). Tomorrow?? I'm popping up and moving into the camper until we get the air fixed at home.
[COLOR="Red"][SIZE="7"]GET THE AC[/SIZE][/COLOR]
[SIZE="2"][COLOR="red"][COLOR="red"][COLOR="Black"]I just spent 12 nights in hot/humid Orlando, Florida and could not have slept or functioned without the AC. Afternoon T-storms closed the pool, so while it may not have actually rained, it was back to the camper for non-pool time.
There have been other camping trips where I've used the 'fan' portion of the AC and have been very pleased (not as hot/humid as FL in July). The AC circulates very well as does the fan - helps reduce condensation in the bunk ends, and provides 'white noise' which I definately need the first night camping (blasted frogs).[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/SIZE]
Quote from: PattieAM;208192[COLOR="Red"][SIZE="7"]GET THE AC[/SIZE][/COLOR]
[SIZE="2"][COLOR="red"][COLOR="red"][COLOR="Black"]I just spent 12 nights in hot/humid Orlando, Florida and could not have slept or functioned without the AC. Afternoon T-storms closed the pool, so while it may not have actually rained, it was back to the camper for non-pool time.
There have been other camping trips where I've used the 'fan' portion of the AC and have been very pleased (not as hot/humid as FL in July). The AC circulates very well as does the fan - helps reduce condensation in the bunk ends, and provides 'white noise' which I definately need the first night camping (blasted frogs).[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/SIZE]
--OR--
[SIZE="7"][COLOR="Red"]DON'T CAMP IN FLORIDA IN JULY[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE="1"]j/k.........I couldn't help it.......[/SIZE]
Just got back from the FL keys. Get the A/C. It was in the 90's everyday. The poppie was nice and cool. The other benefit from the A/C is the noise it makes helps drown out the loud inconsiderate jerks camping next to you at 0200 hrs. Now if I can just find a way to block the xenon searchlights they are using to light their tent site like a stadium, I'll be able to get a great nights sleep. GET THE A/C!!
I'm going to go against the popular opinion here! Don't hurt me!
I don't have a pop up with air and I did that on purpose for a few reasons.
1) To me, air conditioning is just not camping. Camping for my family is about being outdoors...hiking, swimming, boating, hanging out under the food tent at the picnic table etc. I feel like if the weather is super humid and hot, you can always re-schedule your trip lol. Or deal. We deal with it and still have great memories. Or camper is seriously only for sleeping in, and I've never had an unbearable night.
2) Air conditioning is another "system" to maintain. I don't even use my sink in the camper, lol. So I am happy with my pop up being a very basic tent on wheels!
Just my .02!
YES!!!! aLSO HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE "POP UP GIZMOS" TOO!
We have a nice travel trailer with ducted A/C. I don't think we've used it yet this year. We completed a 27 night trip with 10 nights in Yellowstone National Park. I believe 19 of our 27 nights were dry camping. We couldn't use the A/C those nights even if we wanted to. We were comfortable using 12 volt 10" fans. We didn't use it even when we had electric hookups. We did have some rather warm days and nights.
If you're intending to do a lot of dry camping (the best, IMHO), don't waste your money on A/C.
I do not use my air every time we camp, but when I do need it, it is there to use. We dry camp some times and camp with electric at other times. You got to do what you have to do. When we are roughing it air is not needed, but when we are using the camper as a home base and are gone all day go here and there it is nice to have a cool place to come back to. I 'm not a fan of really hot humid weather. Mark