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how effective is a/c in a pop up

Started by rocknroll, May 31, 2005, 07:02 PM

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beacher

Yes it will make a difference!  My hottest campout was in San Diego at Campland On the Bay last September.  The temps rose to 103 and the temp inside my PU was 73 degrees.  NICE!

That was after I left it running for a few hours, without Gizmos.  Since I discovered Gizmos the A/C has had no problem cooling down the PU.

You will find that the newer "high efficiency" models cool better than the old standard A/Cs.  Coleman makes the P.S. model, Carrier the AirV, and Duotherm the High Efficiency model.  They also use a little less power, so they can be used with one of the smaller quiet inverter generators.

gekko65

:D

Posted - 06/05/2005 :  01:06:06 AM          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Well - I did the Reflectix in both bunkend windows and I also covered the bunkend roofs with the PopUp-Gizmo-Solar end covers.

Results: I just got back from San Felipe,Mexico. The temp reached over 110 degrees in the day and with the AC on low most of the day the trailer stayed at about 75 degrees. Without AC PUP went up to about 90 degrees with windows closed. So all in all I was very happy with the performance.

Total cost for refletix and roof covers about $135........

 :!

byrdr1

2 years ago this month. we were at Myrtle Beach, SC.
I ran my AC on high speed max cool the whole week.
It was a Brisk/Air 13500BTU.
I had nothing on the bunk ends.
It ran and I could have hung meat inthe popup that week, the wife was like turn it down but I knew once I got the PU cool if I ever backed down we would play catch up the rest of our vacation..
If you cover the ends with POPUP GIZMOs bunk covers and you run it on high speed it should and could bring the temps down to the mid to upper 60's inside the PU.
I at that time di not have a in&out themometer like I do now.
BUT I believe you should be able to cold the PU unless you have a brown out type condition in the power from the pole/box. NOT a true 120volts & 30amps.
JMHO as one who has been there and now doing it in a TT.
randy

inventme

Quote from: byrdr12 years ago this month. we were at Myrtle Beach, SC.
I ran my AC on high speed max cool the whole week.
It was a Brisk/Air 13500BTU.
I had nothing on the bunk ends.
It ran and I could have hung meat inthe popup that week, the wife was like turn it down but I knew once I got the PU cool if I ever backed down we would play catch up the rest of our vacation..
If you cover the ends with POPUP GIZMOs bunk covers and you run it on high speed it should and could bring the temps down to the mid to upper 60's inside the PU.
I at that time di not have a in&out themometer like I do now.
BUT I believe you should be able to cold the PU unless you have a brown out type condition in the power from the pole/box. NOT a true 120volts & 30amps.
JMHO as one who has been there and now doing it in a TT.
randy

We just purchased the 06 Fleetwood Niagara without the A/C unit. Our sales guy told us he purchased a portable A/C unit at Home Depot for about $250 bucks that worked just great. I have not checked them out yet, but was wondering if anyone else had experience with them? Is it worth the $750-$1000 installed for the roof-top A/C?

Thanks,
Travis

tlhdoc

How many BTUs is the portable AC unit?:)

inventme

Quote from: tlhdocHow many BTUs is the portable AC unit?:)

Well, in my searches I have only found 9000 and 10000 BTU units, but they are not $250--more like $500. For that amount, I will just buy the RV one (at 15k BTU) and install it myself. How difficult is the install? Are there instructions posted anywhere online (URL please...:))

Thanks,
Travis

zamboni

Quote from: inventmeOur sales guy told us he purchased a portable A/C unit at Home Depot for about $250 bucks that worked just great. I have not checked them out yet, but was wondering if anyone else had experience with them? Is it worth the $750-$1000 installed for the roof-top A/C?

Popup (and campers in general) have limited floor space.  Do you really want to sacrifice it on a portable AC?  I'm not sure how much cost they add - but it is defiitely worth having it mounted on the roof, as it is totally out of your way.

Cheapest portables I've seen are about $350...

repairman222

Quote from: zamboniPopup (and campers in general) have limited floor space.  Do you really want to sacrifice it on a portable AC?  I'm not sure how much cost they add - but it is defiitely worth having it mounted on the roof, as it is totally out of your way.

Cheapest portables I've seen are about $350...

You are so right about them taking up floor space. We just purchased one for our last trip and it not only took up alot of space, but they also don't do very well on a day that's above 85 degrees. Night time was fine, but still not worth the price of $350. I will be buying rooftop unit wery soon.

             Bill

byrdr1

Quote from: inventmeWell, in my searches I have only found 9000 and 10000 BTU units, but they are not $250--more like $500. For that amount, I will just buy the RV one (at 15k BTU) and install it myself. How difficult is the install? Are there instructions posted anywhere online (URL please...:))
 
Thanks,
Travis
Do you have a 14x14 roof vent in the center of your PU if so you have the hole already cut into it.
Do you have a prewired for AC Pu then all you would have to do is runa cord from the unit to the outlet box under a cabinet somewhere. I would believe that the Niagra would be prewired for AC. So you are already more than half way there... You can buy on-line and have it shipped and save lots of money. Check RVwholesalers.com for the unit and get free shipping most of the time. With the hole inteh roof and prewired you will need an extra person to help you raise it up to the roof and get it into the hole. the rest is simple. Make sure you get an installation kit also. (Gaskets and stuff).
I know of 2 people who did this and were glad they did. Also with the new bigger camper I would also lean to the 15K BTU unit not much more in price.
Hope this helps!
randy

cjpoppin

We had a roof A/C put in after camping our first summer without one........It's a roof mount and does it work great (13500 ).......We do use the solar covers which really help. Most of the time we turn it down or even off......... ~Carol~

inventme

Quote from: byrdr1Do you have a 14x14 roof vent in the center of your PU if so you have the hole already cut into it.
Do you have a prewired for AC Pu then all you would have to do is runa cord from the unit to the outlet box under a cabinet somewhere. I would believe that the Niagra would be prewired for AC. So you are already more than half way there... You can buy on-line and have it shipped and save lots of money. Check RVwholesalers.com for the unit and get free shipping most of the time. With the hole inteh roof and prewired you will need an extra person to help you raise it up to the roof and get it into the hole. the rest is simple. Make sure you get an installation kit also. (Gaskets and stuff).
I know of 2 people who did this and were glad they did. Also with the new bigger camper I would also lean to the 15K BTU unit not much more in price.
Hope this helps!
randy

Randy,
There is not a roof vent already there. As for the prewire, I don't think that exists either. I got a quote from the local dealer for $780 + tax on the 13.5k btu unit installed, wired, etc. Not bad considering the price to order such (for the Coleman unit) runs ~600 for parts plus shipping. I would be willing to spend a couple hundred for a warrantied install. BTW, the local dealer said that the 15k BTU was made for 30' trailers and would be overkill for what I need--even when I mentioned I am planning on camping at Lake Powell and Lake Mead (~115-120 degree, dry heat). He said I would only need the 15k unit if I was hanging meat in the PU :)

Ted

Quote from: rocknrollI just picked up a 2005 Yuma. I had A/C added, mach3 plus. And went on my first trip. Outside temp was 79 deg. And the air was worthless.
I have a 2002 Yuma, to which I added a 13,500 BTU A/C.  With outside temp in the mid 90's, inside was very comfortable. Made it possible to go out for an hour or two walking on the trails, and then come inside to cool off, and then back out again.  
 
It about froze us at night with outside temp in the low 70's. The side benefit of A/C is the "white noise" effect if you happen to be in the vicinity of those who are up later than you enjoying the great outdoors.

Ted

Quote from: inventmeRandy,
There is not a roof vent already there. As for the prewire, I don't think that exists either. I got a quote from the local dealer for $780 + tax on the 13.5k btu unit installed, wired, etc. Not bad considering the price to order such (for the Coleman unit) runs ~600 for parts plus shipping. I would be willing to spend a couple hundred for a warrantied install. BTW, the local dealer said that the 15k BTU was made for 30' trailers and would be overkill for what I need--even when I mentioned I am planning on camping at Lake Powell and Lake Mead (~115-120 degree, dry heat). He said I would only need the 15k unit if I was hanging meat in the PU :)
With a Coleman Yuma, I has told that I would not notice much (if any) difference between a 13.5 and a 15 BTU.  For something the size of a Yuma, 13.5 BTU is definitely enough.  Like you, I take comfort in having something installed professionally with a warranty.  I run into a technical skills wall when I need to know something beyond "righty tighty" and "lefty loosey."

Ted

Quote from: cjpoppinWe had a roof A/C put in after camping our first summer without one........It's a roof mount and does it work great (13500 ).......We do use the solar covers which really help. Most of the time we turn it down or even off......... ~Carol~
Carol, are the solar covers fairly easily to put on and keep in place?

pupcamper

Our a/c did very well in upper 80's range.  Didn't have to set the thermostat more than 1/4 of the way up. Our next trip will be in near  100 temps. Intrested to see how well it works then. Most anything will  be better than  trying to sleep in a hot  tent.