IS Air Conditioning needed

[kwatson51]

Here's my $0.02 (they did away with the 'cent' sign when the last typewriter was made!)
We live in Colorado Springs and have camped all over Colorado.  We have never needed A/C at night. During the day, there have been times it would have been nice, but we get by. Sat out under the awning and enjoyed the almost ever-present breeze. We're both warm-natured, so we get hot easily. Also been to the North Rim (tent - pre-popup days), and it was quite pleasant (cold at night).

We're from Austin Texas originally, and camping in Texas, well that's a whole 'nother story!

You might want to take along some space blankets for the bunk-ends during the day. We haven't needed that either, but some folks swear by them.


BTW...we have a 2000 Starcraft PU.

[fritz_monroe]

My thinking has always been that an AC is a fairly small expense when it comes to enjoying your vacation.  For the $700 or so that it costs to have it installed, it will give years (hopefully) of more comfortable camping.  Will you use it all the time?  Probably not, but on that extremely hot and humid night when you can't sleep and you have a long drive the next day, it will pay for itself.

Just my 2

[maromeo]

We purchased our unit in 2002 with no A/C because we thought we would only camp in cool places......NOT. In May of 2003 we purchased an A/C unit and had the dealer install it. The price you were quoted is a very fair if not good price. We traveled from AZ to PA via MO in 2002 and wished we had an A/C unit on. We suffered in the heat of Branson, Indiana, Illinois and throughout the midwest. We haven't used it too much but we are greatful to have it when we need it. Hope this helps.
Mary Romeo

[Ted]

Hello everybody, the bride and I are planning a trip out west with stops in the Bad Lands, Yellowstone, Zion National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon before heading to Colorado Springs and St Louis and then MAYBE heading home. This will all be done in the month of July and hitting the North Rim around July 20th. We just purchased a new Fleetwood Sante Fe but it doesn't have air conditioning. Do you think it would be a wise investment to have it installed or even do it myself. Thanks ahead of time for your time.
Bob

I live in TX and camped last July at a place where we enjoyed a bit of hiking.  It was a real pleasure to go hike a bit when it was very warm, come back to the PU to cool off with the the A/C, venture out again, come back and cool off again.  Also, at night, if you are really pooped and want to hit the sack early, that A/C is great white noise.  I can't imagine camping in TX or any other sunny summer state in the warm seasons without A/C.  Also, those mosquitoes do not like the cool air! Then again, I am an admitted lover of creature comforts!  My mind loves roughing it, my body loves feeling comfy!  A/C is one of the great compromises for a PU.  
 
The only disadvantage I have found to A/C is when you get a lot of condensation on the tent material and you want to leave early in the morning.  If you want to travel on with dry fabric, you will have to wait for the sun to burn it off.  In that case, it is a plus not to be surrounded by a lot of tree cover.

[SherryandFamily]

Another thing about the A/C is the white noise.  It can drown out a lot of outside noise which is great for sleeping!

As far as the heat strips, if it's not too late I would recommend them as well.
Your furnace will be great for really cold nights.  The heat strips will bring the temp up a little especially if you have a small electric heater as a suplement.

Have a great trip
Sherry

[Kavoom]

Hmmm, you got a dealer who say's don't buy something they could make money on (heatstrip/don't get people started).  Their price is very reasonable...  all together these things alone are rare.  

Separate issue and question:  Do you like to sweat?  stick to the sheets? (no need to answer me/just yourself).  You are going to hot/really hot places in the middle of summer.  You might go to hot "humid" places some other time in the future.  

All facts worth considering along with the fact that many if not most take a look at the top to see if airco is on when they buy...used or otherwise...

food for thought.  I didn't want airco when I bought (dealer installed by accident...really and shrugged shoulders) but headed for the switch so quick you couldn't believe it when it was in the 90's in Missouri and I had 50 amps to hook up to...