Air conditioner? June Myrtle Beach Trip

[JonesFamilyJayco]

My brother-in-law has invited us to join them in Myrtle Beach around the last week of June.  I have wanted to camp at the beach & I hope we can go for 3 days.  They have picked Ocean Waves CG, & have reservations within the 4000 section. I am told that an ac is a must.  Could we survive without one - mainly just to sleep at night?  Has anyone tried without.

I had not intended to install an AC, but I may need to re-think this.  Our camper is a smaller unit (Jayco Eagle8 '95).  Would a Coeman Polar Cub
(9000btu) be enough?  The info I found promotes the efficency of this unit.  http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-air-conditioners/low-profile-rv-air-conditioner.htm  Could it run off a Honda EU generator?

How difficult is it to install?  I am mostly concerned about proper wiring of the unit.

Thanks

[Gone-Camping]

Ummm, I wouldn't attempt it without an A/C even around here, and I'm quite a ways north of there! It'll be hot, that much you can count on. Perhaps you could rig a window unit with a temporary mount on the outside of the trailer?
 
Installing a rooftop unit should be easy, providing you have a 14" roof vent, it'll drop right into that, with only 4 bolts holding it in place. Wiring is another thing, if you don't have a 20amp outlet inside the trailer, just bring a good HD extension cord, and run the A/C plug out a corner of the trailer and plug it into the power pole directly without using the trailers wiring!

[JonesFamilyJayco]

I like the idea of a 20amp extension cord!

[mike4947]

Before the days of prewired trailers with the 20 amp seperate circuit for the AC unit it was common practice to run the AC unit directly from the shore power with a long cord. 20 Amp shore power will power even a 15K btu AC rooftop unit. While the equivilent genset won't. It has to do with the starting requirements of the compressor motor. THe shore power can accept the momentary overload the compressor needs for starting while the same power genset will trip out.

Powering an AC unit with a genset also gets worse the higher the ambiant outside temperature is. All 13.5K & 15K btu rooftop AC unit manufacturers recommend a 4KW genset for proper starting and operation. The 9K units recommend at least a 3 K genset.
Many folks have run smaller gensets and had good luck, but that's what it was LUCK.
That's why the twin Honda 2K units are so popular now with the TT and 5er set. The can be moved around or even unit seperately if no AC is required.
At 50 pounds apiece they can be moved by one person, while a 4 KW genset can run unwards of 350 pounds. Even a good quiet 3KW genset runs upwards of 150 pounds.

[MattH]

We stayed at Lakewood CG in Myrtle Beach last year during the same time, last week in June to July 4th. I'm not sure we could have been there without our AC.

Sure it can be done but our pop up stayed cool all day and provided a wonderful sactuary for all of us, especially kids, to retreat to. It goes a long way towards keeping everyone in that "happy camper" mode and insures fun for all.

By the way, despite the consistent 90+ degree heat, our pop up stayed perfectly cool. We even had to turn down the AC as it got too cold. I was initially worried that the Coleman AC wouldn't be able to keep up.

Good luck.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

Has anyone seen or used the 9000 btu Polar Cub I listed in my original post?  They describe that the unit is very efficient & may be enough for my camper.  I wonder if it would run on just one of the Honda eu2000's?

Site for the air conditioner:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-air-conditioners/low-profile-rv-air-conditioner.htm

Thanks!

[SkipP]

You could camp in MB in June without A/C but I think you'd be a lot more comfortable with it. The humidity is the kicker to me, it just doesn't go away that time of year. As far as the Polar Cub, that's the first time I've seen one, looks pretty neat. The 9000 btu A/C wasn't recommended to us by our dealer but we have a larger box. If the 13.5k A/C is the same price, I'd go that route.... unless you think the generator could handle the smaller unit. I'd email Honda and see what they say about that.
 
Have you checked the prices for A/C's at Camping World? You could probably get one installed at the MB store and from time to time, they offer installation specials. Good luck!

[B-flat]

I've camped at Myrtle Beach Travel Park in June and July.  Only way you will be able to really enjoy it at night is if you have constant breezes.  If there is no breeze, you will cook without a fan.  You had better have an air conditioner to make sure your vacation is enjoyable.

[jaycocamprs]

I think that if you go to Myrtle Beach in the summer, without AC you will regret doing so. 9000 BTU on a small box might be enough. I doubt that it would hold the temps in the 70's all day, but might do it at night. And it would at least remove most of the humidity for the air, which would help make low 80's comfortable.

[NCSunshine]

Camping in MB during the months of June, July, August and maybe even September, I could not do without an AC.  But I am a hot natured female (hot flashes or whatever you want to call it ) and having a place to go to when I feel too hot is a must.  We usually go once a year and it is during July which is very hot and very high humidity.  The humidity is the worse personally because I can't stand to feel sticky, especially when I'm trying to sleep.

So no camping without AC in MB in June.

[wynot]

Coming from South Carolina, I wouldn't even go camping without an A/C after the 1st of May...

Can it be done?  Yes, but how miserable do you want to be?  SC has a nasty tendency to retain heat all through the night...as do most deep South states.

[Preacher]

When we got our first popup, a Coleman Taos, we had thought about putting a "smaller" AC on it, that is until I talked to someone who had one.  He said that he regretted putting the smaller one on his trailer.  It too was an 8 footer.  The 13500 was just very little more money so we went that route and was glad of it.  Even in 113 degree Texas weather we stayed comfortable.  There would have been no way with a smaller unit.  Which ever way you do go, make sure  and get the bunk end covers that reflect some of the heat.  In fact I wouldn't even try the 9000 without them.

[Kathy Tuck]

Living just a mile from Ocean Lakes Campground I can honestly say
you will need some type of a/c; between the humidity and summerlike
temps it should be standerd equipment for any type of camping at the
beach during the summer.Over the years we have seen many different ways to install the a/c;from professonal to homemade.Once you arrive,have a great time!

[JonesFamilyJayco]

Thanks for all the great posts!!!

I still am having trouble deciding on an AC unit.  I purchase my pop-up without one, and so far, we have been fine with fans and camping in the cooler mountians of NC.  I am just not sure if I can go for the $ if I will not use it that much.

Has anyone tried a product I found on ebay.  It is just a simple fan that fits on top of a cooler & using DC power w/ lots of ice, provides cool air.  The website I found was:http://www.kooleraire.com/index.htm

Since I probally will only have 2 days to stay at the beach & I hope my son & I will spend most of our time in the ocean & pool, would this be enough to keep us cool at night?  I have the bunk end solar covers & a couple of large box fans.  Would this also be good for dry camping overnight during the summer?

Thanks!!

[Watchman]

I lived in Myrtle beach for ten years. IMO don't go without the A/C. It will wreck the trip.. Sounds like you will do it anyway, but I think you will be sorry.  
Nobody stays at the beach or in the pool for the entire day. The Sun, and humidity is ten times what it is where you live. It is very deceptive. People get burned and heat stroke every year because they underestimate the sun and heat. You will need a place to relax and take a break.  There is no place worse than a tent (pop-up)on a hot humid day.  It will be unbareable.  It is almost as hot and more humid at night because the breeze stops at night.
Your only real decision is if you should go or stay home.  Either get the A/C and Go,  or stay home.

PS.  The 13,500 A/C unit will increase the resale value of your Pop-up!