Air Conditioners?

[bountyhunter]

I have a 2007 Jayco Baja and would like to put an air conditioner in it.  I live in Kansas where it averages 90-105 in the summer.   Nights can get down to 75-80. My question is will a 13.5K BTU unit be enough, or should I get a 15K unit?

[CajunCamper]

I have a 2007 Jayco Baja and would like to put an air conditioner in it.  I live in Kansas where it averages 90-105 in the summer.   Nights can get down to 75-80. My question is will a 13.5K BTU unit be enough, or should I get a 15K unit?

I own a 1997 Coleman Santa Fe with a 13,500 btu A/C. We live in south Louisiana where our temps in the summers hit 95 to 103 with the added 90% humidity. We camp in Florida during July when the outdoors feel more like a sauna. At night the AC will freeze us out, it does a wonderful job keeping us nice and cool. During the day, unless you use some type of insulation on your bunk ends, such as reflective material or the Pop Up Gizmo bunk end covers, your AC no matter what size will struggle to keep up. So in my opinion the 13,500 will be sufficient along with the bunk end covers. By the way, what's the difference in price between the two. If it's minimal, you may as well get the 15K.

CajunCamper

[tlhdoc]

The 13,500 btu unit should be enough.  It is the standard size AC unit for a PU.  How big is your camper?  If it is a large camper you might want to consider the 15,000 btu AC.  No idea what unit you are looking at, but I would recommend the Carrier Air V air conditioner.

[wavery]

We have the Carrier AirV air conditioner (heat pump model):
http://www.airv.carrier.com/details/0,2806,CLI1_DIV46_ETI9772,00.html

I like the "heat pump" model because it does a much better job in the heat mode then the AC units with heat strips.

It does a great job in the 90s. After 100 degrees, the best that you can hope for is about 20 degrees cooler than outside. I don't think that the 15K BTU will make much difference. However, as stated before, if it doesn't cost a lot more....get it. If you decide you want it later, you won't get much for your used 13.5K unit (not to mention double labor).

What makes a big difference is plugging up all of the holes, like the gap between your door and the body. Also the gaps near your slide-out. Try to keep the PU as air-tight as you can. That will insure circulation of cooled air by keeping the cooled air in and hot air out. Every little bit of cold air that leaks out of the cracks will be replaced by hot, outside air. You cooled it, hang on to it and cool it again :p .

[bountyhunter]

Seems like the difference between the two is $90.  I probably won't be in there much during the day, but at night I can't sleep well being sunburnt and the camper is hot!!  I will probably go for the 15K, just to be safe.  Heat won't be a problem as I have a furnace.

[beacher]

If you ever intend to use a single small generator to power your AC whiel boondocking or drycamping, then an efficient 13,5kBtu is the way to go.  If you will always use your AC when you have electrical hookups, then you might as well go with the 15kBtu unit.

[PattieAM]

My beastie (06 Niagara) has the Carrier Air-V 13,500 unit and it does a great job.  In your case, if it's only a difference of $90, and doesn't require you to be connected to 50 amp vs. 30 amp.....go for the biggie!

I camped 2 yrs ago in NC in 100 degree heat - full sun at noon.  Poor AC had a little difficulty, so I hooked the garden hose up to the campground spigot and sprayed the camper roof/sides/awning/bunk ends - and it immediately dropped the temperature inside by about 10 degrees and the AC maintained it well.

Pop up Gizmos make a big difference too (mine weren't installed on that trip).