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River RV camper AC

Rbcconst

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My cousin is looking to buy a trailer to camp in at the river this summer, 26’-31’. I know everyone has a different answer weather there ac keeps up or not, my weekend warrior with 2 ac’s did just ok. You hear other people say they could hang meat in there’s with 1 ac.

What make, model and length trailer do you have, how many ac’s and does it stay cold mid summer or does it struggle. 120 degrees.

Wanting to make sure he buys something that you can hang meat in lol.


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Hallett_Whacker

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Damon Outlaw--37 footer, the last 10 feet is an enclosed garage, but it is taller inside than most coaches. It has 2 AC units, and it does great during the summer. I've parked it at Branson's the last 3 summers and left it there anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

I think the key is having 50 amp.
 

Backlash

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36' Holiday Rambler 5th wheel. Dual roof mounted AC's work fine for us in Parker. ;)
 

Rbcconst

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36' Holiday Rambler 5th wheel. Dual roof mounted AC's work fine for us in Parker. ;)
That makes sense, holiday rambler as been around for a really long time. The newer brands I am unsure of. I remember camping next to a guy in a 37'-40' raptor and he could not keep that thing cold with 3 ac units.
 

grumpy88

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My 25 ragen with one a.c. we slept under a comforter every night . I think the key was to keep the door closed during the day . Keep the going in and out to a minimum . Put the reflective bubble wrap on all the windows too . Lastly I don't know if it mattered but ours was not ducted .it blew straight out of the unit in the middle of the trailer. Our friends would be pissed when my daughter would come out in the morning wearing a hoodie and they were sweating in there 250k diesel pusher . Lol
 

Riverbound

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Sandsport 300 fsg
2” foam walls. Underbelly insulation.
2 15k Ac 30’

IMG_2965.jpg



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fmo24

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If no need for garage I would not go toy hauler. It seems most have a hard time with the volume of space in the garage. Regular trailers with all the cabinets and furniture seem to have better insulation??
 

Rbcconst

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If no need for garage I would not go toy hauler. It seems most have a hard time with the volume of space in the garage. Regular trailers with all the cabinets and furniture seem to have better insulation??
I would agree with that, plus the non toy haulers have a much better floor plan. My ww had real tall ceilings in it on the bottom and that was the section that was the warmest. Also the rear door is not insulated.
 

Blown Lavey

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key factors;
keep the in and out to a minimum, meaning the cooler with the beer etc inside.
Reflective sunshades in all the windows
Check that the returns to the units are clear, they will ice up as well believe it or not with the temp swings
Cheap oscillating fan to circulate the air
Use you awnings to keep as much sun off the coach as possible
Get the trailer cooled down early am before the mid day crunch, trying to cool a coach in the afternoon when it's baking vacant will be a tough go for the best insulated trailers so plan ahead
2 15k units is best
Lastly be very careful if you leave pets inside as it doesn't take much for a brown out and you can drop ac unit off and they will bake.
 

Backlash

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That makes sense, holiday rambler as been around for a really long time. The newer brands I am unsure of. I remember camping next to a guy in a 37'-40' raptor and he could not keep that thing cold with 3 ac units.

Our beat-up trailer isn't the newest hippest most "Hi-tech" sled in the park, but it stays cold enough for us. It was cheap and it works for us! That's all that matters! ;)
 

HB2Havasu

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I have used my 36’ Raptor Toyhauler at the river in the past. When the temps get over 115F it really struggles to keep the indoors below 85F. But I’m guessing a lot of that is due to radiant heat coming from the 12’ garage. I might add a portable a/c in the garage next time. It should help a lot!

This was purchased mainly for desert trips in the winter. Using it as a summer home at the river was an afterthought. If I was purchasing solely for camping at the river find a travel trailer back east. They are much better insulated than the trailers manufactured for the west coast!
 

Rbcconst

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I have used my 36’ Raptor Toyhauler at the river in the past. When the temps get over 115F it really struggles to keep the indoors below 85F. But I’m guessing a lot of that is due to radiant heat coming from the 12’ garage. I might add a portable a/c in the garage next time. It should help a lot!

This was purchased mainly for desert trips in the winter. Using it as a summer home at the river was an afterthought. If I was purchasing solely for camping at the river find a travel trailer back east. They are much better insulated than the trailers manufactured for the west coast!

I heard the same feedback from another raptor owner. In my warrior i had to put a room ac in there to help out. It was cool in there but loud lol.


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WATERDOG

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My 36' trailer stays 75 all summer. One main unit in center with small window unit in the bedroom.
 

hawgty55

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Ducted A/C must have 2 (40' class A)
Single A/C must not be ducted (25' toyhauler)
 

spectras only

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Between sizes 26-31, I'd stay with smaller size to be able keeping inside temps low in hot climate like Arizona, Nevada etc..... Most TT units have either 13.5K-15K A/C. Ducted ones work best. Pick a unit that's white to reflect sun rays better. Polished Airstream should fare better than any conventional trailer, but they're too pricey for most and much smaller inside compared to same size of others. I have a Dutchmen 289 RK four season rated trailer with a single 15K ducted A/C unit that works fine up to 100F, but Havasu's constant 115-120F is another matter. Having less windows also help keep indoor temps down. I have large frameless thermo pane windows on both sides, but those have numerous gaps letting hot air in vs framed ones they're sealed around.
20180924_112948.jpg
 
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Bpracing1127

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I have a 25ft toyhauler we are gonna find out this summer if one ac will work
 

Riverbound

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Sandsport 300 fsg
2” foam walls. Underbelly insulation.
2 15k Ac 30’

View attachment 742786


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I will also
Add this. When we do use it at the river or above 100 degree temps. We also have radiant barriers for all the windows (a Mylar bubble wrap looking material) both AC runs non stop and it will at the peak of the day get up to 75 inside the trailer other than that we can maintain 72ish. Keeping the doors closed and limiting times In and out of the trailer will help as well. Our 12’ garage doesn’t do too bad. We have thought of adding a room AC back there but really haven’t had an issue. And honestly we don’t do too much trailer camping above 100 degrees.


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jetur

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We have a 28' WW and it has one 15k AC unit. It can run ducted or just blow straight down. If it's 115 outside on the river its in the low 80s inside. We added the 4" foam inserts in the skylight' this winter and the furnace ran less often, so we are hoping for better results this summer with the new inserts.
 

Rbcconst

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We have a 28' WW and it has one 15k AC unit. It can run ducted or just blow straight down. If it's 115 outside on the river its in the low 80s inside. We added the 4" foam inserts in the skylight' this winter and the furnace ran less often, so we are hoping for better results this summer with the new inserts.

In my ww I put a room ac in there and ducted the exhaust part out the low garage vent you use to keep the toys gas fumes out when you drive. Changed my life. Plugged it right into one of the trailer outlets in the back.


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TCHB

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In Havasu it is tough to keep any RV cool in the summer months.
1. Vent cushion heat barrier installed.
2. Window protection and insulation if you can.
3. Keep the sun off the sides the best you can.

Smaller RV unless you have multiple air units.
 

81Sprint

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I have a 36' 5'r and with one 15k AC it struggles, but also in Vegas with plus 100 most of the summer. I plan on adding another in the front bedroom soon.
Trailer.jpg
 

Rbcconst

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I have a 36' 5'r and with one 15k AC it struggles, but also in Vegas with plus 100 most of the summer. I plan on adding another in the front bedroom soon. View attachment 743421

Is it a toy hauler or regular? Seems like 2 ac’s is a must.


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81Sprint

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Is it a toy hauler or regular? Seems like 2 ac’s is a must.


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Not a toyhauler, during the hottest days of summer last year inside would hover around 80.
 

Mandelon

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I had a 30' Toy Hauler and I knew one unit wouldn't cut it. The main unit was ducted and did fine up front, but the rear area was big and open. I added a second rooftop unit. The trailer's panel wouldn't take the extra load, so I left a pigtail cord on the roof and simply plugged the unit into the 20 amp regular outlet provided at the camping spot. I used the fattest extension cord I could find. The trailer was plugged into the 220 outlet. That way if one failed, we had a spare unit running. The second unit was not ducted.

When we arrived on 100+ degree days it would take about half an hour to cool things down. We'd arrive, drop off the junk, turn on the AC units, then head to town to pick up food. When we got back it was nice a cool inside.
 

81Sprint

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I had a 30' Toy Hauler and I knew one unit wouldn't cut it. The main unit was ducted and did fine up front, but the rear area was big and open. I added a second rooftop unit. The trailer's panel wouldn't take the extra load, so I left a pigtail cord on the roof and simply plugged the unit into the 20 amp regular outlet provided at the camping spot. I used the fattest extension cord I could find. The trailer was plugged into the 220 outlet. That way if one failed, we had a spare unit running. The second unit was not ducted.

When we arrived on 100+ degree days it would take about half an hour to cool things down. We'd arrive, drop off the junk, turn on the AC units, then head to town to pick up food. When we got back it was nice a cool inside.


Exactly what I plan on doing.
 
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