Air conditioner alternatives
- Thread starter andytruck
- Start date
Not even close
IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
What are you trying to say?
That you have somehow beaten the laws of physics and somehow found a way around simple convection? :Wow1:
subterran
Adventurer
What I'm trying to say is: you'd never get my campers roof popped up with a 100 pounds of AC on top, so I had to figure out something else.
Plus, rooftop units are power hogs, cost a fortune, and overkill for a small TC. Not all of us camp where there's 30 amp service. Sometimes I think folks get mad because some of us have more brains than money, and can make it work with a little ingenuity instead of throwing 20 thousand dollars at it.
I will not lose sleep boiling in my own juices because you say my air conditioner wont work. Mine will easily freeze you out of there. To each thier own, sir.
Next you'll try to tell me my Tacoma won't handle my camper. LOL.
Plus, rooftop units are power hogs, cost a fortune, and overkill for a small TC. Not all of us camp where there's 30 amp service. Sometimes I think folks get mad because some of us have more brains than money, and can make it work with a little ingenuity instead of throwing 20 thousand dollars at it.
I will not lose sleep boiling in my own juices because you say my air conditioner wont work. Mine will easily freeze you out of there. To each thier own, sir.
Next you'll try to tell me my Tacoma won't handle my camper. LOL.
IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
Not at all. If you are severely overloaded I dont have to tell you about your truck and camper.
Youll find out for yourself :sombrero:
And never did I say such a location would not work.
Just stating a simple fact with regards to how AC units work.
That, and one basic law of physics, heat rises.
Placing them on the floor forces them to condition (remove humidity and cool) air that has already been conditioned.
So instead of a roof or high wall mounted location, you fail to condition that air that needs it, the warm.
To fix that problem you have to run the unit longer than you would have to otherwise, super cooling the floor and waiting until the entire camper is cooled, or use more energy by running good sized fans to circulate the air.
Im sure you thinks it "works", and it may very well, but the fact remains that it is the worst location to place an AC unit.
Mt simple advice is to find a better location, and do not limit your thought process to low lying under cab space that happens to have a compartment door.
Youll find out for yourself :sombrero:
And never did I say such a location would not work.
Just stating a simple fact with regards to how AC units work.
That, and one basic law of physics, heat rises.
Placing them on the floor forces them to condition (remove humidity and cool) air that has already been conditioned.
So instead of a roof or high wall mounted location, you fail to condition that air that needs it, the warm.
To fix that problem you have to run the unit longer than you would have to otherwise, super cooling the floor and waiting until the entire camper is cooled, or use more energy by running good sized fans to circulate the air.
Im sure you thinks it "works", and it may very well, but the fact remains that it is the worst location to place an AC unit.
Mt simple advice is to find a better location, and do not limit your thought process to low lying under cab space that happens to have a compartment door.
huskyrunnr
New member
You can't beat the price and performance of those little window units. It is also valuable to know that some of them work with a 1000W generator. I had not seen that data point anywhere on the 'net. I wracked my brain trying to figure a way to use a window unit in the Alaskan. I would have preferred a setup like subterran, partway out a window. I don't think the '66 Alaskan was made to hold one of those roof units, and they would be oversized for my 8' NCO. The slideout would work... but I'm already there with ac.
Forced convection from the ac and an auxiliary fan easily mixes the air in these small spaces. I do notice the corners of the ceiling are a little warmer but I don't spend much time there.
Forced convection from the ac and an auxiliary fan easily mixes the air in these small spaces. I do notice the corners of the ceiling are a little warmer but I don't spend much time there.
IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
The little 5k window units are cheap, in more ways than one
Its a solid fact that the industry lacks low BTU roof top units.
Seems to be a serious market that nobody has chosen to tap into.
Most truck campers would do great with a 3-5 k BTU rooftop unit.
Also, dont overlook the small "doghouse" ac units.
For peeps that want a small unit that isnt permanent, they are a great option.
And can easily be mounted on the exterior and plumbed in in multiple ways, allowing you plumb the cold side (output) high, and the hot side (input) low
Its a solid fact that the industry lacks low BTU roof top units.
Seems to be a serious market that nobody has chosen to tap into.
Most truck campers would do great with a 3-5 k BTU rooftop unit.
Also, dont overlook the small "doghouse" ac units.
For peeps that want a small unit that isnt permanent, they are a great option.
And can easily be mounted on the exterior and plumbed in in multiple ways, allowing you plumb the cold side (output) high, and the hot side (input) low
subterran
Adventurer
I have mine's vents pointed at the ceiling - really pointed right at the cabover bed. It works quite well. Better than the forced air heater does at thoroughly covering the space actually. You could also use a fan to help mix it up, as Huskyrunner says. A little AC unit will work fine in a TC, no matter where you put it.
Of course, idoSHO, you are correct that cold air sinks, and hot air rises - but we are limited with where an AC unit can go. So we put them where they fit, and they work as intended.
Of course, idoSHO, you are correct that cold air sinks, and hot air rises - but we are limited with where an AC unit can go. So we put them where they fit, and they work as intended.
Doc Foster
Adventurer
Thanks for giving us an actual real opinion (from someone who has used this) that it works well
Understood - physics - cold air sinks.
Understood - reality - the small camper will be an ice box no matter where the unit is placed.
thanks to both sides of the thinking…
I like the idea to be able to remove the unit for non summer trips. I was playing with the idea to put it through the canvas instead of hard mounting it. This would just sit on a little pre fab dock and velcro through a canvas opening. The drawback is camper has to be popped up to use it and that it has to be moved every time you close or open the roof - and it will be higher for the physics… But, i just can't see how this would be something i would be happy with.
Why not just duct the walmark AC unit so the air is funneled up?
There is room in front of the truck bed fender for the AC to stick out of. Not a perfect air flow situation, but this would be the best location for my needs. There is enough space between truck and camper to reach an arm in the bed, so there is air flow. How bad would this be?
Understood - reality - the small camper will be an ice box no matter where the unit is placed.
thanks to both sides of the thinking…
I like the idea to be able to remove the unit for non summer trips. I was playing with the idea to put it through the canvas instead of hard mounting it. This would just sit on a little pre fab dock and velcro through a canvas opening. The drawback is camper has to be popped up to use it and that it has to be moved every time you close or open the roof - and it will be higher for the physics… But, i just can't see how this would be something i would be happy with.
Why not just duct the walmark AC unit so the air is funneled up?
There is room in front of the truck bed fender for the AC to stick out of. Not a perfect air flow situation, but this would be the best location for my needs. There is enough space between truck and camper to reach an arm in the bed, so there is air flow. How bad would this be?
IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
That's the thought behind my suggestion for the "doghouse" ac units.
Lots of teardrop owners going that way.
They are little more than a standard window mount unit, but are designed to use included ducting, and be operable 100% outside the cabin
http://www.climaterightair.com/climateright-5000-btu-a-c-heater.html
subterran
Adventurer
andytruck,
I think that will be enough - just don't obstruct the cooling fins. One other thing to consider is the condensation drip. You have to lean the unit back or it will drip into the camper. In the position you indicate, will the dripping water run under your camper, and rot the bottom? Mine is leaning out just a little - but I have to watch my levelling job sometimes, or it will drip into the window track.
idaSHO, I was seriously considering using one of those doghouse units before I saw the window mount method. They are not a bad choice, but I did have some reservations:
Having to set it up and tear it down each time (but, you could also use it in other campers / places, so maybe a positive thing?)
Whether it would run on my little genny (I really love the little thing. 28lbs and so small. I don't have room for a 2k one.)
Expensive. You can buy 3 window units for what one of those costs.
There was one guy who modified a window unit to work pretty much the same way - but there was a whole lot of tinkering involved. In the end, the window unit was easier to deal with for me.
I think that will be enough - just don't obstruct the cooling fins. One other thing to consider is the condensation drip. You have to lean the unit back or it will drip into the camper. In the position you indicate, will the dripping water run under your camper, and rot the bottom? Mine is leaning out just a little - but I have to watch my levelling job sometimes, or it will drip into the window track.
idaSHO, I was seriously considering using one of those doghouse units before I saw the window mount method. They are not a bad choice, but I did have some reservations:
Having to set it up and tear it down each time (but, you could also use it in other campers / places, so maybe a positive thing?)
Whether it would run on my little genny (I really love the little thing. 28lbs and so small. I don't have room for a 2k one.)
Expensive. You can buy 3 window units for what one of those costs.
There was one guy who modified a window unit to work pretty much the same way - but there was a whole lot of tinkering involved. In the end, the window unit was easier to deal with for me.