Lots of Stuff
WA. USA
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Joined: 10/18/2003
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Mello Mike wrote:Lots of Stuff wrote:We live in the Northwest as well. Our nine year old Lance still doesn't have an air conditioner.
The Northwest is a wonderful place to spend un air-conditioned summers so we do.
Being retired winter is the time when Northwest weather drives us south.
So far we have only wished we had air conditioning one evening and that was caused by very bad misquotes in Florida.
The next night we moved.
For us our camper is small and we much prefer being outdoors under the sky or awning.
Hot nights in the camper are helped by our Fantastic Fan. Finding campsites in the mountains works as well.
Remember hot weather camping in an air-conditioned camper tends to confine one to the camper.
Not a pleasant camping experience in our view.
In general, I agree. We don't normally camp where we need an A/C. We usually boondock in the mountains during the summer where temps are cool enough to not need an A/C. The only time we used the A/C last summer was during the camper loadout at our home. Having an A/C during 110 degree temps makes camping preps much more enjoyable.
Living in the Southwest or just about any place BUT the Northwest may justify an AC.
Summertime temps in our area are wonderful 70's and 80's. Winter temps are generally mild 40's but wet, 60 inches of rain a year.
Met the famous Tioga-George (scroll to bottom of page for my grinning mug) back in 2006 I understand he has removed the Air Conditioner from his Class C and yet spends lots of time in Mexico these days.
Winter by the sea. Summer in the highlands.
A few of us no AC diehards around.
DG
03 Chevy Silverado Regular Cab 2500HD 4X4 Duramax
04 Lance Lite 915
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popeye766
lake tx.
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Joined: 02/26/2012
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Hello.....
i have a new dometic 13.5 on my lance 10.6.......it will more than do the job...but like all A/Cs in a little camper the noise drives you crazy.........i think any A/c will do the job....but the inside noise is the problem ,plus the blowing fan air......if i could cut the fan speed by 50% id be so much happier....any suggestions.....
it was easy to install, weighs 100 lbs, cost less than 500 from PPL motor homes.
Question...does your A/C smell like moldy newspaper?
tom
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louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
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Joined: 03/23/2003
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popeye766 wrote:Hello.....
i have a new dometic 13.5 on my lance 10.6.......it will more than do the job...but like all A/Cs in a little camper the noise drives you crazy.........i think any A/c will do the job....but the inside noise is the problem ,plus the blowing fan air......if i could cut the fan speed by 50% id be so much happier....any suggestions.....
it was easy to install, weighs 100 lbs, cost less than 500 from PPL motor homes.
Question...does your A/C smell like moldy newspaper?
tom
If my a/c smelled like moldy newspaper I'd take it apart and make sure that mice didn't make a nest up inside. Then I'd clean the filter (or whatever it has to catch dust) and spray it with fabreze or some kind of odor neutralizer.
I understand the noise issue. It's my concern too. We'll know on Monday which one we're going to put in.
The reason we need an a/c on board is a health related reason. We have only used the a/c in our class A sparingly. Maybe 5 or 8 times a year in the NW in the last four years. But when we have needed it, it was a blessing to have and I've never had to run it all night.
I'd love to be a purest (no generator. no a/c on board) but I'm a realist and this isn't just about comfort.
Kathy
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Steelhog
Harvest, AL
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Joined: 03/25/2008
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We have an Lance 845 with a 13.5 and it will just about freeze us even in an Alabama summer. I'd love to have one with a Tstat as even on low the fan running all the time is obnoxious. A smaller / lower velocity unit that could run on a smaller quieter generator would be better IMO. Being a bit warm with low humidity is tolerable (like the desert SW) but humid and warm sucks (Deep South summers). Where you plan to camp may affect your decision.
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elkhornsun
Monterey
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Joined: 11/29/2011
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Too large an AC will cycle on and off and do a poorer job of removing moisture from the air than a lower power one (9000 btu) that runs longer. Short cycles with an AC means that they never run long enough to pull out the moisture effectively, i.e. 15 minutes at a minimum.
A smaller BTU AC is also going to be a better match with a small generator if you want to be able to use it without needing to hook up to shore power and want to boondock for extended periods.
Most homes in the USA have double the size AC unit they should have for optimum performance and I would expect the same to be true with the "bigger must be better" with camper AC units as well.
For a new unit my primary concerns would be matching it to my needs with a small camper (and not a larger trailer) and the warranty provided by the manufacturer. The dollar cost between the bottom and top end units is very small.
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louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
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Joined: 03/23/2003
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Thanks for the info guys, just keep talking. We go in Monday morning to have the wheels aligned and then head to Portland to have the a/c put on...and then it's on the road for four months.
I'll be sure to post what we put on and I'll post more info as we learn as we go.
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louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
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We're having the Polar Cup model 49201A876 installed as I type this. (It's a 9200 series unit. (The 4 in front designates it has the newer gas in it that's now required.)
The install price has changed from my notes.
The base unit is $690.
The ceiling install and the pieces to go with it are $170.
(Basically $70 labor and $100 parts)
We want the nicer thermostat so that's adding to it.
It's just under $1,000 installed and out the door.
I like the guy. I'm not saying he quoted me one thing and installed another.
I'm saying... whatever they quoted me, I should have had them email me a written quote. I was surprised but I wasn't upset. I had two conversations with him. Once talking reconditioned used units with a warranty and another time about a new unit.
I just want you all to know what the real numbers came out to be.
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NEOK
Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/08/2003
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We have the Polar Cub 9200 on our Bigfoot 9.5 camper and can run it fine with a Honda 2000i generator. We have used it in Oklahoma in temperatures approaching 100 degrees and it cools the camper just fine. If they make one with a thermostat that cycles the fan that would be a nice option.
neok
2009 GMC 25000HD Short Bed 6.0 Gas Engine Crew Cab SLT 4x4
2008 Bigfoot 15C9.5FS
Torklifts, Fastguns, Superhitch & SuperTruss
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louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
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NEOK wrote:We have the Polar Cub 9200 on our Bigfoot 9.5 camper and can run it fine with a Honda 2000i generator. We have used it in Oklahoma in temperatures approaching 100 degrees and it cools the camper just fine. If they make one with a thermostat that cycles the fan that would be a nice option.
We did get the thermostat because it allows us to run the fan on two speeds. He cautioned that if it's raining or really humid,we should run the fan on high so it keeps the moisture from building. He said that it would ice up if the fan wasn't on high. (He said that if the unit shuts down and after a few minutes we hear/see a release of water coming off the roof, we are icing up.) It has a sensor that will shut the unit off when it ices up. The heat will melt the ice in a few minutes and then you can start it again. He said that it's really hard on a unit to be turned on and off without allowing it to time to reset.
So if the unit turns off... let it get rid of the ice build up and then, wait a bit, before you turn it on again MAKING SURE to run the fan on the highest setting.
I have not read the manual yet. Don't even know if this is in the manual. Maybe you learn this the hard way if you don't listen to experience.
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Mello Mike
Mesa, AZ
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Joined: 05/14/2003
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Lots of Stuff wrote:Living in the Southwest or just about any place BUT the Northwest may justify an AC.
Summertime temps in our area are wonderful 70's and 80's. Winter temps are generally mild 40's but wet, 60 inches of rain a year.
Met the famous Tioga-George (scroll to bottom of page for my grinning mug) back in 2006 I understand he has removed the Air Conditioner from his Class C and yet spends lots of time in Mexico these days.
Winter by the sea. Summer in the highlands.
A few of us no AC diehards around.
I hear 'ya, load and clear. My wife is from Tacoma and we lived in WA state 12 years when I was in the Navy. We sure miss the summers there (but not the dreary winters). There's no better place to camp and enjoy the great outdoors than summertime in the Pacific Northwest.
2011 Wolf Creek 850N/Polar Cub/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Morningstar Sunsaver w/RM-1 & SureSine-300 Inverter
2011 Ford F-250/6.2L/3.73/Bilsteins/Air Bags/Torklift TD w/Fastguns
2004 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/5-spd
US Navy Ret.
My Truck Camper Adventure Blog
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