Posted 2005-04-15 2:39 PM (#23906) Subject: portable ac units
Member
Posts: 13
Location: cincinnati, oh
I have been considering putting in ac in my trailer but to put a roof unit in has been priced to me at $900-$1000. That is a little steep right now so I have seen some of the portable ac units on ebay but wanted to see if anyone had tried them. My living quarters area is insulated and is a 4 ft s/w and 6 ft l/w aluminum four star so I don't really need a big unit to keep it cool. Any other ideas how to affordably get this done?
Posted 2005-04-15 3:00 PM (#23910 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Member
Posts: 13
Location: cincinnati, oh
no unfortunately I am totally un-mechanically inclined and I don't know that I know anyone that I would trust to let them go cutting on the roof of my trailer. I found the units on the internet fairly inexpensive but I don't know anyone to install one.
Posted 2005-04-15 3:52 PM (#23915 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
My plan is to put a 12v Fan-Tastic Ceiling Fan Vent in my gooseneck. Check them out at Camping World. I figure the hot air rises anyway, why not whisk it out and get the cooler air circulating? I'm having mine installed at a horse trailer dealer, though my hubby thinks he could do it himself. Friends of mine have had the same results as BillW with the air conditioner not working all that well unless you have one of the big units which draw alot of current. Best wishes and stay cool.
Posted 2005-04-15 5:46 PM (#23920 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 335 Location: Decatur, Texas
Aw c'mon. My wife installed the A/C in our old trailer. She had me help lift it to the top before I left on my weekly trips. Then she cut the hole in the roof with a metal cutoff blade she said in about twenty minutes. The biggest thing was wiring it in (she waited for me to do that upon my return). It lasted almost twenty years-still going strong for the people who bought our old trailer. She then decided to install a roof vent for the days when we didn't need A/C but just ventilation. She cut that one in too, and finished out the interior also.
Posted 2005-04-17 8:10 PM (#23973 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Member
Posts: 13
Location: cincinnati, oh
someone else mentioned to me about installing one of the window units up under the gooseneck. Has anyone done this, if so do you have any photos? Also, how do you think this affects the resale value of he trailer? Thanks!
Posted 2005-04-18 11:55 AM (#23988 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Tennessee
Not to offend anyone who has a window unit in their trailer, but I do not like the look. As to the question regarding resale, I would not even look at a trailer with one.
Posted 2005-04-18 1:48 PM (#23990 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Nashville, TN
I just put a window unit A/C in the breast wall of my gooseneck trailer and couldn't be happier. Or rather, I had someone put it in. Works like a charm and all in all for the unit and installation it cost me about $200+, compared to $1,000. For those of us that money is an issue, the window unit A/C does everything it's supposed to do. I don't think they are very noticeable under the gooseneck, so really comes down to personal preference and finances. As far as installation, you could contact a welding shop or steel/metal fabricator to see if they would do the job. I fortunately have a great all-around mechanic do-it-yourself kind-of guy I can have do a lot of stuff I can't.
Posted 2005-04-19 2:27 PM (#24036 - in reply to #23906) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: Polkville NC
I considered putting the window unit under the neck but decided to go with roof mount. Great choice in my opinion I love my roof mount. Easy to install just a 14x14 hole and a 110 wire.
Posted 2006-07-04 12:08 AM (#43977 - in reply to #23990) Subject: RE: portable ac units
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Wentzville, MO
I found an old post of yours on Horsetrailerworld and would like to ask you a question. I see you had a window unit installed in a trailer you owned a few years back. You seemed very happy with it. Was your trailer steel or alum. and was it insulated? I have installed a window A/C unit on the walk thru wall of my steel trailer. It is not insulated. It stays OK, but not Cold, if I am in the shade. If not, it stays over 100 degrees and doesn't cool down. Also, even in the shade, I have to start the AC early in the AM before the trailer gets very hot or it doesn't work either. I am about to give up. Your old post gave me hope. I would appreciate it is you could let me know about your trailer! Thanks
Posted 2006-07-04 8:49 AM (#43995 - in reply to #43977) Subject: RE: portable ac units
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by longears on 2006-07-04 12:52 AM
I found an old post of yours on Horsetrailerworld and would like to ask you a question. I see you had a window unit installed in a trailer you owned a few years back. You seemed very happy with it. Was your trailer steel or alum. and was it insulated? I have installed a window A/C unit on the walk thru wall of my steel trailer. It is not insulated. It stays OK, but not Cold, if I am in the shade. If not, it stays over 100 degrees and doesn't cool down. Also, even in the shade, I have to start the AC early in the AM before the trailer gets very hot or it doesn't work either. I am about to give up. Your old post gave me hope. I would appreciate it is you could let me know about your trailer! Thanks
A lot will depend on the size of your window air conditioner. Not physical size... but the BTU cooling capacity. The Roof top RV units are about 13,500 BTU per hour. If you have a small window unit, it'll be about 5,000 BTU per hour... The insulation reduces the heat load on the air conditioner. Then you can get by with a smaller cooling unit.
portable ac units
Friends of mine have had the same results as BillW with the air conditioner not working all that well unless you have one of the big units which draw alot of current. Best wishes and stay cool.