Air conditioning in pop-up end of April?

[normmo]

Hi! Just returned from a fantastic camping trip to the Fort and thank you to everyone for your advice and info that we received before going. You helped to make the trip a huge success - so much so that we want to do it again (and again). We borrowed a tent and screened in house for the last trip and now we're thinking of buying a pop up. My question is - I know that it's hot at the end of April/beginning of May but wiill we need AC in the tent trailer? What are your thoughts?
Mo

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I spect where you live, the summers are not as warm as here . If you plan on doing some camping in the states, (more importantly, southern states) then I would look at gett'n air con for the pop up.
Times change, stuff happens, you may end up camping during the hot of summer,,then you'd be glad you have air,

 

[mnsprk]

It's not just the heat it's also the humidity. As Frank said your better off getting the A/C now since you never know how your camping may change. Besides it adds to resale value. I would also look at a set of bunk end covers since they hold out the heat in summer and hold it in, in the spring and fall.

http://www.popupgizmos.com

 

[Disney Bunny]

Hi! Just returned from a fantastic camping trip to the Fort and thank you to everyone for your advice and info that we received before going. You helped to make the trip a huge success - so much so that we want to do it again (and again). We borrowed a tent and screened in house for the last trip and now we're thinking of buying a pop up. My question is - I know that it's hot at the end of April/beginning of May but wiill we need AC in the tent trailer? What are your thoughts?
Mo

We live in Virginia. Our friends were the first to buy a pop up. They did not get a/c with theirs. We learned from their mistake and when we bought our pop up a few years later made sure to get it with a/c. The cost to add it on is less than $1000.00 and if you plan on keeping it for a while, you will be glad you added the a/c.

 

[Memph1s]

I live in Florida so my camper has A/C but no furnace, just a 1500 wt chill chaser built in the A/C . However, where you live I would want the opposite. If early May is as late as you ever plan on camping at the fort you do not have to have A/C. It will be warm to hot during the day but will cool off enough for comfortable sleeping with only a fan. If cost is not a big issue I would get both but I dought you would need the A/C much up where you live.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Get the A/C with it & if possible, get one with the A/C on the roof. The air circulates better to the ends.

I used to see people with Canadian tags at FW with no A/C & wondered how they survived down here.

 

[We4mickey]

We were there in April a few years ago. We used our air everyday, all day while we were there. Make the investment, you won't be sorry.

 

[ElementCamper]

A/C will also help you dry out a damp camper before you store, prevents mold.

 

[normmo]

So the overwhelming consensus is that air conditionng is good and Canada is cold (hee hee). Thanks so much, we will definitely look for a trailer that has air or see if we can add it on.
Mo

 

[mnsprk]

we will definitely look for a trailer that has air or see if we can add it on.
Mo

If your going new many manufacturers include it with some sort of "Value package". If you buy used be sure you check to see if the roof is "prepped" for it, which means the roof is braced for the extra weight.

 

[bama_ed]

In April?

Well it depends. If you are going to be in your pup in the warmest part of the day at the Fort, you'll need a/c. We aren't in our pup during the day usually and it is cool enough at night that you shouldn't need a/c (all other things being normal).

If you're only getting a/c for a rare springtime trip to the Fort I think you can skip the expense. If you will be coming south into the US frequently in the summer then you probably should get it. My advice is either get it new or don't get it at all.

Bama ED

 

[justcynn]

Here in Iowa, we would be lucky to have weather nice enough to want to get our Pop Up out in April, however July/August we wouldn't camp with out AC and we definitely appreciated the AC in early June in FL last year. If you have a choice between AC or a Propane furnace, I would get the AC even up here in the North, a cheap ceramic heater (or two) has kept us plenty warm on the colder nights and it is quiet and cheaper to run. A roof top unit should be able to be added for around $600-$650 by a dealer on most used Pop Ups. I agree the resale will generally off set the expense but sleeping in a humid/hot tent just brings back memories from youth so AC was a must have for us

 

[gillenkl]

We have a popup and wouldn't consider getting one without A/C. Of course, it depends where you'll be camping in the summer months. A popup can be really hot/humid without A/C. Better to have it and not use, than need it and not have it. Fans only go so far.

 

[CSHaydt]

Since everyone is chatting about A/C in a pop up. We have a pop up and we love our AC. We at FW the last week in September - We usually camp in Pennsylvania and are not use to the Flordia weather. This may seem like a crazy dumb question (i've never had to deal with this yet)- Does anyone suggest keeping the AC on all day or turning it off during the day while we aren't there.

 

[Disney Bunny]

Since everyone is chatting about A/C in a pop up. We have a pop up and we love our AC. We at FW the last week in September - We usually camp in Pennsylvania and are not use to the Flordia weather. This may seem like a crazy dumb question (i've never had to deal with this yet)- Does anyone suggest keeping the AC on all day or turning it off during the day while we aren't there.

We always left ours running. If your closed up pop up gets too hot, it takes hours before the a/c can "catch up" and get it cooled down. Remember that it is not insulated like a TT, 5th wheel or MH.

 

[scboyd]

As a fellow canadian, who travels throughout Canada and the USA with a popup, I've never needed AC. The popup has enough windows to allow cross ventilation that we have never need it. Mind you we don't go to the southern States during the summer we travel through the middle every year and we bring along a fan but rarely use it.

We are heading to the fort in two weeks time and I'm not concerned about it being too hot in our popup. I'm actually concern about it being too cold on our way down.
As for resell, I really don't think it would make much difference up here if you had a AC unit but it would make a huge difference if you dont have a heater....
Trying to camp up here in May you can have nice weather or you can have snow and if you dont have a heater than its not fun lol.