pop up & air conditioning?

[We4mickey]

We are considering adding air on our pop up. Just don't know if it is really going to make that much difference in the temp inside the camper. It is basically a tent. DH thinks it will be too warm in April. Anyone with input on this? Thanks

 

[R_Judy]

We love our air conditioner and would never consider going with out it. It makes a huge difference!

 

[DisneyForLife]

We now have an RV but started with a popup. The air conditioner worked great. Would never have camped without it. Helps for sleeping.
Go for it, you will not regret it.

 

[gardendame]

We do not YET own a pop-up, but have begun shopping. I see the OP is from WI, and probably not accustomed to our humidity down here on the Gulf Coast. We will only be purchasing a pop-up WITH an air-conditioner.
Even on the days that are so terribly hot that the AC has a hard time cooling, it will at least help cut down on the humidity inside the camper to make sleeping more comfortable. If OP is planning a camping trip to WDW, I think AC is a must, no matter what time of year.
Hope this helps!

 

[MEM]

We installed an A/C in our pop-up several years after we bought it and spent too many sleepless nights without it. It works extremely well in our pop-up, so much so that DH calls "high" the "meat-locker" setting. I can never camp again without one. It also serves as great white noise when you are surrounded by night-owls or party animals. Worth every penny.

 

[westjones]

We don't have a/c in ours, and I REALLY want it! DH hates the idea of cutting our roof, so we have been looking for alternatives. Does anyone know of a popup owner using a portable a/c unit in their camper?

I found this one at Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...28&product_id=2499984&path=0:5428:92523:14940

Just wondering if it would work. I know we would have to put it in and take it out on each trip. But it is a lot cheaper than installing a roof one (and we wouldn't have to cut the roof).

DJ

 

[tim5055]

Originally posted by westjones
We don't have a/c in ours, and I REALLY want it! DH hates the idea of cutting our roof, so we have been looking for alternatives. Does anyone know of a popup owner using a portable a/c unit in their camper?

I found this one at Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...28&product_id=2499984&path=0:5428:92523:14940

Just wondering if it would work. I know we would have to put it in and take it out on each trip. But it is a lot cheaper than installing a roof one (and we wouldn't have to cut the roof).

DJ

Go ahead and cut the roof! Properly installed I have never heard of leakage problems due to A/C installation.

The problem with the A/C you are thinking about at WalMart is the BTU size. It's only 9,000 BTU. The standard RV A/C unit is 13,500 BTU, and it is just able to keep up with the temp/humidity in a pop up due to the canvass walls. 13,500 should be the minimum for a Pop Up A/C unit unless you never plan on camping at FW.

 

[VAN]

The new pop-up (Viking) we just ordered is A/C ready. That means they built it with the proper roof supports and wiring built in. We've never had a problem needing A/C as we camp at WDW late-March/early April when it still cools down at night.

If you have an older pop-up you may want to find out it there is currently enough support and/or wiring.

 

[doc6464]

We have a/c in our pop-up. Couldn't imagine roughing it without A/C! Just got back last week from FW. What a nice trip and nice campgrounds.

 

[westjones]

So you drove your pop up from Michigan to FW? My DH doesn't seem to want to drive ours from Indiana to FW. He doesn't think he can handle going through Atlanta towing something.

I would LOVE to take our camper to FW, and had I known he wouldn't drive it very far I would never have suggested we get it.

We have 'tent' camped at FW before and he says he would do that again.

It would just be so much fun to have the camper instead. Oh well!

DJ

 

[We4mickey]

We pull ours right through downtown Atlanta from WI. Usually hit it around 4am. No problem with traffic at that time of day.

 

[Balgeman]

We always pull our camper thru Atlanta, we're from Illinois. Ours is a 34 foot Travel Trailer. Louisville is worse than Atlanta, but we drive thru Luoisville too. But you could always take the by-pass. That way there won't be so many lanes.

Robin

 

[got2lovedisney]

This is a little off base but I just wanted to let you know I won't even tent camp without my A/C!! We have an 8x8 dome tent and I bring a wall unit we didn't need since our house now has central a/c. We set the a/c on the floor and zip the door closed around it. People would make fun of me, at first, stating things like "that's not camping" or "you city folks are funny". Well...when the Florida sun started baking everyone else their newfound jealousy was obvious!! We were nice and cool while everyone else had to try to sleep in their own sweat.

A/C? Yes!!! A must have in Florida!!

WESTJONES: A small window unit may be a less expensive alternative than the portable your looking at in Wal-Mart. Not sure how convenient in a pop-up, but less expensive.

 

[westjones]

We have thought about the window A/C too. DH thinks we could set it on the stove cover and then duck tape plastic around it and the 'window' behind it (running the water line into the sink).

I have seen these kinds for around $100-$200, so we may give it a try sometime. I don't think I will convince DH to bring the pop up to Disney World. We are DVC members and he says that the Villas at Wilderness Lodge are just fine with him.

Oh well, I am hoping in 2005 we get to try out the cabins. The camper will just have to stay home. This summer we are at the Wilderness Lodge!

DJ

 

[jay1929]

AC is great in a pop-up. Ours gets so cold at night , we sleep with the curtain closed by the bed. We rarely use the coldest setting in the camper. I highly recommend adding AC - you'll love it.

 

[loriandmatt]

boy did i research this extensively last year.

We have a viking pop up that was about 3 year old at the time. When we purchased it, we couldn't imagine needing AC in a camper. Well last year we were gearing up for a trip to Fort Wilderness but the only time we could go was August. We HAD to have AC in that camper.

i looked into trying to finagle a window AC unit into the camper - just too much cutting into the camper and fussing with stuff we did not understand. We plan on having this camper for a long time and didn't want to ruin our investment.

i looked into portable AC units that could be placed on the floor of the camper with a flexable vent we could channel outside thru one of the many zippers or velcro opening in the popup. they were pretty pricy and took up a good chunk of floor space (which as most of us pop upers know is a limited resource.)

We decided to spend the extra bucks and have a dealer install a real AC unit for pop ups in our camper. GREAT CHOICE!

yes - it cools down fast. (the meat locker comment earlier is the truth. you only need it on high for a few min when you first return to the camper - leaving it on high would freeze you out.)


- lori

 

[gator287]

Yes the AC in the pop up at FW is worth it! My husband would revolt without it. When I was a child, my father bought a portable air conditioner and placed it in the window of our TENT! It did nothing during the days at FW but at night... man could we sleep. My dad got lots of great comments about the ac in the tent. SO go for it wether on the top of pop up or in the winjdow. HOwever, it will help.
Suzy