Popup in FL in June - silly question

[plazajane]

We are fairly new owners of a pop-up. We have only used it to camp when we didn't need to use the A/C. So we are planning a trip to the Fort in June and are wondering how best to cool the pop-up when we are in the parks all day. Will our A/C cool the pop-up in time for us to get to sleep in relative coolness if we just turn it on when we return from the parks - probably after 10 pm. Or will the pop-up be an oven? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Me , DH , DD 12 , DD 10, DD 7

 

[LONE-STAR]

There is no elec. bill at your site. Let it run 24/7.

 

[des1954]

Run it 24/7. The A/C extracts humidity along with cooling your unit down - so it will keep everything inside the unit from getting damp - like your sheets, pillows and blankets.

 

[bord1niowa]

We kept ours on and it sure was nice to come back to a COOOOL camper.

 

[AuburnJen92]

When we had our popup, we went camping with a infant and it sure was a great thing to come back to a cool camper after a hot couple of hours at the park. Don't be shy, put that AC on high baby!

 

[Memph1s]

We let ours run all the time. I do turn up the thermostat a bit when we are away for extended times so it does not get so cold that the windows start to sweat on the outside like a glass of ice tea. You also want to keep it cool inside so if you have to come back mid day unexpectedly because of rain or whatever reason you have a place to go get out of the heat. I also believe it's easier on the AC compressor to be left on all the time cycling on and off for relatively short periods of time rather than have to run for long continuous periods to cool everything off every day.

 

[gillenkl]

We usually turn off the A/C in our popup when we leave for the parks in the AM. When we come back we turn it on and head to the pool and it's cold by the time we return. We turn it back off when we head out at night and turn it back on while we head to the showers and it's cool by the time we get back. We've never had a problem cooling it down pretty quickly.
Leave it on or turn it off - whatever works for you.

 

[ClaudeZ767]

As someone who is going on my 3rd season with a fleetwood popup camper.. i recommend solar blankets for the bunk ends..There is a site called pop up gizmos that has such items. We use them and swear by them. It is mylar on one side and blue ( or some other color) on the reverse.. Keeps the bunk ends from getting hot in summer and helps retain heat in winter.

 

[tim5055]

As someone who is going on my 3rd season with a fleetwood popup camper.. i recommend solar blankets for the bunk ends.

I second this thought!!

Several years ago (OK, maybe it was more like 7) folks started using stuff like Reflectix on their bunk ends. From the Reflectix web site: "Reflectix® is a 5/16" thick, seven layer, reflective insulation which is available in rolls of various widths and lengths. Two outer layers of aluminum foil reflect 97% of radiant heat" As I said, it is used by the owners of some pop-up campers on the top (exterior) of the bed ends to reflect light and heat to keep the pop-up cooler during summer use. It is unfortunate that it is not available in a width to cover the entire bed end and because of this it must be spliced to cover the end. Most users add grommets to the corners to allow it to be tied into place. A standard roll of Reflectix of sufficient size for a pop-up is around $50 (with lots left over). It is available from most home improvement stores (Home Depot/Lowe's).

Other options include Mylar "space emergency blankets", which while highly reflective but are thin and susceptible to tearing holes and some folks report the silver rubbing off and staining their bunk end roof. Some people use silver or gray tarps which are heavy duty, but are not as reflective.

A couple of years ago custom made reflective covers exactly sized to the make/model of your pop up became available. I held out for a while, continuing to use other things but then gave up and purchased them. They are made by Popupgizmos and I must say they work great. They are an exact custom fit for your pop up and keep the bunk ends nice and cool. The photo below shows our Popupgizmos in use. Just clip them on the top of the bunk ends (and the slide out in our case) before you pop all the way up. It really does help keep the pop up cool.

HERE is a larger version of the photo

Now for a plug to my web site. The answer above was from my Pop Up Camping Frequently Asked Questions. Anf folks thought the only thing on my site was Fort Wilderness!

 

[bama_ed]

I would advise letting the AC run 24/7 also.

The two things that affect your AC's ability to overcome heat built up inside the pop-up (if it's turned off) is of course the ambient air temp outside but also how much (if any) direct exposure to the Florida sun it receives. If your campsite at the Fort has a fair amount of shade it is easier to overcome. If you get a spot, say, in the new portion of the 600 loop which is wide open and in the sun full-time, much harder. The Reflectix/Pop Up Gizmos help all the time but especially in the full sun situation. Maybe add a "shady site" request to your ressie....

Given the fact that in June it's likely to be a high humidity time already you will need to keep the inside cool probably round the clock. Your AC will produce a steady trickle of condensation run-off from the roof that will drip off constantly. When you position your camper on the pad at the Fort and level it (if needed), you will want to position it so the run-off is not an issue. For example, my Jayco pop-up drains off the rear driver's side (when towing). So I always position that corner as close to the edge of the concrete pad or over the grass so that the run-off doesn't puddle up on the pad or creep toward the door side of the pop-up where people will be walking.

I also mentioned on another thread about your pop-up awning. In June with sudden showers possible almost every afternoon, make sure you slant your awning steeper-than-what-you-think to shed the water. My awning tore although it was slightly slanted, there was enough slack in the material to allow rain water to puddle up and the weight tore the canvas. Don't let this happen to you. So shorten a corner awning pole or tip it to shed the rain.

Good luck and enjoy! BTW, I'll put in a plug for tim5055's pop-up website. It's very interesting to me.

Bama ED

 

[Cindy F]

We bought a roll of reflectix at Lowes and cut a piece to fit each bunk end and attached them with small binder clips from Office Depot. Once they're up there, you can't see anything.

With the remaining reflectix, we also cut pieces to insert into each zippered "window" in the bunks as well as large pieces to put between the curtains and windows down the sides...just as an "in case" for really hot days.

It was crucial for this last trip where the heat index was well over 100 every day. We have a portable A/C in our popup and those portables just aren't as efficient as the roof top models so all that reflectix on the bunk ends, windows, zips, etc really helped our little portable A/C cool down the camper---well, that and keeping one of the bunks ends closed off in the afternoons.

I think the worst day was around 104? heat index and the inside of our popup was about 77-pretty decent for a little 9,000 BTU portable!

 

[plazajane]

Thank you all so much for your advice. You've quelled my nerves about the A/C. I'm sure I'll have many more questions as the months go by.