AC temp in 5er compared to outside

Thanks for the great advice!

joeburnes wrote:
I've heard that at best you should get an inside trailer temp of about 20 degrees less than outside. I live in Texas. It's 94 outside right now and about 78 in my 5er.
I have a 32 foot Montana with one 15,000 BTU A/C. BUT, I have the arctic package (upgraded insulation). It is a 2004 so the insulation package isn't as good as the newer models.

What do you guys think about what my results are (good/bad) and what are the top 2 or 3 things I can do to reduce indoor temps.

I've been hearing about using the aluminum bubble insulation stuff on windows I don't need to see out of. Any other suggestions?

EDIT: I'm also looking into tinting the windows. Anybody done this?...what brand, type, etc did you use?

I have found, here in Texas, to go get a big roll of Reflectix (as you indicated)at Home Depot or Lowes, its about 45 bucks. Cut it to size of the window, vents and anything else that can allow heat or sunlight in. Cut to match with scissors and wedge in the windows, round corners and such, inside your day/night shades. It will ride there going down the road also as well so you can leave it there when you park your 5er for the winter. It will protect your shades, valences, and the interior of your RV, if parked outside, from the sunlight that kills window dressings.
Clean those evaporator coils, since your rig is about 11 years old and the coils probably have not been cleaned, then do so. Home depot or Lowes has a spray/foam solution. You spray it on and can let it sit and allow the evaporation to wash it off. I spray it on, let it sit for several minutes then use a garden sprayer to gently rinse off and also jet inside the coils to clear the dirt. You will be surprised at what comes off of these coils. Make sure you use towel on the inside to catch any runnoff.
Lastly, make sure that your cold air and return air is not mixing in your air conditioner. On the inside, take off the grills, bezels and such, make sure that the air returning into the air conditioner and the cold air coming out of the air conditioner is isolated from each other. Aluminum tape, weather stripping are usually all you need to repair the isolation. I use a temp gun and point straight to the coils when running and it reads about 40 degrees, but the air coming out is 20 degrees or so colder than the return air. Take your time, use common sense and you will see and feel the difference. RVing in Texas from May thru Oct can be an experience with heat. Good Luck!

I read a post somewhere where the guy sort of experimented. He found the biggest heat source is the roof of the slideouts. Not much insulation there. So slide toppers is the first thing, tho expensive, I guess. If you are staying put for long periods, I suppose you could put some sort of insulation (styrofoam?) on top of the slides.
I am not sure what was next, but pretty sure in our unit the large back windows lets a LOT of heat thru.

We live in Florida, so the heat is a big problem. We had mirror type film installed. It is supposed to be better at heat reduction than dark window tint. It works very well, and there is not an issue with the sun reflected into others eyes like some have feared.

The number one thing you can do is park in the shade if possible. I try to find a spot that is shaded in the afternoon when the sun is most intense. Another is to not run appliances such as stove or oven when its hot, I cook outside. Make sure you don't leave the door open a lot, it takes a while to regain the loss of cool air, kids are bad about going in and out a lot.

The other advice you received is good as well.

rockhillmanor wrote:

SkiSmuggs wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:


I have 3 roof vents and when I put the vent pillows in them all the temp inside got cooler right away. If you have white lids, replace them with black lids big diff also.
\

Good stuff, but I don't understand replacing white lids with black lids. It seems like it should be the other way around.
My fiver came with a black AC shroud and so I also got black vent covers to match. After some hot weather camping with one AC, I am thinking of replacing all black covers with white.

I would have thought the exact same thing. UNTIL....
I had a lid come off during a storm. Mobile RV came out and repaired and I forgot about it until a year later in Florida during summer.

I was walking thru the coach and all of a sudden I felt hot heat coming down on me. It was under the vent cover that had been replaced. I had not noticed he replaced it with a pure white cover lid!

And I guess I should edit. My original vent covers where a light gray color not solid black and he replaced it with a pure white one and the heat just blared right thru the white.

I was shocked of the difference it made. The pure white ones are actually hot to the touch with the sun on them! The smoke ones are not.

So it sounds like the white ones are translucent and let the sun shine right through them. Mine are smoke and on the next sunny day, I should try what you did. So I wonder if the same holds true for the AC shroud?
BTW, a search of the shroud color subject in forums was inconclusive

SkiSmuggs wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:


I have 3 roof vents and when I put the vent pillows in them all the temp inside got cooler right away. If you have white lids, replace them with black lids big diff also.
\

Good stuff, but I don't understand replacing white lids with black lids. It seems like it should be the other way around.
My fiver came with a black AC shroud and so I also got black vent covers to match. After some hot weather camping with one AC, I am thinking of replacing all black covers with white.

I would have thought the exact same thing. UNTIL....
I had a lid come off during a storm. Mobile RV came out and repaired and I forgot about it until a year later in Florida during summer.

I was walking thru the coach and all of a sudden I felt hot heat coming down on me. It was under the vent cover that had been replaced. I had not noticed he replaced it with a pure white cover lid!

And I guess I should edit. My original vent covers where a light gray color not solid black and he replaced it with a pure white one and the heat just blared right thru the white.

I was shocked of the difference it made. The pure white ones are actually hot to the touch with the sun on them! The smoke ones are not.

IMHO 80% of heat and ac go right out thru those not air tight roof vent openings. More vents you have the more loss. Pillow them all! :B

found at any camping store or online
IMHO the best ones have the silver on one side for more reflection/insulation.

This is picture of the 'removal' window tint I also put on one of my toads. Been on for 6 years and still on when I sold it! :B


It's called Removable Limo Tint. Be careful there are 2 kinds and one is permanent, don't buy that one!
Found at Walmart. Comes in rolls, cut to fit.
Put soapy water all over window and put on and squeegee.

Key to how long it will stay on is in how well you soap and squeegee.
I also purchased the kit Walmart has for the permanent tint. Threw out the perm chemical and used the great rubber squeegee that comes in the package.

rockhillmanor wrote:


I have 3 roof vents and when I put the vent pillows in them all the temp inside got cooler right away. If you have white lids, replace them with black lids big diff also.
\

Good stuff, but I don't understand replacing white lids with black lids. It seems like it should be the other way around.
My fiver came with a black AC shroud and so I also got black vent covers to match. After some hot weather camping with one AC, I am thinking of replacing all black covers with white.

Wife has taken sheets of material similiar to vehicle sun screen shades (windshield) available Lowes/Home Depot and places them between window and day/night shades. BIG DIFFERENCE.