Full time 5th Wheel living in Phoenix in the summer

Thanks for the tips. I've pretty much exhausted my search about tips and tricks to reduce the heat. What I'd really like to know is what brand 5th Wheel you have that's made your living in the valley a reasonable venture.
Reason being, we want to buy a 5th Wheel and make Mesa, AZ our full time home until we retire and can snowbird. We've still got a few years left to work.

First off - insulation works the same in cold weather and hot weather - just like your house. More is better.

I stayed one winter in Phoenix. It was touching 100 degrees during the day as I was heading out on 1 May.

One observation I have is that I saw many folks with an open air car-port type of covering over their trailers and mobile homes. Just 4 poles and a hard covering. The idea is to just keep the sun off the rig and from directly heating up that big tin can. That is the first thing I would do.

I talked to a couple folks who stayed year round in the RV park I stayed at. They put insulation in the windows and bought a couple of household window AC units. They told me the household ones are much more efficient then the dedicated RV units.

Except for a heated basement to prevent pipes freezing in the winter, anything that helps to keep cold out also helps to keep hot out and chilled air in. So, a "4 season" RV that has extra insulation, dual pane windows, and other cold weather options will be beneficial in hot weather as well.

I have to ask, why would you want to live there in the summer??? That's why you have wheels on the thing. Go a little ways east or north to gain elevation.

Look at Northwoods, they have better insulation in the roof.

If you're staying there because you own land there, then get a roof put up over it.

I just can't imagine staying there in the summer. I left last April because it was getting too hot for me.

Bill

I would add a third AC unit.