I wanna be COOL!!

Getting into shade will do more for you than another 8 to 12K of cooling power. Difference between heat load in sun and heat load in shade may be as much as 30K to 100K BTUs, and it is really difficult to add that much cooling power.

I would be inclined to at least double the cooling with a second full size RV air conditioner, rather than fiddling with a litte one, and you do have to find a way to provide power. My experience though, even a second 15K of A/C does not help that much when caught out in full sunlight on hot days.

Cools down nicely after dark, though.

If it's new and 30', I'll bet you a donut that it has a spot for a second roof mounted AC. Why not just go do it the right way instead of spending cash on bandaids? I get it, I hate being hot also. I'm just thinking your likely going to have this new trailer a while so doing it right, the cost spreads over years of no longer having this issue. Is it worth it? Would be to me.

I saw a new or near new 40 coach with a small window unit air conditioner stuck in a living area widow. Looked like it was mounted on a piece of plywood the correct size to fit in the window and could take it out when traveling and stick it in when parked. The electric cord was run out the window and plugged into the 110 15/20 amp outlet on the electric post. Looked a little trashy but I bet it did a good job augmenting his cooling.

Possibilities. I don't know if you have fifty amp or not. If so check with the mfg about an existing hole and wiring covered over.
Our HR had only one air but had wiring and breaker and area in roof for a second air.
I saw a site, last night on the net about surplus RV items. It had new 13,500 units for six something and 15,000 btu units for 165.00 or so more. A couple of the new ones, were advertised with 1/3 hp fans that were supposed to really help with cool down. Don't know if one of them was on the surplus site. 30 Amp will handle one ac of either size.

I bought a 12000 btu unit from Home Depot. Easy installation instructions, no water to worry about. The duct can be fitted through a window very easy. I run it off an extention cord from a separate 15 amp source. It does a "great job," I'm in Phoenix, temps have been around 113.

I don't mean this to be flippant, but when I get too hot in my camper, I go outside and sit at the picnic table. After a few minutes out there, I have a whole new appreciation for the temperature inside.

I just got back from a 10 day trip in Texas. There were some really hot days. On the last leg of my trip, I duct-taped some aluminum foil over that cloudy window in the door. I could not believe how much that dropped the temperature! I wish I had thought of it sooner.

I also put the vent pillows in, run a box fan on high, keep the blinds closed during the sunny hours, use the awning to shade that side of the trailer, and keep the bathroom door closed as much as possible.

DontRoughIt wrote:
Has anyone had any success with one of those portable 8k or 12k AC units like I have seen at Lowes and Home Depot to help out a little or is it more trouble than its worth?


Michael

To answer your original question which has evaded most of the posters in this thread.

I had good results with a 13.5kbtu portable AC unit. It draws 6 amps under use and I run it via a 12ga extension cord plug into a 20amp circuit on our generator ( We are South Texas Gate Guards) I made sure to buy one that did not require the manual removal of condensation --more $$. I ended up running the exhaust hose vertically through an overhead vent.

I had BETTER luck-- and cheaper too-- with buying a small window unit and fabricating a wood bracket to fit it in the window. It is much quieter and takes up zero floor space.

Been there and done that with both types of AC-- the rest of the posts here are just noise. Of course we have reflective barriers over our windows and skylights-- FWIW , Infrastop beats the pants off of Reflectix.

THE OP wanted to know about portable AC units== not covering his windows.

Fizz wrote:
Also....
The roof of your slideouts are not insulated.

Mine are ---R9.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'm going to stick with a nice shady spot! I did see the Artic Air system that a lot of small aircraft pilots use in lieu of a 20k system but not ready to spend 600 bucks for a cooler full of ice!

Here in TX, a 30+ foot trailer with slides really needs a 50 amp electrical system and two 15k BTU ACs, on a "H" styled duct system, so either or both units can cool the TT down. This would allow me to use both units to get the TT decently cooled off, then just use the one opposite the bedroom to maintain temperature, since the overhead units tend to be very noisy.