Exterior window shades

In the Arizona sun, HUGE difference with shaded Windows.

to add to the comments on AC. In many trailers the ducted AC goes to one or two plenum runs in the ceiling. My experience
1) they run the length of the trailer even if the last vent is before the end of the trailer.
2) usually there is an air gap between the plenum and duct when they exit
3) usually there are air gaps in joints around the AC unit
4) they use the minimum number of vents.

So the solution is to
1) add some more vents to the plenum, easy to do. I actually doubled the number of vents, locating them strategically, like near the dining table, etc.
2) use aluminum ducting tape to seal up all the air gaps you can find around the vents and AC unit.
3) at the end of the last vent on any run, stuff in a piece of foam to block any remaining run
4) make sure all the vents are ones you can control air direction and flow

We did this on our outback and it made a huge difference. and if it is really hot during the day, I open all the vents in the living area, close bedroom door and vents in the bedroom during the day, then reverse in the evening.

works wonders

cav123 wrote:
well at the duct vents temp was about 60 degrees but at lower levels closer to the counter tops temps were in and around 75 the unit just could not keep up hung trash bags to shield some of the heat at the windows helped a bit but the air was barely reaching the lower levels now at night no problems. sorry guys just a bit aggravated about the problem I guess no more summer camping.

No need to loose hope yet.

Here's a pic where I sealed up old foam divider that keeps the cold air from getting mixed with warm air. Might be worth checking out



For windows, you can cut some foil bubble insulation to fit over your windows, or even get an inexpensive windshield shade and cut it to shape.

A few of these can hold it in place. They come in different colors and sizes, or you can use strips, whatever you think looks best.



Another thing to try is cooling just one section at a time. Close off whatever area you can, block off duct, whatever you need to do and as an area cools down, you can open up another area.

If you can get cooler air to return into the A/C intake, the unit should better be able to cool the air to an even cooler level.

You might even try opening a ceiling vent and turn the fan on low, blowing outwards. Heat rises, evacuate the hottest, replace it with cooler air from the A/C

Hope you find a workable solution soon ;)

well at the duct vents temp was about 60 degrees but at lower levels closer to the counter tops temps were in and around 75 the unit just could not keep up hung trash bags to shield some of the heat at the windows helped a bit but the air was barely reaching the lower levels now at night no problems. sorry guys just a bit aggravated about the problem I guess no more summer camping.

ktmrfs wrote:
Trailers have two major problems. Large surface to volume ratio, and lots of windows. Windows, no matter what you do have a low R factor. Then the fact that for the trailer volume you have lots of exterior surface area heating up, no matter what the insulation is.

I'll contribute a 3rd.

Ducted A/C units run their ducts through the very thinly protected (often no insulation from the roof surface) ceiling, which heats the air before it ever gets out the vent.

I've read about some folks adding reflective insulation to the inside of their A/C shroud on the roof. Not sure if it really helps or not?

Our inside shades have day and night shades, which help keep the sun out, but likely no other "R value" ;)

cav123 wrote:
I see most of the newer campers have them panels that are dark over the windows I dont know if the windows are made with these panels or are they
are and add on. we camped over the weekend and almost had to come home cause
the temp in the camper did not want to cool down of course in south Louisiana
sometimes the temps get real bad.

Most of these are on the inside, and frankly do very little to help heat buildup. the heats already in the trailer.

Trailers have two major problems. Large surface to volume ratio, and lots of windows. Windows, no matter what you do have a low R factor. Then the fact that for the trailer volume you have lots of exterior surface area heating up, no matter what the insulation is.

We found that to keep the trailer comfortable in high temps make sure the AC is turned on very early, don't let the temp rise and expect the AC to bring it down. Keep it down and hope the AC doesn't let it rise much.
shade, shade, and more shade for the windows on the outside.
Even using the 3M window shrink film on the inside to make a poor man's double pane window will help a lot.

I see most of the newer campers have them panels that are dark over the windows I dont know if the windows are made with these panels or are they
are and add on. we camped over the weekend and almost had to come home cause
the temp in the camper did not want to cool down of course in south Louisiana
sometimes the temps get real bad.

here is what we have ordered. Haven't installed them yet, the kit is on the way.

https://ezsnapdirect.com/products/rv-shades/

probably not as easy to put up and take down as regular awnings, but definitely less expensive.

Another thing we did was to install lexan panes on the inside of the trailer non opening windows to reduce condensation in cold weather. they also made a very noticeable effect on heat gain in the summer.

We have carefree awnings over each of our windows. They really help to keep the sun out. They are easy to deploy and retract.

Most of the Motorhome owners have snap on shade screen covers made for the outside of the windows. We see folks who custom make and install these screens advertised in the brochures RV resorts hand out or you'll see them drive thru the resort from time to time.

Window coverings definitely help keep the interior cooler.