Temperature Ratings for Travel Trailers
I just found that the new Excel Travel Trailer has a temperature rating of -5 degrees. I assume this also translates to an ability to keep cool in hot climates. At a $60k+ price tag for a used unit, t...
Forum Discussion
The other thing working against us in trailers is the heat loss rate relationship to square feet of living space.
regardless of how well insulated a trailer is, it will loose (or gain) heat faster per sq ft than a stick built house. The reason is that heat is lost/gained through the walls/floor etc. and doubling the square feet of living space doesn't double the wall area, it goes up by far less. As an example, I did a calculation and our 2600square ft S& B house has only a little over 3x the wall/floor/ceiling area of our 240 square ft trailer. 10x the square ft, but only 3x the wall area. Add in the trailer lower insulation, the higher window to wall area etc. and it's all against a trailer. Explains why it takes a 35KBTU furnace in a trailer running pretty constant vs. a 80K BTU furnace in 10x bigger S&B house to keep the same temp. Or what seems like a pretty big AC unit compared to a S&B house to keep it cool.
regardless of how well insulated a trailer is, it will loose (or gain) heat faster per sq ft than a stick built house. The reason is that heat is lost/gained through the walls/floor etc. and doubling the square feet of living space doesn't double the wall area, it goes up by far less. As an example, I did a calculation and our 2600square ft S& B house has only a little over 3x the wall/floor/ceiling area of our 240 square ft trailer. 10x the square ft, but only 3x the wall area. Add in the trailer lower insulation, the higher window to wall area etc. and it's all against a trailer. Explains why it takes a 35KBTU furnace in a trailer running pretty constant vs. a 80K BTU furnace in 10x bigger S&B house to keep the same temp. Or what seems like a pretty big AC unit compared to a S&B house to keep it cool.
