Summer in Phoenix in a fifth-wheel? Has anyone done it?

[cannesdo]

A friend of mine is thinking of selling his park model and moving into a fiver. Wondering how much A/C it would take to keep it cool. If he could be comfortable physically if he stayed. He's looking at about a 28 footer I think. He would keep it here and not move it. I'm thinking a ceiling A/C and a window unit or a portable A/C inside might do the trick. Thought I'd try to find people who have done it.

I added a 2nd unit to my fifth-wheel before coming here in October. It made such a difference. I was comfortable in 90 degree temps and think I would have done fairly well with 100. It's the 120 I'm wondering about. Anyone done that? What does it take to keep comfortable in that? I realize the units will be running day and night.

[rskeans]

Phoenix is Summer. Not recommended. Check out Prescott as a compromise. We have a house at Lake Havasu. Similar temps as Phoenix. I think it was two years ago it hit 126!!!! Avoid it if at all possible.

[Mtwoodson]

Hell, we lived there in a house and the summer heat finally drove us out in 2010. We had 100 consecutive days when the temperature did not drop below 100 degrees. It'll take a lot of electricity and insulation to stay cool in a fifth wheel. Tell him to go north.

[CA_Traveler]

My first thought is that the rig may not be insulated enough for the high summer temps, some days it will be 120F.

And 30A power may be marginal for 2 ACs. ACs in that heat will run 24/7 which means sustained use. 30A power should not exceed 80% or 24V sustained. Basically he will likely want a second power source for one ACs or 50A.

[sheff69]

I spent July and August of 2013 in Las Vegas, it was consistently running between 115-118F during the day.
I had both ACs running full time (15,000 btu living area, and 13,500 btu bedroom), and I had to install aluminum backed windshield shades in all the windows to keep the inside tolerable.
It still got up to about 78-80F inside during the day, but at night it went down to 70F, which was what I set the thermostats to.
I must admit, I only have single pane windows, but the windshield shades made all the difference. Without them, you couldn't sit near a window, even with the blinds down.

Sheff

[colliehauler]

RustyJC wrote:
I'd highly recommend going north a bit to Flagstaff or Williams for the summer!

Rusty

I would second that and a carport type cover to keep the sun off.

If the person does not have a truck I would look at a apartment or residence inn type motel suite.

One summer i had to spend a week in 110 degree temps. I parked under a shade tree and the A/C ran non stop from early morning until well after dark. I kept a fan going as well, I was able to maintain 75 degrees in a 23 foot trailer.

[RustyJC]

I'd highly recommend going north a bit to Flagstaff or Williams for the summer!

Rusty

[fj12ryder]

I think the proper question is "Has anyone done it more than once?" 🙂

[midnightsadie]

I,d put it under a cover ,like a car port.

[missourijan]

We were in Phoenix in June 2012, it was 112. I would not want to do it again. Of course, there are people that live in their rv's there. My comment is that I would not want to be there in anything other than a quality unit, I mean insulation. Rv's are not air tight and those with little insulation do not hold the heat or cool.