Black vs White

[Calicajun]

Just went camping at Calico Ghost Town in Barstow, CA with temps up to 105 degrees. The A/C ran all day and only brought the trailer temp down to 81 degrees.
While outside I looked up and noticed the A/C cover is black and not white like our last two trailers. I'm wondering it a white cover would help the A/C unit cool better and not work as hard?

[Doug33]

It was in the 90s last week and we had no shade at the CG. Our A/C struggled to keep the TT cool at times. It didn't help that the CG power supply was overtaxed since almost every site was occupied. The power even went out once, and there were several quick brown outs as well.

[Dtaylor]

I am not sure which Wilderness model you have, I have a 2750RL with the 15K AC. I have no problem keeping the interior cool (72*) Our last trip the daytime highs were 100* each day. My biggest challenge is having the wife realize you cannot leave the door open and expect it to stay cool inside.

[WayneAt63044]

Good video and I'm gonna check mine. But I'm thinking a silicon caulk where the air leaks between the cold output and hot return will hold up better than tape with adhesive on it. It seems that adhesive glues always let go with heat and any stick on material will suffer the same fate as the adhesive liquifies. One man's opinion.

[RedRocket204]

Watch this video, it is only 2:24 long and WILL have an impact on your trailer's cooling if you attempt to correct the problems. When I did mine, the air distribution increased by a lot. Hard to tell how much better the return is, but the cooling is substantially better now. Very easy for anyone to do, just a little time consuming to do it right.

youtube - All Seasons Mobile RV Repair. RV AC not cooling properly

[colliehauler]

spadoctor wrote:
from pictures online your trailer is grey and black so hence the black ac cover. The darker color of the rig will make it harder to cool no matter the size of the ac....the 15k would help but bot cure the problem nor would the white cover on the ac unit.

I would agree with this.

[spadoctor]

from pictures online your trailer is grey and black so hence the black ac cover. The darker color of the rig will make it harder to cool no matter the size of the ac....the 15k would help but bot cure the problem nor would the white cover on the ac unit.

[valhalla360]

Yes, it has an effect but probably negligible.

The newer dark colored RV's, likely have a much bigger impact.

[Lantley]

APT wrote:
If your whole trailer where black, then maybe. But not the small surface area of the AC unit itself.

Does the additional heat around the unit itself impact the cooling efficiency?
In general my experience has been when it's really hot out a single 13.5 K BTU unit struggles to keep up, regardless of the color of the A/C shroud .

[gbopp]

Can you temporarily cover the AC (leaving the vents open) with a white or reflective material to test your theory?

[APT]

If your whole trailer where black, then maybe. But not the small surface area of the AC unit itself.

[westend]

I'd assume a white cover would help but the majority of the work is the compressor and condenser removing the heat from the inside. I'd bet that the small differential in temperature of the AC parts underneath would not make that great a difference in the efficiency of the AC.

[LukeS]

I have a Heartland and in temps above 90 degrees it struggles. It is 13.5 and think I should of upgraded to 15,000. Anything helps and white might help some.
I go to Riverside and it get hot as you know. Last year had same issues and if no shade is available would spray the unit down with water. It seemed to help somewhat, but going bigger and or second unit such as a portable unit may be an option.