Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

NotJammer wrote:Get a screen door. It was an option for me. A good one.

I wish I had specified steel wheels as I think they are stronger and reparable with a hammer.

Any insulation options? I wanted closed cell foam underneath but they said no. I later found that to be a lie. Too late.

I went for drop jacks as they seemed to give more ground clearance. Not ideal, but nothing is.

Bogey wheels are an idea. As is added height. Mine is low.

Go over all options a bunch of times. I think they save money.

Padilen wrote:I'd not plan on a portable AC.


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PrecisionLook612 wrote:

Padilen wrote:I'd not plan on a portable AC.


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Vs a rooftop unit or even a window unit? Do the portable ones not work even with proper venting?

I will look into the screen door and the spare as well.

McDave wrote:...There has been a lot of "discussion" as well as debate about Air Conditioning. If budget is not a concern, then you don't need to re-invent the wheel. Rooftop A/C's are proven, tried and true, purpose built machines that are located in the proper place. Every other type, with the possible exception of mini-splits are a compromise solution. You have to be willing to accept trade offs in order to save a couple hundred dollars. Your original question indicates that you want to do this once and do it right. Don't step over dollars to pick up dimes. You mentioned having the rooftop A/C framing installed, I would suggest planning/adding an additional frame so you can have a rooftop vent AND rooftop A/C. If you are planning a bathroom/shower that would be a good place to vent, or above stove top. Try to keep weight and balance in mind as you are planning so that permanent installs like tanks and A/C's etc. are somewhat balanced when trailer is empty. Here is a tool that will help.
https://www.engineersedge.com/calculato ... alance.htm
Just my opinion. McDave

• If you're undecided about which type of A/C unit to use, consider these points:
• 1)Power consumption vs cooling output-Your trailer , a 6x12, can be adequately cooled by a 5k btu A/C, if adequately insulated, or a 6-8k btu unit if not (my 4x8 gets really cold inside, even w/o insulation), and those units only draw 4.5 to 8 amps, whereas portable units (usually 10k btus, due to being less efficient) will draw close to 10 amps, and rooftop units require 11-15 amps (all power draw doubles on startup, for any type unit),
• 2)noise level when in use-A small window unit can be pretty quiet, especially if it is mounted in a sturdy wall, to limit vibration (+ the mechanism is outside the living space), a portable is noisier, because the compressor and moving parts are in the cabin with you, and the rooftop A/C can be even louder, because the whole roof becomes a "passive radiator" of sound,
  especially a metal roof w/o specific sound-deadening insulation.
• 3)placement of the unit-A small window unit can be put about anywhere, temporarily-mounted or a permanent installation, and can be located under or over other items, freeing-up space. A portable unit must be on the floor, so that will take up a significant area. A rooftop A/C certainly doesn't use floorspace, but it can be a hazard to items underneath (a plugged drain, or leak around the seal, can cause interior drippage).
• Additionally: I'll admit I'm biased towards the window units, because I've used many of them, and have one in my 4x8 trailer. My grandfather tried several portables, over the years, and none ever worked as well as window units, so he finally used them (admittedly, those were tried in the 70's). I have a 20ft travel trailer with a 13500 btu rooftop unit, that cools great, but draws so much amperage that I can't use the small microwave at the same time, and have to run the refrigerator on propane, to avoid tripping the breakers (my power supply is only 20 amps). Never had a leak from the rooftop unit, yet, but I've lived in apartments where the A/C was in the bathroom over the tub...one leaked quite a lot (that's probably why they're over the tub!).
• If your trailer was larger, like a 7x20, or 8x24, then the rooftop unit may be the the way to go, but for a 6x12, I'd use an 8k btu window unit, and insulate heavily (I didn't, and regret it). Whatever you choose to do, good luck on your build/conversion. I agree with McDave about using the spreadsheet to keep your balance in check; I used the one I found on this forum for my build, and it really helped.

Iconfabul8 wrote:The other thing you will experience with a rooftop unit in a small space,is problems getting rid of the humidity. Smaller units run long enough to condition the air(remove Agua) large ones turn off before they have a chance to get the job done. Might be something to consider depending on where you live.