AC Wondering: Do We Really Need It?

[burlesot]

I have a wondering.

I've been reading a lot about various builds. I have been incredibly impressed with the ingenuity of builders in so many ways.

I originally thought that I would 'have to have' and AC unit in my teardrop for those oppressive heat days we get here in the midwest.

Then I started thinking about it.

Most of the time when we camp, we plan to be away from 'shore power.' So, essentially, on those nights, there is not enough power to run an AC unit, unless you also had a generator, right?

It seems like the majority of 'traditional' teardrops do not have AC units in them. Am I right on that?

I am leaning towards no AC unit, but a very good fan, like the Fantastic Fan, and maybe even a fan inside the cabin to help move air.

I've lived in a house that has terrible AC on the second floor for 15 years; it can't be much worse inside a teardrop here in the midwest can it?

I realize that if you travel across the country, there will be times when it is hot, but those early designs of teardrops did not have AC in them and everyone did just fine, right?

I'm not sure if I'm trying to talk myself into our out of an AC unit, but I'm learning towards not having one.

Thanks,
Todd

[Deryk the Pirate]

Well, just my 2 cents... I built one into my lil vardo and havent used it this year because honestly, I dry camp and dont have a generator. I am thinking if I dont sell it this fall Im adding a ceiling hatch and fantastic fan because it does get a little warm in side, I try to camp in the shade and Ive been getting by ok. Lots of ventilation from windows and a hatch will help. Now if your in a campground with power then I would be running it for sure.

deryk

[NathanL]

Depends on where you camp and how hot it is I guess. Down here if I didn't have A/C in mine I would just sleep under a tenttarp, otherwise it would be like sleeping in an over no matter how many windows/doors you opened and fans you had running.

[GerryS]

It's a necessity for me! I can take a night without it, but from June to September it's just too humid and hot to sleep without it.

Sometimes I will wake at night and turn it off, but almost as often it gets turned back on...

Ive also got a fantastic vent, and opening windows...

[doug hodder]

I've built in Fantastic fans in all my builds. I open the windows, turn on the fan to pull air through the windows and put in curtains so that the air hits them and dumps down on me when I'm laying in it. I've camped in high humidity and temps in Nebraska at the ITG a couple of times and slept just fine with it. For me...the idea of a window shaker type air unit grinding all night in a space that small makes for poor sleep. Out here, I rarely use the fan as it cools off at night, we have lower humidity and I camp at higher elevations. To each their own. Doug

[bdosborn]

I'm not sure if I'm trying to talk myself into our out of an AC unit, but I'm learning towards not having one.

I went through the same thought process and talked myself out of an a/c in the Teardrop. We live in Colorado and I figured we'd always be camping in the cool mountains. However, our very first trip in the tear was to the first IRG in Minden Nebraska. I remember my wife and I laying awake at midnight and commenting when the temperature went from 90 to 89. The humidity was still up at 90 through. All three nights were like that.

I added a pet cool to the tear when we got home and built an a/c into the Boxcar. We don't always use the a/c and often use an endless breeze (fantastic fan in a box) instead. But it sure is great to have a/c when it gets really hot.


Bruce

[burlesot]

I appreciate the insight. I plan on being in hot places...going out west, etc. I like the option, it just changes the 'design' elements so much. I like the designs where guys are putting them in the galley on the floor or like Camp Inn does up above. I have even seen the AC units on top of the teardrop (similar to the ones that are on the big RV units.) I would like to have the option and I guess I would like it to be built in. It sounds like yours can be put in when you need it rather than having it built in, no?

Thanks,
Todd

[bdosborn]

Mine slides in and out:







Bruce

[asianflava]

I don't use mine as much as I used to. In TX we'd use it almost every time we'd go out. It is nice to have though. On the way home from IRG Bruce and I stopped in Reno, it was hot when we got to the campground. We both flipped on our a/c and were good to go. Doug may not like the noise, but I like the white noise in the background.

[Shadow Catcher]

We did not use ours but once on our trip west. But here in the mid-west we love it and it does not have to be permanently attached.

There was one experience at ChainO'Lakes where the wood smoke from folks that just gotta have a camp smolder/fire, where having an AC saved me from a very bad night. I now have an air purifier as well.

[bobhenry]

I ,like Tom, have mine outside it is tucked under the trailer. It takes about 6 minutes to set it up and yes you do have to lug the thing. However, the effort is rewarded with a good nights sleep in 90 degree weather. It has gone with us only 4 times in 14 gatherings so there was no sense building it in, in my opinion. A fan is our only cooling aid on the other occasions.

[rockinrobin]

I just push mine up against the open window on one of the doors, blowing thru the screen, sitting on a camp table with adjustable legs. Works good. Just leave it at home if you know you will not need it.

[burlesot]

Wow,
Thank you guys so much for the visuals. I bet others will appreciate them as well. I think I'm for sure leaning to the detachable set up. These visuals really help think through the way to set it up. Thank you guys!

TB

[aggie79]

We have a really complex Petcool setup that took a long time to build into the teardrop. It works great; however, we find that we don't camp when it is too hot, so it has only been used once.

[jstrubberg]

I've worked way too many years to ever suffer trying to sleep in the heat without AC. I won't buy a car without AC ever again, I won't own a trailer without it. I don't mind being hot during the day, but at night I refuse to stick to the sheets.


Call me spoiled, but I'd rather eat a truckload of ramen to save some cash rather than do without air conditioning.