Anybody else go without AC?

[alan H]

I ve had a scamp & perris pacer neither had ac.... Both had a roof vent w/ fan built into them
With a side window or two opened and roof fan running we never needed ac .... And we live and camp in southern calif



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[Bobby Kirk]

It is not the hot weather that is a concern for me.I would much rather leave the windows open and let the breeze roll through.
The problem is sometimes the camper beside me leaves a nice smoky, smouldering fire going all night and I don't like waking up smelling like bacon!!
It is also an asthma problem.
Can't wait until there is no campfire allowed areas in campgrounds then I can do without a/c.

Bobby

[Timber Wolf]

Originally Posted by ZachO

But then we don't have campers so that we'll suffer...we have them to be comfortable. But everyone has a different idea of how comfortable they want to be.

In the Deep South comfort to me is A/C and a soft bed. I have "roughed it" my share in this life and intend not to if I can avoid it.

[Henry Smith]

"So...a lot just depends on what you're willing to put up with. I mean people survived all this time, up until very recently, without AC."

True observation! Does anyone remember the speech by President Nixon around 1972 where he made reference to how air conditioning had just in recently become "a necessity"? He was born and grew up in a time where air conditioning was limited to only big buildings and the rich. Now? Well.... :--)

[steve dunham]

I can barely stand the heat of a Minnesota / Wisconsin Summer.
I have the deepest admiration for people who can live through the summer heat of Florida ,Texas , Missouri or Iowa ( ETC. )
When nightime temps are in the 70's or above ,a fan just doesn't do it for me.

[Jon Vermilye]

As others have said, it depends on when & where you camp, and your tolerance for heat & humidity. I have one in my Escape, and it probably has fewer that 40 running hours on it over the last 5 years. Still, the few times I've used it I would have been miserable with the combination of over 100°F & high humidity. Without the humidity, I'm comfortable using the MaxxFan even in high temperatures, but the combination is a killer!

[ZachO]

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

In the Deep South comfort to me is A/C and a soft bed. I have "roughed it" my share in this life and intend not to if I can avoid it.

Yep. I like to think of myself as pretty tough and pretty willing to put up with any kind of weather. But my guess is that I wouldn't last long in your climate without AC.

[bullfrogeh]

Missus and I, have been RV camping, every summer, since about 1966, through a range of nine different RVs, in every province (including NFLD), and almost all continental states (including Alaska, Florida, California, Washington, and Maine). As a result, our kids were exposed to most 'geographies' of N. America, as they grew up. Four of those nine rigs had AC; but, we've never 'used' AC for any camping. Our current 'rig' is the smallest; but, not the 'oldest'; and, the 'missus' and I still don't feel the need for 'camping' with AC. - - YMMV - and, ours might too !

[Uplander]

Some like it hot...I don't.

My travel trailer has an A/C...I bought a 3,100 watt Champion Inverter generator new for $750 for when I boondock.

Camping in high heat and humidity is painful without A/C.
My motto..."If it isn't fun I don't do it"
Camping with A/C in heat and humidity is fun....being uncomfortable is not fun.

If you like high heat and humidity then you'll love cooking in your camper without A/C.....if your wife likes A/C and hates the heat and humidity then go get A/C installed....Happy Wife=Happy Life.

[Mike Magee]

Most folks with AC in their trailers don't get water damage. It should not be too difficult to have an AC unit correctly installed, and not get damage. I don't think the water damage should be an issue in your decision. Instead, it should be based on your comfort level.

My comfort level generally involves having AC available on a trailer. I particularly recall my stay in Black Mesa SP (OK panhandle) one July night a few years ago. This was on my way home to Tulsa from a trip through the Rockies. I pulled into the CG around 4:30 pm, and the thermometer read 114 degrees F. By bedtime it had fallen into the upper 80s. Yes, I did enjoy my stay, all alone in the CG except for the deer, bunnies, and other wildlife; I walked and rode my bike in the evening hours and enjoyed the peaceful serenity. However, being able to retreat to the relative cool of the trailer made the stay bearable. AC is really, really nice to have.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Putting sliders in the front and back of your Scamp is going to require fiberglass work. Operable windows need a flat mounting surface, which the front and back are not. Fantastic fans might be an easier and more effective way to increase ventilation for sleeping. Since they're powered, you'll have a breeze even when the air is still.

Since the OPs trailer is a 1991, he's got a flat-back Scamp. Even my 1988 is a flat-back and I can put a sliding window in. HOWEVER, any opening front window Scamp has ever offered, they've discontinued. With reason. You're perhaps going to have leaking issues that even the manufacturer couldn't solve.

[accrete]

as hinted by others, the use of an air-conditioner (or heater) is mostly depended on location of adventures.

For Cari and I we really enjoy the mild weather of the PNW, and also like the greenery. Our typical season from spring thaw to fall freeze allows us to not feel obligated to include much if any heating and have never used an air conditioner in our rig(s) except our big rig at home on the coast.

We know we'll venture out of the PNW when we cut the cord to employment, though we hope to do our best at following the 55 to 75 degree preferred weather : ) Yea, we are weather weenies.

When I saw the title of this thread I misinterpreted the "A/C" as volts rather than a cooling system... we only plug our adventure rigs into shore power during the one outing we have with the Fiberglass RV Forum members. Next outlet use is this coming April. We figure if we are paying for electricity...might as well do something with it?

Happy Trails,
Thom

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Since the OPs trailer is a 1991, he's got a flat-back Scamp. Even my 1988 is a flat-back and I can put a sliding window in. HOWEVER, any opening front window Scamp has ever offered, they've discontinued. With reason. You're perhaps going to have leaking issues that even the manufacturer couldn't solve.

I didn't know that, Donna- thanks for the clarification. I assumed the change in the mold and the switch to sliders in the back happened at the same time. Do you happen to know when they changed the mold and when the rear slider became standard issue?

[Donna D.]

Jon, I THINK it was somewhere 1984-1985. All the 1985s I've seen are flat back, but still have the plexi window, not sliders. Flat backs are easy to spot due to the "ledge" under the window. The round backs are just as round in the back as the front. Fortunately those with flat backs, the plexi windows were sized for the sliders Scamp is still using.


1984 on left
1985 on right

[Thinh]

Yard-sale 30bucks window A/C, 5500BTU, d-i-y. It turns the little trailer as cold as a ..cooler in summer nights.

[TheWanderers]

Wow, I never thought I'd generate so much conversation. Thanks to everyone who has offered their opinions here. We haven't decided but will continue to consider all the options. I still have the existing damage to repair from the previous installation, once the weather turns nice, and will most probably prep the area to enable the installation of ac since I'll be working in there anyway.

We do have what has been referred to as "flat back" on Ziggy so we'll most likely be changing out the rear window AND I really appreciate the comment about the potential for issues with the front slider. Excellent advice, from everyone. Thanks again.

[Donna D.]

IF you really want an opening front window and if you're willing to do the work, it's possible... this is a picture of a Love Bug, kinda hard to see the window and notice it's sitting more upright than other rounded front plexi window trailers (its the best I could do when searching quickly). I would think if you did the work and then created a gravel guard that wrapped around the window you could possibly prevent water leaks. The worst happen during driving rain storms while under tow.

[Raz]

The front window on my Trillium doesn't leak. A lot of Trilliums have been produced, all with opening front windows. I don't recall it being a known issue. Trillium uses wood spacers on all the windows and they are known to deteriorate due to poor maintenence but nothing unique to the front. Perhaps it's the shape of the trailer or maybe the jealousies work better than the slider??? Raz

[Uplander]

P.Raz and anyone else with sliding windows, I am not a big fan of sliding windows. Any water on the outside of the glass runs down into the slider track.
This water should run out of the track which runs both outside the trailer and inside the trailer through weeping slots at the outside bottom of the track that the window glides in.

If the drain slots are not kept clean the water will spill out of the track into the interior of the trailer...always keep these weeping slots clean and clear.
The other problem is when driving at high speed in heavy rain the rain water can find its way into the trailer.
Overall the jealousies if closed tightly are less likely to leak and allow for ventilation when camped in the rain. This type of window also known as an awning window is best overall in homes in the hot, humid and rainy tropics.

Another item most veteran travel trailer owners install is the MAXX AIR roof vent covers. This item cuts roof vent leaks when traveling in the rain to zero and you can leave vents open with these installed when you are moving as they protect the factory vent covers while allowing ventilation.

Water is the enemy of travel trailers.

Happy Camping.

[Cyndi B.]

The darn things are tiny enough. Good Lord when the heater goes off it is enough to jump you out of bed. Enjoy the outdoor noise and a fan, may well be run by batteries.