cool camper beyond A/C

[Jurudica]

When we were camped in a very hot area, our A/C couldn't keep up with the heat. It seemed to be worse in our "slideout" area. We wonder if we got foil insulation and laid on the top of the slideout if that would help cool down the camper. Our AC is working properly, just too darn hot! Any other suggestions are more than welcome.

[Mr_D]

Put the slideout covers on. They sit a couple inches above the slideout roof and really do help, we have them on two of our three slides. The third is under the main awning so it doesn't need a separate one.

[cutrell01]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jurudica When we were camped in a very hot area, our A/C couldn't keep up with the heat. It seemed to be worse in our "slideout" area. We wonder if we got foil insulation and laid on the top of the slideout if that would help cool down the camper. Our AC is working properly, just too darn hot! Any other suggestions are more than welcome.

If you have an RV that does not have the winter package (extra insulation) one A/C will not cool RV down very good in very hot weather especially if you have no shade. Keep shade down, put some foil insulation on large windows if sun hits them. We use some of that window shading that looks like plastic screen wire on our large back window. Put grommets in it and attache to outside of window with heavy duty suction cups. Can find sun screen (lighter weight) at some Wally Worlds. It is for replacing metal window screen and it block some of the sun off. When traveling, leave one of your overhead vents open a little and it will pull out some of the heat. One A/C (normally 13,000btu) is just not enough for most RVs. We also have covers on all of our slideouts.

[Half Dimes]

Identifying your rig with a signature line is a good idea.

Be sure your A/C filter is clean and that you are getting good air flow through all supply vents. Our former rig only had one A/C but it kept us cool until outside temps would hit the low 100s. Also, if your rig has a dark exterior paint job, it will act like a heat sponge in direct sunlight. And there is less insulation in a slide roof.

[Jurudica]

We were traveling to the south where it was extremely hot this past two weeks when we stopped at a Menards to see what we could get to cover the windows. We ran into a clerk there that had the same problem that we had before and he told us to buy the aluminum sided insulation that comes in a roll. We did it, cut it to fit in between our windows and the shades and also to fit up in the vents/skylight. That made a world of difference. The camper stayed comfortable. The downside was that it made the camper dark inside but at least we stayed cool!!

[JulieW]

Last summer we were so hot by the end of July (where we were had not shade) I made a cap for our RV out of PVC pipe 1/2 inch and a tarp with silver on one side. I made a frame out of the pvc and attached the tarp to it, and attached the whole thing to the RV and ground and boy what a difference that made. It even shaded the AC unit. Good Luck

[Hamshog]

We've been using Reflextic foil on our 5 slides for over a year now. Makes a big differencee on ceiling temps. Also used it inside windows, but the frames still got extremely hot, so we just installed EZ-SNAP EZ-Snap Exterior Shades & Blinds do-it-yourself sunscreen on the outside of windows. Wow!! Now the frames just get warm instead of hot!!!

$310.00 for the whole coach!!

The foil on the windows does help a bit, but the heat is still inside the coach with this method. Screen the outside for best benefits..

Regards, Hamshog

[ralper]

With my 30' 5'er and a 15,000 BTU A/C it will just do the job at 100 degrees outside. I have dual pane windows. I bought the bubble plastic with silver reflective surface on both sides and use it in the skylights and some east and west windows (if I am parked that way). In the summer, I try to park with the windowless front to the south. I park the other way in the winter for solar gain. It made a defitite difference. When the RV is hot I need to run my 11,000 BTU unit also for a quick cool down.

Keep in mind that when the RV is hot and needs to be cooled down, it is not just the air inside that needs to be cooled but also the furniture and cabinetry. Higher humidity will also add to cool down time.