Community Forums

memilanuk · 04-11-2021, 09:27 PM

Been looking at some used truck campers that are in great shape, good features, decent prices... but missing one thing: A/C.

Which got me wondering... how hard - or expensive - would this be to remedy?

I'm seeing 13.5 to 15k BTU units for $750-1k. What're the odds that a camper would be pre-wired for A/C even if it doesn't actually have one installed?

laj · 04-11-2021, 11:31 PM

What yr. and make of camper? That could make a big difference, from having nothing, to being pre-wired, to being pre-wired with the hole and bracing both being in.

laj · 04-11-2021, 11:37 PM

If its new enough the manufactures either put in an a/c or a fan in the same hole. All you have to do is take the fan or vent out and drop the correct a/c in.

memilanuk · 04-12-2021, 01:27 AM

Still mostly just looking... but for the sake of discussion, let's say something like a mid 90's Lance or Northland, 8.5-10.5 ft. One in particular is a Northland Polar 860.

cavie · 04-12-2021, 03:05 AM

It's probably not wired for A/C so you would need to run wiremold across the ceiling to get wiring into a cabinet to get to the breaker box. You also would need an A/C with the controls on the unit since you would have no T-stat wiring. Also, I would think you would not need anything more than an 11k A/C unit in a small truck camper. Amazon is your friend.

memilanuk · 04-12-2021, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

I would think you would not need anything more than an 11k A/C unit in a small truck camper. Amazon is your friend.

You'd think so... but units smaller than 13.5k seem to get pretty far and few between, pretty quickly. Not saying smaller units don't exist, just that they appear less common as individual / replacement A/C's than I would have expected.

CharlesinGA · 04-12-2021, 09:03 PM

Find the original brochure for the unit you are looking at, generally I find them with just a little searching on Google. Here is an example.

1996 Lance Truck Camper Brochure

Page 13, top left. "Wired for Air Conditioner" and it shows that is applicable to all models in the list, (Lance, Squire, Squire Lite).

Find someone with a Bigfoot trailer who wants to upsize their A/C and buy it from them, as 11k is all BF installs in everything. Some people now order without A/C and install their own to get a larger, heat pump unit. My 21 ft has a 11K Dometic Penguin (low profile).

Charles