On the way back home we stopped at Harvest Host with power and got to try using the AC for the first time. It was humid and about 85 degrees starting the night. I put the AC on max to cool the trailer and left it there for the night. The trailer cooled off but not as cold as I would have expected. I should have had a thermometer to have actual numbers. When I got home with the trailer stored in the basement garage I pulled out my thermo camera to see what kind of the temperatures the AC was pushing. With the AC on max cool/high cool was seeing about 60 degrees being output. I have a 8000btu window unit in my office and when I ran the same test I was seeing 38 degrees being blown out the unit. (both pictures attached) Is only getting out 60 degrees from the trailer AC expected?
Air Conditioner Output
- Thread starter Ericp
- Start date
Sweeney
Administrator
Hi Eric....
couplet things...Humid air is hard to cool, and the AC is going to have to do that before it can really start to lower temperatures. Because the air space is small in any teardrop, they tend to short cycle. Meaning the compressor will run only for a a little bit, then turn off and start up again. This means removing humidity and cooling can take longer than expected. That same AC cooling a large room, the compressor will run for a considerable amount of time before it shuts off. Drying the air better, and allowing it to cool.
Its really hard to make such a small space bigger. But, you can in a sense by opening some windows. It is completely counter intuitive, but if I crack a window and turn on the ceiling vent fan (I can't remember if I"m exhausting or bringing air in -- I'm thinking bringing air in...not a lot, just crack the vent about an inch and put the fan on a lower setting.
Alternatively, we have the ARB side room --- we just leave the door open. It has the advantage of cooling the side room too - not a lot - but some. This keeps our critters happier
I suspect it is becuase warmer air is being drawn into the AC which is allowing it to expel more volume of cold air, where as if it is closed the AC is sucking in its own cold air...
Give that a shot and see how that works for you.
couplet things...Humid air is hard to cool, and the AC is going to have to do that before it can really start to lower temperatures. Because the air space is small in any teardrop, they tend to short cycle. Meaning the compressor will run only for a a little bit, then turn off and start up again. This means removing humidity and cooling can take longer than expected. That same AC cooling a large room, the compressor will run for a considerable amount of time before it shuts off. Drying the air better, and allowing it to cool.
Its really hard to make such a small space bigger. But, you can in a sense by opening some windows. It is completely counter intuitive, but if I crack a window and turn on the ceiling vent fan (I can't remember if I"m exhausting or bringing air in -- I'm thinking bringing air in...not a lot, just crack the vent about an inch and put the fan on a lower setting.
Alternatively, we have the ARB side room --- we just leave the door open. It has the advantage of cooling the side room too - not a lot - but some. This keeps our critters happier
I suspect it is becuase warmer air is being drawn into the AC which is allowing it to expel more volume of cold air, where as if it is closed the AC is sucking in its own cold air...
Give that a shot and see how that works for you.
Cary Winch
Camp-Inn Staff
Only run the AC unit on low cool, not on max cool. The higher fan speed of the max cool will recirculate too fast and short cycle the AC unit. The camper will get colder, faster if on low cool.
The thermostat will bottom out about 62 degrees. It will not get colder than that.
Cary
The thermostat will bottom out about 62 degrees. It will not get colder than that.
Cary
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Sweeney
Administrator
The side tent sold by Campinn is also good -- Its actually got a lot of room in it. Don't not give it a try
Thats like "Always, never forget to clean your optics"Even just cracking the fan and opening a window a touch makes a big difference.
Sweeney
Administrator
Thats kind of why we have teh ARB. My wife runs a shelter, and almost every trip we take we have 'fur babies' with us, and in some cases even a minor vet medical clinic
The room is nice. Doing it again, I'd probably buy the Pahaque mounting kit. Camp Inn Mounting Kit for 10x10 and 5x7 Tents
Its not too late, we could still use this, but its the time factor to acdtualyl make the modification to the ARB....we just don't have it.
One thing, very important, if you do use the ARB ---when it rains --- drop the outer legs all the way down to give the water a place to go. These are not super strong....
Sweeney
Administrator
pretty much, the 'gutter' goes all the way around the door -- then an elastic band has to be sewn into the fabric of the tent....when you set up thel elastic goes into the gutter holding a bug-tight seal.
Pahaque sells their own side room - it doesn't look bad, but two things.
1) I'm more frugal than I used to be
2) I have and axe to grind with Pahaque. They used to make the best galley cover ever (cottonwood tent) and they soft discontinued it, shifting manufacturing to the t@b and other tents. Last I reached out to them they said "coming soon..." its petty -- but I want my cottonwood back! That thing took 30 mph winds like it was nothing.
Mostly #1. But I keep hoping some one there will see it, and make teardrop owners lives easier again.
My wife sets that part up -- she uses suction cups that she gets from walmart -- they have kind of a gummy cup -- not a big fan becuase they leave marks on the aluminum -- but its just a patina, and part of the story ....not that bad either...actually, I just washed it last night and dont' remeber seeing them. These have 'hooks' that she attaches the fabric to somehow. I'll see if I can find photos and take some next trip we take, which we've got a few scheduled in the coming weeks.
Pahaque sells their own side room - it doesn't look bad, but two things.
1) I'm more frugal than I used to be
2) I have and axe to grind with Pahaque. They used to make the best galley cover ever (cottonwood tent) and they soft discontinued it, shifting manufacturing to the t@b and other tents. Last I reached out to them they said "coming soon..." its petty -- but I want my cottonwood back! That thing took 30 mph winds like it was nothing.
Mostly #1. But I keep hoping some one there will see it, and make teardrop owners lives easier again.
My wife sets that part up -- she uses suction cups that she gets from walmart -- they have kind of a gummy cup -- not a big fan becuase they leave marks on the aluminum -- but its just a patina, and part of the story ....not that bad either...actually, I just washed it last night and dont' remeber seeing them. These have 'hooks' that she attaches the fabric to somehow. I'll see if I can find photos and take some next trip we take, which we've got a few scheduled in the coming weeks.
I contacted Wizard of Modz to see if they could modify an ARB and got the following reasons why it wouldn’t work.
“The camper appears to be too short, the roof rack bars are too close together, the door is a flush door with no rain gutter or anything to back up a rubber rain gutter, and the fender is too close to the door.”
Would be interested to see pictures of how you setup the ARB @Sweeney when you use it next.
“The camper appears to be too short, the roof rack bars are too close together, the door is a flush door with no rain gutter or anything to back up a rubber rain gutter, and the fender is too close to the door.”
Would be interested to see pictures of how you setup the ARB @Sweeney when you use it next.
Sweeney
Administrator
Do yo uhave a 550? The 560 has agout 18 inches fore and aft of the door for the wall. He may be concerneda about factors...I just know I really don't have the patience to do this...
The Postman
Ranger
Great idea @Ericp
Just noodling here:
If you can find a seamstress, or a marina sail shop...
Or maybe you are handy ...i have a hand sewing kit tucked in CI for a project to modify my screen door on the New Breeze like some have done, for a bug tight seal on having one wall over the open galley end. One of these days...
I think I have a pic...screenshotted from ...(see pic) and on what others have...@dustinp or?
@Sweeney you know some have done or talked about doing same on the Clams and G6? Anyone got a pic?
The trick on the side door of CI to ARB is easier...cut a hole to match door BUT since the CI door is slick, with no outer frame ...
the trick is how to keep anything snug enough so skeeters dont get in.
The CI side tent does it with straps...ingenious and easy with practice.
So, someone wanting to do same with ARB- search for somewhere around here in archives for an old video of Craig demo'ing set up, and copy that.
I'm sure with some small effort by someone handy one could fab something similar to attach that ARB wall snug with straps like the CI OEM side tent does to CI.
Straps over top, and then add your suction cup method, for bulletproof bug free.
Hmmm now I wonder if any of the Toad users have gotten this far...have done so?
With 300+ on the road, amiright? Facebook?
Maybe ask there? @Betsey ?
Someone with a sewing machine might make a couple bucks as a side gig if the ARB mod guy isnt interested...
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