Source Image

With summer approaching in the coming months, pop-up campers might be preparing to get themselves a portable AC pretty soon. For several reasons, a portable air conditioner can be an important addition to a pop-up camper. From providing a comfortable and cool living space on hot summer days, which makes camping more enjoyable, to helping reduce humidity and improve air quality inside the camper, which can help to prevent mold and mildew growth, a portable AC makes for a great investment.

ACs in these campers can be an excellent investment if you choose the right one and install it correctly. It is why we’ll be looking at these portable ACs today, as well as their pros and cons. This will help our readers get a good idea of whether this is an investment worth making or not.

Can You Install Portable AC In A Pop-Up Camper?

You aren’t totally out of luck if you already possess a pop-up camper but don’t have air conditioning. Many pop-up owners choose to do it themselves or hire a professional to install an air conditioner.

If you want to install a roof-mounted air conditioner, leave this work to the pros unless you have extensive knowledge of air conditioning components. The last thing you want is a leak to start appearing due to poor installation.

Remember that a do-it-yourselfer may install some A/C units easily if you have a budget to stick to and don’t want to spend too much money. Hiring a professional will raise the price of installing air conditioning in your pop-up camper.

Do Portable ACs Work?

The air conditioners in pop-up campers operate similarly to those in conventional RVs. You could notice a change in how well the camper keeps its temperature stable. The canvas exterior makes it more heat-sensitive. The canvas will keep the cold air, unlike a camper with rigid sides. Try to put your pop-up camper in the shade and keep the air conditioner running all the time to keep it cool inside.

Options To Choose From

Portable Units

These are the newest products on the market. The outstanding feature of portable units is that they have wheels. They may thus be placed wherever you choose in your camper. They come in a few different sizes, but most resemble tall humidifiers. Since portable air conditioners also feature fans, the air inside the camper is constantly moving and remains cool.

With minimal effort, portable air conditioners can provide you with cool air. Their key advantages include their low cost, tiny size, and lightweight, as well as their portability. Although units on the market now reach up to 12,500 BTUs and cost around $500, older units could have been more powerful.

The main drawback of a portable air conditioner is that it must be positioned close to a window since it uses one or two vent lines to send hot air outdoors. Hoses are kept in place by an adjustable frame provided, although the device must be placed close to a window. Additionally, they occupy valuable floor space within your pop-up.

Despite being inexpensive, some RVers claim that portable air conditioners are noisy because the compressor is located within the camper. As a result, when inside your pop-up, you will hear the cooling sound.

Window Mounted ACs

The Window-Mounted A/C Unit is another portable air conditioner. You may easily attach them because they are fastened in the pop-up trailer’s window and are simple to install.

The window-mounted A/C unit provides excellent cooling performance and doesn’t take up any room because it is located outside the window. They are also relatively simple to set up because they connect to a regular wall outlet. Additionally, they are simple to install, and since the compressor and cooling system are located outside the window, noise isn’t a big issue.

They are less potent than the rooftop versions but stronger than the smaller, wheeled portable air conditioners. Additionally, you will need to take the unit out of the window each time you leave camp and travel. Although there is some inconvenience, there is hardly any effort involved.

Benefits Of Using AC In A Pop-Up Camper

Better Sleeping

When it’s hot and humid outside, sleeping is rarely enjoyable. If you’ve been fighting the heat all day, you should curl up somewhere cool and nap. Your camper’s air conditioner can help you rest, so you’re prepared to tackle another hot camping day.

Comfortable Camping

Sometimes the heat is too much for you to bear. A pop-up camper air conditioner might be useful in situations like these. Before continuing your day; you can take some time to calm down while you relax. Aside from just cooling the air, an air conditioner also aids in drying the air. As a result, you won’t have to worry about the humidity inside your camper and can have a more pleasant camping trip.

What Size Is Best?

You must be aware of how many BTUs are required to cool your pop-up camper before you purchase an air conditioner. BTU stands for British Thermal Units, and the more BTUs an air conditioner has, the more powerful it is. The square footage of your pop-up camper trailer should be multiplied by 40 to determine the appropriate amount of BTUs.

To avoid purchasing an A/C unit that is too weak and unable to chill your RV adequately, keep in mind that your pop-up trailer is not insulated, so you should aim for the higher end of the suggested BTUs.

Keep Your Camper Cool For Longer Periods

Your pop-up camper air conditioner needs assistance to keep you cool if you’re camping in a hot climate. A shaded location can have a significant effect. Even the finest air conditioners cannot always control the sun from blazing on canvas. You’ll be one step ahead of the heat if you can choose a place with plenty of shade.

Opening your windows to let a breeze enter is alluring. However, a heated wind will be of little use to you. Keep the windows closed and your air conditioning inside as much as possible.

Similar to houses made of wood and bricks, an efficient air conditioner depends on a clean filter. If the filter becomes blocked, your camper’s air conditioner will have to work harder to cool it down. The maintenance of your pop-up camper air conditioner depends heavily on replacing your filter, which is reasonably cheap and essential.

Uncomfortable and hotter-feeling air can be caused by stagnant air. A fan can help to create the necessary airflow and circulate the cooled air. When inside the pop-up camper, keep a fan circulating the air conditioning. Stay away from letting a hot forecast ruin your camping excursion. You can camp in sweltering weather and be comfortable.

Best Portable ACs You Can Buy

• Black + Decker Portable Air Conditioner

The BPACT10WT portable air conditioner may be quickly moved inside to give cool air indoors. Delivering constant and powerful airflows via vertical motion keeps the temperature within the RV at a continuous level.

The Black + Decker BPACT10WT is an environmentally friendly air conditioner that uses R410a as its refrigerant and comes with a full-function remote control so you may customize its performance to your tastes. Thanks to the machine’s LED display and symbols, you can tell what setting it is now operating at a glance. With its cooling, dehumidification, and fan settings, the Black + Decker Air Conditioner should accommodate a wide range of client demands.

• RolliCool COOL100H

The RolliCool COOL100H from Rollibot is a potent and versatile air conditioner created to meet the demands of modern, pop-up campers. With a cooling capacity of 10,000 BTU, this air conditioner beats the conventional portable air conditioner in terms of cooling performance.

Depending on the weather, RVers may select between air conditioning, dehumidification, and fan settings at any moment. For changing the operation modes, camper owners have up to three options: a remote, a smartphone, or a voice control (Amazon Alexa). Due to its use of the R410A ecologically friendly refrigerant and washable filters, the Rollibot AC is renowned for having little impact on the environment.

• SereneLife SLPAC10

RVers who like to travel light can choose the SereneLife SLPAC10, a small, slim, pop-up camper air conditioner. The SereneLife AC has exceptional mobility compared to other air conditioners for recreational vehicles since it has premium rolling wheels.

Even on the hottest summer days, everyone inside the RV will remain cool thanks to the SLPAC10’s 10,000 BTU output. The air conditioner from SereneLife uses less electricity and is inexpensive to run. Due to its built-in dehumidifier, the SereneLife SLPAC10 is particularly well-suited for locations with high humidity levels.

Final Thoughts

There are several excellent air conditioners for pop-up campers available these days. Find the finest option for your needs by doing your research.

Be sure to consider elements like price, weight, and size. Remember to take into account your preferences as well, such as noise level and features. You should choose the air conditioner that best suits your demands and budget. Once you find the right portable AC for your camper, then your road trips are going to be more enjoyable than before! Have fun on the adventures, and enjoy the new AC!