kamhawk
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1975 Scotty Serro
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Post by kamhawk on Jun 8, 2015 14:37:12 GMT -8
I have a 1975 15' Scotty Serro and am wanting to put in a window air conditioner unit, built into the cabinets. I was thinking a 6,000 btu, but not sure....... The 5,000 btu has a smaller footprint, but may not be able to keep up due to the fact that Scotty's have plywood side walls. I am open to any thoughts or personel experiences. Thanks!
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Post by bigbill on Jun 8, 2015 15:07:42 GMT -8
That is a loaded question. The most important things you have to consider is how many people in trailer, how much cooking inside, how much time is the trailer door open kids running in and out, how cold do you want it inside, how hot does it get where you use your trailer Death-valley requires more cooling than Alaska. Are you camping in the woods under a shade tree or out in the full sun. After you answer the above you have to decide are you going to run A/C 24 hours a day or just turn it on after the trailer get hot in the late day, if you just plan on using it after it gets hot outside you will need a much larger unit. I am not trying to be a wisea** but all of the above controls the size unit you need. Then the way you install it plays a major part in it's operation.
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ladywendolyn
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1964 Golden Falcon
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Post by ladywendolyn on Jun 8, 2015 19:46:46 GMT -8
We are installing a 6000 BTU, under the dinette that will pull out through a hatch to drain and will have vents running to two spots in the trailer. Our tailer is 6.8x11 ft inside. From all that I have been able to determine, it will be adequate for my needs. One of the reasons we are using the "pull out the hatch" style is to reduce some of the noise. One thing people don't realize is how loud an air conditioner is in a trailer. We had a rooftop added to our newer trailer and it was so loud we hated using it. One other thing.. we are adding two inches of insulation and vapour barrier during our reno, so that also makes a difference. Also, don't make the mistake of buying one without a remote. The controls are often difficult to access and I have talked to people who regret not having the remote.
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Post by Ross on Jun 9, 2015 6:44:07 GMT -8
I rebuilt, restored and customized this 1971 Scotty Sportsman a few years back and this is the AC installation that I did. I believe that it was a 5,500 BTU unit. I had to rebuild the dinette benches and make them 3" taller, due to the AC unit being too tall for the original seating. Scotty AC InstallationI have installed an AC in every trailer (4) and teardrop (4) I have ever built or rebuilt. We have never regretted having them. It makes it very comfortable to sleep at night, when in a hot or humid climate.
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shasta1400
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Shasta 1400
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Post by shasta1400 on Jun 9, 2015 10:23:29 GMT -8
I am thinking about a portable AC unit... Anyone use them as opposed to a window unit? Any recommendations?
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kamhawk
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1975 Scotty Serro
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Post by kamhawk on Jun 9, 2015 15:31:11 GMT -8
Thanks for the reply's. Bigbill, all good points. Ross, very nice work. I am leaning towards the 6,000 btu. Now to decide to mount it high, or low....... it will be across from the stove. So either above or below the refridgerator.
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cwcoolcow
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Post by cwcoolcow on Jun 9, 2015 15:50:18 GMT -8
I just installed a LG 8000 BTU in my Shasta Compact because I got it on sale (less than $300). More than enough to turn my little Shasta into an icebox here in Ohio...
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bettyblue
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1959 Shasta Airflyte
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Post by bettyblue on Jun 29, 2015 6:39:26 GMT -8
I am looking into doing the same thing for my 1959 Shasta Airflyte. I live in Seattle and wont need it often but its been in the crazy hot here. Is your temporary? Not sure where I would put the vent.
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cwcoolcow
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Post by cwcoolcow on Jun 29, 2015 7:15:13 GMT -8
I can remove the portable unit from the trailer when it is not needed. The vent and additional extension cord inlet are permanently mounted behind my louvred vent on a piece of plywood attached to the wall. I move the entire unit out of the closet when in use. The exhaust hose is long enough and it directs the air where needed. I use an additional extension because my electric only has one 15 amp breaker. The vent cover is held open with clothes pins. I can do this because I do not have my refrigerator sticking into the closet. This unit turns the compact into an icebox in no time. If humidity is high, you have to drain the tank in the morning. I suppose I could attach a drain hose, but that's another hole an not necessary here in Ohio.
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Jun 29, 2015 8:06:59 GMT -8
I am looking into doing the same thing for my 1959 Shasta Airflyte. I live in Seattle and wont need it often but its been in the crazy hot here. Is your temporary? Not sure where I would put the vent. bettyblue: It depends on where, when, and how often you go camping. We live in Steilacoom, and camp everywhere from Southern California to British Columbia. It has been crazy hot here, but we find that it cools down enough at night to make it comfortable for sleeping. In So Cal, we just turn on a fan. I spend several nights a week "camping" in Hamlet while I work in Portland. It's hotter there, and it's supposed to get to 103 on Thursday. If it's over 70 at night, I can't sleep, so I will pick up a block of ice, set it in a pan, and blow a fan across it, old swamp cooler style. An a/c unit takes a lot of space, and as others have said, it can be noisy. Unless you plan on spending a lot of time camping where it gets very hot, you may want to consider toughing it out for those few nights when it is really warm.
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Post by vintagebruce on Jun 29, 2015 8:41:17 GMT -8
I rebuilt, restored and customized this 1971 Scotty Sportsman a few years back and this is the AC installation that I did. I believe that it was a 5,500 BTU unit. I had to rebuild the dinette benches and make them 3" taller, due to the AC unit being too tall for the original seating. Scotty AC InstallationI have installed an AC in every trailer (4) and teardrop (4) I have ever built or rebuilt. We have never regretted having them. It makes it very comfortable to sleep at night, when in a hot or humid climate. Very nice work on not only the ac installation but the complete resto! I am impressed!
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lakewoodgirl
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1954 Lakewood
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Post by lakewoodgirl on Jul 3, 2015 15:57:23 GMT -8
What about small units under the bed? Do you think you'd feel anything from there? Kind of a good spot to put one. But, I don't know anything about RV AC's so I'm completely naive on this subject and haven't thought much about it until now. And, it's step #1726 and I'm still on step #252.
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 3, 2015 16:27:18 GMT -8
I agree with Hamlet. How often are you really going to need AC?
Also consider the added weight and extra work involved with doing a nice install. (NOT sticking it in a window!) I removed a 12000 BTU Carrier RV rooftop unit from my camper 'cause it was so noisy and heavy. Another alternative someone posted here was to jury rig a duct / hose system on a household window unit so that the machine sits outside of the trailer. Nice and quiet and once its built easy enough to set up on those few times you need it.
I like to remind myself that this is supposed to be CAMPING. We want to dry camp, away from all the noise that comes with campgrounds that have full hook ups. We like the idea of being as self sufficient as possible. Spending a week or two in one of these old trailers is so much more comfortable than tent camping that it almost doesn't even qualify as camping in my mind. If you install a "Fantastic Fan" in the roof vent and use it like a whole house fan at bedtime, it'll almost always do the trick.
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otfiddler
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'67 Shasta Compact
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Post by otfiddler on Aug 3, 2015 6:33:54 GMT -8
I grew up with an attic fan here in north Texas and have been wondering how realistic it is to expect a "fantastic fan" to work as well in my Shasta Compact as I remember it working back in the Jurassic Era when I was a child ... Of course I realize that "My Mileage May Vary", as they say, but may I please hear from folks who have successfully or unsuccessfully used one of these "whole trailer fans" in hot (100 degree) summer weather without an air conditioner?
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Post by vikx on Aug 3, 2015 22:05:32 GMT -8
Fantastic Fans ARE Fantastic; they replace air every 2 minutes in a large rig. However, replacing 100* air with 100* air is not cooling. At that temp, you need more than a Fantastic Vent. It will help, a little. If you can live with 100* in the shade, it might be OK.
Keep in mind it's better than nothing in the boondocks. You'll need a solar charger.
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