10 Best AC For Pop-Up Campers: Brand Buying Guide & Reviews
A pop-up camper is a home on wheels, so why not treat it like your home and equip it with an AC? The AC for pop-up campers is compact, portable, and easy to install, making it an ideal solution for campers seeking a respite from the heat.
- AC enhances comfort during camping in all seasons.
- Types: roof-mounted and portable units.
- Roof-mounted saves space, and portable offers flexibility.
- Power supply: 30-amp for roof, 20-amp for portable.
- Choose high EER units for energy efficiency.
- Ensure the camper’s roof can support the AC’s weight.
- Look for quieter units for peaceful camping.
With its efficient cooling system and low energy consumption, it is an excellent accessory to ensure a pleasant camping experience.
With that said, air conditioner options for pop-up campers are limited. Most aren’t compatible with roof-mounted RV AC units.
That’s not a problem, though, since you can buy a portable air conditioner! Below, we have ten options for you to choose from!
10 Best Portable AC For Pop-Up Campers
1. SereneLife SLPAC8 SLPAC 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner
Summary
If you want a portable AC unit with a small footprint, then this little guy by SereneLife may be the right option. Sized at just 14.6 x 13.8 x 27.2 inches (L x W x H), it’s a pretty compact unit that should work great with smaller pop-up campers. Not only that, but it’s pretty light at just 46.3 pounds.
The stated heat output in this AC is 8,000 BTUs, and it is claimed to be able to cool up to 215 square feet of area. This should be just enough for most pop-up campers available out there.
Aside from cooling, the SereneLife portable AC unit has fan and dehumidifier modes (with a capacity of up to 2.5 pints per hour) that can be engaged via the onboard touch control panel or the included remote.
Among the other bells & whistles you can control in this AC unit are the 24-hour timer, sleep mode, and fan speed settings.
SereneLife claims that this portable AC unit produces 55 – 57 dB of sound, which is neither outstandingly quiet nor unbearably loud. It should be quieter in the sleep mode, though SereneLife doesn’t specify how quiet it goes in that mode.
Finally, this AC unit is rated at 900 watts, which is typical for portable ACs of its size. Make sure that your generator will be able to provide such power to the AC!
Pros:
- Pretty lightweight.
- Small footprint.
- Touch control panel.
- Programmable.
2. BLACK+DECKER Portable Air Conditioner
Summary
The BPACT08WT portable AC by BLACK+DECKER is another excellent option if you don’t have much space in your pop-up camper. Sized at 16.5 x 11.5 x 26 inches, it’s a bit wider but shorter and less deep than the SereneLife AC unit.
The functionality in the two portable ACs is similar – you have 3 modes along with programmable settings like a 24-hour timer, sleep mode, and temperature.
One essential addition to the BLACK+DECKER portable air conditioner is the casters. They allow you to move this unit around a little more accessible. And given that this thing weighs 52.9 pounds, any assistance with carrying is welcome.
The heating capacity of the BPACT08WT air conditioner is 8,000 BTUs according to the ASHRAE 128 standard and 5,000 BTUs according to the newer 2017 DOE standard.
We’ll talk about the difference between these standards a little later. Still, the critical thing to know here is that the 2017 DOE standard was introduced since portable and window units can’t be accurately tested with the same methods.
The cooling area of this AC unit is claimed to be 100 – 150 square feet, which is what you’d expect from an AC that’s around 5,000 BTU, albeit it’s in the lower range of 8k models.
As for the power rating, it’s 950 watts, which is 50 watts higher than in the SereneLife AC.
Pros:
- Built-in casters for easy transport.
- Programmable settings.
- Pretty compact.
Cons:
- It’s a little heavy.
3. EdgeStar AP8000W Portable AC
Summary
The key feature of the AP8000W portable air conditioner by EdgeStar is its self-evaporative system. This system is designed to exhaust all liquid formed inside the unit by condensation. As a result, the AP8000W is promised not to need manual draining in most climates.
But if necessary, you can still do manual draining.
In terms of cooling capacity, the AP8000W AC seems to be less potent than the BLACK+DECKER’s unit – it has a heat output of 8,000 according to the ASHRAE-128 standard but only 4,600 BTUs according to the DOE 2017 standard.
The integrated dehumidifier is also very attractive – it is claimed to deliver up to 50 pints of moisture per day, which is excellent for this AC’s size.
EdgeStar claims the coverage of this unit to be around 150 – 225 square feet, but given that it’s weaker than the BLACK+DECKER AC, its actual coverage is probably closer to 150 square feet.
The power rating of the EdgeStar AC is also lower– 840 watts –which may make it more appealing to you.
EdgeStar AP8000W is quite a heavy unit, weighing 56 pounds. Fortunately, it does come with integrated casters to assist with transport.
And aside from being heavy, it’s also pretty bulky – it’s sized at 19-1/4 x 13-1/4 x 24-3/4 inches (W x D x H). It’s noticeably bulkier than the other two units reviewed, so it may not be the right choice for very compact pop-up campers.
Pros:
- Built-in casters.
- Automatically condenses liquid.
- Programmable settings.
Cons:
- Heavy and bulky.
4. Amana AMAP101AD Portable AC
Summary
The Amana AMAP101AD portable AC unit is not much different from the ones already reviewed. The most crucial difference is that it has a higher cooling capacity – 10,000 BTUs (ASHRAE-128) or 6,500 BTUs (DOE 2017).
The area capacity of this AC is also higher – it can cool rooms sized up to 250 square feet. Not only that, but it has an additional feature – the swing mode that allows the AC exhaust to oscillate.
The features we’ve seen in the 8k models are here as well, including the fan and dehumidifier modes. And you can again program the temperature, running time, and fan speed.
The dehumidifier mode here is promised to deliver up to 5 pints per hour of dehumidification, which suggests a whopping up to 120 pints per day. This is much more than in most other AC units on our list.
And while this AC has a higher capacity than the previous three models, it isn’t much more significant – it’s sized at 14.2 x 16.9 x 28.7 inches (D x W x H). It’s sure a little bulkier, but not by much.
It’s also surprisingly light at 54 pounds, and it has casters to assist with transport. Fifty-four pounds is still plenty, though, especially if your pop-up camper has very limited cargo capacity.
Pros:
- Integrated caster wheels.
- Can heat up to 250 square feet rooms.
- Programmable settings with swing mode.
- It’s compact for its capacity.
Cons:
- On the heavier side.
5. Honeywell Compact Portable Air Conditioner
Summary
The MO10CES portable AC by Honeywell is a pretty excellent option if you want a light and relatively compact unit.
This thing weighs just around 49 pounds, which would be light even for the 8k models we’ve reviewed earlier. Besides, it’s sized at just 13.5 x 14.6 x 27.7 inches (D x W x H) and has casters for more convenient transport.
The cooling capacity of the MO10CES AC unit is also remarkable. It is claimed to be able to cool up to 350 square feet, which is solid for its 10,00 0BTU ASHRAE and 5,500BTU DOE ratings.
This portable AC also has an auto-evaporation feature that allows you to avoid manually draining the water in areas with low humidity. This system should be similar to whatEdgeStar AP8000W AC had, but it may not work everywhere.
In terms of functionality, the MO10CES AC is similar to the models overviewed so far – it again has three operation modes, as well as allows you to set a timer, adjust the temperature, and go to the 10-hour sleep mode.
Its dehumidifying mode is also very nice – 61 pints of daily capacity is no joke!
However, the MO10CES portable AC doesn’t have a swing mode, which may be a big downside for some people.
Pros:
- 350 square feet of coverage.
- Integrated auto evaporation system.
- Built-in casters.
- Weighs just 49 pounds.
- Not too bulky.
Cons:
- No swing mode, unlike other 10k models.
6. MIDEA MPF10CR81-E Portable Air Conditioner
Summary
If you want a portable AC unit that provides flexibility in adjustment, then the MPF10CR81-E air conditioner may be the right option.
The key feature of this air conditioner is that it is available in a Wi-Fi-enabled variant. Wi-Fi connection allows you to adjust and monitor the AC from your mobile device anywhere in your house.
In terms of functionality, this portable air conditioner is similar to the Amana AMAP101AD AC unit. Both have the oscillation mode, as well as cooling, dehumidifier, and fan modes, along with temperature and timer settings.
The cooling coverage of the MIDEA air conditioner isn’t too remarkable, though – this thing is claimed to cool up to just 150 square feet of rooms efficiently. Given the 10,000/5,500 BTU cooling capacity, you’d expect more from this thing.
The MIDEA portable air conditioner is heavy and bulky as well – weighing around 65 pounds and sized 17.1 x 13 x 29.1 inches (W x D x H), it won’t be the best option for tiny pop-up campers.
Pros:
- Built-in casters.
- Wide range of adjustment with swing mode.
- Wi-Fi-enabled variant is available.
Cons:
- Bulky and heavy.
- Underwhelming cooling capacity.
7. Shinco SPF2-10C Portable Air Conditioner
Summary
The SPF2-10C portable air conditioner by Shinco promises to cool spaces sized up to 300 – 450 square feet. Not only that, but it boasts 75 pints/day dehumidifying capacity, which is pretty solid.
Shinco also boasts the integrated self-evaporation system that’s designed to help you avoid frequent manual draining. This system probably won’t free you from manual draining entirely, but it should make your job a little easier.
In terms of functionality and programmability, this portable air conditioner doesn’t differ much from others – it likewise has adjustable fan speed, a 24-hour timer, a swing mode, and whatnot.
What you may particularly like about this unit, though, is that it’s pretty light – just 55 pounds. And the built-in casters should make the transport of this thing easy.
We can’t say good things about the size, though – measuring 17.4 x 13.4 x 32 inches (W x D x H), this thing is wide and tall. It’s thus probably not the best option for smaller pop-up campers.
Pros:
- Cools up to 300 – 450 square feet spaces.
- Equipped with a self-evaporation system.
- Built-in casters.
Cons:
- Tall and bulky.
8. Whynter ARC-14S Portable AC
Summary
Want reliable performance? Well, the Whynter ARC-14S portable air conditioner should be a good option if you have space and cargo capacity for it.
Whynter boasts that this unit has received the Consumer Report’s highest score in 2019. This certainly does tell that this portable AC lives up to the claims and expectations.
This 14,000 BTU air conditioner is claimed to cool up to 500 square feet areas, and judging by the Consumer Report’s roundup; it does deliver on the promise.
500 square feet of cooling area may be overkill for pop-up campers, but if you want reliable cooling throughout your entire camper, the ARC-14S may be just right.
The key to this AC’s secret is its dual-hose design, with one hose dedicated to taking in cold air from the outside and the other dedicated to evacuating warm air from the home.
What the dual-hose design allows for is much higher cooling efficiency. We’ll go into more detail about dual-hose ACs in our buyer’s guide.
Whynter also writes that this air conditioner has a patented auto-drain system that continuously drains itself without user input. You may still drain the unit manually, though, if you find that its auto-draining feature doesn’t work well enough.
Another thing that the ARC-14C portable AC unit has is a carbon air filter. Compared to other filter types, this filter should be better at filtering air coming into the RV from outdoor pollutants and dust.
If the dehumidifier mode is also essential for you, then know that the ARC-14C has a dehumidifying capacity of 101 pints a day. Aside from that, this air conditioner has adjustable fan speed and complete thermostatic control.
If you have a small pop-up camper, though, the ARC-14C certainly isn’t the best option – it weighs 80 pounds and is sized at 16 x 19 x 35.5 inches.
Pros:
- Cools up to 500 square feet of rooms.
- Drains itself automatically.
- Efficiently deals with produced heat.
- Effective carbon air filter.
- Built-in casters.
Cons:
- Bulky and heavy.
9. Honeywell HL14CESWB Portable AC
Summary
Honeywell’s HL14CESWB portable air conditioner seems to have a little more oomph than the Whynter ARC-14C unit. Boasting 14,000/8,500 BTU (ASHRAE-128/DOE+ 2017) cooling capacity, this AC unit is promised to cool areas up to 550 – 700 square feet.
The ARC-14C is overkill for many pop-up campers, and Honeywell’s AC model is such as well. This guy right here will probably be enough for even the biggest pop-up campers out there!
If you also want a high-capacity dehumidifier, then you’ll be glad to hear that the dehumidifying capacity in this AC is also great at 111 pints per day.
An auto evaporation system is here as well to allow you to waste less time on manual draining. In areas with high humidity, though, expect to have to drain this thing manually.
In terms of programmability, the Honeywell portable AC is like many others on our list –it allows you to choose from 3 modes, as well as adjust the temperature and fan speed, and set a 24-hour timer. Nothing too remarkable.
Also, keep in mind that this thing is pretty bulky – sized at 18.9 x 20.5 x 18.2 inches, it’s short but broad and deep. Not only that, but it weighs 64 pounds, though it does have casters to assist with transport.
Pros:
- Cools up to 550 – 700 square feet rooms.
- Auto evaporation function.
- Built-in caster wheels.
Cons:
- Heavy and bulky.
10. Home Labs Portable Air Conditioner 14000 BTU
Summary
Finally, we have this portable air conditioner by hOmeLabs.
The first thing to catch the eye of this AC is its relatively small footprint – this thing is 30.7 inches tall – which is a lot – but it’s just 17.9 inches wide and 15 inches deep. It’s thus a little smaller than the Honeywell and Whynter 14k AC units.
On the other hand, keep in mind that this air conditioner does not have an auto-evaporation function, so you will have to drain it manually.
Weighing 72.3 pounds, it’s also the second-heaviest AC unit on the list, though it does have casters for more convenient transport.
In terms of coverage, though, the hOmeLabs air conditioner is on par with the Honeywell unit – both are claimed to cool up to 550 – 700 square feet areas.
Not only that, but this portable AC unit has an automatic swing function, a feature that was absent from the two other 14k units reviewed. It’s not a must-have feature, but it may be necessary for some people.
And other than that, you have the usual set of functions, including a 100-pint/day dehumidifier, fan & sleep modes, a timer, and temperature controls.
Pros:
- Cools up to 550 – 700 square feet areas.
- Has an automatic swing function.
- It’s not too bulky for what it is.
- Built-in casters.
Cons:
- Heavy.
- Doesn’t have an auto-evaporation function.
Why Buy A Portable Air Conditioner For A Pop-Up Camper?
When it comes to air conditioners in RVs, probably most people opt for the roof-mounted AC units provided by the manufacturers by default.
On the other hand, we have portable air conditioners, a type of AC that has been lately gaining popularity.
Which type of AC is better, though? And why would you choose a portable AC over a regular RV AC for your pop-up camper?
Pros of Portable Air Conditioners
The answer to the question above is the benefits of portable air conditioners:
- Portable ACs can be used in RVs that aren’t compatible with roof-mounted ACs.This is the most significant benefit of portable ACs. Even if your pop-up camper isn’t compatible with any roof-mounted RV AC, you can use a portable AC in it for your cooling needs.
- As suggested by their name, portable AC units can be moved around when needed. Roof-mounted RV air conditioners do not have this benefit – they are fixed in place and cannot be moved elsewhere.
- Quick installation. Portable ACs are much quicker to install than roof-mounted ACs. Portable units come with window kits that you need to mount to one of your RV’s windows. The installation of the window kit takes relatively little time.
- Portable AC units are often less expensive than traditional roof-mounted RV ACs. If your RV is compatible with an RV AC but you don’t have the budget for one, then a portable AC is a good alternative.
- Lower power requirements. While portable AC units require plenty of power, their power needs are lower than those of roof-mounted ACs. If you don’t have a powerful enough generator for a roof-mounted AC, then you can opt for a portable AC.
- Lower weight. Portable air conditioners also tend to be lighter than roof-mounted units. The difference isn’t huge – we aren’t talking a two- or three-fold reduction – but if your pop-up camper has very limited cargo capacity, then even 10 or 20 pounds of weight reduction will be vital for you.
Cons of Portable Air Conditioners
Portable air conditioners sure have some great benefits, but they also have significant disadvantages that you must know about. Depending on your needs, these disadvantages may make traditional roof-mounted RV ACs more appealing to you.
- Issues with heat evacuation. This is the biggest and most crucial downside of portable air conditioners to know about. It’s so important that we are going to cover it more in-depth a little later.
Located outside, roof-mounted air conditioners have a much easier time evacuating the hot air produced during operation. Conversely, portable air conditioners are designed to be placed inside.
And since they often have limited means of air evacuation, heating becomes a concern with them.
And when an appliance that is designed to cool the room produces heat, it’s getting less efficient.
- Lower cooling capacity. Portable air conditioners mostly have lower cooling capacity than roof-mounted units. Roof-mounted units are more efficient with heat, not to mention that they can be much bigger than portable AC units.
- Space requirements. Mounted on the roof, an RV AC won’t require any floor area for installation. Portable air ACs don’t have this benefit – they are designed precisely to be mounted on the floor.
While this implies flexibility in placement, it also means that you need to provide a portable AC unit with floor space.
The Heat Efficiency of Portable AC Units
To understand what the heat efficiency issue in portable air conditioners is, we should first understand how air conditioners generally work.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the air cooling process in air conditioners:
- The air conditioner takes warm air from the room.
- The warm air flows over the cold & low-pressure evaporation coils. As this happens, the refrigerant inside the AC changes from liquid to gas, absorbing heat from the warm air and cooling it down.
- The cool air is blown back into the house.
- The refrigerant then needs to be converted back into a liquid state so that it can cool down the next portion of warm air from the room. To do this, a compressor inside the AC unit puts the gas under high pressure. This process creates waste heat. The heat is evacuated from the air conditioner unit to the outside of the house via condenser coils and a fan.
- As the gaseous refrigerant cools down, it changes back into a liquid state and is ready to absorb heat from the warm inside air again.
The problem with portable air conditioners is that they aren’t as efficient with the 4th step, i.e. evacuating heat from the house.
A window or roof-mounted AC uses outside air to cool the coils, while a portable AC has to use conditioned air from the room to cool its components.
Using air from the inside, portable AC units cause negative pressure inside the room. In turn, this negative pressure allows hot air from other rooms and outside to flow into the room that the AC is in.
There are a few portable AC units, though, that deal with this issue by employing two hoses – one to take in air from the outside for cooling and the other to evacuate the heat waste. We’ll overview dual-hose units a little later.
ASHRAE-128 vs DOE 2017 Standard
The decreased heat efficiency of portable air conditioners implies that wall and portable AC units’ efficiency cannot be tested with the same measures. Due to this, the US Department of Energy set forth new efficiency standards for portable ACs in 2016.
However, according to Consumer Reports, while these standards are in force, they have yet to be finalized.
Previously, the ASHRAE-128 standard has been used to assess the efficiency of portable air conditioners. The testing procedures were the same as for window AC units. Thus, the old standard didn’t take into account the heat leakage problem of portable ACs.
The US DOE’s new standard does take this issue into account.
The adoption of the new standard has caused and continues to confuse buyers. Both standards rate the cooling capacity of portable air conditioners in BTUs, but ASHRAE-128 ratings are usually higher than DOE ratings.
The reason for this is simple – as explained above, the DOE rating takes into account the increased heat production of portable air conditioners.
Needless to say, if an air conditioner produces a certain amount of heat, it means that its cooling capacity is reduced by the amount of heat produced.
Manufacturers of portable air conditioners still use both ASHRAE-128 and DOE BTU ratings to market their products. However, they usually put the ASHRAE-128 rating into their product names since it gives a higher number.
But in the product description, they bring the DOE rating as well since the Department of Energy requires it.
And know that you should give preference to the DOE rating since it gives a better assessment of the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner.
However, keep in mind that you can’t directly compare window and portable ACs’ BTU ratings. As Consumer Reports writes, the Department of Energy’s tests for window ACs are more demanding than for portable units.
An 8,000 BTU window unit will deliver more cooling than an 8,000 BTU portable unit.
Things To Look For In The Best Portable AC For Your Pop-Up Camper?
The heat inefficiencies aside, how do you choose a good portable AC unit for your pop-up RV camper? Let’s have a look at the features that matter to them the most.
Cooling Capacity
The cooling capacity of a portable AC unit is the most important thing to look for. The higher it is, the more effective an air conditioner will be, and the more significant areas it will be able to cool.
The desired AC’s cooling capacity should correspond to the area that is to be cooled. There are plenty of BTU-to-room charts online that you may base your decision on. One of them is the chart provided by
Energy Star:
Area (Square Feet) | BTUs Needed |
---|---|
100 up to 150 | 5,000 |
150 up to 250 | 6,000 |
250 up to 300 | 7,000 |
300 up to 350 | 8,000 |
350 up to 400 | 9,000 |
400 up to 450 | 10,000 |
450 up to 550 | 12,000 |
550 up to 700 | 14,000 |
700 up to 1,000 | 18,000 |
1,000 up to 1,200 | 21,000 |
1,200 up to 1,400 | 23,000 |
1,400 up to 1,500 | 24,000 |
1,500 up to 2,000 | 30,000 |
2,000 up to 2,500 | 34,000 |
While this chart is made for room ACs, it should work for portable ACs as well. Unfortunately, there appear to be no similar charts explicitly made for portable ACs.
Do make sure to follow the DOE 2017 ratings instead of the ASHRAE-128 ratings. We’ve already explained why the DOE 2017 rating is a more precise way of measuring a portable air conditioner’s cooling capacity.
And besides, you may add 1,000 – 2,000 BTUs on top of what is indicated in this chart. As mentioned above, portable AC units aren’t as efficient as window units, even if they are rated the same.
Single-hose vs Dual-hose ACs
We’ve overviewed one portable AC that had a dual-hose design. It was Whynter’s ARC-14S air conditioner. And thanks to its dual-hose design, this portable AC is way more efficient than single-hose units.
The purpose of a dual-hose unit is to solve the negative pressure problem we’ve talked about above.
Dual-hose units have two hoses:
- One output hose evacuates the heat coming from the refrigerant as it is condensed into a liquid state. This is the hose that single-hose units also have.
- One intake hose whose purpose is to take air for cooling from the outside.
Dual-hose units are thus similar in operation to window ACs (and roof-mounted RV ACs, for that matter).
And since they take air for cooling from outside, they do not cause negative pressure, and warm air from the outside thus doesn’t rush into the space that you are trying to cool.
This makes dual-hose portable air conditioners much more efficient than single-hose models.
With that said, dual-hose units are still rated by both ASHRAE-128 and DOE standards. And these ACs still aren’t as efficient as window units.
However, with the same ASHRAE-128 rating, a dual-hose portable AC will probably have a noticeably higher DOE rating than a single-hose unit.
Auto Condensate Evaporation
When the refrigerant condenses (turns from gas to liquid), some moisture forms on the condenser coils; this moisture has to be removed from the AC somehow.
Many portable ACs rely on a drip pan for condensation removal. That is, with some portable units, you have to drain the drip pan from the fluid occasionally manually.
Newer and more expensive portable air conditioners often come with an auto-condensate evaporation feature. If a portable air conditioner has such a feature, it will remove the condensate through the exhaust without you having to drain the drip pan manually.
In very humid areas, this feature will be less useful. This doesn’t mean that it’s pointless – you may still want to look for a portable AC with such a feature since it will make your life easier no matter how humid your area is.
Dehumidifier Mode
Often, the humidity of the air is the thing that causes discomfort, not the high temperature itself. Due to this, a dehumidifier can also be a handy appliance to have, especially in very humid areas.
Not only that, but in humid areas, the air conditioner may be unable to remove the condensation caused by the cooling process fast enough. This results in cold but wet air. A dehumidifier can combat this issue.
The vast majority of portable air conditioners available out there have a dehumidifier mode. The capacity of the dehumidifier mode is measured by the amount of moisture (measured in pints) it can remove from the air in a given period, usually per day.
The right capacity will depend on the humidity and size of your area. Sylvane, a manufacturer of air treatment products, provides this chart for sizing a dehumidifier:
Humidity | Square footage | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
300 | 500 | 700 | 1000 | 1500 | |
50-60% | 30 | 40-45 | 50 | 60 | 70 |
60-70% | 30 | 40-45 | 50 | 60 | 70 |
70-85% | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 90 |
85-100% | 40-45 | 50-60 | 60-70 | 70 | 90+ |
Programmable Features
Consider what kind of features the desired portable AC comes with. Among the things to consider are:
- Temperature controls to shut the AC off once the desired temperature is reached.
- Timer to allow you to run the AC for a fixed amount of time and then shut off.
- Sleep mode for quieter operation.
- Swing mode for exhaust oscillation.
- Fan speed controls.
These aren’t that important in ACs, but they can make your life a little bit easier.
Noise Level
You may want to pay attention to how much noise the desired portable AC produces as well. The noise level is measured in dB. Needless to say, if you want a quiet AC, then look for one that has a lower dB rating.
Pay attention to how the manufacturer measures the noise level – some give the noise level at the maximum setting, while others at the lowest setting.
Dimensions
Remember that one of portable AC units’ downsides is that they need floor space?
Well, pop-up campers are smaller than other RV types, so you should pay careful attention to how much floor area you have and how large the desired AC is.
At first glance, it may seem that you need to do some measurements and pick an AC that fits in them. But things aren’t relatively as easy.
Portable air conditioners may be required to be placed at a certain distance from walls and other objects.
What this means is that you should ensure that you have floor space not only for the AC unit itself but also for the clearings recommended by the manufacturer or maybe even required by law in your area.
Weight
Consider also the weight of the desired portable air conditioner. Pop-up campers are pretty sturdy, but their capabilities are limited.
Every RV has a maximum cargo capacity that should not be exceeded. If you didn’t know, the cargo capacity limits may be due to the materials used in an RV, its suspension, or maybe some local laws and regulations.
You should make sure that the combined weight of everything in the camper – including passengers – stays within the cargo capacity of your camper. The same applies to your portable air conditioner.
Casters
Most portable air conditioner models out there have built-in casters. Only the lightest models won’t have them, but it’s an excellent feature to have, no matter how light a portable AC is. Portable ACs don’t get as light as 20 or even 30 pounds, so every bit of assistance is welcome.
Can I Add an Inverter to my Camper?
Yes, adding an inverter to your camper is entirely possible and can be a beneficial upgrade. This process involves a direct connection of the RV inverter to the AC distribution box via a transfer switch.
The transfer switch is crucial as it prevents potential damage by ensuring that the camper’s electrical system doesn’t receive power from both the inverter and shore power simultaneously.
Keep in mind that the specific model of transfer switch required may vary depending on whether your camper also operates on a generator. Compatibility with your vehicle’s system is critical in this installation, ensuring seamless and efficient operation.
Final Words
AC for pop-up campers is an innovation that significantly enhances the comfort level during camping excursions, irrespective of the season. The two main types of air conditioning systems available for pop-up campers are roof-mounted units and portable units.
The roof-mounted AC units are space-efficient as they are installed on the camper’s roof, leaving more space inside the camper. However, they require a power supply of 30 amps for optimal functioning.
On the other hand, portable AC units offer flexibility as they can be moved around according to convenience but require a 20-amp power supply.
When choosing an AC for pop-up campers, it is crucial to select a unit with a high Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) to conserve energy and reduce running costs.
Moreover, it is essential to ensure that the camper’s roof can support the weight of the AC unit, especially if you are considering a roof-mounted unit. Additionally, for a serene and peaceful camping experience, it is advisable to opt for quieter AC units that will not disrupt your tranquillity.
Incorporating air conditioning into your pop-up camper can significantly enhance your camping experience, offering comfort and coolness even in the harshest weather conditions.