Does your trailer heat up in the sun with no shade?

[Emmitt G]

If your setting in the direct sun, will it heat up inside?

[idroba]

Yes it will.

[Protagonist]

My Interstate certainly does, so I'm sure a trailer does as well!

[2012FB]

Originally Posted by Emmitt G

If your setting in the direct sun, will it heat up inside?

Absolutely! It is why I just bought a 2015 ducted with dual AC and full awning package. This heating effect is worse with the newer units that have an aluminum interior skin. It transfers heat much faster (a lot more) than the older style interiors. We are usually in direct sun both in CO and AZ. Once the sun hits the trailer it starts to heat up. Even with the single AC set early in the AM to 68 by mid afternoon it would be 80 plus inside.

[dkottum]

Yes it does heat up faster in the sun, like anything in the sun. But in the climate and places we travel we have only turned on the air conditioner once a quarter to ensure it still works. The Airstream is well-equipped with operating windows, roof vents and fans, and screen door for excellent ventilation, which we prefer.

[slowmover]

It heats up faster and cools faster.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, My standard answer is; My trailer heats up much faster than a house but not quite as fast as a car.

[Msmoto]

My first question is, "how big is the dose?".... LOL, funny, cannot get over how clever I am...

OMGosh, yes, my trailer heats up almost instantly in the sun. However, my impression is the 2015 units with the thicker roof structure may be more resistant to sun exposure.

The solution, if I am not hooked up to shore power, i.e., can run the A/C units, is to make certain both the bathroom and shower ceiling vents are open, and the Fantastic Fan is set to run occasionally if the interior temp gets too hot.

I have often thought is one could have a tent like structure about 6" - 12" above the trailer and place it in the shade, this may dramatically reduce thermal heating and for boondocking reduce energy requirements.

[silverhawk]

Like a baked potato.

[Panama Red]

My '74 came with a special coating that keeps it from heating up when sitting in direct sunlight... It looks just like peeling clear coat, but in reality it is a specialized super secret material that repels the rays of the sun. At least that's what I tell everybody who asks what am I going to do about the peeling clear coat...

-Red, lies about everything...

[Skater]

Oh yes. The awnings help a LOT if the sun is hitting the side of the camper and they can shade it.

[perryg114]

A white roof coating helps a lot.

Perry

[Rich W]

I came across the term "toaster" in the forums, I think that adequately describes it.

One of our first trips this year was in a national forest, boon-docking. The temperature was 94. Even with the shade from the trees it was hot. The vents and fans helped but we had to lock up and head for a cooler place during the midday sun.

[BAB]

I used to think I could tell the time of day in the trailer by the interior temperature. Everyone who's posted has called it like it is. Any kind of shade helps, definitely the optional (SS) awnings are a must. And, I found that I did need to add the 2d A/C in my 28' Intl CCD IF I wanted to inhabit the rear of the trailer during a sunny afternoon. It does cool very quickly once you are out of direct sun, and if you have windows open, fans pulling/pushing air.

[dkottum]

When parking our Airstream, orientation to the sun can help. Near summer I look for a site that puts the front of our rear bed model pointed northeast so the large curbside awning shades the side of the trailer in the morning and keeps the street side of the trailer out of the sun. Our front living space has little direct sun coming in, while the rear bed can be closed off during the day.

The afternoon sun can be merciless but the optional awning helps a lot. A shade tree near the west or southwest of the trailer is a good thing. Except for the sap and bird droppings if too close.

[Aage]

If I am still in bed, I know that the sun is coming up when I can hear the skin of our trailer crinkle like a bowl of Rice Krispies does when you put the milk on. It's to be expected, since there is a lot of black in that the colour aluminum is; you see the black come off on the rag when a TT is polished. One would think that the silver would reflect the sun, and therefore stay cool, but it just isn't so.

The idea of using the special paint made for TT roofs has been proven to be very effective. Some that apply it claim up to a 10 degree improvement in cooling as opposed to no white paint.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Panama Red

My '74 came with a special coating that keeps it from heating up when sitting in direct sunlight... It looks just like peeling clear coat, but in reality it is a specialized super secret material that repels the rays of the sun. At least that's what I tell everybody who asks what am I going to do about the peeling clear coat...

-Red, lies about everything...

Last summer in the hot sun I was up on top my Avion crawling around checking the seams for lack of vulkem and I burnt my arm when I moved it to another spot. I looked down and seen that I put my arm on a spot that I had removed the anodizing with a wire wheel to get some roofing tar off that the PO put on. I was shocked to see that anodized aluminum was warm and bare aluminum was hot.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by r carl

Last summer in the hot sun I was up on top my Avion crawling around checking the seams for lack of vulkem and I burnt my arm when I moved it to another spot. I looked down and seen that I put my arm on a spot that I had removed the anodizing with a wire wheel to get some roofing tar off that the PO put on. I was shocked to see that anodized aluminum was warm and bare aluminum was hot.

I'm not sure if the super secret heat repellant peeling clear coat coating was available on Avions... But it's on just about every '74 I've seen, unless someone removes it.

-Red, still lying about the clear coat...

[slowmover]

Polished is inferior to oxidized, basically. Anodized is even better as to not feeling as hot.

Airstream coats the roofs on current trailers. The other makers did as well with exceptions.

[slowmover]

Coefficient of Emissivity


Polished silver: .030

Polished aluminum: .032



Anodized aluminum: .77

Cotton cloth: .77



One big gap.