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AirMiles · 02-10-2020, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasterlife

I have different views from most - it depends how you plan to use your unit. We camp because we enjoy the great outdoors, and we often dry camp. If it too hot to enjoy outside, we decamp and move to a higher altitude (or further north) where we can enjoy the outdoors....If it is so hot you have to run 2 ACs to stay comfortable ask yourself why you are spending time at that location, if camping for pleasure?.

Since we mostly dry camp we use the awnings and fans only, and rarely use the AC as we rarely have shore power and find the generators noisy and a hassle. open windows and fantastic fans create good drafts.

Our Airstream is our pleasure vehicle, we have a nice home with good AC. No matter how much we love our "toaster" we would not choose to be cooped up in it night and day due to the outdoor temperature, we would rather relocate or stay home.

Just my two cents worth, but there is a reason these vehicles have wheels..

Well said! I completely agree and do the same. We had a single A/C 25' and now have a single A/C 27', both with ducted air and three awnings. We have no problem with staying comfortable in our single A/C Airstreams anywhere in the country. I would never trade my second fantastic fan for a second A/C since we rarely use shore power or A/C.

Doc Foster · 02-10-2020, 05:41 PM

I am so glad I have 2 A/C's, that is one of the reasons I sold my 25'FC with only one A/C. Out rear bedroom would never get cool with the one A/C when traveling in the South or Southwest during the summer months. Now with 2 A/C's in our 30' were are more than comfortable in the summer sun even when the temps are over 110.

Squid · 02-10-2020, 08:31 PM

I guess I am lucky.. my one AC cools my trailer fine... never an issue, just keep the curtains closed..camped at the coast here in Texas middle summer... true test....

Adiredneck · 02-10-2020, 09:00 PM

We have a 27FB with two heat pumps. Definitely the way to go. In the summer, especially in a hot and or hot/humid climate (we also live in Mississippi), and with little shade, it takes both units on full bore to keep the AS cool and dry. Same thing in cooler weather - the units also heat well down to around 40 degrees, at which point you switch to the propane furnace. Another advantage to the dual units is that you can run the one in the other end of the trailer from where you are (in the older units without ducted AC). I like to run the one out in the galley when we sleep (on either AC or heat) rather than have that jet-roar of a fan and compressor over the bed; vice versa when we are sitting at the dinette. If you are going to spend the money for a '19 or '20 - get the dual heat pumps.

tommyglen · 02-10-2020, 09:24 PM

Go for the double A/C units. No debate. Live, from toasty Texas, the east coast, the southwest, and even in Colorado!

lsbrodsky · 02-11-2020, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasterlife

I have different views from most - it depends how you plan to use your unit. We camp because we enjoy the great outdoors, and we often dry camp. If it too hot to enjoy outside, we decamp and move to a higher altitude (or further north) where we can enjoy the outdoors....If it is so hot you have to run 2 ACs to stay comfortable ask yourself why you are spending time at that location, if camping for pleasure?.

Since we mostly dry camp we use the awnings and fans only, and rarely use the AC as we rarely have shore power and find the generators noisy and a hassle. open windows and fantastic fans create good drafts.

Our Airstream is our pleasure vehicle, we have a nice home with good AC. No matter how much we love our "toaster" we would not choose to be cooped up in it night and day due to the outdoor temperature, we would rather relocate or stay home.

Just my two cents worth, but there is a reason these vehicles have wheels..

I agree!
Larry

Kalashnikov · 02-11-2020, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toasterlife

I have different views from most - it depends how you plan to use your unit. We camp because we enjoy the great outdoors, and we often dry camp. If it too hot to enjoy outside, we decamp and move to a higher altitude (or further north) where we can enjoy the outdoors....If it is so hot you have to run 2 ACs to stay comfortable ask yourself why you are spending time at that location, if camping for pleasure?.

Since we mostly dry camp we use the awnings and fans only, and rarely use the AC as we rarely have shore power and find the generators noisy and a hassle. open windows and fantastic fans create good drafts.

Our Airstream is our pleasure vehicle, we have a nice home with good AC. No matter how much we love our "toaster" we would not choose to be cooped up in it night and day due to the outdoor temperature, we would rather relocate or stay home.

Just my two cents worth, but there is a reason these vehicles have wheels..

I agree, if the sole purpose is 'camping.' I'd never camp somewhere hot (either move or wait for a cooler season.)

I disagree, if the AS is also a 'mini hotel.' We're going to Dallas in a couple weeks to see the Supercross, staying at a KOA since there's not much in terms of camping up there. I can imagine plenty of scenarios where you will have good shore power and would want the 2x AC units.

If you plan on ever selling the AC it's also a good idea to get 2x AC. It's a PITA to upgrade later and the buyer will appreciate it.

Answer: Two ACs and don't look back.

GettinAway · 02-11-2020, 06:36 AM

I agree with the one AC crowd. We try to plan our trips to temperate climates. We also camp without electrical hookup quite a bit. We just bought a 25FB with one AC. I never really thought about needing a second one. If it’s that hot, I don’t really want to be there.

kittmaster · 02-11-2020, 06:53 AM

For the 1 AC responses.....I have some direct questions:

Are you retired? Unemployed? Full timers? Nomads? (No sarcasm intended)

I only ask because if any of those things are true, then your response makes sense as you have the luxury to "move around" to what suits your needs.

My wife and are weekend warriors (as we work full time) which results in a limited radius of where we go in new england......and in June/July/August.......it is can be sweltering/muggy/humid.....with no "option" to move around, but still want to take our mini hotel out and get away.

Added to that thought is our trip to JC last year.....no shade, 95+ degree temps.....I couldn't imagine just 1 AC.....and no option to "move"......there for 4 days.....then what? Sweat to death......hard pass.

So in our specific cases, 1 AC doesn't make sense.....and not having the options to move......it only makes sense to have 2 AC units.

Clearly there is no right or wrong answer, but I'm hearing 1 is enough....but I don't think that matches "most" of the use cases in the south nor northern hemisphere summer time either.

I am just curious for those that stand firm on 1 is enough, do you have the luxury of not being tied down to any specific area of the country to say that is the reason 1 AC may be enough.

Thanks for any feedback.

Chris

lsbrodsky · 02-11-2020, 07:32 AM

Chris,

I am retired. We took up "camping" after I decided that sailing was too much and my wife was never very comfortable sitting for long periods. We have never been very far West although we did take a long trip up through Maine to PEI. Mostly we go on club rallies March-Nov within 2 days of Eastern NC.
What I learned early on is that camping in the SE in July and August, end of June is just no fun. If you cannot sit outside, read, talk with friends, and just chill, without sweating and swatting bugs, then there is no point in going. Hiding in a cooled trailer just does not cut it. I strongly agree that comfortable sleeping is important and early on we found that driving to a rally heated up the trailer so much that it never cooled by bed time. However, I learned some tricks to keep the trailer cooler and we will drive when it is hot. But we won't camp if it is going to be too hot to enjoy the out-of-doors at the destination. So, 1 AC is enough for us. I like the smaller shore power cord of 30A and I am not bothered by watching my electrical use on 30A, just seems like second nature. Now I know my resale value is affected by the common desire for 2 AC's and 50amp, which just reinforces my belief that I will keep this trailer until I decide to get out of camping.
If I were going to use my Airstream as a replacement for motels and travel everywhere, a lot, I would want 2 AC's. But I consider my use as occasional temperate weather camping to socialize with friends or visit places to enjoy the surroundings.
Larry

kittmaster · 02-11-2020, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

Chris,

I am retired. We took up "camping" after I decided that sailing was too much and my wife was never very comfortable sitting for long periods. We have never been very far West although we did take a long trip up through Maine to PEI. Mostly we go on club rallies March-Nov within 2 days of Eastern NC.
What I learned early on is that camping in the SE in July and August, end of June is just no fun. If you cannot sit outside, read, talk with friends, and just chill, without sweating and swatting bugs, then there is no point in going. Hiding in a cooled trailer just does not cut it. I strongly agree that comfortable sleeping is important and early on we found that driving to a rally heated up the trailer so much that it never cooled by bed time. However, I learned some tricks to keep the trailer cooler and we will drive when it is hot. But we won't camp if it is going to be too hot to enjoy the out-of-doors at the destination. So, 1 AC is enough for us. I like the smaller shore power cord of 30A and I am not bothered by watching my electrical use on 30A, just seems like second nature. Now I know my resale value is affected by the common desire for 2 AC's and 50amp, which just reinforces my belief that I will keep this trailer until I decide to get out of camping.
If I were going to use my Airstream as a replacement for motels and travel everywhere, a lot, I would want 2 AC's. But I consider my use as occasional temperate weather camping to socialize with friends or visit places to enjoy the surroundings.
Larry

Larry,

That makes perfect sense and I definitely agree "camping" i.e. "glamping" should involve outdoors without sweating doing it!

It will be interesting to see if others respond with similar feedback as yours. I thank you for the information.

Chris

AirMiles · 02-11-2020, 08:21 AM

Are you retired? Yes, but . . .

We live in Florida and sometimes camp here, even in the summer. Last July we took the grandkids to Blue Springs State Park to go tubing. We had no problems with one A/C and an Airstream full of bodies in the Florida summer heat and humidity.

We frequently dry camp in some really steamy places, such as Shreveport LA, Biloxi MS, Macon GA, Dallas TX, on our way to cooler destinations. After traveling all day in direct sunlight on the interstates, we frequently stop at a Cracker Barrel at dusk. We turn on the A/C with the generator, go in to eat dinner, then return to the Airstream for the evening. We turn off the A/C when going to sleep and then sleep comfortably all night. If its REALLY REALLY hot and steamy (Shreveport), we might continue to run the generator and A/C while sleeping until about mid-night and then turn it off. The single A/C has no problem cooling down the Airstream while we eat after traveling all day. Once its cooled down, we stay comfortable for the rest of the night.

I think part of the reason the single A/C works for us is that we have ducted air and the three awning option. In addition, our Airstream has a roof full of solar panels which provides additional protection from the sun and the ability to run fans continuously while dry camping. These factors may be why we are always comfortable in our singe A/C Airstream.

Tall Grass · 02-11-2020, 09:08 AM

One A/C here. Works just fine, but I've had a lifetime to deal with the southwest heat, I pretty much know what to expect.
We traveled through the SE last fall during the height of the heat wave. We made a point of stopping where we could access shore power. Absolutely no problems. Always vented the hot air out the roof fan prior to starting the A/C, and temperatures inside would drop to comfortable levels fairly quickly. Of course, it helps to have patience. lol

The high humidity was a welcome change from the extreme dryness back at home, where the humidity was in the single digits and the sun blazed down just as hard as it did in Mississippi and Alabama. All the same, we are NOT gonna move to the SE. Those wintertime thunderstorms scare me. I got caught in a couple and it scarred me for life. lol

kscherzi · 02-11-2020, 09:12 AM

Living "out west" we find the single AC to be plenty. If fact we almost never use it, mostly because we camp in places without electricity such as forest service and state & federal park campsites. Also, humidity levels are vastly lower west of the Rockies. Choosing to camp in the mountains above 5,000 feet, or near the ocean, alleviates the need for AC entirely.

We find the extra fantastic fan to be much more useful. While we're retired now, we camped like this with young children in a pop-up without AC for years.

That said, if you intend to spend your time in Southwest deserts in August, or the southeast in the summer, then go for the second AC.

GettinAway · 02-12-2020, 05:54 AM

We are retired now, but just retired last August. We’ve camped for many years, with a pop up before the airstreams. I remember when we bought the popup, the sales rep said they could add AC. My response was, if I need AC, I’m not camping.

Toasterlife · 02-12-2020, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittmaster

For the 1 AC responses.....I have some direct questions:

Are you retired? Unemployed? Full timers? Nomads? (No sarcasm intended)

I only ask because if any of those things are true, then your response makes sense as you have the luxury to "move around" to what suits your needs.

My wife and are weekend warriors (as we work full time) which results in a limited radius of where we go in new england......and in June/July/August.......it is can be sweltering/muggy/humid.....with no "option" to move around, but still want to take our mini hotel out and get away.

Added to that thought is our trip to JC last year.....no shade, 95+ degree temps.....I couldn't imagine just 1 AC.....and no option to "move"......there for 4 days.....then what? Sweat to death......hard pass.

So in our specific cases, 1 AC doesn't make sense.....and not having the options to move......it only makes sense to have 2 AC units.

Clearly there is no right or wrong answer, but I'm hearing 1 is enough....but I don't think that matches "most" of the use cases in the south nor northern hemisphere summer time either.

I am just curious for those that stand firm on 1 is enough, do you have the luxury of not being tied down to any specific area of the country to say that is the reason 1 AC may be enough.

Thanks for any feedback.

Chris

Yes Chris we are retired now, but bought the Airstream before we retired.

I'm in Larrry's camp, regarding heat and bugs....We camp mostly in out of the way places of natural beauty where accommodation is limited to non-existent or at least not desirable. It is our portal to the great outdoors.

We don't use our Toaster as a mini -motel as we don't like commercial parks much - too crowded, and by the time you factor in the cost of a commercial park and the fuel for the truck to tow (11 miles per gallon 'ish) we might as well drive the car and stay in a hotel. Having said that we have spend occasional nights mostly still hitched up in dismal places such as a Reno Nevada Casino park. It was a strategic stop, to break a long journey. Many western Indian Casinos offer decent overnight camping some with hookups. At any rate these are just overights on our way to somewhere else.

When we tow through hot places (happens from time to time) we keep put up sunshades in all the windows of the Airstream before towing. I cut these to fit individual windows from inexpensive car windsheild sunscreens. Also put one in the skylight. these do a pretty good job of keeping the heat out of the Airstream.

For us it is a leisure vehicle - even when we had limited time off, heading somewhere hot and buggy to stay inside our 23 foot vehicle was never our version of fun. Might as well keep it parked and stay inside it at home. saving the gas money...

Of course we have had to stay inside all day occasionally due to all day downpours in the Pacific Northwest, but again if 7 days of rain are forecast we would try to move to better climes.

Having been to JC a few times we would not chose to spend 4 days there, I think we "cased the joint" including an Airstream factory tour in 1/2 a day. Nice little village, but not a lot to keep you occupied, once you have driven up and down Main street a few times. If your rig needs work drop it off and come back later - then head elsewhere.

It all depends how and why you like to camp - we like to get far away, we retain flexibility in our schedules, and we are often off the grid. The cost of hauling the thing does not make it an inexpensive way to travel. Our gas costs are always much higher than our camping fees - we love the freedom and flexibility it gives us and to maximize that flexibility we are as independent of the electrical grid as possible while camping.

The right answer to 1 or 2 ACs is what is your proposed use? Our rig has 2 fantastic fans and we use them a great deal usually only 1 at a time and the other open venting. The fans also let in light - as skylights do.

Don't worry about resale value, a good rig in good condition will easily find a buyer.

ga adkins · 02-12-2020, 07:45 PM

Two A/C's only way to go with 50 amp. Both for cool and heat. Worth extra dollars.

Short563 · 02-12-2020, 08:57 PM

Does having two AC units change the number of roof vents and/or Fantastic fans?

boatdreamer · 02-12-2020, 09:09 PM

Two A/C are the only way to go if not for anything else, resale. The second A/C option is a small price to pay for a little redundancy and it will definitely help you when you decided to sell and move up to a larger Airstream. When we were looking for our Airstream I wouldn’t even click on a for sale ad if I didn’t see the second unit in the pictures. It took a little longer to find one with two but it was worth it when we did.