How to install an A/C on my trailer? A question we realized we must answer quickly after buying our first tiny trailer. We needed an A/C in our 1984 Uhaul CT-13 fiberglass trailer especially since we camp mostly in Texas. There were 2 options we had to choose from. We could have either installed a roof top air conditioner or figure out a way to use a window A/C in our trailer. We chose the latter.
The solution for you will depend on what type of trailer you own or plan to renovate. However, if you choose to install a window A/C unit as we did then let me give you some pointers. We want to give you an option that doesn’t include having an A/C sticking out the side of your beautiful trailer. Oh yeah…And of course there is a video down below to help you as well.
Things to remember when installing a window ac in your trailer.
1. Air intake
2. Hot air exhaust
3. Condensation
4. Electric
To assure your air conditioner works properly, you must remember to have a plan for outside air intake, heat exhaust as well as condensation.
First, you will need a hole cut on the side of the trailer (or we have seen some people install vents in the floor to pull air from underneath the trailer) so the A/C can pull in ambient air from outside. This air is blown through the condenser coils to cool them.
Second, you will need a hole cut directly behind the A/C unit to allow the heat from the coils to escape from the trailer. You need to make sure this hot air is not entering back into the trailer. We have seen some individuals insulate on top of the unit to keep this hot air from entering the trailer. However, we created a funnel system on the back of the A/C unit to force the air out through the hole we cut in our trailer.
Third, you will need to take into consideration the condensation that is created by the unit as it is cooling the air. Typically, the units are designed with the fan near the condensation pan to pull up the water and cause it to evaporate quicker, but this isn’t a perfect system, especially in hotter states. If your A/C doesn’t already come with some sort of condensation tube adaptor kit or attachment, then you will need to drill a hole in the condensation pan to allow the water to drain from the A/C unit. To assure this water exits the trailer completely, you will also need to drill a hole in the bottom of the trailer as well. Then you will need to attach a hose or create some sort of funnel system to guide the water out of the trailer. If you don’t create a system to catch the condensation then you will end up with water soaking the floor of your trailer.
Finally, and this will be short, let’s talk electric. I am not an electrician, so I did not come up with some fancy way to wire the A/C into the trailer. I just plug the unit into the outlet inside my trailer every time I need to use it. See…nothing fancy.
These are the most important things to remember if you plan to install an A/C inside your trailer. To see everything we did during installation be sure to watch the video below.
STAY COOL!
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