The Big Debate

[Brad & Shelley Dalzell]

With only a couple of days to finalize our options for or 19'0 trailer the question is whether to get the Air Conditioner.

We live in the Vancouver area but are planning on traveling south all thru the year.

I guess what we are wonder is how often the people with the AC are actually using it.

Is it a necessary evil or just using the max fans sufficing.

thank you all
Brad

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by Brad & Shelley Dalzell

With only a couple of days to finalize our options for or 19'0 trailer the question is whether to get the Air Conditioner.

We live in the Vancouver area but are planning on traveling south all thru the year.

I guess what we are wonder is how often the people with the AC are actually using it.

Is it a necessary evil or just using the max fans sufficing.

thank you all
Brad

If you're going to the Southwest/Southern USA you will want it. Blazing sun and 100F plus at times. Plus humidity in the South/Southeast.

[Daubsy]

If you lived in Texas during the summer it wouldn't be a debate. Get AC.


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[Loren & Cathy]

Anything that is installed during the initial build is usually better and cheaper than an add on later. Now is the time to do it and if you're going south, you will appreciate it. And then there's always that resale factor. Loren

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Brad & Shelley Dalzell

but are planning on traveling south all thru the year.

I guess what we are wonder is how often the people with the AC are actually using it.
Brad

I think the key is "all thru the year" If that means in the summer in the South then as others have said, get it.

We don't have it and only go South in the non-summer months. We do have a small portable unit we can use if things got really uncomfortable. Of course you have to be plugged in or use a generator so that's another factor in the mix.

This year we did Quartzsite and Baja and never used the a/c at all. So where and when you're planning on going South and whether you'll be boondocking all play into the decision.

Ron

[Rosalyn]

And keep in mind resale. Future buyers might appreciate it there.

[gbaglo]

At least get the trailer pre-wired for AC. Less hassle if you change your mind.

[AK snowbiker]

Since we boondock 99.99% of the time without power, we did not get the air conditioner. I'm hoping that the Max fan will suffice for the majority of our trips to the southwest and when we visit family in the southeast. I plan on using a small portable for those very infrequent times that we may need to use it. Our trailer is pre wired if we ever decide we want a fixed unit. Scott

Scott and Lori
I like bikes!

[J Mac]

If you always camp in fully serviced sites...get it.

[rbryan4]

Brad, you had me at the word "south". Get the AC. Even if you don't use it much, it makes your trailer so much more marketable.


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[Donna D.]

All appliances carry fairly short warranties. Until I'm fully retired, I won't be traveling where it's extremely warm and would need air conditioning. I had Ten Forward pre-wired for A/C and when the time comes, I can drive to ETI to have it put on. The warranty on the A/C would start at that date. I figured there was no point in having an expensive asset (who's warranty is running down), sitting on the roof and not being used. YMMV

[Greg A]

Traveling South throughout the year, you'll need AC. One of the big wows is having the digital thermostat that controls both heat and AC and your AC fan shuts off when at temp unlike traditional RV systems. Big resale point.

[Losangeles]

There are some amazing places that happen to have hookup campsites near them.

Recently we camped in Arizona and at midnight it was 100 degrees F

We sure were happy to have AC!!!

We often boondock but not always.

Sure it is a bit of cost, and it is a bit of weight.
But we are glad to have it.

Plus we will sell our Casita within a year, and it would be very tough to sell without AC.

Just my 2c.

[Mountain Mike]

I would get the AC. We've camped in the Thomson/Okanogan during the summer and glad we had it. Same for heading down south, it's nice to use it when needed.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

All appliances carry fairly short warranties. Until I'm fully retired, I won't be traveling where it's extremely warm and would need air conditioning. I had Ten Forward pre-wired for A/C and when the time comes, I can drive to ETI to have it put on. The warranty on the A/C would start at that date. I figured there was no point in having an expensive asset (who's warranty is running down), sitting on the roof and not being used. YMMV

This makes sense to me. I have an RV with two air conditioners on it, both of which are dying from the same type of failure of the same part, but I can't fix them properly because the model (actually the whole brand - Carrier Air V) is discontinued. Each of these things must have cost more than $10 (built into the new price of the RV) for each hour that they operated.

One could go back to ETI, but it isn't necessary because there's nothing specific to Escape about the appliance or its installation (if you have the pre-wiring like Donna). It's a do-it-yourself job if desired, or any RV service shop can handle it.

[BCnomad]

If you "melt" at the high summer temps/humidity then yes.

If you can stand some heat, then get two Maxx fans instead. Since you live in the lower mainland, easy to get ETI install when ready (non dig therm though)

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Brad & Shelley Dalzell

With only a couple of days to finalize our options for or 19'0 trailer the question is whether to get the Air Conditioner.

We live in the Vancouver area but are planning on traveling south all thru the year.

I guess what we are wonder is how often the people with the AC are actually using it.

Is it a necessary evil or just using the max fans sufficing.

thank you all
Brad

Hi: Brad & Shelley Dalzell... We have the factory air and use it seldom... but I have talked to one Escape owner who had A/C added later and it cost him more $$$'s. He wished he'd had Escape do it!!!
Better to have and not need, than need and not have. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Jim Bennett]

We never had it in our 19, and there were maybe 6-10 days in over 6 years we would have used it. We survived fine. Cracking a window over our heads when sleeping with the Maxx Fan drawing across our faces, kept us fairly cool.

That said, we are likely going to get it in our 5.0TA, as with it there are more plans into the future to the deeper south, though still would try to do them in the cooler months. i am one of those self described melters.

I believe all Escape trailers are built A/C ready, with a cable run to the vent hole for future powering of the unit. I know my '09 was done that way. I believe it was #12 wire.

[C&G in FL]

If it means anything, when I went to Scamp Camp in Sebring, Florida, In FEBRUARY, I used the A/C a few times, even though the morning temps were usually mid 40s to low 50s Farenheit. Not freezing, but not really T-shirt weather.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

.....even though the morning temps were usually mid 40s to low 50s Farenheit. Not freezing, but not really T-shirt weather.

What you talkin' about, Carl. That is most definitely T-shirt and shorts weather.