Who wouldn’t love to enjoy the magic of the great outdoors without leaving behind all the luxuries of our homes? These days RV’s are more advanced than ever, and even if you’re heading into the ice cold of the Rocky Mountains or heat of the Arizona desert you are sure to have a comfortable journey. Air conditioners are pretty standard in RV’s these days so you can ensure that you will be able to get a good night’s sleep no matter how hot the weather is. In this article we shall look at what sorts of air conditioners are available for your RV and how to install them.

Many new models of RV’s come with inbuilt air conditioning as standard, but older models can still have air conditioning units installed very easily. You can also choose to just have a small portable air conditioning unit for your RV either in addition to the inbuilt one (for very hot weather!) or as a cheaper and easier alternative than having one installed.

A good quality window air conditioner (like can be found in your home) with a 5,000 BTU rating should be more than adequate to keep an RV bedroom cool if the bedroom door is kept shut. This type use up a minimal amount of energy too making them the cheapest option to run. An RV rooftop air conditioning unit uses up much more power and is more expensive to run but can be used to cool the entire RV.

RV air conditioners come at all sorts of price ranges so there is something to suit every budget. Coleman is one of the best known brands for electrical camping goods, and they also have a great range of high quality RV air conditioners. Prices start at around US$685 for their basic Polar Club Air Conditioner unit, and it offers you the best in RV air conditioning technology. You can also buy an optional heater add-on so that your air conditioner can be used as a heater during the winter months- perfect!

Another option for an RV air conditioner are the range of Duo-Therm air conditioners. These are just as good quality and at a similar price to the Coleman’s. They are easy to install and have a nice sleek design so they won’t be too intruding in your RV.

Air conditioners for RV’s work in the same way that they do in the home. Most RV air conditioners are roof mounted and are attached the same way that window-mounted home air conditioners are. They can usually be installed manually but if you are unsure you should call in an expert to help out. Firstly to install your new RV air conditioner you should need to choose the best spot for it on the roof of your RV. You chosen spot should be secure enough to hold it’s weight as well as ensuring there are no obstructions beneath it, and should be placed at least 8 inches from the sides of the roof. Then you must cut a whole in the roof that is exactly the right size that you need, measure it precisely beforehand to make sure it is big enough to fit both the roof and ceiling parts of the air conditioner.

Once you have done this you should place the air conditioning unit into the whole you have made and secure it with mounting bolts. You should first install the bolts in the interior of the RV that hold the ceiling portion in place before you then install the ceiling section. You can then optionally apply sealant to the areas where the air conditioner meets the metal if you like, to make it as secure and sealed as possible.

The next part is the wiring. You should connect all the correct wires to the right places on the air conditioning unit. Then plug the unit connector into the roof portion of the air conditioning unit. You are then ready to turn on your air conditioner and voila! Off you go!

I hope you found this guide useful and that it has inspired you to buy an RV air conditioner for your next journey into the great outdoors! It will certainly be a more pleasant journey with the luxury of your own portable air conditioning unit, truly making it a home away from home.