How to Weatherize Your RTTC Camper

I recently wrote an article, "How To Beat the Heat in Your Tiny Trailer," on managing the heat in my RTTC Polar Bear--focusing on the particular challenge the Green Goddess has of off-gassing a chemical smell if the trailer is too heated. The results of my efforts were mixed. I discovered that direct sunlight on the camper in significant heat (mid 90s) created a situation where I could not find a "sweet spot" where both the heat and off-gassing were managed. Solution? Don't camp when it's too hot, or make sure the trailer is in deep enough shade to ensure that the sun does not bake the unit. Then I can close up the trailer enough with the air conditioner on to sufficiently cool the unit.

Lynn Keel also owns an RTTC trailer, a Kodiak. She recently put up a couple of extended FB posts on the Rustic Trail Teardrops Camper Owners Group about how she sealed her Kodiak to keep the ac cool air inside during a hot day. Now, Lynn is thorough in her description and procedures, so this post is pretty close to being guest authored, except for my introduction and ending remarks.

Lynn's Procedures:

My recent trip provided me with a list of things that I want to correct / upgrade in the Kodiak. Today I turned my attention to cooling the camper (and by default, what should also aid in heating the camper this winter).

Door insulation

First step: Limit the area being cooled in the summer or heated in the winter. That meant sealing as many “air leaks” as possible. I placed rubber insulation around the door and A/C, all which had major gaps and / or thin spots. Also placed a piece of Reflectix to close off the storage area under the bed.

AC cavity insulation

AC insulation

Reflectix

Second step: Bought an Air Wing Fin to channel air from the A/C more effectively into the cabin, that is, up in the air rather than just the floor. (Thanks to Karen Landon and Tom Kepler for this idea!) Amazon delivered it only 12 hours after ordering.

AC air flow deflector

Third step: Vacuum clean the ceiling fan and A/C plus carefully remove, wash, and reinsert the A/C air filter. Both were quite dirty from traveling down dirt roads and camping at sandy campgrounds.

(GGG's note: The filter removal is on the right hand side of the unit, but the wall is close to the ac filter removal slide-out. Lynn removed the filter in the following manner. "The filter holder is slightly flexible, so I very slowly pulled it out a third of the way, then began to curve it until it came out. I curved it to put it back in." A different owner's solution was the remove the front piece's screw [Phillips] on the lower right and then the top screw in order to remove the entire front piece of the unit. To do this, an offset screwdriver is necessary.)

Results: The interior was at 78 percent humidity and 86 degrees at the start of the test. Twenty-five minutes later, these numbers dropped to 50 percent humidity and 64 degrees. Outdoor temperature was 86 (a cool day since it rained a lot today). There was excellent interior air flow and cooling improvement over what we experienced during our recent trek.

Satisfied.

Lynn's Day 2 Update

This is an update to yesterday’s post on cooling the camper. Please read that first to see what I did to my all black with silver roof Kodiak to help keep it cooler in the summer (and by default, warmer in the winter).

The external temperature at 2:54 pm during today’s test: 93 degrees with heat index of 108.

Internal temperature in Kodiak parked in no shade on concrete driveway: 104.4 degree (not a typo), at 52 percent humidity.

Recorded after turning on A/C at 2:54 pm to high with ceiling fan (vent closed) on number 2 setting:

• 3:24 pm - 77.4 degrees at 44 percent humidity
• 3:30 pm - 75.6 degrees at 45 percent humidity
• 3:39 pm - 73.6 degrees at 44 percent humidity
• 3:47 pm - 72.1 degrees at 47 percent humidity
• 3:54 pm - 72.2 degrees at 47 percent humidity

The exterior temperature during this one hour test remained at 93 degrees with the heat index dropping to 106 degrees. I did move the thermostat toward the rear of the camper where the temperature registered around 78 degrees. Then I moved it back to the front, where it recorded 70.7 degrees. It was comfortable throughout the cabin, but I'll seek ways to further improve the front-to-rear air flow. I hope that these two posts aid you in your quest for inside the cabin comfort.

Lynn clearly reveals that sealing the air leaks in your tiny trailer can have a significant effect on your air conditioning (or heating) efficiency. No different than your house, folks. It should be noted that Lynn was able to close all her windows and vents in this test of her trailer's cooling capacity. She stated that she either does not have significant off-gassing in the heat or that she is not sensitive to the smell.

This narrative is how one tiny trailer owner--an RTTC owner--significantly improved the efficiency of her air conditioning. Although her suggestions are specific to a particular trailer builder's products, the general idea and general checklist of activities applies to anyone who wants to have a more effective ac/heating solution for their trailer.

So now how many of your are heading to the local hardware store for a few basic supplies?

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(Note: As the content for Green Goddess Glamping evolves, sometimes content focus will dictate that articles will be posted on some Facebook groups and not others. Articles on Dutch oven cooking, portable toilets, or bicycle day rides, for instance, could find posts in different groups. The best way to ensure that you are receiving all articles is to subscribe to follow this blog by email notifications.)

From the Canadian to the Mexican Borders: Doug Pollard's Tiny Trailer Adventure

"I met people from all over the world. What an adventure!" How else can you describe a five-month journey of over 13,000 miles that spans twenty-one states from the Canadian to the Mexicans borders--and is boondocking throughout? Definitely, "What an adventure!"

When Doug Pollard was asked the general area he was traveling to, he replied, "I'm starting out up north, heading toward Washington state, then down the coast to California. Then the Southwest. The last time I made this trip, I hit twenty-three states and Canada three times so just about everywhere!"

In 2017, recently retired Doug Pollard decided to hit the road with his Little Guy RT, pulled by his Toyota FJ Cruiser. He left his West Virginia home in June, pleased with his vehicle, which he noticed did a good job of climbing mountains, dirt and backroads, and maintaining AC coolness inside while towing in extreme heat. "It's perfect for what I like to do: exploring backroads, 4+4 roads, and boondocking off the beaten track."

"Evening shower heading into Northeastern California. First rainfall in months there. (9/20/17)

This was his third trip across the country. "I have gone back and forth, up and down, mostly backroads, spending four to five months each time going where the wind blows. I record every road and boondocking site on individual Benchmark Recreational Atlas state maps, so it would be hard to pick one route. Alaska is diffidently on the bucket list, if I live long enough. LOL!"

Doug headed west toward the West, but was still crossing the Midwest when he had his first adventure--the alternator went out on his Toyota while in Indiana. "Better now than later" was the consensus opinion, including Doug's, for the repair on his 2007 Cruiser. Doug had bought it from a business that dealt mainly in high end cars like Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes; however, when this was traded in, it was in such good condition the dealership decided to sell it themselves rather than selling it at auction. 

The trip to his first longer stay in Montana included some exciting and majestic moments, though. 

Devil's Tower, Wyoming (7/5/17)

Rocky Mt. National Park, Colorado (7/06/17)

"What's the chances in July? Pretty good, if you're driving thru Beartooth Pass in Montana. Started the pass at 98 degrees in a thunderstorm. By the time I peaked it, the temperature dropped to 51, then rose to 78 and sunny." (7/06/17)

Gallatin National Forest

After auto repairs, Doug powered through Missouri and Kansas, finally making it to the Rocky Mountains and Colorado, where boondocking opportunities abounded, such as in Gallatin National Forest and the Timber Camp Recreation Area. He spent quite a bit of time there, boondocking, exploring, and hiking inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park, near Gardiner, Montana. He explored the Petrified Forest, getting a free permit at the Tom Miner Campground trailhead to take some of what he found. Besides petrified trees, Doug also discovered opals, crystals, old mines, and many more geological and historical finds. Doug summed up his experience with "I love it here." 

"I have stayed at two primitive camp sites since reaching, Gardiner, Montana, at the North entrance to Yellowstone. Stayed the first night near the little creek, it being 8 pm. The second night, I picked the site I planned to stay at for a week or more--kayaking, hiking, and visiting Yellowstone. I'm eight miles up in the wilderness at Timber Camp in Gallatin National Forest. Picnic table and an outhouse. What more could you ask for and free? There is a view of Mammoth Springs going in and out to my campsite. Big time grizzly country." (7/15/17)

"Hiked 13 miles today, did the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River, came across an elk head and horns, also a buffalo carcass with head. Looks like a wolf kill. Great hike. (7/17/17)

Along with Doug's boondock camping, there was a lot of hiking, exploring the countryside. Here are some comments from his Facebook posts.

• July 12. Hiked a trail in Yellowstone today, like a desert out there.
• July 14. Took a 10-mile hike up and around so that I came out at the top of Mammoth Springs. Then I decided to go cool off at the Boiling River. It's a hot spring that dumps into the Gardiner River. You can be either extremely hot or cold or somewhere in between. It felt awesome after a long hot hike."
• July 23. Hiked the Tom Minor Trail to a Petrified Forest. Climbed 10,900 ft to Ramshorn Peak. I could see the back of the Tetons from up there.

Pacific Northwest Family Time

July ended with Doug on the road again to his son's house, visiting family in Washington state. The month of August and a few days of September he spent with his family, including his grandkids. They all worked, played, helped one another, and went on road trips and hikes. Doug's son also helped him with some upgrades for Doug's camper, upgrading the battery and then installing a plug for a solar panel to keep the battery charged when out in the wilderness. They made a 20-foot cord for it so it can be put almost anywhere. "The camper came with one of those small 12 volt batteries which meant I would have to run the FJ, almost every other day to keep it charged. Won't have to anymore." He sent big thanks for his son's help.

While hiking in the Mt. Baker area, the effects of the 2017 forest fires were all too obvious. "Went on a hike and a swim in the Mt. Baker National Forest yesterday. The smoke from the fires is blowing in from the east, can't get away from it." He later mentioned his experiences while traveling with the fires and firefighters. 

"The fires in Montana were terrible, smoke so thick, it stings your eyes. Felt so sorry for the people that live there, you just can't escape it. Saw many a firefighter camp in fields along about a 300-mile stretch of Highway 90. They were living in smoke-shrouded tents by the hundreds. Then they have to climb up those steep mountains in hundred degree heat, not to mention the heat from the fires. They are not paying them enough. One firefighter died the day I drove through, sad."

"A stormy day on Fishing Bay, Orcas Island, Washington.

Adventures also included a trip along the Oregon and Washington coast with family, including Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. Fun times with the grandkids included starfish hunting in the tidepools and sliding down sand dunes. A kayak expedition and a hiking and camping trip with the grandson were part of the activities. The kayak trip was fifteen miles, stopping for lunch in the city of Snohomish. "Everyone was very tired by the time we finished the trip, which took nine hours to complete."

"Took my grandson on an overnight hike to Vesper Peak. 6,200 ft up, over 4,100 ft elevation gain, 5.1 miles to peak." (8/23/17)

Vespers Peak (8/23/17)

Backpacking to Vesper Peak. (8/23/17)

Hiking Washington State. "Pictures just don't do it justice."

The Scenic Route Home

Remember that this is a tiny trailer boondocking journey, off into spaces less frequently traveled?
Well, Doug dropped off the grid in Idaho and eastern Oregon, taking in some rugged sightseeing as he began the last leg of his adventure. Meeting up with an old friend, they decided to explore ghost towns and old mines, soaking up frontier history. Gold mines, dilapidated buildings, and high desert were his stomping grounds for the next week or so.

Abandoned gold mine.

Warren, Idaho, established 1862.

"Headhouse" Where they off-load ore from the ore cars to a sky tram that takes it to the processing plant near town." 

A mining workshop outside of Mackay, Idaho

The ghost town segment of his travels was ended with a drive and a visit to the Oregon coast, after which Doug  headed off for the Sierra Nevadas of California. "You probably won't be hearing from me for a while," he told his family, as he headed off down more back roads. The Sierra Nevadas at mid-September meant times of blowing snow. 

"The Sierra Nevadas are beautiful, not to mention Lake Tahoe. Been driving thru some snow storms as I crossed some of the passes. Thankfully, none of the ones I wanted to take today were closed as happened to me yesterday. It was a long detour. I decided to stop early because it is supposed to drop below freezing, and Yosemite doesn't allow boondocking. Yosemite is only twenty-five miles, away so I'll be there early in the morning. Can't wait to check it out.Time to cook some dinner, having hot dogs and beans, an old camp favorite."

Sierra Nevada boondocking sie.

What with snow, September, and passes closing, Doug arrived at Yosemite. Reaching the national park, he found "lots of snow in the higher elevation" and too many people. He wanted to hike the John Muir Trail and Half Dome, but the traffic was so bad that he couldn't even get to that part of the park. Visitors had to be picked through a lottery to hike the Half Dome. "I lost. Can't win them all. The park was beautiful, though."

Doug had arrived at the national park just after landslides in the park had caused fatalities. He posted to his family and friends that he was in Yosemite and safe, yet feeling "sorry for the families of the dead and injured in the landslide."

• "Fatal Rockslide in Major National Park"
• "Rockfall at Yosemite’s El Capitan ’10 times bigger’ than slide that killed tourist a day earlier"

Yosemite

"The part that broke away. The avalanche dusted everything around with a huge dust cloud."

Continuing with his routine of traveling and then hiking an area, Doug hiked through Mono Pass to see Mono Lake. "My highest hike to date, 10,600 ft," he said. "What a difference it was from one side of the pass to the other!"

Mono Pass

On his way to King's Canyon, Doug stopped in Fresno, California, to buy new tires for the trailer. "I've traveled over 10,000 miles already."

"It's not much, but it's been home since June. Love that I can watch a DVD now that I have a solar system. Last night, boondocking in King's Canyon, I found if I burned one candle it would take the chill off. Below freezing most nights lately."

Doug managed to get both his hiking tand tiny trailer sight-seeing in as he continued south toward San Diego to meet with family. He especially enjoyed the tunnel tree and the climb up on Moro Rock at Sequoia National Park.

Sequoia National Park

"With all the fires and drought out here in the West, you really have to be careful where you boondock for fear of a tree falling on you. There are millions of them dead. Two trees fell while I was camped outside of Yosemite, not more then 100 feet from me. Glad they fell away from me. Lucky none of these giants decided to fall while I was in King's Canyon. They'd have made a pancake out of me."

On October 5, Doug hit Joshua Tree National Park, planning to reach San Diego the next day.

Arriving at San Diego, Doug met with family and was treated to an Octoberfest concert, which he enjoyed immensely; however, he realized that the Las Vegas shooting incident was on everyone's mind. He saw that "SWAT vehicles and teams were on every ridge, drones and helicopters flying around thru the whole event. Security was tight, but I still think they couldn't prevent an attack if someone wanted to. You can't let that keep us from our freedom to get on with life." Putting his thoughts and feelings into action, Doug was "down in the front, dancing with the masses till the very end. Foo Fighters, Cage the Elephant, and Queens of the Stone Age were great."

"From 11 in the morning till 1 at night, non-stop music. Friggin' awesome." CAL JAM 2017.

Soon after the concert, Doug took I-8 out of San Diego, heading home. On October 9 he took off, and by the 13th he was home, with many hours on the road. He still managed to find some interesting sights and experiences along the way, especially at the Mexican border and at the Petrified Forest. Mostly, though, he hunkered down and put the last miles behind him.

"Stopped along the Mexico border, which is just over that sand dome. Very hot but beautiful." 

Petrified Forest

Before leaving San Diego, Doug had posted on Facebook the following: "Getting homesick and with snow starting already in the mountains, it's probably not a bad idea [to head home]. I had a great time, saw a lot of parks and places I've never been before. Five months on the road, living out of my teardrop, is a long time. I didn't get to do everything I wanted to, but there's always next year."

Upon arriving home, Doug had to deal with a dead refrigerator, a toilet that didn't work, and a satellite TV foul-up, but it was still good to be home. "Well! Home Sweet Home to get to some yardwork. NO, I really mean it, and it sure needs it!"

Balance is an important part of life, and Doug's trip exemplies it. Happy to be alone, happy to be with family. Happy to be on the road, happy to be home. Doug must realize that "home" is as much a state of mind as a place. He certainly had a great trip--and, oh yes--he did get the refrigerator and toilet fixed. "Easy fixes," Doug said. "Back to normal, if that's possible." Normal is certainly possible with Doug, and after five months of living in such an immense backyard, what's a little yardwork?

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Old Is Gold: Camping at Iowa's 2nd Oldest State Park

My latest camping trip could be considered a comedy of errors or the weird humor of the powers that be. What began as a 6-night camping trip with my wife--a reserved site and everything--ended up a 3-nighter by myself. What caused this shift in plans? How about a dangerous heat wave, our daughter and grandson's bad cold, a maybe-early/maybe-delayed Fed Ex shipment that needed a signature, and 12,000 bicyclists showing up in town for RAGBRAI? You know, the usual.

Finally I headed out of town to Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in SE Iowa, about twenty-five miles from our home. My wife and I had camped there about four years ago with our kids and grandkids, and I'd camped there a couple of times while passing through the area while bicycle camping, but we had never camped there with our tiny trailer.

A few weekends ago we took a Sunday drive to the campground to see what it looked like. Last year the park was closed for repairs and upgrades to the campsites. We were afraid the campground had been "modernized" like some--with a bulldozer to create the tract home, "Sewer Alley" look. Thank goodness that hadn't happened. Sewer had been upgraded, and a few more sites had been added to that area of the campground. On the non-sewer side, some tent sites had been converted to electric, and some of the old electric sites had been modified as pull-through sites rather than back-in. These modifications hadn't changed the feel of the campground, though.

Arriving around noon during the third day of our six-night reservation, I quickly set up camp, leaving the awning for Monday morning because a thunderstorm was forecast for that night. My main task for Sunday afternoon was to test the cellphone receptivity with and without our WeBoost signal amplifier. The signal was strong enough for Facetime (our hands-on signal strength test) and was stronger/faster with the WeBoost.

Yep, it was a nice rain that night, and Monday morning I put up the awning and then went for a walk. There is a path around the lake, for hiking only. I followed it for a while but decided to circle the lake early the next morning when it was cooler. Deciding to make Monday a rest day, I cooked myself a good lunch and then mostly relaxed and read after publishing a blog post about the recent heat wave. I didn't need the air conditioning on Monday, the fans being sufficient, and that night slept with the door closed and the fans off, with a low of 59 degrees.

During the night I had an interesting experience, a type I'd heard about but which had never happened to me. A rustling noise outside woke me, and I realized it was a raccoon, fiddling with the ice boxes. I yelled out the window to scare it off and then opened the door and turned on the outside light. There was no raccoon, but one ice box was open. The Yeti was safe and sound, but our cheap-o little Playmate box with a rotating roof-like lid was open. Yikes, I'd been burgled by a genius raccoon! It had actually pressed the unlock button on the handle and then rotated the lid till the box was open. Luckily, no essential food was inside. I had brought the smaller, less efficient box only to keep a couple of sodas, some cut watermelon, and some red grapes; I had transferred the remaining melon, grapes, and one soda to the Yeti before retiring for the night. That pesky raccoon did steal a potato I had baked at lunch that I was keeping for home fries the next morning, though. All that was left in the box were some muddy paw prints. Live and learn!

The next morning I was up early to take my walk, heading out at 7:45. The 2.1-mile trail around the lake was more primitive than the bicycle trails I usually ride--washed out in places, corrugated with roots and erosion, sometimes just a single track because of encroaching plants. I liked it, though. Lacey-Keosauqua is the second-oldest state park in Iowa, and in places the trail moved away from the lake and wound its way through stately trees and silent forest, providing a glimpse of what the terrain must have looked like before the arrival of plows. The path was very much for hiking only, much of it not bicycle accessible; in fact, bicycles are not allowed on the trail, probably for safety issues and also to lessen erosion.

Prior to my hike, I talked a bit to two motorcyclists who had set up their small tents and camped for the night. They were about my age--retirement age--and were having fun but weren't "let's tour the world" enthusiasts. We talked pannier camping--both bicycle and motor style--and I continued on my way to the trail. There is a tent-only primitive section in the campground near one trailhead to the lake trail. A car was parked at one campsite but no tent. I saw on closer examination as I walked by that two hammocks had been strung and that the occupants were still asleep. I walked by softly, glad for the campers that it had been cool enough to keep the mosquitoes down some, although I bet they had doped up with repellant prior to sleeping.

Walking the trail took an hour and twenty minutes, which included a lot of stops for enjoying the views and for taking photographs. One somewhat new experience in walking the trail was that I had to pay more attention to where I put my feet. If I were to have gawked too much, I would probably have fallen and possibly twisted an ankle--there were that many roots, stones, and uneven surfaces. I really enjoyed the experience, though. Have I really become that accustomed to flat, constructed walkways? I guess so! Walking the circuit also presented evidence of CCC and WPA construction that took place during the Great Depression. There is a bathhouse, stair systems, and several stone bridges along the trail's length. Different times and old construction methods built those structures to last--as they have.

After enjoying a cool night of sleeping with the vent, windows, and screen door for ventilation (but no fans), I woke up deciding to hike the lake trail again, even though it was the day to leave for home. I decided this time I'd have a more vigorous pace for exercise, taking fewer photographs. This cut twenty minutes off my hike to just an hour. I did stop to take a few photos, of course, but it was also good to try focusing more on the physicality of the hiking. It was a beautiful morning, though, so I certainly enjoyed the hike and didn't get all huffy and puffy in the cool of the early morning.

Arriving back at camp, I cooked myself a good breakfast, cleaned up camp a bit. I had dropped and put away the awning last night, so after breakfast I wrote some to finish this post, selecting photos and deciding at what point to finish this post's narrative. I think now's a good time. We're all familiar with the packing and hitching. It's been a pleasant time--in the best sense of the word--peaceful and relaxing.

Good news! Arriving home, my wife and I have reserved four nights next week at the same site.

I hope you've all found a nice spot to camp and relax after the heat spell. Having a quiet adventure isn't all that bad!

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How To Beat the Heat in Your Tiny Trailer

I'm on my phone reading news stories that have headlines like "Widespread, dangerous, and oppressive heat roasts much of the U.S. through the weekend" and "The Midwest and East Coast brace for 'extremely dangerous' weekend heat wave." Wouldn't you know it? This is the weekend when my wife and I have reserved a site for our 6-night campout in a local state park . . . and it's the hottest temperatures of the summer.

Tiny trailer groups on Facebook started getting posts like "What are you doing to survive the heat wave?" and "What are you doing instead of camping this weekend?" I was making manly noises and declaring that my wife and I should camp anyway. "I can write an article about the heat!" The Green Goddess had an air conditioner, and I'd camped a few weeks earlier when the temperatures rose to around 90. It would be an experiment, a test to determine how well our tiny trailer weathered the heat spell.

The week roasted its inexorable course toward the weekend, the temperatures rising higher and higher. Then on Thursday it rained, but still there was no break in the heat, only a rise in the humidity. Our tiny trailer sat in the driveway in full sun, slowing transforming into a solar oven. I turned on the air conditioning and found the trailer did indeed cool to a bearable temperature, but it also began to off-gas chemical smells as the heat baked the sides and roof of our plywood-constructed home.

"Maybe we can skip Friday and Saturday, then head out on Sunday when the heat breaks," I said, my wife in complete accord. I decided to conduct my AC experiment at home in the driveway as the heat wave dominated the next two days. I also decided to post on a couple of Facebook tiny trailer camping groups a request about how others beat the heat.

Heading out for six nights of camping at a local state park in Iowa. Temperature highs 90-99, lows 69-77. The site has electric. Our standy teardrop has a small air conditioner, but I'm interested if anyone has any tips (other than turning the ac on) that they use for camping in the heat. After our adventure, I might write an article on my experience and tips provided. Thanks!

This article includes both wisdom gleaned from experienced campers and the results of my personal "parked in the driveway in full sun" experiment with the Green Goddess.

The FB comments on my post provided good grist for thought. Some were anecdotal, some thoughtful, and some funny--and even those had a perspective. Sifting through the comments and categorizing them provided some useful tips for dealing with heat while tiny trailer camping.

Attitude
Several comments directly and indirectly addressed the idea that modern civilization has "narrowed" the range of temperatures in which we exist, by way of heating and air conditioning. Humans are capable of thriving in a much wider range than we usually do. "The frontier was settled without AC!" stated one Facebook comment. "However, I must admit, anything over 105° is tough. Sweat, it does a body good." People who work outside are much more accustomed to a greater temperature differential than people whose jobs keep them inside, which leads to a second concept, discussed below.

Acclimation
Acclimation is used in this article to mean that not only must the mind accept the idea of hanging out in the heat; the body has to spend time getting used to, or acclimating, to the greater heat. This will take time--time spent outdoors more, clothing modifications, water consumption acknowledged. Listen to your body. It will tell you things you need to know about dealing with the heat. One experience we have every year here in the Midwest is when the temperatures hit the 20s in the fall, we say, "Wow, it's cold!" And when the temperatures hit the 20s in the early spring, we all say, "Wow, it's warm!" We do adapt to the weather over time.

Site Selection
Where you camp was mentioned as a primary way of avoiding the heat. First and foremost, of course, one can travel to an area that is cooler. One witty yet pointed FB comment was the following: "Here's one more from the peanut gallery. 80° in the Southwest and in the shade, you'll want a light jacket!" Most times, though, we can't just take off till we reach a comfortable climate zone; we have to manage the weather right where we are. The best suggestions for finding cool spots said to seek out shade and to camp near water. "I always look at Google Earth before I choose a site to make sure the park has shady sites or better, a shady one with a breeze off the lake."

Activity Schedule
Being active when it's cooler is the general rule suggested. During daylight, early morning and late evening are the times of coolest temperatures. Work with that reality. One man said, "Typically, I’ll stay outside and in the shade during the day (a river / lake helps!), run the AC after dinner, and then may or may not run just the windows/fans at night." Another added, "Try to stay in shade during the day. Wait til the sun goes down to take your shower."

Camper Set-up
Don't worry, I will eventually mention air conditioning, but several other categories also deserve attention. Many tiny trailers don't have AC but still utilize build design to maximize air flow in the camper. One great help if you own a small, traditional teardrop is to use a cover canopy which shades the entire rig. If that is not possible (as with my standy trailer), then an awning provides shade and less heat. "I would think a large canopy or under some large trees next to a lake would be the coolest spot to be," said one camper. One comment was to use greenhouse garden shade cloth as an awning.

A protective canopy for a teardrop is an effective buffer for the heat. "At 15’ square, this one has great coverage."

Airflow strategies for tiny trailers were the most frequent mentions.

• "Our Camp Inn teardrop has two big doors with screens, and a powerful roof fan."
• "We use a fan and just open the windows."
• "Awnings; window and door screens - we also have a screen tent which allows us to leave one TD door completely open; dehumidifier (Eva Dry rechargeable); fans - one ceiling fan (12v) and another one (small computer fan) in one of our two air vents it blows out to help move the air through the teardrop."

"We camped in the desert last fall with unseasonably warm days. Our warmest day in the TD was 105."

Equipment
Most tiny trailers have built-in fans, but having additional fans was also a hot (pun intended) suggestion. These extra fans included box fans for outside when the air is still, personal hand fans, and inside fans to augment the ceiling fan in the trailer. Regarding outside fans: "We had lots of time where the air outside was still. Luckily we took a HV fan with us. It helped quite a bit just keeping air circulating when we were sitting outside or preparing meals." Fans seem to be a real way to combat the heat. "Last summer we were camping in Canada on Canada Day and our indoor/outdoor thermometer said it was 108 degrees outside. We used our fox wing and sunseeker awnings along with our ceiling battery operated fan for the overnights. We were surprised how good this worked; we were able to sleep there without heading to town and a hotel like we thought we might have to do."

Two other comments addressed equipment. One was how to use the cooling effect of water in conjunction with fans. "We don't have AC in our teardrop or our home. We use a lot of fans. On hot nights, we bring a wet washcloth and a bowl of water to bed. Wet yourself and the evaporation will cool you. This even works on humid Chicago nights. This week, we bought battery-powered mist fans for each of us. They seem to work well. We'll take them on our camping trip in two weeks." The second comment was about keeping pets cool. "If you are taking pets, be sure to get them a cooling mat. Fabulous product."

Air Conditioning
Well, we've finally arrived at the obvious solution to excessive heat (unless you're boondocking)--air conditioning! Most people granted its utility. "I view A/C as 100% necessary when camping in some areas of the country in the summer," says one woman who does not have AC and who lives in a cooler part of the country, although there are the naysayers: "I believe that, if you use AC at all, the heat feels worse."

"I grew up in Phoenix before there was a/c. Swamp coolers. But we spent nearly every day outdoors in summer vacation. We’d swim in the canals if it got really hot. I remember my dad got an a/c unit for the ‘56 Ford Station Wagon. It hung on the front passenger’s window. It was a swamp cooler, too." 

Air conditioning can be an addition to summer camping, even if it is only used during the hot afternoon or for sleeping. "We have an AC unit in our camper that was great for at night. During the day we spend 99% of the time outdoors with our dogs." My favorite AC-related comment was the following: "I tented for five months in SC. The heat was awful. If you have ac, you are blessed." My response was, "I have it, and I intend to use it." One useful comment was to be sure to clean the AC's filter regularly. One man rinses his filter once a week during the camping season.

To summarize online tiny trailer group advice, we should "embrace the heat," as one camper said, and structure our routine and environment so that our bodies aren't over-taxed and are given a chance to become accustomed to the heat. If we need to, we should utilize awnings, fans, and air conditioners to increase our comfort level, and we should always remember that while "I can take it" is usually tolerable, heat stroke or exhaustion isn't. We need to take the weather into account when we camp--and that includes the heat.

Can I (and did I) take the heat?

A pretty strong case could be made that I didn't even try to overcome the "widespread, dangerous, and oppressive heat." Instead, with the Green Goddess still in the driveway (in full sunlight), I turned on the air conditioner as an experiment to see how it worked in extreme, humid summer heat.

Day 1 Driveway Experiment

My finding? The temperature was 92 degrees, the humidity 60%, and the "feels like" adjusted heat index was 104 degrees. I had the unit set for 75 degrees, automatic mode, automatic fan speed, and the energy saver mode off. I have installed a air flow deflector to move the cool air upward (and not under the bed). A 9-inch additional portable fan was added to facilitate air flow. I also had my small dehumidifier running because there was substantial rainfall (and therefore humidity) from a passing thunderstorm. Entering the trailer, the temperature was certainly manageable. The unit was running at high fan, and the temperature was higher than 75 because when I went back into my house (thermostat set at 76), the house was cooler than the trailer. Below was the trailer's basic cooling equipment.

• Comfort Aire air conditioner (RTTC installed), 5,000 BTU (no link)
• Air Wing air conditioner deflector 
• 9" portable table fan (Walmart)
• Pro Breeze electric mini dehumidifier

The only negative aspect of the first day was that with the heat penetrating the trailer, the off-gassing increased, and there is a noticeable chemical smell from the building materials--whether from plywood glues, adhesives, the gray vinyl wall covering, varnishes, and/or something else is not clear.

Day 2 Driveway Experiment

My set-up today will be the same as yesterday except I will play with the ceiling vent fan and the side windows to determine if I can exchange air in the trailer, vent the off-gassing, and still maintain a temperature that is at least minimally comfortable.

At 4:30 in the afternoon, I had to recognize the limitations of my tiny trailer. The high today was 94 degrees, humidity 61%, and the heat index 113 degrees. I adjusted several times the side windows, the ceiling vent and fan, played with the AC controls for cooler settings, and the conclusion is that at with the  current temperature with the trailer in full sun--it's not possible to maintain a marginally cool temperature and eliminate off-gassing for this trailer.

I think that with shade the trailer would have a fighting chance because the roof and sides wouldn't be roasting with the direct sun contact. This would lessen the off-gassing and lessen the burden on the air conditioner.

 Tomorrow it is forecast to be three degrees hotter at the campground than here at home. Therefore, I am keeping to our plan of not leaving until Sunday when the heat passes. My wife will not camp with me this trip; I'll be on recon for future trips.

It's been an odd one. We've had this heat wave, our daughter and grandson are sick with a cold, we haven't been able to verify cellphone signal strength at the campground, a Fed Ex package is arriving early and needs to be signed for, and the big Iowa bicycle rally, RAGBRAI, is passing through town Thursday (the day I had planned to drive home) with 12,000 bicyclists. We've decided to loosen up and be flexible. I'll come home early, and we will head to town and enjoy the spectacle.

At the Campground

Arriving at the campground today, the host checked me in and noticed that I was arriving two days late. "You're not the only one who didn't make the weekend," she commented. The high today will be 82 degrees, the low 66. Humidity is 72%, but this trip I also am running the Pro Breeze mini dehumidifier. The AC is on, the ceiling fan closed but running on low, I ran the portable fan during the afternoon, and one side window is cracked an inch. The temperature is comfortable, and there is no discernable chemical smell from off-gassing. The trailer has partial shade from trees.

So there it is, folks. I believe we could have camped here at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in higher temperatures, but it's not clear yet where that cut-off point is when the heat is so great that it just ain't worth it. The trailer is about a year and a half old, so who knows? Maybe the off-gassing will continue to be less noticable, even in the heat, over time.

Probably most reading this have noticed that much of the advice provided is pretty much common sense. I have no problem with that. My mom always said, "Wear a hat in the sun and a coat in the cold." Taking into account all the ways to deal with excessive heat, we still have to consider our individual tolerances and the capabilities of our camping rigs when we make our decisions. Be safe and be cool, folks. Now I can enjoy my three nights camping. Stay tuned for the article and photos of this trip.

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