How necessary is a second A/C? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

How necessary is a second A/C?

Hinkle Hut RV · RV-Dreams Community Member

In our opinion... necessary! We have found on really hot days the second A/C really helps keep the unit cooler. Also, when first unhooking after driving on a really hot day your unit will be hot when you first go inside. Having the two A/C units to turn on will help cool the unit down quicker. We had a small TT before our 5th wheel with only one A/C and the bedroom would never get cool enough as the A/C unit was over the main part of the unit. It's also nice to be able to turn on the A/C in the bedroom while you're in there as well. We hate to be hot when sleeping! Just a few different things to think about... :) Good Luck!

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Depends on how adaptable you are, how heat tolerant you are, where the one AC is located, how large the unit is, how quickly you want your unit to cool down after you setup and where you plan to roam.

We have two ACs on our bus. Most of the time, one is plenty to keep things comfortable on a toasty day. But we've also found ourselves unexpectedly 'stuck' somewhere when temps creeped up into the 108 - 127 degree range. And then we wished we had 4. :D

- Cherie

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

The size, floorplan and area where you will be and whether it will be full-timing/part-timing?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Another thing to keep in mind is most 5Vers are wired for 2 units...if a second unit is called for after you purchase it and the wiring is allready there it could just be a simple install....

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

We usually have our A/C unit at home between 78 and 80. At night, we sleep with the A/C on 80.

The rig that we are considering is 38' with 4 slides. One long and 3 short.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well you live in Ga. so when there is no shade on the unit and the humidity and heat index factor is over 100 do you feel you will need 2 units?

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were in a 30' fifth-wheel with 1 super slide in partial shade through the summer in SE AL and had one A/C and that was about right but it was not unusually hot that summer either.

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our house is brick and it has no shade....the brick probably insulates a lot better than a 5'er without shade.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just spent 4 months in mostly 80 to 100 degree heat with 30% plus humidity.

Our 38 foot 5th wheel has one Duo Therm 15000 BTU air conditioner hooked up to a duct system with a duct in the bedroom, bathroom and two in the living room/kitchen area.

We also have the patio awning, and awnings over each window deployed and the mini blinds down plus angled to block the sun.

When the temps get above 70 degrees we usually leave the air conditioner on 24 hours per day with the thermostat set at 60 degrees and the fan on low.

The temp inside the rig stayed short shirt sleeve comfortable during the day with the need for a blanket at night and long sleeves in the morning.

When the outside temp exceeds 100 we may use a portable fan to help with the cooling in certain areas of the rig.

Our previous air conditioner was a 13,500 btu unit and we often wished for a second A/C unit. But not with the 15,000 btu unit, it does a good job of keeping us cool.

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks, Bear II! Those numbers are very helpful!

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a 38ft 5th wheel with 4 slides and when we were in Eastern WA with 103 degrees we were very happy to have 2 A/C units. With only one unit running the bedroom seemed pretty toasty. I think you could "get by" with one unit if you weren't planning to camp where it's over 90 very often or in an area where it cools down quite a bit at night.

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you! That is very helpful!

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Another idea is to have the main AC as a heatpump, and the 2nd a 13 or 15k unit...
We have Carrier AC systems, which is no longer in business, but the main is a 15k heat pump and the 2nd is 13.5k. We have a mode called DRY on the heat pump, it runs the fan continously, drawing humidity out. This past August we ran the heat pump on Dry, and the other AC on low, set on 68. We stayed at 74-75* with 70% humidity or less keeping it comfortable.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've had both single and double and we wouldn't be without two. It's very rare we use both but having been without two in Southern AZ in the summer without shade....... When it's hot, we turn on the bdrm AC and put a fan below it plus we use the two ceiling fans in our living area. Keeps it comfortable.

Sherry

-- Edited by WestWardHo on Sunday 27th of October 2013 09:36:41 AM

lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bear in mind too that if you do go with 2 AC units you'll need a campground that will provide 50AMP service, 2 AC's can't be run on a 30AMP service

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

How difficult is it to install a second one if we decide we need it? We are looking at a Mobile Suites with dual pane windows and one A/C.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most coaches come pre wired for roof top A/C units ....if so its a matter of removing the rooftop vent assembly and putting it in place.

if it is not pre wired its no fun.

Phil · RV-Dreams Community Member

It depends on the size of your RV. If your planning on using it during the summer in areas like Texas, you better have at least two A/C's. The larger the RV, the more A/C's you need. Some large motorhomes have as many as four roof mounted A/C's. I don't think you can have too much cooling when it's 100 plus degrees or 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity. However, if you have something like one of those little Casitas, one A/C will do the job quite nicely.

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are considering a pre-owned Mobile Suites...37' long. It has only one A/C in it. How can I find out if it is pre-wired for a second?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

normally there will be a junction box on the ceiling right by the vent or a sticker on the vent warning of 110/v power

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

You mean a vent in the bedroom?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Deppending on the floor plan.......the A/C vents are normally at the front and rear of the coach

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just as a comment with regards to the Mobile Suites, but depending on its age, most of the air conditioners have ducted air as outputs over various places in the coach. At least, they are on the ones that I've seen. Adding a second air conditioner may be a circumstance where there wouldn't be any ducts available for the second air conditioner. In that case, the A/C would likely just cool directly out of the A/C.

Terry

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Necessary,, maybe not depending on where you spend your time and the size of your rig like others have said. We would not be without 2 if for no other reason than IF one gives out we would still have one o fall back on. And you just KNOW that if one did go bad it would be while camping in the hottest weather.

mylittledogs · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have two that are ducted together. During the day we run the one in the bedroom. So it want be so noisy in the main or front of the rv. And at night we run the one in the front of the rv.that way you can here the tv, with out turning it up so loud.

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Just as a comment with regards to the Mobile Suites, but depending on its age, most of the air conditioners have ducted air as outputs over various places in the coach. At least, they are on the ones that I've seen. Adding a second air conditioner may be a circumstance where there wouldn't be any ducts available for the second air conditioner. In that case, the A/C would likely just cool directly out of the A/C.
Terry

Thanks! Something to consider!

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is there a phone number to contact DRV? I could not find one on their website.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

two 4 the road wrote:
Is there a phone number to contact DRV? I could not find one on their website.

If you look under "Tours" at their website (or follow the link below), they list both their address and their office phone number. I'm presuming that their office number is possibly a switchboard, but I wouldn't swear by it, as I've never been to the factory nor called them at the number. I usually get all the answers I need from a dealer or from the SOITC website forum. The friendliest dealer that I know is Alicia and Slade at Rolling Retreats. They have been extremely helpful to Suite owners and prospective owners with all kinds of questions. You can see I also have a link to their website where you can learn all about them. Alicia and Slade have been great about helping folks that weren't even buying a trailer from them.

And, since you are considering used DRV's, look at the Rolling Retreats "Inventory" page for both new and used units. The used ones are down at the bottom of the page.

DRV Tours Page

Rolling Retreats

Terry

two 4 the road · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you, Terry!