FR3 AC

[Halz]

Is anyone finding that their FR3 AC doesn't do a great job in 90+ degree temperatures?

Our 2016 FR3 30 is awesome except we do a lot of summer lake camping where it's pretty hot and the AC doesn't even come close to keeping it cool inside. Our previous 26' travel trailer with a large slide out didn't have this problem. We've tinted all the windows, put vent pillows in all the vents, close the sliding door off on the bath and bedroom and still doesn't cool the kitchen area. Really frustrating! The dealer says it's blowing cold air but it just doesn't cool it down.

[John Vanek]

Somewhere on this forum I read that AC units in trailers only give about 15 degrees of cooling. If the ambient temp is 95 you might not get much below 80 inside. I don't know if this info is solid, but in 90+ temps that is about all I'm getting in my Wildcat 33R fiver.

[Cowracer]

Not exactly. The 15 degrees is called "drop across the coil". If its 95 in the camper, you can only expect to see 80 degree air coming out of the A/C. However, if you push enough 80 degree air out, you will lower the ambient in the trailer to 80, and you can expect to see 65 degree air coming out of the A/C.

The problems start when you cant push enough 80 degree air out to drop the ambient in the trailer. That is either a capacity issue (having a 13.5kBTU when you need a 15K) or an airflow issue. Airflow issues can be addressed. There are some good tips here on modifications to help. Use the search function. A capacity issue will be harder to cure.

Also bear in mind that just about any A/C will struggle to make a huge change in temps. The unit in my house is oversized, and will keep it 65 in the house (if I wanted to) through the hottest days. But if we leave it off and it gets to 80 or so in the house, it takes a very long time to pump out enough air to change the ambient and start dropping the temps. I'm talking hours. If you can start cool, its easier to keep cool.

Tim

[donanddona]

We use small fans to help circulate the ceiling to floor air. It does help a little.

[Tinmania]

Originally Posted by Halz

We've tinted all the windows, put vent pillows in all the vents, close the sliding door off on the bath and bedroom and still doesn't cool the kitchen area.

When you close the sliding door are you opening the quick cool vent in the kitchen so no air flows to the ducted registers (assuming you have that kind of vent)?

I do this when it is already warm in my 5th wheel but find as it cools down I can open the sliding door and close the quick cool vent.

Regardless, if I turn it on when it is already hot inside, and midday sun outside, it struggles to cool much at all. But if on in the morning it will keep it comfortable up to about 110 here in AZ--with the roof vents pillowed, etc.




Mike

[fpo1123]

As strange as it sounds I read oh this site that a lot of air gets lost in the front and rear of the coach because the vent tunnel runs all the way to the front and rear of the coach. Well I took there advice and put foam in the end vents so the air comes out with greater flow in the very front vents and the very rear vents. Well I was amazed at how much cooler it got and how fast. The only vent that didn't increase a lot is the closest to the AC unit. I pulled the cover off the air conditioner and felt a 90 degree turn that slowed the flow there.

[spicyrv]

For those that aren't handy, or just don't want to spend time on their coach, they can likely get authorization from FR to have their local dealer do the modification that the Master Sergeant did. I mentioned the A/C issue to a FR employee and was given the OK to have my dealer fill the ends of the A/C run. It did make a difference, although I'd prefer a 15k btu unit over my 13.5k. I believe the FR employee said this problem was corrected sometime during the 2015 model year. They also put the A/C on its own circuit to keep it from tripping.

[Technorick]

I'd like to do this mod and read about it before but am not exactly certain I understand how this is done. Are you referring to removal of the round vent covers front and rear! Wouldn't there be flexible 4 inch hose leading to those directly to the round vent? Is there simply a foam cavity that the air flows through?

Or are you saying the the air box inside the AC unit must be foamed up to move the cool air into those hose vents? Has anybody got pics of this mod?




2014 FR330 DS

[MaltnHops]

The ceiling is just an open cavity, lined with foam. To seal the front and rear caps, you need to pull off the closest to front and rear vents and use cans of spray foam the close off the front and rear caps. Then put the vents back on.

FR states that about 20% of the cold air gets lost in these caps, so it should help you.


2015 FR3 30DS

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Technorick]

Thank you for the clarity.

I couldn't believe that there was no flexible tubing leading to the vents! I pulled off the vent cap and removed the louvre screws and using my I phone as a para scope took this pic.


That's facing the windshield!

CRAZY stupid. Such an easy fix. Why wouldn't they have filled those forward and rear facing channels at the factory?

I'll be fixing that tomorrow!

I should really send FR a bill for all the stuff I've fixed that they screwed up!



2014 FR330 DS

[aceinspp]

Ya just should go to work for them show how it's done Later RJD

[blacktom]

Did mine today took all of ten minutes. We will be leaving on vacation Thursday to Door county Wisconsin looking forward to see how much it help.:nansplit

[Technorick]

Did mine today but should have painted the hardened foam black before replacing the lovers. It kinda bugs me that you can see the foam at an angle. I noticed that the factory painted black circles on the foam above the louvers.


2014 FR330 DS

[WVFR3]

Question? How does the vent covers come off? I don't want to break it. Thanks

[iceblaze580]

Originally Posted by WVFR3

Question? How does the vent covers come off? I don't want to break it. Thanks

Use a tiny flat head screwdriver and pry them off gently

[Technorick]

Once you get the caps off the louvers are held by I think 4 screws. Then the flat ring caps just snap back on.


2014 FR330 DS

[WVFR3]

Originally Posted by iceblaze580

Use a tiny flat head screwdriver and pry them off gently

Thanks. We're at the beach an its hot. AC is running pretty much all day. Got the vent cover off. Ran out to Dollar General an got some foam, took just a few minutes. Thanks again.