Rockwood 8327SS-15,000 A/C in Arizona?

[KPB2239]

Hello,
We are looking at the Rockwood 8327SS and the trailer is a brand new 2018 with 30amp service and a 15,000 A/C unit. Will that A/C unit be good enough to handle the AZ heat ?
If anyone has experience or thoughts - let us know - we would love to hear from you. Thanks!

[rockfordroo]

I'd be leery.

If you're buying off the lot, you're stuck, unless you install a second AC, but power it separately from the 30 amp line i.e., an extension cord to the pedestal's 20 amp outlet (30 amp service won't support 2 AC units.)

If you're ordering, the brochure indicates you can order a second AC unit for the bedroom, which I would ASSUME means it would come with 50 amp service, even though they don't discuss that in the brochure.

[jimla]

8327 is close to the size of our 8332BS. We live and camp in Louisiana and one A/C wouldn't get it here, probably the same in your area.

[Herk7769]

If prewired for a second, it is worth the money to add it.

If not, try reducing the heat load by covering the windows with reflective material (like Reflectix) or even heavy duty aluminum foil with the shiny side out.


I also sealed up the air handler and insulated the suction line up on the roof.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...-ac-42280.html

I just did this mod to both ACs on our 2019 Flagstaff.

[5picker]

While the 15k A/C unit does an admirable job of cooling, in the AZ heat I'd be skeptical of it doing what you want. Besides it would also likely run wide open 24/7.

If you have no other choice, the use of fans near the floor circulating the cooler air (cold air falls) helps somewhat.

[NMWildcat]

We are in the Tucson and Scottsdale areas frequently during the summer (Grandkids and Mayo Clinic trips). One 15k will struggle, but is doable if you use fans, directional vents, and block the sun from the windows. And yes, the A/C will run pretty much all day and night.

Two A/C units work better, but when it is 105+ there is no RV A/C system that will keep up completely. There will still be a few hours each day that you find somewhere else to go or just sit quietly under a vent

[Walholler]

I live in Tucson while stationed with the Air Force. Most of the homes there do not have Air Condition units like the ones in homes in the eastern part of USA or the ones installed on RV's. The AC units in RV's remove the moisture from within a given space and replace it with chilled air. This doesn't work too well in a climate that has very little moisture in the air to begin with. I have seen the humidity as low as 4% in the southwest desert. What you really need with humidity that low is what is called a swamp cooler which adds humidity to the dry air, you will be amazed as to how great one of those work.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Walholler

I live in Tucson while stationed with the Air Force. Most of the homes there do not have Air Condition units like the ones in homes in the eastern part of USA or the ones installed on RV's. The AC units in RV's remove the moisture from within a given space and replace it with chilled air. This doesn't work too well in a climate that has very little moisture in the air to begin with. I have seen the humidity as low as 4% in the southwest desert. What you really need with humidity that low is what is called a swamp cooler which adds humidity to the dry air, you will be amazed as to how great one of those work.

Average humidity in Tucson/Phoenix/Yuma is 37-38%. Most homes built in the last 15 years have refridgerated air. Swamp coolers work very well but only in a small range of humidity and temperature, which is why they are no longer widely used in the Southwest. Plus, they use lots of the most valuable resource; water.

And if your RV has had a swamp cooler added,it won't be allowed in most AZ RV resorts. Also not very aerodynamic

[Rookiewood]

The 8327SS is similar to our 8311WS.
One AC is NOT enough ! We have a second unit (13.5) plus the 15K and they are good for GA and FL summer heat ( don't know about Arizona).
You can add a second one with its own circuit breaker and extension cord to plug it to the pedestal. We did this on a Toy Hauler and I like it better than having the 2 units on the same 50 amps circuit (most state parks in GA only have 30 amps).
Love our 8311WS !!!

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Rookiewood

The 8327SS is similar to our 8311WS.
One AC is NOT enough ! We have a second unit (13.5) plus the 15K and they are good for GA and FL summer heat ( don't know about Arizona).
You can add a second one with its own circuit breaker and extension cord to plug it to the pedestal. We did this on a Toy Hauler and I like it better than having the 2 units on the same 50 amps circuit (most state parks in GA only have 30 amps).
Love our 8311WS !!!

First, I doubt BOTH A/C units are on the SAME 50 amp circuit.
One of the big premises of the 50a shore power connection was to be able to run two air conditioners. One is wired to one leg of the 50a circuit and the other is wired to the 2nd leg of the the 50a circuit, effectively giving you 100a COMBINED.

Now if you are talking off the same leg when hooked to a 30a circuit with a 30a to 50a adapter then yes, both A/C's would 'technically' be on the same leg of the 30a circuit as most all 30a to 50a adapters combine the single 30a leg to both 50a legs.

Depending on which side of your current distribution/breaker box your 2nd A/C is on, an adapter like this one 'could' serve the same purpose that your old toy hauler had with the separate cord to the 15a at the pedestal. It 'might' work for you at those GA 30a State Parks as often times the only thing on the 2nd leg in many 50a rigs (not all) is the A/C and a washer/dryer. (if equipped).

All this also assumes the 15a plug, in the referenced adapter, is wired to the the leg with your 2nd A/C.

Camco 30a + 15a to 50a adapter.

[Rookiewood]

Originally Posted by 5picker

First, I doubt BOTH A/C units are on the SAME 50 amp circuit.
One of the big premises of the 50a shore power connection was to be able to run two air conditioners. One is wired to one leg of the 50a circuit and the other is wired to the 2nd leg of the the 50a circuit, effectively giving you 100a COMBINED.

Now if you are talking off the same leg when hooked to a 30a circuit with a 30a to 50a adapter then yes, both A/C's would 'technically' be on the same leg of the 30a circuit as most all 30a to 50a adapters combine the single 30a leg to both 50a legs.

Depending on which side of your current distribution/breaker box your 2nd A/C is on, an adapter like this one 'could' serve the same purpose that your old toy hauler had with the separate cord to the 15a at the pedestal. It 'might' work for you at those GA 30a State Parks as often times the only thing on the 2nd leg in many 50a rigs (not all) is the A/C and a washer/dryer. (if equipped).

All this also assumes the 15a plug, in the referenced adapter, is wired to the the leg with your 2nd A/C.

Camco 30a + 15a to 50a adapter.

The 50 amp pedestal breaker, where you plug your 50 amps cord. Not the 2 separate legs on the camper circuit breaker box.
I personally like having the 30 amps cord and a separate 20 amps extension that plugs to the 20 amps 110 receptacle at the pedestal because of the 50 amps limitation in the state parks in GA. (15K to the 30 and the 13.5 to the 20).
The adapter on your picture doesn't work with GFI circuits which is the case in almost all the campgrounds.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Rookiewood

The 50 amp pedestal breaker, where you plug your 50 amps cord. Not the 2 separate legs on the camper circuit breaker box.
I personally like having the 30 amps cord and a separate 20 amps extension that plugs to the 20 amps 110 receptacle at the pedestal because of the 50 amps limitation in the state parks in GA. (15K to the 30 and the 13.5 to the 20).
The adapter on your picture doesn't work with GFI circuits which is the case in almost all the campgrounds.

You are correct that the adapter doesn't work with GFCI outlets in the pedestal IF there are ALSO GFCI outlets in the circuit it is powering.

Many times, within the power distribution/breaker box of 50a rigs, the 2nd leg of the 50a service DOES NOT have GFCI outlets being fed from it. If yours happens to be wired this way, the adapter 'could' work.

I was simply trying to give you the possibility of the option you had with the separate extension. You won't know until you look to see how your rig is wired.