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Old 07-09-2012, 07:32 AM   #1
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Two AC's on Fifth Wheel

Looking for any advice from those who run two units on their 5'vers.

We primarily camp in the south ( weekend warrior & a couple of 7 day trips) and have camped comfortably with careful planning and site selection in our past TT with one AC.
We're moving into a 32' fifth wheel soon and wondering if we should purchase a two AC unit ( additional expense not an issue).
Any helpful opinions would be great!



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Old 07-09-2012, 07:40 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [LEFT
Ragin[/LEFT] Cajun;220003]Looking for any advice from those who run two units on their 5'
vers
.

We primarily camp in the south ( weekend warrior & a couple of 7 day trips) and have camped comfortably with careful planning and site selection in our past TT with one AC.
We're moving into a 32' fifth wheel soon and wondering if we should purchase a two AC unit ( additional expense not an issue).
Any helpful opinions would be great!
After the heat we have seen this summer already, I would not be without 2 A/C's. I would have had to cancel two trips already if we had not had the second A/C on our 35' fifth wheel. Earlier in the year when it was in the lower 80's I thought we would not need to use the bedroom unit but with all the windows my fiver has and the inability to always park in a shaded area I am sure glad we have it. Last week with partial shade on the West side (afternoon sun) at an outside temp of 103 degrees, both A/C's on high all day long with reflective material on some of the windows, the two A/C's kept it at 81 degrees inside.
Get the second A/C.
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Old 07-09-2012, 07:47 AM   #3
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yes.

i have a 33' fith wheel. went to yellowstone first year that i had it and the single a/c ran constantly while in Cody. it was cool but it didn't quiet keep up.

installed a/c #2 right after Rita (2004). Made a trip thru the Decota's in 2005 where it was 114 deg during the day. the second unit worked well for us.
More recently, we camped on the lake near tyler, tx...no shade. temp outside ran abt 100. one unit would not have cooled enough but two worked well.

the heat in the dacotas is not quiet the same as here; days are very hot but nights cool considerably more.

you also have a/c if one develops a problem...that seems to happen on a Holiday weekend.

when i camp on 30 amps, i don't run both. we usually run the living room a/c during the day and the bd room one at night (tends to block outside noise). i probably could run both but i would have to shut off the hw heater and not use the microwave. if both tried to start at the same time, it probably would trip the breaker.

there wasn't much difference between the price of a reg a/c and a heat pump so i installed a heat pump.
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Old 07-09-2012, 08:50 AM   #4
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Installed my 2nd a/c unit last week on our 365saq, and over the past weekend with outside temps up to 104 and full sun, our unit never got above 75. Definitely go for it!
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Old 07-09-2012, 09:03 AM   #5
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I wouldn't be without two A/C's in any fifth wheel with more than one slideout or over 30 feet long.

My previous trailer was a Wildcat that was 30 feet long with two slideouts and the one 15k A/C couldn't keep up in the summer.
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Old 07-09-2012, 07:15 PM   #6
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I agree with having 2 A/C's. Recently traded our 6 year old 32' Ultra Light in and had one A/C and never could keep up with the hot Texas summers. New TH has 2 A/C's but imagine it will be the same given it's 43', especially when plugged into 30amp service. My solution to that is to purchase a portable A/C unit from home depot to put in the garage to cool it down while running on generator power then go to shore power at night. Will also keep the 2 labs in the back cool/warm when we are away.
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Old 07-09-2012, 08:38 PM   #7
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Thanks everyone for the replies... I had a feeling the answer to my question was going to be yes!
Stay cool



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Old 07-09-2012, 08:59 PM   #8
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Just to add my 2 pennies, we had our bedroom A/C go out on a 100 degree July day last summer in a full sun campground. I can assure you it would have been a lot more comfortable with both units, but with two units, if one goes out you don't just fry. It is good if for nothing else than to have that backup.
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Old 07-09-2012, 09:19 PM   #9
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We have just put a 3rd on our camper!!!
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Old 07-17-2012, 11:47 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by JBJ2003 View Post
I agree with having 2 A/C's. Recently traded our 6 year old 32' Ultra Light in and had one A/C and never could keep up with the hot Texas summers. New TH has 2 A/C's but imagine it will be the same given it's 43', especially when plugged into 30amp service. My solution to that is to purchase a portable A/C unit from home depot to put in the garage to cool it down while running on generator power then go to shore power at night. Will also keep the 2 labs in the back cool/warm when we are away.
We recently had a Dometric PII 13,500 BTU A/C installed in our 2012 Silverback 29 rk bedroom. It works great and came in handy this week in Texas. Only complain from the DW is the loudness of it. But it is unducted and when you move that much CFM though the vents you are going to get some noise.
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Old 07-17-2012, 12:06 PM   #11
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Without a doubt go with the second A/C
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Old 07-17-2012, 12:14 PM   #12
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Only complain from the DW is the loudness of it. But it is unducted and when you move that much CFM though the vents you are going to get some noise.
Does if have a high and low speed fan setting? May be a little quieter if operated on low speed.

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Old 07-17-2012, 12:36 PM   #13
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I'm kind of fond of the ambient noise of our 2nd A/C. Helps drone out gigglings of 4 teenage girls!
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Old 07-17-2012, 12:36 PM   #14
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I dont have a 5er, but i think i have come to the realization that if you camp in high heat/sun/and or humidity, and your trailer is more than 26ft you almost have to have a second a/c if comfort is anywhere on your priority list.

My lacrosse has great r value (for a trailer) and i honestly could not see it being anywhere near comfortable with one 13.5k unit here in west texas....With the 2 15k units it has worked great thus far, but i have only tested it up to 103 degrees...LOL

If your getting a new unit, and cost is not an issue, then you have absolutely nothing to lose from having the dual a/c setup....worst case scenario you dont need the second unit much, but i guarentee you, that you will be SO glad on the days when you do!

Mine are both ducted, and the one in the bedroom is still fairly loud when it kicks on...but doesnt bother me...

Good luck!
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Old 07-17-2012, 09:11 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by B47 View Post
We recently had a Dometric PII 13,500 BTU A/C installed in our 2012 Silverback 29 rk bedroom. It works great and came in handy this week in Texas. Only complain from the DW is the loudness of it. But it is unducted and when you move that much CFM though the vents you are going to get some noise.
You might turn off the bedroom A/C at night and turn the thermostat down on the A/C in the main living area. With the air temperature cooling off at night one A/C should be able to keep you cool. Just a thought.
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Old 07-22-2012, 04:53 PM   #16
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Heck yes 2 A/C's

We just returned from four days at Rend Lake in Ill. The first two days we were there the temperature soared into the hundreds. Our fifth wheel was in full sun from morning until late afternoon (4:30 PM). Had we not had two A/C’s there is no way we could have survived the heat and humidity.

Here’s a photo of the inside and outside temperature. The remote temperature sensor was in the shade. There is no way one A/C will provide a 30 degree difference in temperature.


Here's a photo of our fifth wheel at our Rend Lake campsite.
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Old 07-22-2012, 04:59 PM   #17
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WOW...thanks for the pics on that one Oakman, definitely won't skip on the two AC outfit



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Old 07-22-2012, 05:21 PM   #18
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We have been considering a 2nd A/C for our FW. Wondering what the cost is. We have a 37 ft. with 3 slides and during this hot weather, the one A/C never shut off.
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Old 07-22-2012, 05:33 PM   #19
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We have been considering a 2nd A/C for our FW. Wondering what the cost is. We have a 37 ft. with 3 slides and during this hot weather, the one A/C never shut off.

We had a new Penquin PII 13,500 BTU ceiling unit installed by our dealer and everything including taxes and labor was $1,025. Our FW ,a Silverback 29rk, was prewired from the factory.
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Old 07-22-2012, 05:37 PM   #20
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We just returned from four days at Rend Lake in Ill. The first two days we were there the temperature soared into the hundreds. Our fifth wheel was in full sun from morning until late afternoon (4:30 PM). Had we not had two A/C’s there is no way we could have survived the heat and humidity.

Here’s a photo of the inside and outside temperature. The remote temperature sensor was in the shade. There is no way one A/C will provide a 30 degree difference in temperature.


Here's a photo of our fifth wheel at our Rend Lake campsite.
Slightly OT, but we are planning on a trip from Texas to LA starting this week and we know it is going to be hot. I know you were out west recently and I followed your reports. I have the same unit as you and am wondering what brand of tire you have and did you have any tire problems on the way?

Thanks
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