Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8329SS 1 A/C or 2

[Scott Thompson]

I currently have a 2011 Open range JT337RLS. We purchased it from the original owner who only bought a single 13500BTU ducted A/C. When we first got it, we noticed that the A/C blew hard in the return in the bathroom but no other returns were as strong. The bedroom was prewired for a second A/C unit so I installed another 18000BTU A/C in the bedroom. I fixed the low volumn issue with the other returns by accessing the ducting which was behind the A/C unit in the living room. Once I accessed the ducting I placed duct tape over the route that went to the bed and bath room. This left the ducts in the living room and kitchen blowing strong. We started our camping carreer a long time ago with a Pop-up and then a small Coachman Catalina, and then to a 28' Fleetwood Prowler, and to a 2011 36' Open Range. We are to the point where we could by new now without paying much down. The 8329SS has the same layout and my wife and I are to the point where we want to buy new. Before we decide to pull the trigger we wanted to clear up the A/C issue. We would love to hear from those who have a single A/C and those who have 2.

[TURBS]

Where are you located? Traveling to?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "9 nights"

[robsshots]

Great choice! We have a Rockwood Sig Ultralight fifth wheel and love it. Ours is 32' long with the 15,000 AC upgrade. We ALMOST paid to put a second AC in the bedroom. Glad we didn't! This baby cools the unit down with no sweat. The ducted system is excellent. If we come home and it is hot inside, we simply adjust for a cold dump in the living room. Cools quickly. For sleeping (or napping!) we close the cold dump and it pumps AC into the bedroom full bore. You can feel the flow of cold breeze on your body as you lie there. EXCELLENT system. Anyway, your unit is 10" longer than ours, but we have very high ceilings in our living area. Last I checked, the second AC is less than $500. If you are concerned, pull the trigger. An important consideration is where you plan to spend most of your time RVing. We are full timers, and chase temps that are not too hot, not too cold. We used our AC quite a bit in Apache Junction AZ when spring temps rose into the 90s. We've had a few days here in Coarsegold CA in the 90s and again, no problem cooling off.
BTW, if you decide to buy, and would like a lead on a good dealer with excellent aggressive pricing, let me know. I used to sell RVs (one of the reasons we bought Rockwood) so happy to make a solid intro for you if you like.

[Scott Thompson]

Northwest Georgia. We travel to Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. Basically the southeast; hwoever, we may spread our wings and go further.

[youroo]

Our V-Lite is 34' A/C is in the Front (Kitchen) duckted full length to B/R rear! Quite as a Mouse eating Cornbread! We don't want a A/C unit in the B/R (Noise/Cold)! We have been in Places where it was (100+F) but turned on the A/C and were VERY comfortable in a Short period of time,in FULL Sun also as NO TREEs! Now if you have a unit with a (Atrium Slide/Lots of Full length Windows) you might want the (2nd Air)! Youroo!!

[robsshots]

With a unit that nice you should spread your wings a bit and go further! We picked up our Rockwood fifth wheel last August and have been to West Virginia, Great Smoky Mountains NP, Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Sedona, Tucson/Phoenix area, Bishop CA (foot of the Eastern Sierra Mountains), Big Sur and now in Yosemite. Leaving Sunday for a month in Oregon before another month in Washington. Spending Labor Day week in Glacier, the following week in Yellowstone before wandering our way back to Florida for the winter season.

[BiigDaddy]

Spring for the second AC. We love it COLD when we sleep (especially if in not paying the electric bill) and the main AC is good, but I'll tell ya, on a hot day with a dark colored camper that second one is the ticket. Not only that, but when you're trying to watch a movie it's nice to run the front AC and not listen it running right over your head. For the money it's a great box to check when ordering.

[Witch Doctor]

For the money always go for the second A/C, a lot cheaper now then after market.

[GL1800Rider]

A few more advantages of the 2nd A/C. Bedroom unit has a digital thermostat, you get 50 amp service which I think gives you two legs, and you can run the bedroom AC while you are watching TV in the living area and run the living area one at night so it's much quieter. It also cools down much quicker when you get to the campground.

Another thing I noted on ours is the front cap (which is dark brown) seems to be poorly insulated and you get a lot of heat there when it is facing the sun.

[fkwalter]

We live in South Carolina and do some summertime camping. Our unit came with two air-conditioners. If I were ordering the same unit I would have two air-conditioners. If you are spending the amount money I think you are, then I would go for it! You will not be sorry!! Fk Walter

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Scott Thompson

Northwest Georgia. We travel to Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. Basically the southeast; hwoever, we may spread our wings and go further.

You'll want 2 A/C (we live in AL and had a 30' TT with one A/C and it never seemed to be enough - especially down in FL.

And while you are spreading your wings, why not mosey over to the Forest River Owner's Group (FROG) BamaGanza '15 In October!? Read all about it here:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post775530

[BusyRetirees]

We upgraded to the 15000 BTU and it cools the fiver with no problems. We shut down the vent in the bathroom (gets too cold) and leave all others open. I also like the fact that it is 30 amp. I may be wrong but would you not need 50 amp for two air conditioners? My previous RV, which was a 38' Intruder, had two ACs and was 50 amp. Could not run both ACs when I was camped in a 30 amp park and used a stepdown.

[Rsharrer]

We have a 2014 Rockwood 8289WS fifth wheel. It is an Ultra Lite and if memory serves, the walls are only rated at R-7. We opted for the single 15000 AC and it doesn't always keep up. Especially when it gets into the high 90's and the low 100's. The wall mounted cupboards also get pretty warm. The second AC would have made the unit too tall for our RV storage structure. However, that second unit would have made it easier to keep the rig comfortable in the heat. I'd recommend you get the second AC.

[uhduh camping]

We have the 8329ss. After boondocking recently, we realized how quickly the bedroom heated up without bedroom A\C running. The main A\C does not push enough air to cool it down. If you absolutely had to you could close off all other vents for sleeping if you only get one A\C. It's kinda a pain to have 50 amp service but really glad we did it.(expensive extension cable, 30 amp dogbone, weight of power cables can be like wrestling snakes when it gets cold)

[Bears1985]

My wife and I have a 8289ws Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite fifth wheel. We also upgraded from the 15,000 BTU to I believe a 25,000 BTU. We have visited Florida in the winter and the AC has worked well. The best to you and your family. Happy RVing.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Bears1985

My wife and I have a 8289ws Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite fifth wheel. We also upgraded from the 15,000 BTU to I believe a 25,000 BTU. We have visited Florida in the winter and the AC has worked well. The best to you and your family. Happy RVing.

Factory units should have been (13500 or 15000) BTU. Youroo!!

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Bears1985

My wife and I have a 8289ws Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite fifth wheel. We also upgraded from the 15,000 BTU to I believe a 25,000 BTU. We have visited Florida in the winter and the AC has worked well. The best to you and your family. Happy RVing.

You might have gotten a 18,000 btu, I think that's the biggest made now. Also I go to florida during the winter when there is no humidity. Now go in August and you would wish you had 3.....the normal upgrade was from 13,500 to 15,000 btu back in 2012.

[whj469]

I live in SE Texas and with a 38 foot fiver we have 2 ACs, both are ducked with digital controls, 15000 but in living area and 13500 in bedroom. The bedroom unit is not noisy. The last fiver that we had a stand alone AC in bedroom and it was noisy. I would not have a 38 foot fiver without 2 ACs. Maybe if I RV ed up north only you could get by with only one?

[Aggie Dad]

Scott, in Texas you sometimes need a second A/C. We have 2015 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W with two a/c, good choice down in south Texas.

[Bears1985]

I'm sorry I misspoke on my AC unit in my Rockwood fifth wheel. We upgraded from a !3,500 BTU to a 15,000 BTU. I checked my paperwork. I knew we went larger than the standard unit.