13.5K vs. 15K AC unit

[madkaw71]

I am getting ready to order an 831KRSS was wondering if there are any disadvantages getting the larger AC unit. I will be doing most of my camping in South Florida so it seems like a no brainer, but I would appreciate any input.

[aintgotnun]

Welcome to FRF!

Hmmmmmmmmm........... South Florida?? Bigger A/C sounds better to me.

[NDJollyMon]

welcome....go large!

[Bama Rambler]

My GS-280 has the 15K ducted and here in the south during the hottest part of the summer we're glad it does. I wouldn't even consider the smaller unit on the 831krss.

[rockwood06]

Do you self a favor, go big. I just had a 13.5 Dometic and it is useless. I had a Carrier 15k installed, there is more air flow and not as load. Air flow is based on CFM's. I have an 8314 ss TT.

[OregonCamper]

I agree,

GO BIG! I too had the 13.5 on my last trailer. Did not cool down enough. If you are camping in Florida (my wife's home state) you will want the 15K AC.

[madkaw71]

Thanks for all the input...I'm ordering the TT in the morning with the 15K.

[toshiba]

yes go with the bigger A/C... not much difference in cost.

[Duffman79]

I just purchased a 831 Flagstaff which comes with a 13.5 btu ac unit. I thought I would need a bigger unit since this was a 31 footer and I too live in south Florida. I went to the keys on July 4th weekend and can't expect it to get any hotter in the country unless I travel to death valley and I must say, I had the ac unit set on 70 and woke up freezing. I thought about getting the larger unit but after that weekend, there will be no need for that. I think its always a good idea to have a larger unit so that a smaller one won't work as hard, but since the one that came with the camper was a 13.5, no reason to go higher. Save your money for fuel because all I was getting was 7 to 8 mpg with my Dodge ramm hemi 5.7

[rockwood06]

I am glade to hear you are satisfied with your 13.5. When the sun go's down and everything starts to cool off the heat load is reduced on an RV, then the A/C can keep up with demand. For every person in your camper by day that is moving around they are producing approx 400 BTU's each along with a TV that is on a microwave or any other heat producing equipment that my be on adds to the load, then factor in the sun and heat load from the out side. The hottest time of the day is approx 5:00 pm in the Summer time, so the A/C system has some work to do. At night everyone is a sleep and body temps drop, no heat producing equipment is on and the TV is off and the heat load is reduced on the out side of the camper because the sun is gone. Hot air moves to cold, so when you remove heat from in side a box ( camper) all that heat from the out side is trying to get in side. So I suggest in very hot climates, add curtains to the windows, install some kind of insulation in the sky lights and set the fan control for the A/C to ON so that air keeps moving and reduces hot spots in the camper and most important keep the Filter clean.

[SSport]

I have a 40 foot cherokee and have the 13.5k unit ducted. It was well over 90 degrees this passed Saturday and my fiance had it FREEZING in there....lol

[rockwood06]

Originally Posted by SSport

I have a 40 foot cherokee and have the 13.5k unit ducted. It was well over 90 degrees this passed Saturday and my fiance had it FREEZING in there....lol

Just woundering, how many slide outs do you have on your 40' footer? and here I thought 34' was big

[SSport]

Originally Posted by rockwood06

Just woundering, how many slide outs do you have on your 40' footer? and here I thought 34' was big

I have two. There was an option for a 3rd but didn't want a front slide out cutting into my deck space....lol

[Radio]

And while you're at it: (regardless which AC you get)

Get the tinted windows.
When you get the unit home go around and plug all the drafty places with "great stuff" or some other type of sealant.
Get some of those sponge pillows that you stuff up into the overhead vents.

Enjoy!

[dezolen]

And don't run fantastic fan with air on. Last weekend I could not understand where all the cold air was going. After turning off bath fan it cooled in no time. Must have sucked cold air out as fast as it went in.

[rockwood06]

Originally Posted by radio

and while you're at it: (regardless which ac you get)

get the tinted windows.
When you get the unit home go around and plug all the drafty places with "great stuff" or some other type of sealant.
Get some of those sponge pillows that you stuff up into the overhead vents.

Enjoy!

yes, that is another good suggestion. There is a list of things to help reduce the heat load.

[KAISOR]

Originally Posted by Duffman79

I just purchased a 831 Flagstaff which comes with a 13.5 btu ac unit. I thought I would need a bigger unit since this was a 31 footer and I too live in south Florida. I went to the keys on July 4th weekend and can't expect it to get any hotter in the country unless I travel to death valley and I must say, I had the ac unit set on 70 and woke up freezing. I thought about getting the larger unit but after that weekend, there will be no need for that. I think its always a good idea to have a larger unit so that a smaller one won't work as hard, but since the one that came with the camper was a 13.5, no reason to go higher. Save your money for fuel because all I was getting was 7 to 8 mpg with my Dodge ramm hemi 5.7

Get 14 Mpg pulling my 33 ft fifth wheeler. 2018 Cummins 6.7

[KAISOR]

Originally Posted by KAISOR

Attachment 207745Get 14 Mpg pulling my 33 ft fifth wheeler. 2018 Cummins 6.7