Newbie RVer - Just got 2020 FR R-Pod 180

[LDG]

Hi everyone,

First RV, 2020 FR R-Pod Midwest RP-180! I purchased on 9/19/20 and have taken two trips so far towing with my 2020 Subaru Ascent and love it. Leaving again in 2 days. I purchased it so I can continue traveling to work without staying in hotels during pandemic. I'm a self employed dog trainer and teach scent detection seminars all over country.

Had strange issue on this last trip which did not occur on first trip - when I turned on the furnace, the air conditioner also came on and ran simultaneously. I could not get the furnace to run by itself. Did some reading on forums and found that others also had same issue and only way they found to remedy was to set both air conditioner and furnace to AUTO. I did that and it seemed to be a work around fix for the issue.

Anyone had similar problem or have anything to add to this?

Thanks!
Leah

 

[wmtire]

Welcome aboard. If this is your first RV, this thread may help:


https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f88/new-to-rvs-helpful-hints-157524.html

 

[CurtPutnam]

Welcome from Southern California!
Can't help with the furnace issue, but glad you got it fixed. Heat has been an issue here - triple digits until a couple days ago.

 

[greggcowan]

Make sure your digital thermostat is set to "Auto"..... not "high or Low". That is your issue..... ask me how I know, LOL. Welcome to the family! Lots of great people and help here.

 

[Fun finders]

Welcome from Winnipeg Manitoba

 

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new R-Pod. Enjoy and Later RJD

 

[eye95]

If I understand the system correctly, putting the fan on “auto” does not affect the compressor. It should still cycle on and off as needed to cool the RV. When the fan is on “hi” or “lo”, it will run continuously at a high or low speed, whether or not the compressor is running.

I suspect that your compressor was not running, just the fan—which you don’t want when you are trying to heat the camper.

Your system is probably running as designed. Your work-around fix of setting the fan on “auto” is the permanent fix.

 

[Chuck_S]

I suspect the AC is a separate "dumb" roof mounted unit with it's own thermostat and fan and a cabinet mounted furnace, also with it's own thermostat. This is the common HVAC system in small campers. (I laugh when someone calls these a "RV." )

Perfectly normal for it to come on when the separate furnace comes on and the heat gets high. If you want heat turn the AC off. If you want cooling turn the furnace off. They're two separate systems both trying hard to do their jobs.

-- Chuck

 

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin. Congrats and enjoy your 2020 R-Pod Midwest RP-180.

 

[Scrapper]

I suspect the AC is a separate "dumb" roof mounted unit with it's own thermostat and fan and a cabinet mounted furnace, also with it's own thermostat. This is the common HVAC system in small campers. (I laugh when someone calls these a "RV." )

Perfectly normal for it to come on when the separate furnace comes on and the heat gets high. If you want heat turn the AC off. If you want cooling turn the furnace off. They're two separate systems both trying hard to do their jobs.

-- Chuck

You need to study up on how the A/C and furnace use the same thermostat for control. It works as already mentioned in this thread.

 

[Chuck_S]

I'm well aware how a HVAC system with single thermostat works (my house has 2, my Roo hybrid 1).

They aren't typical in the smallest campers where the AC is controlled by knobs on the ceiling unit and the furnace by a wall thermostat. If that system is on that trailer it's understandable why both try to work at the same.

-- Chuck