AC on winnebago vista 27pe or sunstar

Having owned a short class A I can tell you without a doubt that one AC is not enough. I still have bad memories of travelling on summer days and the AC simply would not keep up and ran constantly. Miserable. I didn't own that MH very long. And that was in the North East. I hear people talk about curtain rods to close off the cabin and running dash air and all sorts of compensations. Doesn't that defeat most of the point of a Class A - to use the entire space while travelling? Don't compensate - get the right equipment. One AC is not enough.

I will give you my opinion based on 43 years(1979 to current) experience as a RV technician. I have worked for a dealership that sells and services the Motorhomes. Even as far back as 1984, the dealership determined that ANY RV or motorhome 27 foot or longer required 2 AC units. Even tho in the past 25 years they now have ducted AC units, did not make a difference. I have worked that time if the DFW Texas area. So, we DO get hot temps. If being very comfortable in hot temps, do not settle for 1 AC, you will be disappointed. Add in that most Motorhomes have slides now, that increases the amount on interior area to be cooled. As a Dealership, we option 2 AC units on every RV we order over 27 foot. In the old days, you had to run the Genset to run the 2nd AC OR add a 2nd 30 amp power cord dedicated to the rear AC unit, when 30 amp was the only power available. So, if your unit you are looking at has 50 amp service, good. If not, some OEM's install a Power Share control to run 2 AC's on 30 amp service. Doug

I imagine there was an option for a second AC, many dealers in cooler climates will order them with just a single AC. There are a lot of variables involved making it difficult to state if a single unit will suffice in that particular rig, but we had a single AC in a 32' RV and it could keep up with 90+ degree although it would run pretty much non-stop during the heat of the day. I have seen many rigs over 30' with only a single AC, if you are often RVing in those temps you can add a second unit although RV AC units are a bit difficult to come by at the moment due to pandemic.

Not going to disagree with Doug, but we have a 26P Vista, with a single 15k ducted AC.
We have found that in mid 90's with partial shade the unit keeps the front comfortable, but the bedroom does climb some into the high 70's or low 80's.
This was in Va, NC, and Tenn in the summer, not in Texas heat. And we always had some shade.
We did screen off the windshield to help, and blocked the sun where we could.

Would you buy a house with marginal or inadequate AC?

Sandia Man wrote:
I imagine there was an option for a second AC, many dealers in cooler climates will order them with just a single AC. There are a lot of variables involved making it difficult to state if a single unit will suffice in that particular rig, but we had a single AC in a 32' RV and it could keep up with 90+ degree although it would run pretty much non-stop during the heat of the day. I have seen many rigs over 30' with only a single AC, if you are often RVing in those temps you can add a second unit although RV AC units are a bit difficult to come by at the moment due to pandemic.

I should have mentioned about the northern states dealers. Yes, it isw common for cooler climate dealers to go with 1 AC. BUT, what happens when those customers travel south? If you have cooler summer temps then 1 AC may be enough. But the poster stated 90 degree temps. THAT is what you need to respond to. Doug

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Not going to disagree with Doug, but we have a 26P Vista, with a single 15k ducted AC.
We have found that in mid 90's with partial shade the unit keeps the front comfortable, but the bedroom does climb some into the high 70's or low 80's.
This was in Va, NC, and Tenn in the summer, not in Texas heat. And we always had some shade.
We did screen off the windshield to help, and blocked the sun where we could.

Don't want to disagree:B Well your own post states that your Motorhome does NOT do the job in 90 plus temps. So, I would suggest that you DO agree with me. But, if you are satisfied with the lack of performance and cooling, that is OK, but I doubt most RVers would be satisfied. Doug

Okay, thanks everyone. DOUG...if the rv does not have a vent in the bedroom (area of concern for sleeping), can one be added structurally. Hubby could add one to replace a vent but no vent so he is not sure how much of a job that would be.

I do like it cool to sleep (ny) and we use it in florida keys in winter (so by april it is HOT).
Donna

I've combed rvtrader all over the USA and have not yet seen one with two AC's...hoping for that outcome.
Donna

dcason wrote:
Okay, thanks everyone. DOUG...if the rv does not have a vent in the bedroom (area of concern for sleeping), can one be added structurally. Hubby could add one to replace a vent but no vent so he is not sure how much of a job that would be.

I do like it cool to sleep (ny) and we use it in florida keys in winter (so by april it is HOT).
Donna

I'll defer to Doug on the complexity but anything can be done with enough money and time. Structurally I doubt it's really an issue. The main fly in the ointment I see is power. If the coach doesn't have 50 Amps you won't have enough electricity to run a second AC unit. So you would have to upgrade the electric, wiring to the AC, update the panel and probably upgrade the generator if you wanted the same power output while travelling or boondocked. Are you that stuck on this particular model to make it worth the time and expense to add a second air when you could buy one already built that way?

These small A's with 30 AMPs and one AC are built for weekenders.