Do you run house AC while on the road
I am contemplating the purchase of a motor home... class A or Super C. I currently pull a 31’ trailer and am looking to consolidate the living and driving into 1 vehicle, adding conveniences like auto...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
Since we almost always have passengers in the back, we run the A/C as necessary using the generator. It's usually necessary here in the Northeast from late Spring to late Fall. The "box"part of the RV does get warm. If we need more, we fire up the rear A/C as well. Both are ducted. That has kept us warming travelling in Florida in July in the mid-to-upper 90's. Our rig does have dual-pane windows, so I believe that helps with keeping things comfortable. And we always make sure to give the A/Cs a bit of a head-start when heading out to get things cool & comfy BEFORE we hit the road.
The generators are supposed to get regular workouts periodically anyway, so running our A/C's satisfy that issue.
If it's just one or two people travelling, you could probably get away with just running the engine A/C. But then when you stop, the back of the coach will be warm and probably uncomfortable.
And if you wait to get to a rest stop to start the generator and begin cooling, the A/Cs are fighting an up-hill battle. First, the interior is already warm. Remember, not only the air has to be cooled, but everthing in the space: chairs, sofa, dinette, cabinets, etc. All of those thing hold heat and will be radiating that heat as your A/C is trying to cool the air. Second, your engine, transmission, exhaust system and the entire chassis below the motorhome is probably quite a bit warmer than ambient, and as those components give off their heat...well...hot air rises...right into the floor of your motorhome, which begins radiating THAT heat into the interior.
Run the generator and the A/C. That's what they are there for.
RV'ing, for us, is about comfort and relaxation. Why deal with an uncomfortable environment in the living space while travelling?
Good Luck,
~Rick
ON EDIT: For those in Class A's who say they only run the dash air, check out the type of rig they have. I would think a DP, with the engine, transmission & exhaust all in the rear, would NOT be as warm up front as a front-engine rig. With the gassers, the heat sources of the engine/tranny/exhaust are right underneath us.
Since we almost always have passengers in the back, we run the A/C as necessary using the generator. It's usually necessary here in the Northeast from late Spring to late Fall. The "box"part of the RV does get warm. If we need more, we fire up the rear A/C as well. Both are ducted. That has kept us warming travelling in Florida in July in the mid-to-upper 90's. Our rig does have dual-pane windows, so I believe that helps with keeping things comfortable. And we always make sure to give the A/Cs a bit of a head-start when heading out to get things cool & comfy BEFORE we hit the road.
The generators are supposed to get regular workouts periodically anyway, so running our A/C's satisfy that issue.
If it's just one or two people travelling, you could probably get away with just running the engine A/C. But then when you stop, the back of the coach will be warm and probably uncomfortable.
And if you wait to get to a rest stop to start the generator and begin cooling, the A/Cs are fighting an up-hill battle. First, the interior is already warm. Remember, not only the air has to be cooled, but everthing in the space: chairs, sofa, dinette, cabinets, etc. All of those thing hold heat and will be radiating that heat as your A/C is trying to cool the air. Second, your engine, transmission, exhaust system and the entire chassis below the motorhome is probably quite a bit warmer than ambient, and as those components give off their heat...well...hot air rises...right into the floor of your motorhome, which begins radiating THAT heat into the interior.
Run the generator and the A/C. That's what they are there for.
RV'ing, for us, is about comfort and relaxation. Why deal with an uncomfortable environment in the living space while travelling?
Good Luck,
~Rick
ON EDIT: For those in Class A's who say they only run the dash air, check out the type of rig they have. I would think a DP, with the engine, transmission & exhaust all in the rear, would NOT be as warm up front as a front-engine rig. With the gassers, the heat sources of the engine/tranny/exhaust are right underneath us.
