So, I am still trying to learn and still doing my homework... :hLooking at Class A, a salesman said something about the coach air conditioner breaking and that most people just run the generator and the roof air anyways...This seems odd to me... If you have that giant diesel engine running, why would you not just use the A/C compressor on that thing? Where all is coach air/heat (not generated by rooftop units) delivered? Will the coach stay cool and or warm while going down the road with the non-roof top units running?Thanks.

My dash AC works fine, but there is no way it's keeping the coach cool after April in Texas. I run the generator and both roof top units when driving down the road. Dash AC's in motor homes just aren't big enough to cool off that much space and a lot of them seem to break regularly.

In most cases the dash air will not keep the coach cool. It's very small to try and cool the whole coach and it's not ducted so getting any air to anything not in the front 3 feet of the coach will be impossible. Most folks run the genset and rooftop air when travelling. that's the only way to cool the entire coach. Perhaps that's what he was referring to.

On a hot day that dash air can't compete with the sun coming through that big windshield. I always run the generator and the roof air when traveling in the summer. Heck, because I'm chicken to run the gas furnace while driving I run the generator and an electric heater to keep the house comfortable in the winter.

That giant engine is powering a small ac compressor designed for a small car or truck not the large space of a motorhome. So no ,,it won't keep up. Some use curtains behind the driver/ pass seats to block off the rear. Most I have known, run the generator and roof ac and the entire coach stays comfortable. No waiting for it to cool off after a day's travel.

I know it's tough to believe but for once a salesman is not lying. Yep running the gen set and house AC i very common.

Running roof air | Good Sam Community

jorbill2or
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2016
That giant engine is powering a small ac compressor designed for a small car or truck not the large space of a motorhome. So no ,,it won't keep up. Some use curtains behind the driver/ pass seats to block off the rear. Most I have known, run the generator and roof ac and the entire coach stays comfortable. No waiting for it to cool off after a day's travel.
falconbrother
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2016
On a hot day that dash air can't compete with the sun coming through that big windshield. I always run the generator and the roof air when traveling in the summer. Heck, because I'm chicken to run the gas furnace while driving I run the generator and an electric heater to keep the house comfortable in the winter.
Effy
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2016
In most cases the dash air will not keep the coach cool. It's very small to try and cool the whole coach and it's not ducted so getting any air to anything not in the front 3 feet of the coach will be impossible. Most folks run the genset and rooftop air when travelling. that's the only way to cool the entire coach. Perhaps that's what he was referring to.
barmcd
Explorer
Sep 19, 2016
My dash AC works fine, but there is no way it's keeping the coach cool after April in Texas. I run the generator and both roof top units when driving down the road. Dash AC's in motor homes just aren't big enough to cool off that much space and a lot of them seem to break regularly.

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