Hi all - we were out this weekend in our new Kodiak (300 BHSL) and we used the AC. It was only about 80 degrees out, so not super hot, but it took FOREVER to get cool in the trailer. The bathroom cooled down quickly and got quite chilly, but the bedrooms and especially the main room were warm for quite a while. We had some young kids with us so the doors were open and closed a bit more than they normally would be (in and out, in and out, etc.) but it just felt like the AC couldn't keep up. We haven't had this issue on our previous RVs, they got cold fast and stayed cold! We are taking a long road trip this summer and I'm thinking if it had a hard time in Oregon in the spring it's really going to have a hard time in Georgia or Texas in August!Any tips or suggestions? Should we upgrade our AC? Add a second unit? Add a portable unit?

it's a new unit? why not fuss at your dealer, et.al. what temperature is the air coming out of the vents? I assume it is ducted, you may have to adjust openings.bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:it's a new unit? why not fuss at your dealer, et.al. what temperature is the air coming out of the vents? I assume it is ducted, you may have to adjust openings.bumpyYup, it's new and we have talked about asking the dealer / manufacturer what's up. I guess I was sorta wondering if this is normal and maybe we've been spoiled in the past (our fifth wheel had two ACs).Good idea to check the temperature coming out of the vents - any specific thermometer that gives a fast accurate reading in that sort of application?

kelly94942 wrote:Bumpyroad wrote:it's a new unit? why not fuss at your dealer, et.al. what temperature is the air coming out of the vents? I assume it is ducted, you may have to adjust openings.bumpyYup, it's new and we have talked about asking the dealer / manufacturer what's up. I guess I was sorta wondering if this is normal and maybe we've been spoiled in the past (our fifth wheel had two ACs).Good idea to check the temperature coming out of the vents - any specific thermometer that gives a fast accurate reading in that sort of application?any infrared? IIRC type, $29 at radio shack, $15 at harbor freight. shut vent in bath, be sure air is flowing out others, be sure HVAC is balanced. I added a second small AC in my 32 ft bounder. wanted one I could run when voltage was low so if I burned one up it wouldn't be the main one. if the AC is not putting out cold air, immediately fuss at your dealer.bumpy

With 80 degree outside temps or higher you need to keep the door closed...kids are either in or out once. All awnings out for shade, window blinds down to block the sun and reflect heat, in addition to the A/C use a couple of portable fans to help circulate the air throughout the RV. Once we convinced the kids to stay outside instead of going in and out our RV got so cold we had to change into long pants.If we know the temps are going to be above 70 we start the A/C in the morning so the RV stays as cold as possible throughout the day.We like it cold... our friends always say we could store meat in our RV and House.

the bear II wrote:With 80 degree outside temps or higher you need to keep the door closed...kids are either in or out once. All awnings out for shade, window blinds down to block the sun and reflect heat, in addition to the A/C use a couple of portable fans to help circulate the air throughout the RV. Once we convinced the kids to stay outside instead of going in and out our RV got so cold we had to change into long pants.If we know the temps are going to be above 70 we start the A/C in the morning so the RV stays as cold as possible throughout the day.We like it cold... our friends always say we could store meat in our RV and House.Agree with the above. We have the small Kodiak:First double check the vents are circulating cold air to far points (my system you have to close the vents at the unit itself which forces more cold air thru the ducts). There are instances where ducts are block off and need fixing.Second those fancy sunlilghts we had to block off (too much of heat source during hot times), also block door window and pull shades. have to keep light out or these trailers basically become a hot-box.Third we did get some basic fans to help circulate the air through-out the trailer.Your Kodiak is a larger/longer one, did it have the 13.5k AC unit vs. larger 15K (might need larger unit). 13.5k is standard, 15k is an upgrade option (sometimes a dealer may have the upgraded unit).Markiemark

2013 Kodiak AC | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

kelly94942
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Markiemark32 wrote:
We have the small Kodiak:

First double check the vents are circulating cold air to far points (my system you have to close the vents at the unit itself which forces more cold air thru the ducts). There are instances where ducts are block off and need fixing.

Second those fancy sunlilghts we had to block off (too much of heat source during hot times), also block door window and pull shades. have to keep light out or these trailers basically become a hot-box.

Third we did get some basic fans to help circulate the air through-out the trailer.

Your Kodiak is a larger/longer one, did it have the 13.5k AC unit vs. larger 15K (might need larger unit). 13.5k is standard, 15k is an upgrade option (sometimes a dealer may have the upgraded unit).

Markiemark

Markiemark: good points, thanks. I believe we have the 13.5k, I'll have to check to make sure. I wondered if that was part of the problem... because it's such a long trailer with 3 separate rooms plus the bathroom. I'll have to check the ducts. It does seem like one of the vents in the main room isn't putting out air as well as everywhere else.

How did you block off the skylight? I can see why that would be a good idea!
caseyhoward
Explorer
May 15, 2013
I live in Texas and we go camping in June July and August when it's very hot ....one of the things that I've noticed is my trailer stays much cooler than my friends and we have the same AC units.
I think some of it has to do with the type of insulation or the amount of insulation that the manufacture puts in the travel trailer. my Nash 25S is never hot the AC works great keeps his cool and comfortable inside... Just one mans Opinion...
Markiemark32
Explorer
May 15, 2013
the bear II wrote:
With 80 degree outside temps or higher you need to keep the door closed...kids are either in or out once. All awnings out for shade, window blinds down to block the sun and reflect heat, in addition to the A/C use a couple of portable fans to help circulate the air throughout the RV.

Once we convinced the kids to stay outside instead of going in and out our RV got so cold we had to change into long pants.

If we know the temps are going to be above 70 we start the A/C in the morning so the RV stays as cold as possible throughout the day.

We like it cold... our friends always say we could store meat in our RV and House.

Agree with the above.

We have the small Kodiak:

First double check the vents are circulating cold air to far points (my system you have to close the vents at the unit itself which forces more cold air thru the ducts). There are instances where ducts are block off and need fixing.

Second those fancy sunlilghts we had to block off (too much of heat source during hot times), also block door window and pull shades. have to keep light out or these trailers basically become a hot-box.

Third we did get some basic fans to help circulate the air through-out the trailer.

Your Kodiak is a larger/longer one, did it have the 13.5k AC unit vs. larger 15K (might need larger unit). 13.5k is standard, 15k is an upgrade option (sometimes a dealer may have the upgraded unit).

Markiemark
the_bear_II
Explorer
May 15, 2013
With 80 degree outside temps or higher you need to keep the door closed...kids are either in or out once. All awnings out for shade, window blinds down to block the sun and reflect heat, in addition to the A/C use a couple of portable fans to help circulate the air throughout the RV.

Once we convinced the kids to stay outside instead of going in and out our RV got so cold we had to change into long pants.

If we know the temps are going to be above 70 we start the A/C in the morning so the RV stays as cold as possible throughout the day.

We like it cold... our friends always say we could store meat in our RV and House.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 15, 2013
kelly94942 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
it's a new unit? why not fuss at your dealer, et.al. what temperature is the air coming out of the vents? I assume it is ducted, you may have to adjust openings.
bumpy

Yup, it's new and we have talked about asking the dealer / manufacturer what's up. I guess I was sorta wondering if this is normal and maybe we've been spoiled in the past (our fifth wheel had two ACs).
Good idea to check the temperature coming out of the vents - any specific thermometer that gives a fast accurate reading in that sort of application?

any infrared? IIRC type, $29 at radio shack, $15 at harbor freight. shut vent in bath, be sure air is flowing out others, be sure HVAC is balanced. I added a second small AC in my 32 ft bounder. wanted one I could run when voltage was low so if I burned one up it wouldn't be the main one.
if the AC is not putting out cold air, immediately fuss at your dealer.
bumpy
kelly94942
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Bumpyroad wrote:
it's a new unit? why not fuss at your dealer, et.al. what temperature is the air coming out of the vents? I assume it is ducted, you may have to adjust openings.
bumpy

Yup, it's new and we have talked about asking the dealer / manufacturer what's up. I guess I was sorta wondering if this is normal and maybe we've been spoiled in the past (our fifth wheel had two ACs).
Good idea to check the temperature coming out of the vents - any specific thermometer that gives a fast accurate reading in that sort of application?
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 15, 2013
it's a new unit? why not fuss at your dealer, et.al. what temperature is the air coming out of the vents? I assume it is ducted, you may have to adjust openings.
bumpy

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2013 Kodiak AC

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