ducted vs non ducted ac

I run the AC as needed, but prefer to stay where it is not always required, especially at night.

Gr8life wrote:

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I like simple and efficient, even if it is a little louder. I like the northern states in the summertime for that very reason, no ac needed.

We go to Florida in the winter and travel around Canada in the summer. Canada can have some really hot days in the summer, as can Florida in the Winter. And occasionally you need the A/C because the bugs outside are so bad you stay inside much of the time.

I agree with most in a that a trailer with a separate bedroom benefits from having ducted ac. I also know that those willing to do a search will find problems associated with the ducting in many trailers. I like simple and efficient, even if it is a little louder. I like the northern states in the summertime for that very reason, no ac needed.

Our jayco white hawk 29REKS has ducted ac from one AC unit and open AC from the rear AC...ducts are in the ceiling. Heat is ducted thru the floor and out the fireplace.

Like others are saying, with ducted you can control the distribution of cold air better.

We had a 24' non-ducted and hated the blast of cold air in the middle seating area. You could open/close the fore or aft vents in the A/C but that was it.

Now have a 28' ducted. The central A/C has three vents (aft and the sides) that can be closed, and there are three ducts that can be closed and rotated.

Because the A/C is further from the bed in the new 28' trailer, it's quieter when sleeping. And with the bedroom ducts, we get a gentle, adjustable stream of cool air. No blast.

nickthehunter wrote:
Like I said, I would strongly suggest you get the big stuff right.

yep, roof composition would be one of the first on my list. Has the OP even looked into that?
bumpy

dadmomh wrote:
Disagree on the "21'/non-issue". Our ROO 23SS HTT was ducted (actual box length was just over 20' + the bunkends. Our camping buddies had a Shamrock 19 - box likely more like 18 - 19'+ bunkends and theirs was non ducted. Huge difference - hot/cold spots, noisy, blast from center was uncomfortably strong yet some areas had almost no cooling. Strongly suggest you go for the ducted rather than kicking yourself later for not.

That's questionable, you have a ducted unit but know how "badly" a non-ducted unit works. I on the other hand, have a non-ducted unit and don't have any of those issues.

To the OP, I really don't care whether you buy ducted or non-ducted - I don't have any issues with either one. But in a 21-footer, I would put that on the bottom of my list of things to be concerned about. Like I said, I would strongly suggest you get the big stuff right.

Disagree on the "21'/non-issue". Our ROO 23SS HTT was ducted (actual box length was just over 20' + the bunkends. Our camping buddies had a Shamrock 19 - box likely more like 18 - 19'+ bunkends and theirs was non ducted. Huge difference - hot/cold spots, noisy, blast from center was uncomfortably strong yet some areas had almost no cooling. Strongly suggest you go for the ducted rather than kicking yourself later for not.

I've a ducted 15,000 in a 21' and it runs mostly on low after intial cool down. No cold spots or hot spots as vents are adjustable. Only issue was the oem POS thermostat has almost 6+ deg swing which has been changed out to a simple digital from White Rodgers and now a total of 2deg swing.

There can be losses involved in the ducting used in travel trailers. Since I am a member of the "Keep it Simple" school, I prefer non-ducted in small travel trailers. I am also a believer in traveling where AC is not needed constantly.