13500 btu versus 15000 btu

[suz155]

Hello all,

Still looking at the different B's and comparing. I live in Southern Texas and summers can be brutal. Still work full time and I can not "get away" to the mountains on a weekend trip, too far. So, the r/v staying semi cool, is important.

I did notice some r/v's have 13500btu's(most)and some have 15000btu's Does that make a difference in the temp in the vehicle or is it negligible?


Thanks

[My_Roadtrek]

Your basically driving a tin can, it gets really hot driving on 100+ pavement! and can take a day of parking for the chassis to cool. If parked in the shade, on grass/dirt it can be cooled enough to use in the summer.
The heat here in AZ is the reason I went with a small (19'') well insulated, 13,5k A/C. TT.

[suz155]

Morning. I do know what a B+ is, wouldn't work, as I like to stealth camp. Was a typo on my part, I should have captioned 11000 vs 13500. From what I've read so far, doesn't look like B's are really ideal for the South. That might be why I see so few of them , on the roads down here. Too bad the manufacturers don't come up with a solution on the insulation on the windows.

[mumkin]

mlts22 wrote:
Sportsmobile sells 13.5k models, as well as a 12k Danhard A/C (for people who don't want the added height of a roof unit.

Since Sportsmobile is a "design your own RV" company, you can get whatever you want. I highly recommend them... and they are in Texas. :B

I've visited the factory in Austen and was impressed. At the time they were building a small C, but they stopped before I made the move.

[My_Roadtrek]

I believe the OP is looking for a small Class C, and is confused my manufactures that continue to call them B+'s

[mlts22]

mumkin wrote:

suz155 wrote:
I should have mentioned , I am looking at the Sprinter based B's. They, for the most part, have the 13500.

I've visited the Roadtrek, Pleasureway, and LTV websites and none of them offer the 13500 on their Class B units. They are all 10500-11000.

Are you sure that you are not looking at small Class C units - that some sellers insist on calling "B+"?? Pleasureway does have 13500 in the Pursuit, but that is a C. LTV offers it on the Serenity, Unity, and Libero... but they are also Class C.

It seems that the Era is the only one?

Sportsmobile sells 13.5k models, as well as a 12k Danhard A/C (for people who don't want the added height of a roof unit.

[Patty1819]

The Airstream Interstate has a 13,500 BTU air conditioner.

[mumkin]

suz155 wrote:
I should have mentioned , I am looking at the Sprinter based B's. They, for the most part, have the 13500.

I've visited the Roadtrek, Pleasureway, and LTV websites and none of them offer the 13500 on their Class B units. They are all 10500-11000.

Are you sure that you are not looking at small Class C units - that some sellers insist on calling "B+"?? Pleasureway does have 13500 in the Pursuit, but that is a C. LTV offers it on the Serenity, Unity, and Libero... but they are also Class C.

It seems that the Era is the only one?

[pianotuna]

Hi Suz,

Think of the difference in percentage. A 15 btu unit is a mere 10% larger. The only (doubtful) advantage might be shorter run times. Shorter run time means higher humidity levels in the RV and that leads to greater discomfort.

Running an air conditioner on a generator is often more expensive than paying for a campsite. inexpensive campsites

suz155 wrote:
I'm just not sure as I do live in Houston and as someone already mentioned not sure if the 13500 can take the kind of the heat and humidity that the Gulf Coast can kick out. Which would limit my choices.

I appreciate everyones help.

[steveh27]

I had to replace my AC on my Xplorer 230XL & am very glad I went with Dometic's high efficiency model. I believe it is 13.5k btu, but it can easily run with a Honda 2000. It gets my 20' Class B very cold in a hurry. Anyone replacing their AC should consider getting this unit.

[My_Roadtrek]

In a Class B, because of the windows, not great insulation, and the fact that they leak air, expect only about 10 to 15 degrees lower inside temps. You might see 20 if the van has been sitting in the shade, parked on dirt/grass, and the chassis has cooled cooled down.

There are many threads on this in the archives, and about ways to achieve optimum cooling, but 20 degrees is as low as you will get.

One big problem in Texas, AZ, and other SW states is the ground stays hot through the night. Summer here in Tucson is often in the high 80's low 90' at midnight. Hot air leaks into the van, so depending on how hot that air is, and how fast it gets in, will determine how efficient the A/C will be.

[suz155]

I had thought about the gensets, that was going to be my next questions, thanks for the thought.

I don't want to go with the newer B with slide. I was leaning towards the ERA or the RT Adventurous, but, I'm just not sure as I do live in Houston and as someone already mentioned not sure if the 13500 can take the kind of the heat and humidity that the Gulf Coast can kick out. Which would limit my choices.

I appreciate everyones help.

[mlts22]

A/C size really depends on the area where one lives. A unit that keeps a comfortable temperature and humidity in one area will be almost useless in another.

Houston, NOLA, and Florida are not just hot, but humid, so a swamp cooler is useless. Removing humidity is important as well.

Of course, too large an A/C may not remove the humidity from the air, causing the air to get clammy.

Another factor is that a larger A/C has more locked rotor amps. A 11k BTU A/C can start and run from a Honda 2000 watt generator. A 13.5k BTU model is iffish. A 15k BTU A/C might not be startable even with a 3000 watt A/C and would require a pair of 2000 watt Hondas.

I live in Austin, so take this for what you will. A "B", I'd use a 13.5k BTU A/C like the Coleman that can run from a 2500 watt generator. If I had a "C" with a slide, I'd go with a 15k BTU model. With slides and longer than 28-30 feet, I'd go with two A/Cs. Otherwise the rig may be uninhabitable from May-September.

[Snowman9000]

We have a 23' B+ with 13,500 unit. It's too big IMO. The runs are too brief.

[My_Roadtrek]

The Onan 2800 may have a hard time running a 15,000 BTU A/C. It may run the new Coleman, but I doubt you could use much else at the same time.