downsizing - need advice

[travelingcat]

After many years of traveling in a fifth wheel it is time to downsize. We are looking at a Winnebago Aspect. We spend summer in Florida to be near our grandson. Will the single air conditioner keep the coach comfortable? Any advice to help us with our decision will be appreciated.

[mabynack]

Jopopsy wrote:

mabynack wrote:
I bought a 34 foot FW about ten years ago and decided to skip the second AC unit. Our first trip was to the Florida Panhandle and we got a site in the middle of an open field. The outside temperature was near 100 degrees and the temperature inside the unit was at least that. The thermostat maxed out at 100, so we don't know the actual temperature.

I set up the RV, turned on the AC unit and we went to dinner. We came back three hours later and the inside temperature was still in the mid 90s. The AC didn't start cycling until about 4:00 a.m. the next morning. It would run constantly after about 10:00 p.m. and couldn't keep up with the sun and humidity.

I took it in and had a second unit installed as soon as I got back. I miss having the roof vent in the bedroom, but the second AC is really a necessity down here.

13500 or 15000?

Ducted or non-ducted?

The first A/C was ducted 15,000 btu. The second one is a 13500 non-ducted in the bedroom.

[snowdance]

Having lived in Fla. for many years on land and in boats in the keys, The humidity is a big deal. If you start with a hot rig and set your AC to pull to 72-75 odds are it will freeze up. If starting from high temp and high humidity take the temp down in steps of about 10 degrees at a time. When the unit cycles it will defrost then take it down another 10 ect. Odds are it will come down much faster. Over the years we found 80 to be a good temp as we could go out and still stand it. Lower temps kept us from enjoying being out.

One or two units is really up to you. But What ever you do be sure you get the cool air to where you want.. Fans or what ever needed. On our boats we had fans that never were shut off and the same in our airstream.. Our home had celing fans that were never shut off. Moving air helps.

[wbwood]

It may just be us, but even when we had our pop up (with A/C), we never had an issue. But we read where others said their a/c wouldn't keep up and would put the special reflective cover over the bunk ends. We never ever felt a need for it. But we also didn't spend a lot of time in it during the day (as we don't our RV's), unless it was raining. The only time we are in the RV is to sleep, eat (sometimes), bad weather, or at night, just before bed time. But, we don't full time either.

[travelingcat]

Thanks for the input. We have been looking for something between 27 - 30 ft. That seems to be on the edge with one air conditioner. Hopefully we can find something with a floor plan that we like with two air conditioners.

[wbwood]

We are in the south. It gets hot and humid. Our coach is a 31' model and has a single A/C. We have had no issues with it. It cools as you would think it should. WE had a 31' TT before that with one A/C and still no issues.

We have never used the reflectix stuff that people mentioned or have we felt the need. But you can if you feel it's not sufficing. If you have a choice of 2nd A/C, then I don't know why not to get it. I would. Doesn't mean you have to run it.

[pnichols]

As you know, the main problem with summers in Florida is not the temperature of the heat ... it's the humidity of the heat.

I'd go with two 15K air conditioners to make sure you can get the humidity down to a decent level in your RV. Lowering of the temperature will of course follow along.

[F1bNorm]

If the roof top AC can't keep up, how about adding a stand alone AC. Set it between the front seats and vent it out a cab window. A simple plywood panel wedged in the drivers window.

Norm

[mgirardo]

Only once have we experienced a problem with our single A/C struggling when the temps are high. However, we don't usually camp down here in the summer. We were in PA on the side of a small mountain, completely exposed with the sun beating down on our 32' Class C with 1 13.5k A/C. The A/C ran all day, never cycled off. It was in the low 90s out. The camper stayed cool, but like I said it ran all day.

Our seasonal camp site in NJ is in complete shade and even when it is in the mid to upper 90s, the A/C handles it fine. If we camped down south in the summer, we'd definitely get a second roof top unit for the back half of the camper.

-Michael

[tpi]

It depends on the size of the Aspect and your tolerance for higher temps.

I have 24' no slide w/ 15000 BTU. The coach is fairly well insulated, the Ford cab not so much. AC does an adequate job (78-80) in 100 degree weather. If I isolate the cab, it does better. I'm tolerant of temps rising into the low 80s inside as long as there is a breeze (dressed appropriately).

As mentioned shade is a big deal.

If it was a 30' unit w/ slides I doubt the single AC would be adequate for my use. In that case I'd want two roof air units.

[ugh]

I had a 35Ft fifth Wheel with one A/C. It could not do the job in Austin, TX at all. If it was 100 degree outside, it was 85 degree inside. I bought a second A/C to help cool it off, but it was loud and it could never get the temp down to 72 degree on days that were over 100 degree.

[Jopops]

mabynack wrote:
I bought a 34 foot FW about ten years ago and decided to skip the second AC unit. Our first trip was to the Florida Panhandle and we got a site in the middle of an open field. The outside temperature was near 100 degrees and the temperature inside the unit was at least that. The thermostat maxed out at 100, so we don't know the actual temperature.

I set up the RV, turned on the AC unit and we went to dinner. We came back three hours later and the inside temperature was still in the mid 90s. The AC didn't start cycling until about 4:00 a.m. the next morning. It would run constantly after about 10:00 p.m. and couldn't keep up with the sun and humidity.

I took it in and had a second unit installed as soon as I got back. I miss having the roof vent in the bedroom, but the second AC is really a necessity down here.

13500 or 15000?

Ducted or non-ducted?

[kyhawk]

Our A/C is good until the outside gets above about 90. Above that it runs all the time and keeps the inside just bearable. We were in 100 degrees a couple of times, and it wasn't comfortable. All our previous units were travel trailers, and they were better in the heat.

[LadyRVer]

Had a 26A, 2008 Winnebago Aspect with one slide, U-shaped dinette...

A/C, 13,500 in August got it to 82 degrees most days. Also used a tower
oscillating fan. It was just OK. Depends on what you consider comfortable.
This was outside of Tampa.

We did OK.

[mabynack]

I bought a 34 foot FW about ten years ago and decided to skip the second AC unit. Our first trip was to the Florida Panhandle and we got a site in the middle of an open field. The outside temperature was near 100 degrees and the temperature inside the unit was at least that. The thermostat maxed out at 100, so we don't know the actual temperature.

I set up the RV, turned on the AC unit and we went to dinner. We came back three hours later and the inside temperature was still in the mid 90s. The AC didn't start cycling until about 4:00 a.m. the next morning. It would run constantly after about 10:00 p.m. and couldn't keep up with the sun and humidity.

I took it in and had a second unit installed as soon as I got back. I miss having the roof vent in the bedroom, but the second AC is really a necessity down here.