Running the AC while driving

[burghfan]

Hello all. This may be a silly question, but I wanted some input from some rv'ers who may be more experienced than we are. We own a 33ft Coachman Mirada. I know that the chassis ac is not for cooling the whole unit, and have read that I can run the house ac with the generator running while driving. (Want to make sure our pets are comfortable while we drive!) Is this common practice and if so, does it add considerably to fuel usage? Thanks in advance for any info. If this has been covered elsewhere, my apologies.

Jeff & ShawnTae, Heidi and Bobo

[Heisenberg]

It gets hot here at home. I run as much AC as I need including the dash AC if I need it. The solar often over heats one or both Captains chairs.

[falconbrother]

In warm weather we ran the generator and roof AC on every single trip. Gotta make them doggies happy. The dash AC can't compete with those big windshields on a hot day.

[burghfan]

Thank you all for the insights, they are much appreciated.....especially by Heidi and Bobo when we go on vacation in June!!

[janstey58]

I start our Genny and roof A/Cs about an hour before leaving on a trip, and run the entire duration of the trip. Nice to have a cool coach and hot water when you pull into your site. Also nice when stopping for lunch enroute, nice and cool!

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I have several ways to keep comfortable. I can run the fan on the roof air which helps distribute the cool air from the dash.

It that is not enough help, I can run the roof air using the inverter.

If that begins to run the battery bank down, I can use the remote start on my Yamaha 3000 sIEB generator, recharge the bank and run the roof air.

If I had a choice of propane vs gas for a generator, I'd pick gas.

If I had a choice of propane vs diesel for a generator, I'd pick diesel.

On a hot day, I will start the roof air about 90 minutes before I stop traveling for the night.

gatorcq wrote:
so you rather be uncomfortable.

[MrWizard]

Some DPs had l.p. Generator
Gas coaches have gas generators
Lp has less energy per gallon than gas approx 75 percent
So an l.p. Genset uses more per hour for the same load

[Effy]

We have the AC going, my son will watch a movie in the bedroom, My wife might heat up lunch in the microwave, etc all while going down the road. I have never really tracked MPG because it doesn't matter. It won't stop me from taking a trip and the whole point of owning a MH is to travel in comfort and have all the amenities of an apartment on wheels. Smiles to the gallon.

[tropical36]

burghfan wrote:
Hello all. This may be a silly question, but I wanted some input from some rv'ers who may be more experienced than we are. We own a 33ft Coachman Mirada. I know that the chassis ac is not for cooling the whole unit, and have read that I can run the house ac with the generator running while driving. (Want to make sure our pets are comfortable while we drive!) Is this common practice and if so, does it add considerably to fuel usage? Thanks in advance for any info. If this has been covered elsewhere, my apologies.

Jeff & ShawnTae, Heidi and Bobo

Most everyone does, once it gets hot enough and not like chassis air, runs for free, even if it was adequate. With everything running on your genset, you can expect to burn fuel at the rate of .5 - 1.0 gallon per hour, depending on what you have and most likely around .75 with 2 ac's, when it's really hot outside and underway. This include the fridge, hot water ....etc...etc....

[fourmat]

cost about a gallon an hour worth it for comfort

[Effy]

Sprink-Fitter wrote:
I always wondered if people worry so much about miles per gallon,why don't they just stay home, that cost 0 miles per gallon.

X2 - I've read posts where folks put up curtains to "seal" the cab off to only run dash air. I mean, what's the point of having a MH?

[Sprink-Fitter]

I always wondered if people worry so much about miles per gallon,why don't they just stay home, that cost 0 miles per gallon.

[10forty2]

I run the genset every trip we take, whether a 30 minute trip or a 5 hour trip. It's good exercise for the genset and it keeps everything very comfortable. Not to mention, the fridge can run off electricity and not have to use propane!

**EDIT** Edited to say that I lose about 0.5 MPG by running the genset.

[Sandia_Man]

We do and fret not of additional fuel consumed.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Absolutely use the genny & roof air to keep humans and pets comfortable. That is why that equipment is there. I wouldn't give a single thought to fuel consumption.