Travel Trailer AC Weak ~ Heartland Wilderness ~ Any others?

[Campin__Nana]

Hello,

I am new to the RV.net forums. My husband and I are looking to get a TT and have a question.

Today we went to look at a 2014 Heartland Wilderness 2850BH. We did some research beforehand and noticed just a couple posts on the internet pertaining to weak and inefficient AC with Heartlands. Sure enough, when we went to look at this unit today, it was very, very warm inside. The air had only been on for 15 minutes before we arrived and it was around 95 here today. By the time we left, the AC had been on for 1 hour and 15 minutes and it was still way too warm in there for us. There is no way I could have slept comfortably in there.

Has anyone else had this problem? Are Heartland's known for this? Any other manufacturer's we should know about having this trouble? Any suggestions? We loved the TT, but no way we could use it in the summer. Thank you.

[Campin__Nana]

Good morning Everyone! Wow! Camping people on the internet are just as kind and helpful as they are in the campgrounds! Thank you! 🙂

The owner of the Heartland that we looked at yesterday, scanned a page from the owners manual and emailed it to me this morning. I typed it as I couldn't figure out how to post it here, but this is from the Heartland manual. So do all TT manuals say this or is this specifically for the Heartlands? Surely there are AC units on TT out there that cool sufficiently? Here's what it said:

"If the temperature in side your coach is 100 degrees when you turn on the air conditioner, it will only put out 80 degrees. Eventually the air inside the coach will cool, and as it cools, the air put out by the air conditioner will cool also. However, when starting out at 100 degrees, this cooling could take several hours before it reaches your desired temperature. Therefore, if you know the weather will be hot, turn your air conditioner on early.".

We've read a lot about the quality of Jayco's. Maybe we need to find one and look at it and see how the AC cools in another model. Either way, thank you so much for all the posts and opinions. I have camped all my life from the age of a small child up until 20 years ago, when I met my husband. He has never camped. I am so thrilled and excited to be able to get back to this favorite past time!

[goducks10]

It also depends on how many and how big your windows are. Thermo pane will help. Our 5th has reg windows and one large rear. Last year we were camped in 104* weather and unfortunately the rear window was facing south. It was about 99* inside with the 13,500 BTU air running. We also have average insulation. There was so much water running off the rear gutter from the air conditioner it looked like someone had a garden hose up there.

Also how was the air conditioner setup? I find that if I just depend on the unit it's self and not the vents that are scattered throughout it's more efficient. I open the slider vents on the unit and that concentrates the cool air where the unit is. Most of the time when you close the vents on the unit and try and use the other vents that are scattered around the trailer the cool air volume drops. We also close off the upper part of the 5er so the AC only cools the lower part.

For the most part RV AC's aren't the most efficient until you get are in one of the better insulated units.

[Big_Love]

Just as with the RV refrigerator that performs better if turned on well in advance of use, the A/C should be turned on when the temps are about 80 so that it can keep up. If there is high humidity and high ambient temp, the unit will take many hours before the RV is comfortable inside. As mentioned, the typical unit when performing optimally will only create a temp gradient of about 15-20 deg.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

Robbies grandpa wrote:
RV air conditioners are only 110v vs. 220 in homes. At best they can only cool down a trailer about 20 degrees from the outside air especially with the little insulation they have.

Yeah insulation is huge.
I have been living in my TT for a week till my dead home AC unit just got replaced Tuesday.
It was 112F and the TT was in the sun for a week......had no problems keeping 71 degrees inside the TT. AC was running about %80 duty and still cycling.

I guess it depends on the output temps or efficiency of the unit and the total insulation value.

[RedRocket204]

Does the AC seem to blow cold air direct out of the AC unit? If it does, probably poorly sealed ducts.

There are many YouTube videos that show this specific issue, model nonspecific.

http://youtu.be/AzdQoDublzs

[TomG2]

Not familiar with the 2850BH, but cooling any RV is about like trying to cool a barn with all the air leaks and little insulation, especially with a slide out or two. Has little to do with being a Heartland or not.

[evanvalk]

Could be the unit, I have a 2014 Heartland Wilderness 2875, It stays hooked up at hame, I keep the temp set at 80% and the temp in tampa has beed over 90 all day, it is really cold when first intering,Ed

[Old-Biscuit]

Robbies grandpa wrote:
RV air conditioners are only 110v vs. 220 in homes. At best they can only cool down a trailer about 20 degrees from the outside air especially with the little insulation they have.

Add to that humidity, folks opening entry door, what type of AC (ducted/non-ducted), size of AC Unit 13.5K/15K BTU, how clean return air filter is, how clean evap & Condenser coils are.

RV roof mounted AC Units CAN cool an RV down.......but they do require starting early BEFORE RV is heat soaked and frequent cleaning.

[Robbies_grandpa]

RV air conditioners are only 110v vs. 220 in homes. At best they can only cool down a trailer about 20 degrees from the outside air especially with the little insulation they have.

[MarkTwain]

Campin'_Nana wrote:
Hello,

I am new to the RV.net forums. My husband and I are looking to get a TT and have a question.

Today we went to look at a 2014 Heartland Wilderness 2850BH. We did some research beforehand and noticed just a couple posts on the internet pertaining to weak and inefficient AC with Heartlands. Sure enough, when we went to look at this unit today, it was very, very warm inside. The air had only been on for 15 minutes before we arrived and it was around 95 here today. By the time we left, the AC had been on for 1 hour and 15 minutes and it was still way too warm in there for us. There is no way I could have slept comfortably in there.

Has anyone else had this problem? Are Heartland's known for this? Any other manufacturer's we should know about having this trouble? Any suggestions? We loved the TT, but no way we could use it in the summer. Thank you.

You might want to check about installing a second Air Conditioner!

[mbopp]

It's been mid to high ninteties here this week. The AC works hard but it does cool it down. 'Course we have a small Heartland.......

[MarkTwain]

I own a 2011 Heartland Big Horn 5th wheel and have had no issues with the Air conditioner system. Some times it works to well and have to change the thermostat setting:)

[Calicajun]

I own a 2014 Heartland Wilderness 2775RB the AC will cool the TT down but could be a little stronger. I suggest before you buy check all the weight ratings. My Heartland Wilderness cargo weight is so low that if I fill the water tank the trailer is over its weight limit. Meaning I can't put anything less in the trailer. No clothes, food or non water drink.

[opnspaces]

I don't know about Heartland, but my Jayco AC is also weak.