Community Forums

Dutch Star Don · 03-05-2017, 02:11 PM

We have a 40' Dutch Star and live out west. If we were to buy another coach, I would order three A/C units.

If you're parked, and can start out in the morning with the A/C on, our coach will do okay, but typically takes a small box fan in the doorway of the bedroom, blowing air forward. We have two 15K units. If it's over 100 degrees, the best the coach will do is maybe 75 degrees.

If you're driving all day in 100 weather, with the roof A/C's on and stop for the night, you won't be able to cool the coach until the early morning hours.

Often when you're parked for awhile at a campground, you can do certain things like shade the patio with the awning, have part of the coach under a tree, have the front end facing away from the sun. In those conditions, you can usually get a routine going where the coach will stay cool. If the coach starts out hot, two A/C's won't do it. With the full wall slide out, you're trying to cool over 350 square feet of house.

Mac99 · 03-05-2017, 02:22 PM

yes

YC1 · 03-05-2017, 02:23 PM

Ditto Dutch Star's comments. Forty footer from Calif Sacramento Valley and now Florida. Two without shade is difficult. Three would be nice. Sure glad I built silencers for mine.

Harry B · 03-05-2017, 02:44 PM

were you able to construct something that helped quiet the A/Cs down? I am interested in hearing the details☺

vsheetz · 03-05-2017, 04:10 PM

We have three AC units. It's great knowing we have plenty of cooling for the hottest of days in the southwest, and backup should a unit fail. A previous coach had two and struggled on those hot days, and we had to cut short a good time vacation due to a failure.

redcolorado · 03-05-2017, 04:40 PM

Our Bounder is 37 ft and started life with 2 13.5K ACs. The only problem we had was in Los Vegas. When we arrived it was 106 and the ACs could not keep up. I went to Home Depot and got a role of the silver bubble wrap material, forget what it is called. I cut covers for all the windows and taped them in place. Also kept the awning open when the sun was on that side. Next day coach maintained 78 inside, ACs ran max all day, outside was 106 again. We now have 2 15K ACs and a compressor type dehumidifier, dry air is more comfortable than humid. A third AC would be nice and if I ever trade for another coach it will have it

Scottybdivin · 03-05-2017, 05:27 PM

3 AC's are nice. Even when you don't need all 3, here is some redundancy and they can be rotated. It can also depend on the direction you are pointed. The less broadside exposure you can have, the better. I find that if you have a choice, point toward the NE. Often times, you do not have a choice. I don't trust my awaning enough to leave it out on anything but the calmest of days, and only when I am present.

**TonyDi** · 03-05-2017, 06:45 PM

I have a 43' with two 15k units and have never been uncomfortable. Newmar's insulation is very good. Would three be nicer? Sure, but then four would be even nicer.

wagonmaster2 · 03-05-2017, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkrobath

Looking at a 4002 Ventana with the 15k upgrade. Any comments on 2 AC's. Does it do the job in the hot summertime?

Not really, but when we ordered our 2015 40' Dutch Star the 3rd air conditioner as an option was not available by Newmar. So we vacation in the mountains in the summers.

saddlesore · 03-05-2017, 11:34 PM

Our 40'er has 2 15k A/C's.
We had no issues when it was 110 deg.
but.. that is with 8+ inches of roof insulation and roof of slides are well insulated too.
However if you can get 3 A/C's go for it..... and a 10 or 12k gen set to power them.

Sidewinder4 · 03-06-2017, 06:43 AM

The narrative is right: There are techniques you can use like fans with the two AC's to keep the coach comfortable. I live in southern Georgia/Alabama. Had one AC go down and had to quickly learn how to deal with two "15,000 BTUs ACs". I used two fans with 97 degrees and high humidity. What I did not like though is the constant running of ACs until late evening/early morning.

My point: is if it can work out and you can have three 15,000 BTUs, that is what I strongly recommend. Set temperature and forget about it!

twojayhawks · 03-06-2017, 07:32 AM

Two AC's would be enough for us maybe 90% of the time. We do a lot of weekend camping throughout the summer and frankly I would put KS summer temps in the extreme. While we may only see temps around 95-100 we also get the high humidity. Can be very taxing even on a well insulated coach. Ours is a 43' model but not a lot of square footage difference with a 40'.

TexasTom · 03-09-2017, 03:09 PM

38' with two 13.5 AC units. direct sun with temps at100 degrees is where ours starts to struggle to keep inside temps below 75.

Dutch Star Don · 03-09-2017, 04:39 PM

90% of the time, I can get two A/C's to reach a comfortable level, if I add a box fan and we've been at a campground where we've been parked, at least overnight.

I don't care what coach you have...... you roll into St George, Utah, at 5:00pm with temps topping 110, you're 40' coach is NOT going to cool down with just two A/C's. You'll be lucky if you can get it down to 80 by midnight.

With that said, this doesn't happen that often, but for those of us who live and camp out west, I would definitely pop for the 3rd A/C if available.