Community Forums

biloblake · 06-08-2012, 04:18 PM

Looking to buy a used 2005 Alfa Gold. Wondering how good the air conditioning works? Like temp. to be around 70 degrees.

rvarner · 06-08-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biloblake

Looking to buy a used 2005 Alfa Gold. Wondering how good the air conditioning works? Like temp. to be around 70 degrees.

I doubt you will be able to attain that in extremely hot areas like here in Pahrump, NV. Mine will usually cool to about 20 degrees below outside temps when it's hot. Good luck
Richard

P.S. Welcome to the forum

Lault · 06-09-2012, 05:35 AM

Most if not all AC will only drop temp inside 20 degrees .

Gary RVRoamer · 06-09-2012, 03:02 PM

The problem with most RVs is that they gain heat from outside too fast, so there is a point where the a/c can only keep up and not cool further. Typically that is around 20-25 degrees below outside temps. You can help by blocking off the windshield and ceiling vents, closing blinds and deploying awnings, but it probably won't get you down to 70 if it's 95+ outside.

It's 96 here today and I'm parked in full sun. My two a/c's are running non-stop and it's 77 inside.

biloblake · 06-10-2012, 05:49 AM

Gary, Thanks for the reply, as mentioned we are looking at the Alfa and have heard about the pros and cons of the basement A/C unit.

Bill Blake

jspande · 06-10-2012, 12:37 PM

Bill, I've been full-timing in So. Cal. in a 2001 Alfa 5th wheel (35', 399 sq.ft. interior area) with those big windows Alfa was noted for (mine are single pane). We occasionally have triple digit temps here, and lots of high 90's (low humidity). My basement AC has been doing just fine, with no repairs in 10 years of use. I have no problem maintaining better than 20 degrees differential.

But I find that the most comfortable setting (for me) is 81, and while everyone has their own preferences, do you really want 70 degrees? If one is physically working, that might make sense, but one normally is relatively inactive physically while inside an RV. I suppose I should add that in summer here I wouldn't think of wearing anything warmer than shorts and T-shirt. I expect if I were in a high humidity region, I'd prefer a little lower temperature.

As to some claims that the basement AC doesn't work well, I think my situation demonstrates that's not true, at least unless you limit air circulation under the RV by storing stuff under or near the RV, or have a lot of vegetation nearby blocking the breeze.

RUFINIT · 06-11-2012, 09:22 PM

I had one a few years back. We loved the high ceilings and the large windows. Very spacious. However, frankly the basement air could not keep the temp inside the unit very cool and hot days. A few reasons are: the windows are huge, so lot of glass that the sun beats on; the coach is really not sealed very well. ALFA did improve this issue some, but still gaping holes which lets hot or cold air in depending on the season. A point of frustration for many owners. What some owners did was add a rooftop air con which helped with the cooling.

Make sure and talk to a number of ALFA owners and especially former owners before you buy. They were a well designed coach and were offered at a great price. But to keep that price point, their production quality controls and their quality might have been a bit compromised. Since ALFA went under the prices have dropped considerably and so you can get a lot of coach for a relatively low price.

WhenIm64 · 06-11-2012, 09:35 PM

Our basement air just about freezes us out. Keep it at about 75. We do have the window awnings and try to park in the shade whenever possible. Also use the outside windshield sunshade plus the pleated inside shade pulled. That seems to help alot. We try not to let the inside get to hot before turning it on.