Basement Air problems in Journey 2010

[Arrived1]

Love to hear your thoughts on Basement AC In the Journey 2010.
We are looking at purchasing this model.

[Ray,IN]

Hello!
The basement air conditioner/heat pump either works or doesn't. Be sure to operate it in both modes. There is no way to know for how long. You'll find many threads in the Winnebago forum about the basement air system; how to repair, how to operate, where to find replacement parts-or new unit,etc.
It has an air filter (below the bed in mine)That must be cleaned or replaced per Winnebago owners manual.
I much prefer the basement unit in lieu of roof units because it is very quiet in operation and even heat/cooling, the only sound we hear inside is air blowing out the ceiling registers

[TomandGloria]

Agree 100% with Ray, IN. We really like ours and like the fact we can run the heat pump and save on propane. In the end we gave been extremely pleased.

[Lt Dan]

x3 on the basement air. I love ours and have had no major problems. One common issue however is the ductwork that goes up in the rear from the unit tends to split at the corner seams. When it is running you can feel any air leaks behind the rear cap. Leaks can be easily fixed with some aluminum a/c repair tape. Don't use cloth duct tape. That is the only thing I have done to ours in four years other than change filters regularly. Use the fiberglass filters, not the high efficiency paper ones. It is basically a self contained mobile home a/c with dual compressors.

Good luck and welcome.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

x3 on the basement air. I love ours and have had no major problems. One common issue however is the ductwork that goes up in the rear from the unit tends to split at the corner seams. When it is running you can feel any air leaks behind the rear cap. Leaks can be easily fixed with some aluminum a/c repair tape. Don't use cloth duct tape. That is the only thing I have done to ours in four years other than change filters regularly. Use the fiberglass filters, not the high efficiency paper ones. It is basically a self contained mobile home a/c with dual compressors.

Good luck and welcome.

Yep, I had to repair the ductwork behind the rear cap too, it's tight in there. I do use pleated filters, they catch more dirt/dust than the see-thorough ones. Yes they do add flow restriction when they begin to get dirty, so I change them monthly when the unit is in-use. The dirt/dust that passes through the see-thru filters gets trapped in the evaporator coil/radiator and reduces cool or heat transfer.
Try one for a month then check it for trapped dirt/dust. You'll be surprised.

[cwj212]

We have basement air on our current coach as well as our previous coach, a 2001 Adventurer. Works fine. The heat pump feature works much better than the furnace, at least down to the mid 40's. I agree with the filter getting dirty. I use the good 3M filters like I have in our home furnace.


Craig and Joan
2010 Itasca Suncrusier

[FIRE UP]

Gang,
Apperently I've either been misinformed or, just misunderstood what I've thought was good information pertaining to these basement A/C units and, "DEF" system coaches. And by that I mean, what I've been lead to believe is, around '07 or newer, Winne and Itasca had to eliminate the basement A/C unit due to the need for the space to provide for the amount of new smog/DEF equipped engines.

And with that being said, I would think that the coach the OP is looking at, a 2010 model, would not have a basement A/C but instead, would have roof A/C units. Well, learn something every day. Now, if I could just remember what I learned yesterday.
Scott

[FLman2]

Have a 2008 Itasca Latitude dp and it has basement air, and very happy with it. You can find out at Winnebagoind.com. Go to previous product, find the year and model and proceed from there. The 2009 Latitude still had basement air, not sure if this is true for all models.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Gang,
Apperently I've either been misinformed or, just misunderstood what I've thought was good information pertaining to these basement A/C units and, "DEF" system coaches. And by that I mean, what I've been lead to believe is, around '07 or newer, Winne and Itasca had to eliminate the basement A/C unit due to the need for the space to provide for the amount of new smog/DEF equipped engines.

And with that being said, I would think that the coach the OP is looking at, a 2010 model, would not have a basement A/C but instead, would have roof A/C units. Well, learn something every day. Now, if I could just remember what I learned yesterday.
Scott

Winnebago did use the TrueAir basement unit in 2010.TrueAir
And I do remember that rumor too.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Gang,
Apperently I've either been misinformed or, just misunderstood what I've thought was good information pertaining to these basement A/C units and, "DEF" system coaches. And by that I mean, what I've been lead to believe is, around '07 or newer, Winne and Itasca had to eliminate the basement A/C unit due to the need for the space to provide for the amount of new smog/DEF equipped engines.

And with that being said, I would think that the coach the OP is looking at, a 2010 model, would not have a basement A/C but instead, would have roof A/C units. Well, learn something every day. Now, if I could just remember what I learned yesterday.
Scott

Scott: The first model year for non-basement AC was 2011. That coincides with the need for a DEF tank on their pushers. The previous "smog" issue only required a DPF added to the exhaust, which apparently still left room for the Basement AC. The gasser units were never affected by any of these "smog" concerns, but WBGO eliminated the basement AC on gassers at the same time as when the DP models stopped using them. As far as I'm concerned, I wish they had stopped using them sooner because mine has been such a big disappointment and expense to me.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by edgray

Scott: The first model year for non-basement AC was 2011. That coincides with the need for a DEF tank on their pushers. The previous "smog" issue only required a DPF added to the exhaust, which apparently still left room for the Basement AC. The gasser units were never affected by any of these "smog" concerns, but WBGO eliminated the basement AC on gassers at the same time as when the DP models stopped using them. As far as I'm concerned, I wish they had stopped using them sooner because mine has been such a big disappointment and expense to me.

edgray,
Well Sir, I surely thank you and others who've "straightened" me out. I usually like to be as accurate as possible if and when I say things, add things, explain things here on the site. But, not having been effected by the "smog" issues of either DEF or, any other diesel smog adjustments or add-ons, on our present coach and, not really knowing anyone personally that has, I was only "repeating" what I'd heard and read. Now, I'm better informed, for sure. Thanks again.
Scott