To heat pump or not heat pump

[Bruce and Jenna]

I'm considering the heat pump option on a 33RSE. I've only seen two mentions of this option on this forum.
Highgturn said "You will find that the heat pump option costs very little more and works very well for temperatures down to 40 degrees F."
And ChiefJohn "Second Bob on the heat pump option."

Do you still get a furnace for non-AC heating?

And how does a heat pump perform compared to AC? My sales fella said that the heat pump will not extract moisture from the air like a conventional AC. True? We're not planning to spend the summer in the South (That's why we bought a big truck, to move the house around. ) But 90 degree humidity is worse to me than 100 degree dry heat.

[Highgturn]

Bruce,

I use the heat pump anytime I need heat as long as the outside temperature doesn't fall below 40 degrees F. At 40 the unit just blows cool air. Yes the coach comes with a propane fueled furnace which works great and it also keeps your holding tanks and basement above freezing.

As for humidity/moisture removal in the reverse mode I can't say, but it has never been a problem for us.

The propane furnace does use a lot of fuel. Having the heat pump will pay for itself pretty quick and save you a lot of trips wrestling with those heavy cylinders.

Along with the heat pump, I would strongly recommend the Thermopane windows. Without them, window sweating can be a big problem in the winter.

[ChiefJohn]

Bruce,
We'll never own another RV without heat pump(s). PERIOD

[LindaH]

How is the noise with a heat pump? We have friends with an SOB who have a heat pump, and they say they'd never order another RV with a heat pump because it's so noisy. That's the main reason we didn't order one on our Excel.

[Highgturn]

Linda,

It's exactly the same noise as the A/C. It just puts out hot air instead of cold.

[ChiefJohn]

Linda,
My responses duplicate what Bob has already stated, hence my short response in my previous post. We have found the sound levels are the same as with the A/C operating. Our coach stays at an interior temperature of 65-70 degrees with the ambient temperature at 40 degrees or above. The heat pump has proven to be one of our best investments. If you do allot of seasonal camping it will pay for itself in a couple of seasons.

[LindaH]

It's kind of a moot point for us since we didn't order the heat pump with our Excel.

I'm not really sure exactly what you mean by "seasonal camping" -- we're fulltimers and follow the sun! We "try" not to be where it's extremely hot or extremely cold.

We just had a propane line installed inside our Excel with a quick connect to use with a catalytic heater. We'll use this for heating, although we may turn on the forced air furnace first thing in the morning for a quick warmup when necessary.

We do a lot of boondocking/dry camping...is the heat pump operated by 12-volts, or do you need to be plugged into electricity?

[ChiefJohn]

Linda
"seasonal camping" in the context of 4-seasons. We enjoy cold weather camping, especially when it's snowing and all the critters are out and about.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">We do a lot of boondocking/dry camping...is the heat pump operated by 12-volts, or do you need to be plugged into electricity? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Linda, given that it operates in basically a reverse A/C cycle the heat pump requires a power source.

[LindaH]

Ahhh...then it's a good thing we didn't order the heat pump. 90% to 95% of our camping is boondocking/dry camping, so that would have certainly put a crimp in our heating up the rig!

[Bruce and Jenna]

Some CGs prohibit heating with electricity, or charge extra. Does a heat pump fall into this category?

[Highgturn]

A heat pump falls into the same category as an air conditioner. A heat pump is a refrigerated air conditioner with a reversing valve which allows it to put hot air into the coach instead of cold air. It's only drawback is that it does not work below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It draws basically the same amount of electrical current in the heat mode as it does in the A/C mode.

[MakinSmoke]

Enough good information here for me to decide to order WITH a heat pump. Do I also need the second AC in these units?

[ChiefJohn]

Virgil,
Definitely go with the heat pump -- the second AC would be dictated by the climate where you'll be spending the majority of your time. Some folks have ordered two heat pump/AC units for their fivers.

[Money Bags]

I have had the feeling that the heat pump on an Excel was a fad a few years ago. Is anyone still having them installed on the later units?