Community Forums

no3putt · 06-24-2016, 05:03 PM

Went over Monarch Pass on highway 50 in CO yesterday and you don't need the AC at 11,000 ft. open a few wndows and let the cool air in.

GA Navigator · 06-25-2016, 12:41 AM

Different designs might have different results. My radiator and CAC are on the left side and the AC condenser and associated fans are on the right side so the only effect I can think of on my unit is a slight increase in load on the engine when climbing a grade.
When climbing through a 10-11,000 foot pass, the air is less dense than at lower elevations and therefore can't absorb as much heat from the radiator but this would affect any design configuration, I think.

1994 Holiday Rambler Navigator
Cummins 8.3
Allison MD3060

Shaky · 06-25-2016, 02:59 AM

I run my generator and roof AC when the weather is exceptionally hot, or going up steep grades. The roof AC keeps the coach cooler and the generator uses less gas than the dash AC. As stated before there are times I'll run both if the sun is hitting the windshield. I usually pull over with the big rigs to keep from holding up traffic and downshift. I'm never in a big hurry to get anywhere and am towing a Jeep Wrangler to boot. Being retired is a good thing.

Gormleys · 06-25-2016, 08:12 AM

Remember the passes in Colorado are a bit higher than back east. Denver, the Mile High City (for many reasons) starts at 5280 feet altitude and you climb from there up I-70. For every thousand feet of climb, the outside temperature drops 3-4 degrees. At the Eisenhower tunnel you will be at 11,013 feet, or 18-20 degrees cooler than Denver. There is still snow present at this time.

Open the windows and enjoy our wonderful scenery!

RSteele · 06-25-2016, 09:57 AM

I turn the dash air off when climbing hills but I have been fighting a cooling problem when it's over 90 outside. Sometimes I run both the dash air and house air if it's really hot outside but up steep grades I shut off the dash air because of my hopefully fixed engine cooling situation. With that c-13 power shouldn't be an issue for you and if your engine is running cool you could leave the dash air on no problem. I would leave mine on if my engine ran cooler. Had a c-13 in a Peterbuilt, great motor by the way just a little thirsty.