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Old 11-13-2015, 06:33 AM   #1
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26 ft trailer - 13.5k vs 15k air conditioning?

We are looking at pulling the trigger on a Jay Flight SLX 212 QBW. This trailer is 25'6" long. The dealers that I have all found online within driving distance stock the trailers with the 13.5k air conditioning.

Knowing this trailer doesn't have the glacier package and how poor they are insulated I was wanting the 15k air conditioning. I am being told it's not needed though due to the size of the trailer.

I also know that if you get too big of air conditioning it won't run long enough to remove the humidity from the air.

We are in WI and most of the trailer use will be WI, IL, MI, MN and some trips south to Memphis etc.

To upgrade to the 15k is $129 but that means an order out. If I try the 13.5 and find it won't cool the trailer I am looking at $1400 after the fact to swap it out to a 15k.

For those of you with a 25' trailer what size air do you have and does it keep up?
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Old 11-13-2015, 07:12 AM   #2
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I live in Just outside of Memphis and if your going to visit here in the summer you will be happy to have the 15K. I have a Jayco 24RKS and it came with 15K A/C unit.

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Old 11-13-2015, 07:43 AM   #3
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Our 26BH came with the 15K. Our Kansas City dealer said they order all of their trailers for 15K ACs. I have no experience with the 13.5k unit but the 15k does well in our midwest heat. For $129, I'd upgrade to the larger unit.
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Old 11-13-2015, 09:11 AM   #4
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I ordered my 38FDDS with the optional 15K and the thermal package. I'm more concerned about keeping the cooled air in than cold air out for my seasonal needs.
With a box length of almost 37', I'm sure the 15K will be necessary for those rare days that approach 90 degrees.

In hindsight, I wondering if I should have ordered the '2nd A/C in bedroom' option, or at least the '50 Amp service w/2nd A/C prep', but with summer ambient temps on Cape Cod averaging 70's/80's, I think I'll be alright.
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Old 11-13-2015, 11:16 AM   #5
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My 29QBH has a single 13.5 and is sufficient for where we camp in California. We don't have humidity to be concerned about, but we do have 100* + days and we are comfortable.
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Old 11-13-2015, 11:19 AM   #6
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I`m wondering how much difference there can really be in 1500BTU`s ? Mine has the 15K but I always thought the larger AC option should be even more BTU`s. Just seems like there can only be so much difference in a 13.5 and a 15. Might be a new thread topic.
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Old 11-14-2015, 09:49 AM   #7
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In my opinion the OP should not settle for what the dealers in his area carry. He should buy what he needs, not what the dealers carry, they're looking out for themselves.

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I`m wondering how much difference there can really be in 1500BTU`s ? Mine has the 15K but I always thought the larger AC option should be even more BTU`s. Just seems like there can only be so much difference in a 13.5 and a 15. Might be a new thread topic.
I've often had similar thoughts as Crabman. Our 32' box has the 15k ac and it barely does the job in the main living area at 90 degrees. Room ac's come in a number of Btu outputs because they're used to cool many different volumes. RVs should not be difficult to adequately cool with two sizes, but there should be a meaningful difference in the two. 13,500 was fine for our 18' box, almost too much. But if our current trailer had 17,500, about 25% more capacity, it would cool both the main living area as well as the hall and bedroom in the 90 - 100 temps we camp in during the summer months.

I'd think amperage requirements could be dealt with if the industry addressed them. A start might be putting 50 amps in larger trailers.
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Old 11-14-2015, 11:05 AM   #8
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Our 24FBS is about your size and it has a 15K AC. Haven't used it very much here (NM, CO, AZ) but it came in handy with the heat and humidity of central Texas. IMHO I'd go for the 15K just in case.
Be aware that if you boondock you need more than a 2000 watt genny to run that 15K....I use two 2000W (4000W total) when I run the AC. I believe a 3000W genny would also work for a 15K AC.
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Old 11-14-2015, 02:27 PM   #9
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I have a 26bh with 15k AC and the thermal package, a friend has a 26bh with the 13.5AC and no thermal package. We have camped side by side in 40degree Celsius weather and my trailer stays cooler longer and when the AC kicks on it takes less time to achieve the temp. Also his AC kicks on almost twice as much(not bad during day but annoying while sleeping)

In my opinion spend the extra $ on the 15kAC and the thermal package.
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Old 11-14-2015, 02:47 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crabman View Post
I`m wondering how much difference there can really be in 1500BTU`s ? Mine has the 15K but I always thought the larger AC option should be even more BTU`s. Just seems like there can only be so much difference in a 13.5 and a 15. Might be a new thread topic.
We have a 29 foot with a large slide and the 15K AC. My in-laws have a 26 foot, non slide with the 13.5K AC. At the lake in the summer on adjacent sites, my camper will be 5-10 degrees cooler than theirs. Ours is bigger, has a slide, has a large skylight in the main room and stays cooler.

For the small upgrade price, the 15K is a must have. I don't know why its even an option. Seems to me that the standard should be a 15K, but you can deduct price and order a 13.5 if you want.
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Old 11-14-2015, 04:59 PM   #11
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Would 13.5k AC work on one Honda i2000?
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Old 11-14-2015, 06:35 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spoon059 View Post
We have a 29 foot with a large slide and the 15K AC. My in-laws have a 26 foot, non slide with the 13.5K AC. At the lake in the summer on adjacent sites, my camper will be 5-10 degrees cooler than theirs. Ours is bigger, has a slide, has a large skylight in the main room and stays cooler.

For the small upgrade price, the 15K is a must have. I don't know why its even an option. Seems to me that the standard should be a 15K, but you can deduct price and order a 13.5 if you want.
If that is the case then there would seem to be a significant difference in the two units. It just does not seem like 1500 BTUs would make that much of a difference though but it must. On mine it was only a $100 option so the 15K upgrade was a no brainer.
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Old 11-14-2015, 07:44 PM   #13
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On my 23MBH if the outside temps get above 90 the 13.5k a/c can't keep up. I wish I would have gone with the 15k.
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Old 11-14-2015, 09:26 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skaling View Post
I have a 26bh with 15k AC and the thermal package, a friend has a 26bh with the 13.5AC and no thermal package. We have camped side by side in 40degree Celsius weather and my trailer stays cooler longer and when the AC kicks on it takes less time to achieve the temp. Also his AC kicks on almost twice as much(not bad during day but annoying while sleeping)

In my opinion spend the extra $ on the 15kAC and the thermal package.
There you go. Perfect real life comparison.
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Old 11-14-2015, 11:00 PM   #15
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Look at it this way, a 15K can do anything a 13.5K can do. So there is no downside to going with the 15k other than the very small cost increase. When it's 100 outside you will be glad you have the extra 10% capacity.
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Old 11-14-2015, 11:06 PM   #16
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My opinion. If they offer bigger, get it. If they offered a 20k AC, I'd have it. ALWAYS better to get too much than not enough, and ALWAYS cheaper to get it from the get go than to have it installed later. If you live in the south, a 13.5 AC should be outlawed. 15k ac should be standard, if not 2 or 3 of them depending on rig.
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Old 11-15-2015, 06:27 AM   #17
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Thanks everyone we will go with the 15k but there is no thermal package option for the SLX line.
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Old 11-15-2015, 01:27 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skaling View Post
I have a 26bh with 15k AC and the thermal package, a friend has a 26bh with the 13.5AC and no thermal package. We have camped side by side in 40degree Celsius weather and my trailer stays cooler longer and when the AC kicks on it takes less time to achieve the temp. Also his AC kicks on almost twice as much(not bad during day but annoying while sleeping)

In my opinion spend the extra $ on the 15kAC and the thermal package.
We set our thermostat such that it will run the fan constantly during the night. We only hear a slight click when the compressor starts or stops. We have a 26BHS 2014.
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Old 11-15-2015, 02:11 PM   #19
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We set our thermostat such that it will run the fan constantly during the night. We only hear a slight click when the compressor starts or stops. We have a 26BHS 2014.
Same here. I like the white noise throughout the night (especially with a 3 year old and almost 1 year old) and the moving air is more comfortable to sleep in.
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Old 11-15-2015, 07:36 PM   #20
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Having a 2006 29bhs in Michigan we surely appreciate the 15k air conditioner on those 90 degree with 90% humidity days so I would certainly go for it. Also keep a small fan running to help keep the air circulating It really helps
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