Upgrade A/C or install second unit?

[TeamRAB]

Another summer is upon us, and here in AZ that means it’s hot, hot, hot!

Last summer we did what we could; making sure the ac supply and return were properly separated and covering the windows. But midday it would still reach upwards of 90+ degrees inside (112 outside).

We would like to avoid that this year if possible. There is currently have a 13500 BTU Dometic AC unit installed. The question is this: would it be better to upgrade the ac to a 15000 unit or should we just have a second ac installed?

This is for a 2018 Whitehawk 29RE.

[Quantum]

I think you're looking at a 2nd unit. Another area for big heat gain is the top of the slideouts. There isn't much insulation there. If you can provide shade over them with a slideout topper, that will help as well.

[Grumpy]

Do you have 30 or 50 amp service? The prep for the 2nd a/c only comes with the 50 amp service option so you would have to do some creative wiring to add the 2nd unit if only 30 amp. If you have the 50 amp I would definitely add the 2nd one.

[TeamRAB]

We have 50 amp service.

[StormPOD]

Hands down 2nd Air Conditioning unit.
We added a 2nd one to our 2016 27dslr.

We also have 7 fans and a dehumidifier.

All work to allow options as we camp in Ohio March to November.

[GHen]

Definitely add the second unit.

[JimD]

2nd air without question. I have 2 airs in my Greyhawk with 30 amp service and need both running here in Southern California when it gets into the 90s. Since you basically live on the surface of the sun there in AZ, you will absolutely need 2 plus a nice fan or two.

[Thomson]

Add second unit. We did and AZ summer got better

[DrSmart]

My vote. Second unit. Added benefit If one fails you can manage with one until repair is made. As mentioned. More airflow with two is another bonus.

[CAG]

You know someone is a true native when their car is parked halfway across the store parking lot, but it is under a tree.

Second air condition by far the best choice. I don't like slide covers because they make noise in the wind but that might be a thought to keep sun off of the tops of the slides.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by CAG

I don't like slide covers because they make noise in the wind but that might be a thought to keep sun off of the tops of the slides.

Definitely help...Went several years with one rig without and after I installed one it made a huge difference. Never owned another rig without them after that.

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by TeamRAB

We have 50 amp service.

If you have a 50 amp service you are wired for a second unit. Don't know where the t-stat wiring is.

[mboy]

add the second one.... or even a third one if you can. Az has 'dry' heat so A/C can't pull out the water very well. but life goes on.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by mazboy

add the second one.... or even a third one if you can. Az has 'dry' heat so A/C can't pull out the water very well. but life goes on.

Arizona is a dry heat until it isn't. About the middle of June the monsoon moves in and we no longer become a "dry heat". That last until the middle of September when it again becomes a "dry heat".

A/C units pull the moisture out of the incoming air so our air inside our homes is dry where the outside is not. You have to live it to really understand what the southwest is really like.

During most of the year our humidity runs in the single digits. During the monsoon it runs 40-50+ humidity.

[MichaelO]

Originally Posted by Cavie

If you have a 50 amp service you are wired for a second unit. Don't know where the t-stat wiring is.

Mine came with a second a/c. The main unit is controlled by the thermostat and the second one has the controls on the unit.

[TeamRAB]

We have decided. We will be getting a new 15K unit and moving the current 13.5 to the bedroom. Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

[Forelyndogs]

In the dry west, (it may be 115 out there, but it's a dry heat! Believe me @ 115 it's hot, wet or dry) one thing we don't need is a dehumidifier. But our limited experience camping in the mid-west tells me one can be essential in a humid climate.

[Forelyndogs]

My experience with a late 90's Class A with 50 Amp service and two a/c's leads me to believe with two units on a 30 amp service you would be spending so much time resetting the circuit breakers you wouldn't know if it was cool or not. Has something changed in the last 20 years?

[Forelyndogs]

Originally Posted by TeamRAB

We have decided. We will be getting a new 15K unit and moving the current 13.5 to the bedroom. Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

I'm anxious to know how you did it with only 30 AMP input? More to the point, I guess I really want to know how well it works.

[spoon059]

Originally Posted by TeamRAB

We have 50 amp service.

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