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Old 05-27-2014, 11:14 AM   #1
Rivet Master
 
2023 23' International
Macon , Georgia
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Ducted Air

After looking for about 5 years, I finally pulled the trigger on a new 2014 27FB International Serenity. I figured no way was AS going to make any major changes in design for 2015. And then, of course, they come out with a major change in a ducted air conditioning system. This was always on my wish list. Oh, well...
I do wonder about the following on this system:
1. Is the plenum hump insulated?
2. How do they handle condensation?
3. Can you still get the 2nd air conditioner option?
4. Does having the hump eliminate the skylights and Fantastic fans?
5. How much weight does the hump add?
6. How much extra does this add to the price of the unit?
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Old 06-01-2014, 07:41 AM   #2
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Another question:When will the 2015's with ducted air start shipping?
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Old 06-01-2014, 09:15 AM   #3
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Road tech,
noticed that the 2015s are at some of the dealers now. From what I read all 25 footers and longer will have the duct air system. Also from what I can see and read some are only carrying a 15K BTU Heat Pump.
We are looking to get a new one after 20 years of our 1972. We've done allot of upgrades, new axles, awning, 15K hp last month all new vista windows, all LED recessed lighting, U-shape ultra leather dinette, floor and so on. What attracted us to the 2015 was the duct air upgrade, but now all we can see for 2015 are twin beds. So we have what new ones have minus 1800# and a possible payment.
We do plan doing America again in 2017, so I hope they keep the new changes firm until then. WE love what we see with the new Airstreams. We're actually looking forward to seeing how the new Airstream pusher that was announced in 2013 is going to be like. It will be based on the 1966 GMC 4104 platform (Retro), with a Duramax and Allison transmission combination. Customer will decide upgrades.
So like you we were once waiting, we are waiting to see before we decide as our 43 year old AS is very comfortable.
Kind of long, the 2015 are at some dealers, we've walked through one. Frustrating as it may be, you still have a great coach.

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Old 06-01-2014, 09:31 AM   #4
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The new 30 foot classic comes standard with 50 amp service and 2 air conditioners, so you can definitely have dual air conditioner setup.

Also if you look at the videos of the new 27FB Flying Cloud and New Classic on Youtube from Colonial Airstreams you will see that they do still have skylights and FFs.
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Old 06-01-2014, 11:26 AM   #5
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I'm posting to subscribe to this thread. As I posted on another thread yesterday, our 2014 coach is 6 months old and we're pouting about the 2015 ducted air too! We enjoyed that on our Dutchstar..........but we're so happy and blessed to have our Pete we'll just live with the noise!

My hope is that ducted air can be retrofitted without it costing as much as trading coaches for one feature would! Maybe one of the resto guys will study on it and come out with an affordable upgrade methodology and quadruple his workload!

We'll stay tuned...........
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Old 06-01-2014, 11:46 AM   #6
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Looks like the ducts are in the ceiling. That would be an awfully involved mod for a trailer that is otherwise just fine. Think I will live with my 2012 for the rest of my days.
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Old 06-01-2014, 12:59 PM   #7
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I wonder if the ducts make the AC noticeably quieter?

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Old 06-01-2014, 01:09 PM   #8
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Airstream website says less than half the noise, Colonial says whisper quiet. No matter what, it has got to be quieter. I do not mind the air when we are sleeping but trying to talk or watch TV is a chore with the air on. But, I guess it has been that way for decades.
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Old 06-01-2014, 01:35 PM   #9
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Colonial Airstream has a video walk though of a 2014/15 Land Yacht which has the ducted AC. You can actually hear it blowing during the video and it is not loud at all in comparison to current roof units.

There are a few other videos out there promoting the new Land Yacht last year where the duct air was first introduced. The following excerpts are parts of quotes from the "From the Vice President of Sales" (June 2014) Blue Beret, page 46, by Airstream VP of sales J. Humphreys. "For all trailers 25 ft and longer we are now including ducted ac as standard equipment....it has reduced the noise level nearly to half and increase the efficency leaps and bounds...The feedback was positive on the land yacht..so we decided to offer it is all wide body which include 25 ft and larger models"

You can go to the Blue Beret web site and find the article. One of the best things we did was join many years ago. I won't open the can of worms on that topic, but to read the Blue Beret and to see what the different Units are doing truly promotes the Airstream Legacy within the Made in America products concept, regardless of the personalities.

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Old 06-01-2014, 01:44 PM   #10
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After somebody goes to JC for the retrofit, let me know what it cost and whether it was leak free....
Larry
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Old 06-01-2014, 07:20 PM   #11
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I was able to tour the new 30' Classic with the ceiling duct at Alumapalooza. It had a 15K roof A/C and was VERY quiet on the inside. Same noise on the outside, but I'm OK with that.
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Old 06-03-2014, 07:21 AM   #12
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I suppose I can reply to this as my 2015 Serenity 30RB is actually going to production today. And as I sold my Allegro Bus a couple of months ago, I am quite happy about the changes for 2015. However, the price increase is about $4,000 for my unit, so the new models with ducted air are not without some increased expense. Also, about three inches taller due to the "cap" on the roof which is where the ductwork is installed.

More to come once I have taken delivery.
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Old 06-07-2014, 05:48 AM   #13
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With ducted air being the first major design change in decades, I wonder how much it will reduce the resale value on pre 2015 wide body models?
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Old 06-07-2014, 05:53 AM   #14
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With the thousands of pre-2015 models out there, would you really expect a reduction in value? The price of new or used 2015+ models is going require a different market. If the price of the new model is really on $4k more, by the time you depreciate it a few years forward, the difference will be in the noise level.
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Old 06-07-2014, 05:59 AM   #15
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We too toured the new Classic at Alumapalooza. The ducted air system is very quiet and the unit itself is simply outstanding. The new a/c design could be a game changer. Unfortunately at $127K+ it won't be for us.
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Old 06-07-2014, 06:02 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Msmoto View Post
I suppose I can reply to this as my 2015 Serenity 30RB is actually going to production today. And as I sold my Allegro Bus a couple of months ago, I am quite happy about the changes for 2015. However, the price increase is about $4,000 for my unit, so the new models with ducted air are not without some increased expense. Also, about three inches taller due to the "cap" on the roof which is where the ductwork is installed.

More to come once I have taken delivery.
Yeah, but the duct won't increase your overall height. The ac unit and vent covers ( if you install them) will still be taller.

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Old 06-07-2014, 07:09 AM   #17
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Man - wish we had ducted air

Missed it by a year - oh well

I really do dislike the noise and thus when I run AC or HP I leave fan on to keep more consistent noise level....it never bothered me cause I did not ever consider that with AD ducted air was possible

But it's no biggie for us - I just to my wife and she jokingly "I think well survive it" then chuckled

The extra cost certainly is not nominal!
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Old 06-07-2014, 07:58 AM   #18
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Good to hear it is quieter. I share that this spring when I was with my father looking at Class A coaches we ran the AC on several models- All were ducted. There was quite a difference on sound even between ducted vs. ducted. As far as efficiency goes I cannot imagine that overall cooling is better but perhaps the distribution of cooled air is improved. what does this "CAP" look like?

ah Pharmgeek, time for a trade bubba!
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Old 06-07-2014, 08:27 AM   #19
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I m wondering what the structure of the system looks like ... Anyone have diagrams? Photos?

I ll try AS website
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Old 06-07-2014, 08:48 AM   #20
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The pictures on Colonial's YouTube stuff showed registers in the ceiling, probably some return and the rest distribution. Not too hard to visualize all ducting in a new false ceiling with the fan/compressor on the roof, just like you might do in a commercial building.
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