Best rooftop AC unit available?

[LY007]

My AC is working fine, but when it goes I want to replace it as quickly as possible.

Any thoughts on the best rooftop unit available for a 30 amp trailer?

Thanks

[bwoodtx]

I have heard that the new Coleman heat pups are the way to go.

[Belegedhel]

I have a 13,500 BTU low profile penguin that has worked just fine for the last 5 years. I can't tell you whether it is the best available or not, it is just what I chose when it was time to put a new AC on the trailer. One of the most important criteria for me was that the AC be low profile, though. Most of the responses you can get here on the forums will just be anecdotal information, and we can only comment on the latest AC success or problem we have personnally been involved with.

Your best bet may be to find an RV dealer with a repair shop, who sells a variety of rooftop ACs, and ask them their opinion. They should have some ballpark statistics on what ACs last the longest, need the most maintenance, fail the earliest, have the most complaints, etc.. Having just made that list, you should probably also put together a list of features/performance factors that you think of as important. If having a low profile unit is a requirement for you, you may have to sacrifice something else. Some things that come to mind are:
-height of unit (high profile/low profile)
-BTU rating of unit
-actual performance vs. BTU rating
-noise level exterior/interior
-compatibility with condensate capture/drain
-vibration
-Heat strip compatibility/heat pump capability
-current draw at startup
-maintainability
-reliability
-common-ness of units (how easy is it to get parts/service no matter where you are)

good luck!

[eubank]

I agree with Jonathan: Performance is important, but so is profile.

In any event, replacement is, thankfully, pretty straightforward nowadays. The hole is a standard size, and no extra reinforcement of roof is required. Very different from putting a modern RV AC into a vintage rig!


Lynn

Originally Posted by Belegedhel

I have a 13,500 BTU low profile penguin that has worked just fine for the last 5 years. I can't tell you whether it is the best available or not, it is just what I chose when it was time to put a new AC on the trailer. One of the most important criteria for me was that the AC be low profile, though. Most of the responses you can get here on the forums will just be anecdotal information, and we can only comment on the latest AC success or problem we have personnally been involved with.

Your best bet may be to find an RV dealer with a repair shop, who sells a variety of rooftop ACs, and ask them their opinion. They should have some ballpark statistics on what ACs last the longest, need the most maintenance, fail the earliest, have the most complaints, etc.. Having just made that list, you should probably also put together a list of features/performance factors that you think of as important. If having a low profile unit is a requirement for you, you may have to sacrifice something else. Some things that come to mind are:
-height of unit (high profile/low profile)
-BTU rating of unit
-actual performance vs. BTU rating
-noise level exterior/interior
-compatibility with condensate capture/drain
-vibration
-Heat strip compatibility/heat pump capability
-current draw at startup
-maintainability
-reliability
-common-ness of units (how easy is it to get parts/service no matter where you are)

good luck!

[1973Argosy]

Love my Coleman Mach iii. We put it on 6 or 7 years ago and haven't had any issues from it. My trailer is vintage and painted white so the low profile model was not needed although lots of extra bracing was needed. Love having the heat strips as they do save lots of propane while cold weather camping with hook ups. The Coleman is quiet and efficient as it can keep my trailer at 70 on a 100 degree with no shade.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by eubank

I agree with Jonathan: Performance is important, but so is profile.

Lynn

I have a low profile Dometic Penguin. No mechanical problems except an occasional freeze up but it is noisy. I have been told higher profile units are less noisy.

[pteck]

I've been avidly researching this. If your priority is looking for next level performance, I would give the Dometic Blizzard NXT a look. It's still a 15k rated unit. Where it's significant advantage lies is in a much stronger and efficient blower, both to better engage the air volume to be cooled, as well as more efficient exchange of heat across the cooling coils. It also has design features like more curved airflow paths and condenser isolation, for more quiet operation.

One of their design goals was to produce a unit to help those RV's in the size range between 1-2 or 2-3 ac units. So I was particularly interested as I have a 27'FB living in sunny socal. The 27FB has a 1 or 2 ac unit option from the factory and I only have 1 12.5k dometic Pengiun. Sure, the Blizzard NXT is a tad taller than my low profile pengiun. But I rather that, than install 2x A/C units and incur the weight and power requirement penalties.

[Silver Otter]

Steve,
Great to see another 'streamer in the Albemarle/Nelson area. We're getting to be quite a bunch. We are so close to Greensboro, NC, that I suggest we take our repair // replace questions to Out Of Doors Mart. They have been GREAT to us for the past 6-7 years, including an AC replacement on our 1999 Excella 30' a few years back. Call them. Talk to the repair desk. Ask for advice and prices. I heartily recommend them. Don't let the "retro" website put you off -- http://odmrv.com/
~GH

[elbundi]

Did you go with the Blizzard NXT? If so, what do you think of your new unit? Did if fit correctly?
Did you hook up the drain tube and did you need a drain kit?

Originally Posted by pteck

I've been avidly researching this. If your priority is looking for next level performance, I would give the Dometic Blizzard NXT a look. It's still a 15k rated unit. Where it's significant advantage lies is in a much stronger and efficient blower, both to better engage the air volume to be cooled, as well as more efficient exchange of heat across the cooling coils. It also has design features like more curved airflow paths and condenser isolation, for more quiet operation.

One of their design goals was to produce a unit to help those RV's in the size range between 1-2 or 2-3 ac units. So I was particularly interested as I have a 27'FB living in sunny socal. The 27FB has a 1 or 2 ac unit option from the factory and I only have 1 12.5k dometic Pengiun. Sure, the Blizzard NXT is a tad taller than my low profile pengiun. But I rather that, than install 2x A/C units and incur the weight and power requirement penalties.

[Dspchef]

Originally Posted by Silver Otter

Steve,
Great to see another 'streamer in the Albemarle/Nelson area. We're getting to be quite a bunch. We are so close to Greensboro, NC, that I suggest we take our repair // replace questions to Out Of Doors Mart. They have been GREAT to us for the past 6-7 years, including an AC replacement on our 1999 Excella 30' a few years back. Call them. Talk to the repair desk. Ask for advice and prices. I heartily recommend them. Don't let the "retro" website put you off -- http://odmrv.com/
~GH

Hey another one from Virginia! Nice to see others somewhat in the area. I have to agree with Out-of-doors-mart. I used to live in Elon and always went there for parts and advice with our pop up. I do however, purchase things from them for our AS and they have the best customer service dept.

[kb0zke]

The front a/c died on our Foretravel last year, so we replaced it. We had been warned that the newer a/c units are MUCH noisier than those they replace. The warning was spot on. The new one cools better than the old one did, so I'm happy. Our new one is a Dometic. It could have the optional heat strips, but the manual says they are only to be on for a few minutes to take the chill off, so we decided not to spend the extra $$$.

[Iansk]

Coleman Mach 8.
Low profile, considerably quieter than the Dometic Penguin and made in the USA with fantastic customer service (unlike Dometic).

Installed an Easy start before putting it on the roof. Couldn’t be happier unless I put a mini split in.

Ian

[pteck]

Originally Posted by elbundi

Did you go with the Blizzard NXT? If so, what do you think of your new unit? Did if fit correctly?
Did you hook up the drain tube and did you need a drain kit?

Yup, yup, and yup. This thread should answer those questions:
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42...de-195288.html

[Crackerman]

Coleman mach 8 plus, heat pump and condensate pump. 15kbtu.