Do I need two air conditioners?

[Bret Holbert]

I'm considering purchasing a used (2015) Flying Cloud 23'. A salesman at a nearby AS dealership (...not the dealership that has this trailer...) said to make sure it has two AC's, as a trailer of that size needs two.

Is this correct? Will one unit sufficiently cool this size trailer?

[AirMiles]

I’m happy with my 25’ with a single A/C. I have the three awning option that I would say is required for hot climates. I rarely use the A/C and almost always use the two fantastic fans as I primarily dry camp. I would not hesitate to buy a single A/C 25’ again.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Bret Holbert

I'm considering purchasing a used (2015) Flying Cloud 23'. A salesman at a nearby AS dealership (...not the dealership that has this trailer...) said to make sure it has two AC's, as a trailer of that size needs two.

Is this correct? Will one unit sufficiently cool this size trailer?

On a 30 footer, definitely, on a 25 well I recently upgraded from a 13.5K unit to a 15K and that works fine in Florida on a partially shaded site. So my amswer would be NO, but then I know people who need to have 67°F inside.
If the one you are looking at has the full awning package (4) you should be golden, and if you plan to spend moat of your time outside even just the main awning should be enough.

[lsbrodsky]

If you search, you will find a lot of discussion on this topic. More recent discussions have centered on replacing the 13,500 btu unit that came with the 23, then, with a 15,000 btu unit, which will certainly cool a 23. I have to believe two A/C units with a total of 28,500 or 30,000 btu for a 23 is way overkill.
Larry

[perryg114]

You should not need two on a 23 unless you are in summer dessert sun. I have a 31 footer and it is fine in Alabama heat with one 15k unit.



Perry

[GMFL]

I’m the guy who swapped the 13.5 for the 15K and I feel that it was a great upgrade.
The problem with your question is the 23’ trailer are 30amp service so you cannot have 2 AC units. I am not aware of any factory 23’ that had 2 units.
The only situation I could see a need for 2 units on a 23’ trailer would be for A backup unit, but I agree that would be overkill.....

[GMFL]

I considered adding 2 AC units to my 23D when I made the upgrade to the 15k I currently have installed since I already had the 13.5k.
The plan would have been to remove the rear Fantastic Fan and install the 13.5k AC in its place. To power the second AC unit I was going to fish a piece of 12ga Romex wire down the wall from the second AC to the location beside the current 30amp receptacle on the side of the trailer. There I would cut in a separate 20amp receptacle to power the AC unit.
Then all you would have to do to run both units in a campground would be to access the 30amp service to power the trailer and then access the 20amp plug with a separate cord to power the second AC unit. Install would have been clean and you would have just needed a second cord to power both.
With all that said..... after just upgrading to the 15k I can testify that that is all you need to cool a 23’ trailer. We camp a lot in the summer at the beach, in the sun and we can now keep our unit nice and cool no matter the outside temperature.

[Mollysdad]

Let me ask, "Do you need a refrigerator? or a stove?" I camped in a tent for years and got by with almost nothing (god forbid!)
So, do you NEED two ac's? No. Want to be ready for most conditions? YES!
It was a deal breaker for me. I had to have two.

Now, the YouTube Airstream couple, LoLoHo, have only one. His answer? "Our RV came equipped with tires. So if we're hot we go north!" Works for them. Most people have schedules, and friends to meet or events to enjoy.

Keep in mind that ordering or buying a unit with two ac's means more than another unit in the hatch. It means 50 amp power too. with is HUGE!
Adding a second unit later is iffy at best.

I've never regretted my choice. If I'm sitting in the RV and I need less ac, I just run the bedroom unit. It stays quieter in the living area.
If for some reason one unit expired, I still have a backup plan.
With 50 amp power I don't think about running the ac, water heater and microwave together.
It's glamping!

[Mike G]

Our 27' has the 50 amp, two AC option, and I would not do without it. But I can't speak for smaller trailers . . .

[Bgibbs]

We have 2 a/c units and they have both been replaced twice. Last year, the front unit failed in CO. Temps were over 100 on the trip home and the bedroom unit was a lifesaver. Without it, we would have been forced to drive all the way home without spending the night. So, yes, get 2 units. Even if you only use the second unit as a backup.

[Bill M.]

If I wanted 2 airconditioners I would look at a bigger trailer. Maybe that is what the salesman is saying also. I do not live in Florida in the summer. But if I was going to do a lot of hot weather camping I would want a 50 amp with 2 AC in a 25 ‘ or larger trailer.

I would be happy with the 23 with one AC for my uses.

[uraljohn]

Originally Posted by Bret Holbert

I'm considering purchasing a used (2015) Flying Cloud 23'. A salesman at a nearby AS dealership (...not the dealership that has this trailer...) said to make sure it has two AC's, as a trailer of that size needs two.

Is this correct? Will one unit sufficiently cool this size trailer?

No, the salesperson is dead wrong. First, Airstream does not offer a 2 A/C upgrade on either 23' model. Second, having owned a 2017 23D and used it on the Outer Banks, Murtle Beach, and Melbourne, FL in the summertime I can tell you the factory installed 13,500 BTU HVAC unit does fine. Would I upgrade to a 15,000 BTU HVAC unit if the original went down? Yes, I would just to have the extra capacity and at very little extra cost.

It amazes me how little a lot of the salespeople know about the technical aspects of there product. This is not just with Airstreams but salespeople in general. They can finance you sixteen ways to Sunday but do not know that you can't get 2 A/C units on a 23' AS from the factory. The word "Idiot" come to mind.

[Rgentum]

We have a 27 with one AC, and that works for us because neither of us are comfortable in heat, we live in the Seattle area, and we intentionally don't go east or south in the heat. If we wanted to spend time in the midwest, east, or south during the summer, I'd want a 2nd AC.

One AC will drop the interior temperature around 15 degrees. So as long as we're not somewhere above 85 degrees or so, we're OK.

[Larry1492]

I have a 23fb with the factory 13.500 btu unit. At 95 degrees in the sun it runs continuous but will hold 72 degrees. If it were to fail I would replace it with the 15k but I see no reason to an a second unit
and it’s not an option anyway.

[alphamale49]

You will wish you had two air conditioners the first time you are camped in a very hot climate. Like out west, or in direct sun.

[redhat200]

23 foot airstream. Two air-conditioners. As others have stated don’t think so. We live in Southern California and have many of hot days and only have one air-conditioner for our 25 foot airstream. Never have needed it Even in the triple digits.

[ZoominC6]

In the great state of TEXAS...hell yes, especially in July and August when the THI gets up to 110 or better. Do it and you won't regret it.
Happy trails.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Mike G

Our 27' has the 50 amp, two AC option, and I would not do without it. But I can't speak for smaller trailers . . .

I have the 27’ and single AC. Have already had 93 degree days in MI where the trailer wouldn’t cool below 76 sitting in the sun, which was OK but I need 68 to 70 inside.

For a 23’ you’re probably OK but any bigger I’d get two units.

[Rob30044]

No, not with a 23’ I have a 32’ and definitely need 2 AC’s.

[cru-in]

We ordered a 25 and had a thread on one versus 2 A/Cs. In the end we chose 2 A/Cs.

IMHO, with two A/Cs, the 50 amp power cord is a drawback (heavy and unwieldy)

However, as long as you only run one A/C, you can use a 30 amp cord.