What size Air Conditioner to buy

[ventport]

I need a new air conditioner for my 24 foot 1977 Argosy. What size (BTU's) should I get?

[StreamRollin]

I say get the largest one you can, which is the 15000. Then you'll have plenty of cool air.
Jim

[billymyers56]

I have a 13,500 in a 22 foot. More than enough in 100 degree Texas heat.

[azflycaster]

I put a 13.5K unit on my 75 25' Trade Wind. It will keep the trailer in the mid 70s when over 100 degrees in full sun.

[dznf0g]

I believe, where you live and the size of the trailer, 13,500 is plenty.

[rodsterinfl]

I guess I am the dissenter here. I would suggest the 11,500K BTU unit. I have a 25' WB and so far the AC has been more than adequate for Florida; however, using two relative humidity instruments I have noted that unless it is afternoon (hotter outside), the unit does not pull the humidity out of the interior, even when it is in the eighties in the evening or morning outside. That is a sign of too large a unit- cooling faster than it pulls the humidity, ending in a cool but damp environment. AC's should work harder to do what they do or that is the result. My unit balances out in the late afternoon. The last time I checked it (before buying the dehumidifier to help) the late morning temp inside was 71 degress with 60% humidity. That afternoon it indicated 76 degrees and 48% humidity. Note the temperature is lower than I wanted but I had to run it on a higher setting for the compressor to run and pull humidity out. IMO, the optimum is around 78 degrees but with mid forties R.H. Fifty five percent R.H. or higher and you breed mold mildew, etc. There is no way to adjust for humidity on a regular AC. It is determined only by how long the compressor runs. Bigger units run less. Consider that the AS is about 150-160 square feet or a small bedroom (house) size. A small window AC 10,000 BTU in a house will cool down a room 18x14 (252 sq feet) easily. This happened this year when our house AC went out and we used our window unit for over a week waiting for the replacement. It cooled the bedroom and part of the living room comfortably in 90 degree weather.

[ZoominC6]

While it has been said that "Less is more." we think maybe not in the case of ACs for our beloved Airstream. We changed ours out from 13 to 15 some years back and have not regretted it one little bit. Good luck.

[xrvr]

I think you are correct. I have a 1350 in my 25 ft. It is more than I need even in 95 degree temps. An 1100 would work a nd allow me to use a 2000 Hona gen. I prefer inside temp at around 82 degrees, jim

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by ZoominC6

While it has been said that "Less is more." we think maybe not in the case of ACs for our beloved Airstream. We changed ours out from 13 to 15 some years back and have not regretted it one little bit. Good luck.

I would agree, as a fellow 30'er. But OP has a 24'er. My 13,500 has been OK so far....but marginal in the weather we now have....but it is 6' longer and 6" wider than OP...that is a considerable amount of more volume and surface area for sun load....plus a 30'er has more window area, I believe.

[richinny]

maybe lewster will chime in here. my experience is with 34's so not a lot of help here. a lot will depend on where you plan to travel and how cool you need it to be. the rear unit (13.5) cools the rear rater quickly. in the shade at 98* it would still cycle quickly. maybe a bit too quickly.

i've notice that a humity sensor is an option on the unit. try to find a unit with this feature if you go on the large size.

something i've never seen mentioned is the inside of the trailer being bare or covered. i've only experienced the mouse fur and i've read that it makes a difference in winter so i assume it makes a difference with heat too.

the amount of windows is a factor too.

all these factors makes for a range of opinions :-)

[Ridgerunner3]

I am in the process of deciding on a new AC unit for my 02 Safari 25. During our travels this summer we have found that after a day of driving in the heat the 11,000 btu AC does not remove the heat from the AS for many hours. Typically we stopped around 4:00 pm at a road side campground and it would be an hour after dark before the trailer temp fell below 80. Temp inside the trailer when we stopped would be 100. Roadside campgrounds typically have no shade. We would put out the awnings to shade the trailer. AC outlet temp difference from trailer ambient temp would run around 20 degrees. The 11000 btu AC appears to be beyond its' capability with these conditions.

I am leaning hard towards a 15,000 btu unit. I do not want to spend major bucks just to find out a 13,500 can't cool down the AS in a reasonable amount of time after a long day of traveling.

If my trailer sat still in the shade the 11000 or 13500 may be fine. I just don't know if the 13,500 will meet our needs with our travel habits. It seems either way I go with sizing will be a gamble on performance.

[mikeajana]

Hope no one minds a resurrected thread,
What size would the original have been?