Southern Folk Chime in on BTU!

GolfStream · 03-10-2008, 11:31 AM

I'm considering upgfrading my 2006 19 foot Bambi for a 2007 28 foot International (I figure if I'm going bigger, I'm going for it.) I have found two units and the only difference is the BTU's on the A/C. Does the 15000 BTU a/c cool down a 28 foot international all that much faster / more efficiently over a 13500 btu unit??

I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. GOOD AC IS A MUST FOR FOUR TO SIX MONTHS EACH YEAR.

thanks!

Bambi_Bandit · 03-10-2008, 11:41 AM

I also went from a 19' Bambi to a 28', only to have the 28' with a 13.5K struggle in Texas heat. You really notice it struggle in full sun, no shade... I only had the main awning on the 28'.

My current 27FB (only 1 inch longer then the 28 I had) has the 15K. I like it much better.....

It is more efficent to cool after traveling in the hot summer humid day than the 13.5 was. The 15K seems to be able to get ahead of the curve from a dead summer heat (sitting or traveling all day in the sun), but the 13.5 could never get enough "oomph"...

Fyrzowt · 03-10-2008, 11:43 AM

I don't live in the south, but...
My wife is from Houston and I've spent some time there. My personal view would be to go big on the A/C just like you did on the trailer. It's easier to do it now than wish you did it later.
From what others who own larger trailers in the South have posted, bigger is better when it comes to A/C.
Dave

**jcanavera** · 03-10-2008, 12:55 PM

Go for the 15K unit. I had a 27 foot Safari in which the 13.5K unit in my opinion was undersized for the hot Missouri summers. I made sure to get the optional 15K unit when I ordered my 30' Classic.

Jack

REDNAX · 03-10-2008, 08:11 PM

No such as thing as too much A/C capacity when the sun hits that metal. It really pays to find a space with afternoon shade.

2airishuman · 03-10-2008, 08:20 PM

hi golf...

the primary differences between the 13.5 and 15k units are condenser/cooling coil sizes and a a slightly bigger squirrel cage fan...

oh, and price.

they are within 2 lbs of each other and have basically the same electrical specs and mechanicals.

on long days of cooling and dehumidifying the 10% more btu should be significant.

IF the only improvement is 10% less running time, that's enough, because these things are noisy.

the 15k does fine in my 34 but i often close the bedroom and bath area off just to reduce the work load in mid day heat...

IF you go much bigger than 28 ft, consider 2 ac units for south florida summers.

cheers
2air'

HiHoAgRV · 03-10-2008, 09:05 PM

As a pal in the airconditioning business says-
You need enought B.T.U.'s to cool a B.U.T. the size of a T.U.B.

elolson · 03-10-2008, 09:06 PM

For the bigger units (34') with no shade, even 15k is not enough. To get even remotely less that a heat pit you will have to close off the front from the back and install a second until in the bedroom where the fantastic fan is and then close off the front as you switch between them to keep under the 30amp limit, or install a 50amp $$ervice.

Go with as much BTU as you can, if you are stuck in the sun in the summer (Globe,AZ in a parking lot for two weeks in July '07 with 116 deg) then you need professional AC, not this amateur garbage.

So to answer your question, you will never regret the 15k choice if you live where it can get hot and sunny.

Sugarfoot · 03-10-2008, 09:15 PM

Go with 15K. You'll thank yourself for choosing so wisely.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 03-10-2008, 11:03 PM

Hi, while you have a choice, go for the 15K unit. You can always turn it down if it gets too cool inside, but you can't turn the smaller unit any higher than it's max if it's not cool enough. Or, it's cheaper to pay the extra $$$$ now than to pay for an upgrade later. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

**overlander63** · 03-11-2008, 05:02 AM

15K, no question. In this case, size does matter. Way back when, I even put a 15K on our 20' trailer.

Midamrail · 03-11-2008, 07:23 AM

We have a 13.5K in our vintage 31-footer (which, given the narrower body, is more similar to the interior space of the trailer you're considering), and it can not keep up when it's anything more than 80 degrees. But the 15K in our 25-footer is outstanding, and we won't have anything but from now on, even though our Yamaha 2400 generator won't run it by itself.

bookman · 08-07-2008, 08:36 AM

Do you really want to SWEAT a few bucks from now on????

REDNAX · 08-16-2008, 03:31 PM

15K units are great, but still not enough if temps and humidity are high, when one has a long trailer (and no shade).

I've been thinking that my best route would be to install two 13.5's if I ever want to start using this trailer in the summer, and not have to drive 1,000 miles to a cooler climate.

Can't say I'll actually do it, but I have seen two 34' A/S trailers from Texas with two roof A/C units.