Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-29-2019, 03:11 PM   #1
New Member
 
Albuquerque , New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
Are air ducts needed?

I am debating purchasing a used 2013 30ft int signature w/o air ducts versus a 2015 30ftFC with. They both have 2 ACs does it really matter much?
k_med_03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2019, 03:41 PM   #2
Registered User
 
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Fairfield , California
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 905
Air Ducts are quieter and the conditioned air is better distributed, not necessary just comfort.
Mattirs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2019, 04:08 PM   #3
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,674
Hi

Without the ducts you get a direct blast of cold air right out of the unit. Stand in exactly the right place and "wow this is great". Sit somewhere out of the direct blast and ....not so much. As mentioned above, the ducts also quiet things down.

Is any of this make or break? Certainly not.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2019, 06:32 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
2018 30' Classic
Jacksonville , Florida
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 724
Ducted distribution systems give better, read more uniform, temperature. It allows front AC to cool the back and vice versa. No duct and the air just doesn't get there. Get some fans. Note when on 30 amps you likely will be limited to one AC.

More importantly is the question how are they controlled? If it is thermostaticly controlled......like a house .... that's a good thing. But if it just has high low switches on the units themselves and the fan runs all the time. You won't want to spend a lot of time in air conditioning. TV , television not tow vehicle, watching is stressed.

This set up is more like the inexpensive model RVs. No it isn't required, but you'll want it.
Overstreet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2019, 09:26 AM   #5
2 Rivet Member
 
VDR928's Avatar
 
2012 23' FB International
Charlotte , NC
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 79
We have a 2012 without the vented and love it. We sleep with Alexa’s “thunderstorm” and a fan at home so we love the white noise. We also love how easy it would be to replace if it goes out. Ours is controlled by a thermostat and does a fantastic job of cooling. We can close off either side, or the middle vents, also! We love it!
VDR928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2019, 09:54 AM   #6
Moderator
 
jcanavera's Avatar

 
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton , Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,401
Images: 143
Send a message via AIM to jcanavera Send a message via Skype™ to jcanavera
I've only owned one trailer with ducted air which was an SOB. Quite honestly I like the ductless units because they are much more efficient. You get no back pressure which is present on any forced air system (even your house). In that respect most HVAC folks will tell you that most home systems are not running at peak efficiency since builders do not build enough return and distribution capacity in home systems. I question how much Airstream takes that into consideration in the engineering design.

I only state that because of my discussions with Airstream in Jackson center when I was complaining about the performance of my air conditioner that came in my 2001 27' Safari. No one after talking to many there, could tell me what the design level was for the air conditioning choice for my Safari. (Specifically what is the indoor temperature I should expect based on various outdoor temperatures). I was finding it was 12-15 degrees dependent upon sun exposure. Both my dealer and Jackson Center who checked the air conditioner could not find any issue, although no one would go on record with a figure. All they could say was input air and discharge air temps were within manufacturer's specs. But in my case the inside air volume that the unit had to cool was larger than what at the time, the 13.5 K air conditioner could handle in hotter weather.

But going back to the topic at had, my dealer said that while quiet is a definite advantage in the ducted system, he notes that in his experience the ducted units cool down slower due to duct restriction. I know with my single unit in my 30' Classic, I have discharge vents this push to the forward area of the trailer and then back through my center bath into the rear bedroom. I find that air distribution is just fine as long as the center bath doors are open. Not so much when they are closed but there is pass through openings when the door is closed.

Yes it is louder but I also use the auto setting on my thermostat that controls the A/C. So when the inside set point is reached, the fan turns off. That minimizes the time when the air is on, and obviously the trailer is very quiet. The auto function also selects the fan speed that is appropriate for inside air temperatures. When the trailer is cooling down, the fan speed runs at max, but once we approach set point the motor is dialed down. That allows more humidity to be removed since the unit will run a little longer, but will not be max cooling which while it gets temps down, will not remove as much humidity in the interior.

So bottom line, keep in mind that the Airstream is not the most efficient trailer out there regarding insulation and how aluminum absorbs sunshine. If I was buying a newer 30' trailer with ducts, I'd have two A/C units present. If in the same size it was ductless I would go with one (assuming it was a 15K unit.....15K was an option and I took that when I had my trailer built).

If you are doing most of your camping in the south and southwest, I'd definitely have two units regardless of ducting or lack of.

As far as which to buy, it depends on price and condition of the trailer. Choose whichever you would think is best for your circumstances, although based on your locale, I'd probably check the BTU's of each unit and go with the trailer that has the largest BTU ratings if there is any difference. Based on the years of the trailers I would expect each trailer to have the same sized units.

Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
jcanavera is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2019, 03:21 PM   #7
Stay CazuaL
 
cazual6's Avatar
 
2018 25' Flying Cloud
2014 19' Flying Cloud
Reseda , California
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 958
Images: 1
Short Answer: Ducted!

Background: I have had both types. Ducted is a night and day difference especially in noise and distribution IHMO.
__________________
"No job is so simple that it cannot be done wrong."
"Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege."
WBCCI 9164
*Virtual campfire at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Airs...dictsforAdults
cazual6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2019, 03:47 PM   #8
2 Rivet Member
 
RobH41's Avatar
 
2016 25' Flying Cloud
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Currently Looking...
Nashville , Tennessee
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 46
After having both, I would go with the ducted system for the lower noise and better air distribution. I will report that the overhead duct vent covers in my 2016 FC would routinely fall out on trips until I took all of them out and got rid of the restrictive plastic "adjustable shutter" portion of these vents and opened the angles on the vent cuts in the visible metal to allow more air flow with less restriction. I then re-installed just that metal slotted cover via a threaded center bolt into an aluminum bar spanning the ceiling openings on the inside and pop-riveted in place. The covers can still be adjusted as to directional flow. The increased air flow is quite a lot and the covers do not fall out now.
__________________
2016 Flying Cloud 25 FB with stern mounted Fiammia Bike rack. TV is 2006 LBZ GMC 2500HD with Gale Banks Engineering engine package. 40 gallon Aux. diesel tank. Front maneuvering hitch. Rancho XL shocks. WBCCI 5173
RobH41 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2019, 08:38 PM   #9
Winzlow
 
1978 31' Sovereign
Whiteland , Indiana
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 8
Ducted is so much better, I’m installing a Ducted Coleman Mach 8 in a 78 Sovereign now. As for as return air, it is no different than a non ducted unit, same location, same size return. I’m fabrication my own ducts from Aluminum. I might add insulation is the key. I’m using 1.5 commercial foam that is a sandwich type that is suppose to have the highest R value per inch of anything on the market.I’ll see when it is delivered .
NeilRR44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 08:10 PM   #10
lmk
1 Rivet Member
 
lmk's Avatar
 
2018 30' Flying Cloud
Georgetown , Texas
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobH41 View Post
After having both, I would go with the ducted system for the lower noise and better air distribution. I will report that the overhead duct vent covers in my 2016 FC would routinely fall out on trips until I took all of them out and got rid of the restrictive plastic "adjustable shutter" portion of these vents and opened the angles on the vent cuts in the visible metal to allow more air flow with less restriction. I then re-installed just that metal slotted cover via a threaded center bolt into an aluminum bar spanning the ceiling openings on the inside and pop-riveted in place. The covers can still be adjusted as to directional flow. The increased air flow is quite a lot and the covers do not fall out now.
Dear RobH41, I am also having problem with vent covers falling. Appears openings are slightly too large. Would you be more specific on your remedy? Sure appreciate your help. Thank you, Jerry
__________________
2018 Flying Cloud 30RB
2020 Ford F250 7.3 V8 gas 4WD
lmk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
furnace ducts?? 76argosy28ft Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 16 05-29-2023 07:01 PM
Ducted Air Ducts uraljohn 2016 - Current International 0 03-17-2018 08:54 PM
Condensation in 2016 23FB air ducts - normal? great2beadaw Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 0 06-23-2016 03:50 PM
Heat Ducts Dr Dan Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 0 08-10-2010 01:53 PM
Furnace Ducts Chip Arnold Furnaces, Heaters, Fireplaces & Air Conditioning 9 11-26-2008 08:10 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.