50amp dual AC option

[Dmvp]

Hi All - We're looking to sell our 2020 Bambi 20' FB (will be posted on the sale forum soon) and go with the 27 FB international with the bunk option (growing family, need more space!). I wanted to see how necessary it is to have the dual A/C option. We do a fair amount of boondocking, and only run the a/c if hooked to shore power currently. I'm mostly wondering if the one a/c wouldnt be powerful enough to cool the whole trailer even if the vents are closed on the other side. Thanks for the advice!

[kscherzi]

The answer depends if you plan to camp in south Texas or Leadville Colorado during the summer.

[Dmvp]

So lets say we do camp in Texas in the middle of summer with 100% humidity...would one a/c keep it below 85 degrees or nah

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by Dmvp

So lets say we do camp in Texas in the middle of summer with 100% humidity...would one a/c keep it below 85 degrees or nah

Data point. Actual test run of our 22’ 2007 International CCD with one air conditioner in the heat commenced at 11:30 in El Paso Texas, September 2019. 98 degrees and 98 percent humidity outside.

We were running on a Champion 3400 inverter generator on propane from the Airstream propane regulator. Generator sitting in the truck bed. Genset engine running a bit above idle after short warmup on economy mode. Full sun exposure. One dinette shade opened to see outside. All vents shut.

Two humans and four small dogs aboard. Cranked AC on full speed blower for about 20 minutes to get to a more or less comfortable 75 degrees maintained inside for about two hours.

Personally I would go with two air conditioning units on a bigger Airstream for redundancy. If one quits you have a fallback position on a 27 footer. I’d put MicroAir EasyStart units on both of them so a 3400 watt inverter could haul both of them at the same time.

[brick1]

Get the 59 amp/dual AC. Having 100 amps system capacity allows you to run both AC’s and hot water and the microwave, etc. And you will be cooler.

[Gtx Eng]

We purchased our 27' FC a couple months ago from the Austin dealership. According to my salesman, they always order dual HP units unless the customer specifically and against their recommendation requests a single HP unit. They do this for cooling in the Central Texas summer.

[Acheron2010]

Two is one and one is none.

[McStreamy_]

We have one AC on our 25' and wish we had two when camping in the summer. We are in Arizona which is like camping in a toaster sometimes, but the one AC works hard for less than ideal cooling. And like others have said, you can always get the dual AC and just use one if that's all you need. I'm a big fan of having options.

[GOUSC]

We were in Big Bend Nat'l Park mid-Oct, 2019. I can't remember how hot it was during the day but 80 degrees at 10:00 pm. We have a 27' Globetrotter with dual A/C's. Set the thermostat at 80 with both running and they never shut off. The 50 Amps is a big plus as well with a family.

[AgBullet]

Two is better, as Acheron says. Plus, will likely help your resale down the line.

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by Dmvp

I'm mostly wondering if the one a/c wouldnt be powerful enough to cool the whole trailer even if the vents are closed on the other side. Thanks for the advice!

Running continuously, 1 AC unit will be able to lower the temperature in that trailer by about 15° to 20°F in the sunny, hot, humid South Texas afternoons.

But I think you're asking the wrong question. Humidity level is much more important for personal comfort than is absolute temperature. We find it took 2 AC units to get things really comfortable inside during the daytime.

A single unit is quite adept at nighttime cooling, although we still needed 2 to get down to our perfect sleeping comfort levels.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Data point:

One AC running on a 30'. 95 on the weather report. Closer to 105 out in the sun in the parking lot. No wind, no awnings out. All the shades drawn. Never made it below 85 (and 100% RH indoors) all day long.

Welcome to New Jersey in June.

Since then, as long as there is shade / breeze and the humidity isn't up around 100%, things work pretty well.

Bob

[cegardner]

We ordered dual 27 fb serenity 2018. Never regretted. In Iowa 94 with 90% humidity a life saver. Note! We had to remove the vent covers. With both ac going we were still 90 degrees. Took off vent covers and temp dropped 15 degrees in 10 minutes Put our old screen vent covers back on. The covers we had just obstructed the airflow.

[D-Rod]

Originally Posted by Dmvp

Hi All - We're looking to sell our 2020 Bambi 20' FB (will be posted on the sale forum soon) and go with the 27 FB international with the bunk option (growing family, need more space!). I wanted to see how necessary it is to have the dual A/C option. We do a fair amount of boondocking, and only run the a/c if hooked to shore power currently. I'm mostly wondering if the one a/c wouldnt be powerful enough to cool the whole trailer even if the vents are closed on the other side. Thanks for the advice!

As someone who was born, raised, lives and camps in Texas, I will tell you that the having the duel A/C’s is not an option but a must have.

[kittmaster]

Dual airs here in a 2019 for only 2 people in Rhode island...we like it around 71F and both do that efficiently and allows ACs to recover. Get 2, you won't regret it.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Recovery is indeed an issue.

You pull into someplace with a trailer at 110 degrees inside. The family wants to get this or that going. With one A/C and 100 degrees / 95% RH in the full sun .... a single isn't going to do much good. You need the pair to get things cooled off in a reasonable amount of time.

Bob

[stevejones]

Another consideration is today's ducted systems. I think for those with older trailers where the AC unit is blowing directly into the coach, one AC does a better job of cooling than in the newer trailers with the ducted system. If you're getting a new trailer with the ducted system I think you'll appreciate two ACs and 50A service.

Steve

[Gibson3798]

Had a 2020, 25 ft. FC with one AC. Knew immediately that 2 AC's were the way to go and traded up to a 28 ft. Int..

Won't be sorry if you get two AC's. Otherwise, perhaps you will.

[LiveStreamn]

At a minimum, two AC units provide redundancy. If one goes down you have one. If you only have one and one goes down, you have none.

[Lisa Pile]

If you are in Texas in the spring, summer or early fall you will need the 2 Acs. Definitely.