Do I need a 2nd AC unit?

[hostage46]

About to pull the trigger on a new FC28 twin.

Do I NEED a second AC unit with the ducted HVAC?

One more thing ... I'm in Dallas

[ArkFortyCal]

We went through the same decision on our 28. I can only tell you the best advise we got was its better to have it and not need then need it and not have it. This is something that cannot easily be added later like solar. We got the second unit and will wait on the solar and 16" wheels until later.

Only bad part so far with the second air-conditioning unit is the 50 amp cord is much larger / heavier. We are carrying a 25 foot 50 amp main cord and a 25 foot 30 amp extension cord with the assumption that most 50 amp hookup sites will be within 25 feet of the RV pad.

[paiceman]

This is our third AS and first with dual. Despite the pain of the 50AMP cord I don't think we would have a large AS without dual, ours is 30'. Last summer at Lake Powell in AZ it was 107 degrees in the shade, both ACs ran full time until 10:00 at night then would run off and on as the air "cooled". Actually kept the trailer very comfortable during the day and night.

Bud

[Rich Jenkins]

Need, no. Want, maybe.

If you plan to spend a lot of time in temperatures above 90, and would like the interior to be say 75 or less, a single AC is not going to work well.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by hostage46

About to pull the trigger on a new FC28 twin.

Do I NEED a second AC unit with the ducted HVAC?

One more thing ... I'm in Dallas

In Texas? Only if you want to be cool in the summer.

[EarlM]

Yes

not a serious expense when building a new trailer and adding one later will be a night mare

[m.hony]

Yes, you need a second a/c unit!

[extiger]

In Texas with the summer heat, the bedroom AC is very welcome. Yes the cord is heavier, but that has not been an issue with me. For me the 2nd AC unit is a must on the 27/30 footers at least as long as I live in this climate.

[Jack46]

As touched on here, it really comes down to where you camp and when. We just moved from the mid-Atlantic region and found that we used the second unit seldom. But, when we needed it it was great to have. When you are not going to use both heat pumps at the same time, you can work around the monster 50 amp cord by buying the 30 amp cord with the 50 amp female connector that Camping World carries. We use that cord most of the time and it is much easier to handle. Good luck!

[80Ram]

Hi, I basically asked the same question here on air forums and received a good response that two AC's is better than one. However, I called Airstream and asked them if they recommended two AC units for certain AS lengths. Their response was that the 2 AC units are zoned and that they are designed to keep the AS with in 20 degrees of the outside temp. ( 90 degrees outside 70 degrees inside) Reading between the lines here, I take it that with two AC units it would be easier to keep that 20 degree difference just don't go looking to be at 65 degrees when it's 100 degrees outside. Probably best to call them yourself and ask but that's what I got out of it.

[BAB]

My experience. I owned a 2012 28' Intl CCD. I ordered it with one A/C as I was told it would be adequate. It wasn't. This resulted in adding the 2d A/C later. I had it done at the factory, and the only upside was that it had its own external receptacle. So, if I wanted to use that unit, I had a 2d 30 amp cord. Not a real problem....I had a 50 amp pigtail that I plugged into a 50amp pedestal...there were two 30amp plug-ins on it so if I wanted to use the 2d A/C -- e.g., I was in Texas (!), I used two cables. Otherwise, just one 30 amp for the main 120V circuit. I now have a 50amp trailer, and the incredibly thick cord is a bear to deal with. Especially when it's cold! Just bite the bullet and order the trailer with 2 A/C's.

[russingr]

Yes. Like you, we live in Dallas, and we often travel to climes that are as hot or hotter than home. I don't believe that you would be sorry with two. We haven't been.

[tjdonahoe]

If only using 1 Ac , you might purchase a a 30 to 50 amp cord, mine is blue so it is very flexible when it is cold.....

[Gneiss Guy]

If you are in Texas or in the southeast, you will be glad you have two air conditioners. Our first AS was a Safari 25 with one AC and we struggled mightily to keep it cool. On our trips west, we kept aluminized bubble wrap in the windows until we got to the Rockies. That helped some, but it was still hard to cool down the trailer at the end of the day. With our FC 30, with two ACs, we are able to keep things comfortable. After cool-down, we usually sleep with the bedroom AC off, since it is quieter. When we don't need both ACs, we use a 30-amp cord, which is lighter and much easier to handle.

I don't think you will be sorry if you order the two ACs.

[dkottum]

We live in Minnesota, travel in fall, winter and spring. Never use our one air conditioner. It depends on where, when you travel. I'd take the advice of those from your part of the country.

[m.hony]

In Mississippi the 90 degrees and 95% humidity has already been here for a week or two...


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[FCStreamer]

I haven't gotten to Florida yet but am on my way. There is nothing as pleasant as the roar of two ACa at full blast in cool mode. The AS cools down in one minute. Awesome.

[paiceman]

If one unit goes down for some reason, you've got a back up. Order two.

Bud

[TXWind]

I'm also in Dallas and I have 2 a/c units in my 30 foot trailer. Here are my thoughts.

Yes one a/c will cool the trailer to 75 degrees on a hot summer day in the sun under the follow conditions: you have all four awnings out, the door stays shut, upper blinds are closed, no stove cooking, and few people in the trailer. Shade will help dramatically. Even with two a/c units this is our normal mode of operation.

However, if you have a hot trailer from travel or being out with a/c off it will be after sunset before the trailer cools to what I would consider acceptable (78 degrees) with one a/c. When cooking with a family of four and going in and out of the trailer two a/c units will struggle to keep the trailer at 74 degrees in the summer sun without the awnings out.

Much quicker cool down after travel. At the end of a road day the trailer can be quite hot. And when we get to our spot and get camp setup and start dinner we are all tired and hot. Coming into a cool trailer is a big relief.

Redundancy...... I've already had one unit replaced under warranty and it would have ruined a trip not to have had the second a/c.

Humidity, we run the smaller unit as first on and last off for humidity control in the trailer. It is my preference to try and extract as much moisture out of the trailer's environment as possible. Running the small a/c first allows me to maximize the humidity removal and use the large a/c for "final trim" of the temperature.

Wear and tear. We use the larger a/c's heat pump in the winter so it becomes the primary device for a few months of the year and this helps to balance out the usage between the two units.

Final though...... It all depend on how you plan to use the trailer. For my family we consider two a/c units to be very important to a positive camping experience in the summer.



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[m.hony]

Other considerations:
I am always cold.
My wife is always hot.
His and hers air conditioners-