Is the Heat Pump an Option? - Montana Owners Club

montyfishing · 02-09-2021, 09:15 AM

Hello Everyone.
We just purchased a slightly used 2019 Montana 3791 20th Anniversary Edition.

Does the heat pump come as an option during the build out or is it a standard piece of equipment? I do not have access to the unit until April, just wondering if we have heat pumps or not.

Thank's in advance.

**DQDick** · 02-09-2021, 10:15 AM

Our 2017 came with a heat pump in the main AC unit so I would imagine yours has one also.

jetskier · 02-09-2021, 10:27 AM

The heat pump model is only the main AC (non-bedroom). The bedroom was AC only. I added a third AC and moved the AC only unit to the kitchen vent opening and bought a new heat pump model to go in the bedroom. This way I can use both heat pumps in tandem in the ducted system. It works well down to about 33°-35°F.

montyfishing · 02-09-2021, 11:49 AM

Looks like it comes with the Cold weather package. I am still very new to the 5th. I will have to wait until April to check it out. Thanks for the info.

Monty
2019 3791RD
20th Ann. Edition

Mr Pachu · 02-09-2021, 12:13 PM

My 2015 3790RD with Legacy package did not come with a heat pump.

WeBeFulltime · 02-09-2021, 01:25 PM

Our 2018.5 3791RD came with a HP standard on the main unit.

rames14 · 02-09-2021, 03:20 PM

It was added somewhere between 2015 and 2017. Not sure of the exact year. Looking forward to it on our 2021. Good luck with your new coach.

RMcNeal · 02-10-2021, 06:32 AM

I also have a 2019 3791RD and the unit in the living room has heat pump on mine. It does a fair job down to the upper 30's to low 40's. After that, you'll need to help it a bit with electric heater, the fireplace or run the furnace.
I've been in teens to 20's at night with 40's in the day and did not need to run the furnace at all, but I did keep the inside temps in the low 60's.

montyfishing · 02-11-2021, 06:20 AM

Rob
Do you have the legacy package? Just curios, I am hoping we have the heat pump. From the sounds of it we might. Would be good on those chilly May mornings the wife hates being cold.

If we do not have the heat pump the fireplace should work and the furnace if needed.

Thanks for the info.

Monty.

RMcNeal · 02-11-2021, 06:28 AM

We do have the legacy, but as I understand it, the heat pump is not part of that package. The easiest way to tell if you have the heat pump is to cycle through the modes on your thermostat in the kitchen. Mine is over the coffee bar. You should see "Heat Pump" as one of the modes if it has one.

rames14 · 02-11-2021, 07:03 AM

The Heat Pump is part of the Four Season Living package which is on all Montana’s, listed on the brochure. I did not look at the HC.

Cat320 · 02-11-2021, 09:26 AM

Don't worry about the HP. We're on our third RV with a HP, never use them. It's no good below 40 and we prefer other sources of heat....Lasko towers.

cghsatx · 02-11-2021, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montyfishing

Hello Everyone.
We just purchased a slightly used 2019 Montana 3791 20th Anniversary Edition.

Does the heat pump come as an option during the build out or is it a standard piece of equipment? I do not have access to the unit until April, just wondering if we have heat pumps or not.

Thank's in advance.

As best as I can tell, my 2019 3731 has the heat pump in the rear bedroom, according to the micro air thermostat, plus when I raise the temp on the front living area thermostat, I hear the gas furnace come on. Have learned to put a trash can on the rear half of the floor vent in the kitchen to keep it from blowing on the thermostat

DutchmenSport · 02-12-2021, 06:40 AM

I'm pretty sure the heat pump/ac is now standard on all the 4 season models. Per the statement above, we have 2 thermostats. Both are identical. Even though the heat pump / ac is on the front unit and the rear is ac only, they both display exactly the same. Heat Pump is an option on the second thermostat, but it does nothing.

FYI, after 2 years of ownership now and using the camper almost every day, our heat pump work well till 42 degrees outside. Then it starts to diminish. When the outside temperature reaches 38, it blows nothing but cold air.

Ours is a front living room model. The fire place is in the very front and it keeps the living room pretty warm. But it does nothing for the kitchen area, 3 steps lower, even with the ceiling fan running.

The furnace, if run by itself, does keep the camper warm throughout, end-to-end. But I figure about 45-50% of the heat blows under the floor (that winter package ... that's what keeps the pipes from freezing). So, with these high ceilings, 4 slide outs, you guessed it?.... when the outside temps drop, the propane usage skyrockets. When outside temps are in the 20's, its not uncommon to run through a 30 pound tank of propane in 2 days. BUT! The pipes do not freeze up!

If using your camper when outside temps are below freezing, and you depend on electric heat only in the coach area, your pipes will freeze. The furnace has to be running to keep the underbelly heated. That is the trade off.

RMcNeal · 02-12-2021, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

I'm pretty sure the heat pump/ac is now standard on all the 4 season models. Per the statement above, we have 2 thermostats. Both are identical. Even though the heat pump / ac is on the front unit and the rear is ac only, they both display exactly the same. Heat Pump is an option on the second thermostat, but it does nothing.

FYI, after 2 years of ownership now and using the camper almost every day, our heat pump work well till 42 degrees outside. Then it starts to diminish. When the outside temperature reaches 38, it blows nothing but cold air.

Ours is a front living room model. The fire place is in the very front and it keeps the living room pretty warm. But it does nothing for the kitchen area, 3 steps lower, even with the ceiling fan running.

The furnace, if run by itself, does keep the camper warm throughout, end-to-end. But I figure about 45-50% of the heat blows under the floor (that winter package ... that's what keeps the pipes from freezing). So, with these high ceilings, 4 slide outs, you guessed it?.... when the outside temps drop, the propane usage skyrockets. When outside temps are in the 20's, its not uncommon to run through a 30 pound tank of propane in 2 days. BUT! The pipes do not freeze up!

If using your camper when outside temps are below freezing, and you depend on electric heat only in the coach area, your pipes will freeze. The furnace has to be running to keep the underbelly heated. That is the trade off.

Ours is a front bedroom, rear den model. The Heat Pump option only displays on the thermostat in the kitchen which controls the rear unit. Front/bedroom thermostat only shows AC and Furnace, but the Furnace option doesn't seem to do anything.
To save on propane, you can get the heat pump to operate at lower temps by supplementing with electric heat inside. I have 2 electric heaters and position one of them so that the return ducts on the rear unit pick up the warmer air and recirculate it throughout the coach. I also purchased remote thermometers and put one in the belly and one in the basement so I could make sure there was no danger of freezing pipes.
By using electric heaters with the heat pump, I can keep the inside of the coach livable even down into the 20's outside. Inside temps will maintain 60-65 and the belly and basement never went below 40 without using any propane at all. Much below 20 and I will need to kick the furnace on from time to time. HTH.

Theunz · 02-12-2021, 06:59 AM

Is the heat pump option a real heat pump similar to a residential unit, or is it just an electric heat strip positioned in the air flow?

RMcNeal · 02-12-2021, 07:02 AM

AFAIK, it is an actual heat pump. It basically runs the AC in reverse.

DutchmenSport · 02-12-2021, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

AFAIK, it is an actual heat pump. It basically runs the AC in reverse.

Correct!

mike18708 · 02-14-2021, 01:47 PM

We have the 2019 3791RD and it did come with a heat pump as standard equipment. BTW, the heat pump works quite well. Even though the living room unit is the heat pump, the cross over ducting provides some heat in the bedroom.

cghsatx · 02-14-2021, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

I also have a 2019 3791RD and the unit in the living room has heat pump on mine. It does a fair job down to the upper 30's to low 40's. After that, you'll need to help it a bit with electric heater, the fireplace or run the furnace.
I've been in teens to 20's at night with 40's in the day and did not need to run the furnace at all, but I did keep the inside temps in the low 60's.

Out of all the replies, the heat pump is always reported to be on the front AC unit. Mine is on the rear AC unit/rear bedroom (2019 3731). I had the roof repaired a couple of years ago (don't ask!) and I wonder if they reversed the units, and if it matters?

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