How much does a 2nd A/C unit add in height

[kwf904]

Just wondering how much the total height would increase by adding the 2nd A/C unit. Also for someone who is from the northeast, is the 2nd unit necessary?
Thanks
Jim

[wingerphil]

Depends on the a/c but in general around 8"-12". We went with a low profile unit so ours is on the lower end of those numbers.

We are in the Midwest so no help with if it's needed in the Northeast. Sure has been a HUGE help here this year with temps in the upper 90's and into 100's most days for the last month.

Phil

[1retired06]

Yes, we have found that two ACs are needed enough of the time to warrant the additional cost. There are several variables in height determination to include RV model, location of the AC on the roof, tow vehicle itself, and hitch alignment and setup, Low or Normal AC unit; However figuring an additional 12 inches to your height should be a safe estimate.

[richfaa]

Just note that the A/C's are on the down slop of the roof. The high point is usually at the center of the roof. If you travel over the country you will find use for two A/C's

[BB_TX]

I added a low profile 13.5k AC on the front. It is actually lower than the vent cover that was there before.

[trlrboy]

One of the great things about having two A/Cs is that when you are watching TV in the living area you can turn that A/C off and run the bedroom and still be cool...and quiet. Reverse it at night for a quiet bedroom. Run both during the day and you'll be frosty. We have two 15K's on ours and since they both use the same duct work they really keep it nice, even in the 100's here in TX.

[NCFischers]

You don't state what model trailer that you have. On my 3665RE with the full size AC unit, I'm 13 feet tall, lower than tractor trailers.

[oldelmer1]

Hi Jim,

Glad to see ya here, you are the 3rd person from the Wildcat forum to join up, me, you, and bighornram too.

[mainer]

We live in Maine and only have the one air a/c. "IF" you plan on only staying in the Northeast you can get by. We have a fan that we keep on the dresser and that is enough for us. We have also traveled to Florida and parts of the southwest and it was okay. Somedays it would have been nice to have the 2nd a/c. It would have been more comfortable.

So on that note, our next purchase for the Big Sky will be a 2nd a/c.

Welcome to the MOC neighbor.

[Ken Ralston]

Just call a guy to have my 2nd one put in it is hot here in Ne and SD. 100 most days couldn't stand it with one. Hope it is as nice as you guys say.

[kwf904]

Thanks for the replies. Hi Tom, as you know I am in the research stage (don't own a Montana yet). I like to learn as much as I can before a big purchase. It seems that a lot of you went with an aftermarket A/C unit. Are they better than the ones that Keystone has as an option?
Thanks
Jim

[DQDick]

Unless you go with a low profile unit they are going to be from the same or a similar manufacturer. The ones Keystone uses are good. Considering how they are used you really don't see many posts on trouble and those you see are similar to what happens to units on sticks and bricks. One thing you didn't ask and should have is that no matter what you decide on the 2nd AC don't skip the double pane windows and go with the max insulation package Keystone offers. The more you have working for you the less you need working with you. We have both ducted AC's and have spent the last two weeks and will spend at least next week with daytime highs being 106-110. Both AC's do shut off and we only use one at night and we are maintaining about 74 in the daytime and 71 at night, but we have the Arctic Package and double pane windows.

[cdaniels]

We are in the process of reseaching adding the 2nd air. The reason we are going to install it is we camp alot in unshaded campsites and when it is 90 and above 1 unit stuggles to get it in the 80's. That is with pulling all our shades to keep hot sun out, pillows in all the vents,and keeping our bathroom door open since we have the side bath. We are going with the low profile Penguin II ducted into our existing duct work. The low Profile is 9.5 inches. Campingworld has a sale going on now for the unit and the install.

However, I have found out if you are doing it after market, even if your unit is prewired it must also have the wires to communicate with the thermostat if you want it ducted. Not all units have the communication wire. Lucky ours did. You also have to purschase a ceiling kit as it does not come with the unit. If you have the 5 button thermostate there is a conversion kit that will enable the 2nd air to communicate with the thermostate that will need ordered.

We have researched this for the last week. If you can order it with the unit do so. Getting it in after market is time consuming. We are going to put in a 15000 BTU as it is only a $80.00 difference. We want to run it as someone earlier said, bedroom day hrs and living rm night hours to get rid of the noise of the blower.

Good Luck! Our opinion the 2nd air is needed as our summers are getting hotter and hotter no matter where you live.

[steelpony5555]

What Ozz said is right the center of the trailer is arched and right in the middle of that arch on our trailer is 2 of our vents that have the covers on them. We just had a full size Coleman Mach installed on the front and it is still lower then the vents in the center of the roof. Now that is just an eye ballin measurement but it definitly looks like the vent is a hair higher.

[cdaniels]

We measured our unit with the Low Profile installed and the highest point of our trailer and with the low profile installed it will become the highest part of our trailer but still under 13 ft. We have the 36REQ fyi.

[troutchasers]

Jim... we canceled our 2nd AC option after our dealer told us Keystone said it would add 10 to 12 inches to our 3582. Factory installed was under $500 for the non low profile option, over 1K if done afterward with install (your milage may vary). Something to think about.

I have talked with our dealer and two other techs including Camping World about a 2nd AC install. While the theory is the Penquin low profile, if bought with the right electronics package, is suppose to work off the currently installed thermostat and ducting, it doesn't always work out that way. All the techs say well over half the installs they do they end up having to use the electronics and thermostat off the low profile Penguin, they could not get them integrated. While the cost of the Penguin low profile does include everyting to run stand alone, it would be nice to have the two units integrated.

It may very well be the techs just don't want to go the extra mile to get the two Dometic AC units to work together so they just set them up to run independently.

We decided to wait until we get into the unit for a bit before making the decision who and where to have the 2nd AC installed.

[rparte]

We live in Virginia, and so far this year, the temperatures have been soaring. We last went camping over the 4th of July. I talked about a 2nd A/C unit with my wife, but we couldn't justify the cost at this time. I purchased a small fan that we put on the bedroom dresser. The fan keeps the air moving which makes it very comfortable. I also bought 3 "Vent Cushions" at Camping World. They were about $8.00 a piece, and I put one in the bedroom vent, one in the bathroom Fantastic fan vent, and one in the kitchen Fantastic vent fan. I was pleasantly suprised how much that helped keep the temperature comfortable. If you are under the vent in the bedroom with the sun out, you can really feel the heat. With the vent cushion installed, it blocks the heat completely. I had never heard of a vent cushion until I saw it in an email from Camping World. I read many reviews but was still skeptical. I was amazed at how well they work.

[Mudchief]

What I like is that it gives you a backup if the main unit fails. When you stop IT cools down much faster with both units running.

[onekla]

We have a 2013 3100RL and we took the standard 13.5BTU out of the bedroom and replaced it with the low profile. If I remember correctly our height with the old AC was 13' 5" and with the low profile it is now 13' 1".

[onekla]

...if you have the option to, have the low profile installed at the manufacturer and save yourself some money....we found out the hard way.