Front AC unit on Newer Lifestyles with Return Air

The return air ducted system on 2013+ Lifestyles (maybe earlier?) is much quieter than the old ducted system that required the rooftop unit to protrude into the room and itself be the return air plenum.

My 2013 Lifestyle has only one ac unit. Are the second units that some of you have located above the bed replacing the ceiling fan (essentially the same old internally ducted units) OR is there another  front location for mounting a 2nd ac unit that utilizes the existing ducted return air system, and thus do not where you do not see the ac from inside the 5er??  If so, where is it?

I suspect a lot of post sale 2nd ac units were the same old stuff. My question is directed to owners that had the 2nd ac installed at the factory or otherwise do not see the 2nd ac unit from inside the 5er.

yes, I need to change my signature, but I still have the great 2010.

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

Topic

[PartimewagesParticipantTopics - 4Replies - 62Total - 66]

John, We have the second bedroom unit and it is mounted and ducted as the rear unit. They both utilize some of the same duct but each have their own duct also it seems. You can not see the bedroom unit from inside. I’m not where I can look but the next trip I will try to remember to look. I think it is just about center of the bed. Hope that helps.

Are you thinking of adding the second unit?

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

PartTime,

Yes, I bought this 2013 in NH and one ac is fine, but I cannot help but believe that I will need a 2nd in FL, traveling long hot muggy days up and back, and out west.

Does one thermostat control both ac units?

Is your rear unit a heat pump?

Where is the second thermostat located?

If no second thermostat, is there a temperature sensor in the bedroom?  If so where?

Do you also gave a skylight or fan in the bedroom, off center a bit to the drivers side of the tow vehicle?

I am asking all there questions because I want the 2nd to act like the first – SO MUCH QUIETER.  I don’t just want to cut a hole in the ceiling and drop in the old style ducted but no return air unit.  If I don’t know where to look for thermostat or sensor wires I will never find them or get it right.  Finding a second unit is a whole other task.

Sounds like there is a low profile Mach 15 to replace the Mach 8, be it an ac or a heat pump.  I have a 15k Mach 8 heat pump in the rear.  No vendor will know how a Lifestyle was built, so asking 5em which one without your feedback is likely to result in a cobble job.

I have installed 2nd ac units in 2 rigs (old style no return duct, and very old style no ducts at all.  Also replaced several Carrier units that crapped out.  I usually rent scaffolding for 1/2 day to get the ac unit on the roof, but I cannot do that here and weather has been way to unpredictable if I could.  Don’t want an open hole with unexpected problems when a tornado is rolling in.

 

Thanks in advance for the answers you can provide sooner, and also for the answers that will need to be later

 

 

 

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

Can anyone with a Lifestyle that has two air conditioners that cannot be seen from the inside of the 5er tell me where the thermostat for the bedroom ac unit is?

FYI, my 2013 Lifestyle 36FWS has a fantastic fan off to the drivers side of the bedroom.  It’s control switches are by the bathroom sliding door.  I need any response, but if someone has both the fan and a second ac initial in the bedroom please respond also because thermostat location may differ.

pS, I have the heat pump in the rear.

Thank you in advance.

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[jlsrParticipantTopics - 15Replies - 118Total - 133]

Hi,

We have a 2015 Lifestyle LS36FW with 2 coleman ACs. The bedroom AC thermostat is on the wall going into the bathroom from inside bedroom. It controls just the bedroom AC. Rear AC control is on the wall going up the stairs. Both are ducted with no inside AC visible.

I can take a pic of the bedroom AC thermostat location and try to upload if that will help.

 

2015 Lifestyle Luxury RV LS36FW FBP
2019 GMC 3500HD Denali Dually
TrailerSaver TS3 air ride hitch

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

Jlsr,

MANY THANKS!

a photo would help, but shrinking them can be a pain.

as you walk from the bedroom into the bathroom through the sliding door, is the bedroom ac thermostat on the left or the right of that sliding door?  (My fan control is on the left – maybe there is an extra set of wires there.)

I presume the bedroom ac thermostat controls everything on the bedroom ac unit – it’s mode, fan speed and temp setting?

is there a separate temperature sensor someplace obvious in the bedroom?

Does bedroom thermostat look just like your main ac thermostat going up the steps? (If your rear is not a heat pump, thermostats are likely the same yet probably different than my heat pump thermostat; just need to know).  My heat pump thermostat is also located like yours – going up the stairs.

do you have a fan or skylight in the bedroom a little to the drivers side above the bed?

i do have the breaker setup for 2nd ac.

thank you

 

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[jlsrParticipantTopics - 15Replies - 118Total - 133]

I will try to answer for you.

From within the bedroom Thermostat is on the left side of the sliding door opening.  Approx 2″ from door jam and 20″ from ceiling.

It controls everything for the bedroom unit. Has button for fan mode, thermostat , and fan speed. Up and down arrows for temp control.

It is the same as the control for the rear unit minus the setting for gas heat. Only rear thermostat controls gas furnace. Rear unit has heat pump also.

We do not have a fan or skylight in bedroom.

Each ac unit is on its own breaker.

Our units are both coleman, and the original ones. Still working in this awful 112 degree heat here in Texas!

Hope this helps.

 

 

2015 Lifestyle Luxury RV LS36FW FBP
2019 GMC 3500HD Denali Dually
TrailerSaver TS3 air ride hitch

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

Jl,

Perfect, this is just what I needed. I am hoping that there is an extra set of wires behind my fan control in that bedroom location.

I forgot about the gas heat.  Yup, me too.  Yes, 15k low profile Coleman Mach-8 for me.  I think low profiles are available in Mach 10 or 15 now.

So, if you look up at your bedroom roof from the bed of your truck parked a bit away, is your bedroom ac in the middle left to right, or is it a foot or more towards the drivers side?

one unit works fine in NH in 87 degrees so long as it goes down to 70 at night.  No way will it be good enough for Florida or Texas. I presume 2 keep you pretty comfortable in 107?

 

thank you.

 

john

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[jlsrParticipantTopics - 15Replies - 118Total - 133]

Our rear unit is the mach 15, and front is low profile mach 8. Both are 15k and do a good job keeping it cool in our rig in this ridiculous heat.  This is our last summer in TX, we retire at the end of the year and are out of here !

I will take a look at the rooftop after it cools down some this evening to verify location but I believe it is right in the middle l to rt.  Too hot out there right now !

Yes you will definitely want another unit in FL ….

I do have a table top fan on all the time in bedroom and living room to help the cool air move around. We keep it at 78 and they do cycle normally except between 3 pm and about 7pm they run non stop.

Hope you find it already wired up for a 2nd unit !

 

2015 Lifestyle Luxury RV LS36FW FBP
2019 GMC 3500HD Denali Dually
TrailerSaver TS3 air ride hitch

[PartimewagesParticipantTopics - 4Replies - 62Total - 66]

Sorry for the delay. I received a whole bunch of notices this morning!

Ours 2nd unit was factory. Stat on the left wall going into the bathroom from the bedroom. It’s a factory ducted but rattles and is noisy. We also have to fantastic fan in the bathroom.

If I was redoing I might go with the RecPro low profile. A friend has one in his ambulance conversion and it’s pretty quiet and has a remote control. You would only need the hole and 120volt. Might be easier. https://www.recpro.com/rv-air-conditioner-low-profile-9-5k-quiet-ac-with-remote-control-non-ducted/

We have 15k w/hp in back and 13.5 in front. I just replaced the rear last year. If I have to replace anymore I’m going to move to the mini split with ceiling cassette. They have them that fits between 16″ rafters now and 2-3 times more efficient.

Again sorry for the delay!

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

What is a mini split and who makes it?

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[PartimewagesParticipantTopics - 4Replies - 62Total - 66]

It consists of an outdoor condenser/evaporator and 1 to 7 indoor ductless heads. There’s a separate line set for each head. The outdoor unit is variable speed to match the indoor heads load. Depending upon size and condition you can achieve 25-30 seer. Usually 16-22. They are heat pumps also and can usually run from 0 or below up to 100+ degrees. None that I have found are RV rated but nothing usually is unless it is from RV world. They usually have a remote control for the indoor unit. No low voltage tstat to run just the cable that runs from the outdoor to indoor unit per head. All the power is run to the outdoor unit.

Big drawback is most of the units would need to be 1.5 tons 18k btu’s and are 240 volts so you need a transformer to convert the 120 to 240 but not a deal breaker.

I have nearly 40 years HVAC and Electrical background so this isn’t just a wild idea. It will take all the big stuff off the roof, lower your overall height and probably weight. Not to mention you can cover the roof with solar panels.

Probably 2-3k materials and then some labor if you don’t do it all yourself.

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

JLSR,

 

Did you ever take a look at your roof?  Is the front A/C unit centered left to right, or is off center a bit to the drivers’s side?

Probably too much to ask, but if you are ever on the roof, I could use the measurement between the metal trim on the 5er’s front cap back to both the front and back of the A/C unit.

I do have the 2nd 120 breaker and the thermostat wires in the wall where you indicated – long enough for thermostat to be mounted next to the switch for the fantastic fan in the bedroom. That fan is mounted off center towards the drivers side but suspect a similar distance back from the trim holding the 5er’s front cap.

in the old days(2010), you could not have the fan and ac unit, but hope that is no longer the case

Thank you in advance.

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[jlsrParticipantTopics - 15Replies - 118Total - 133]

Ours appears centered left to right. We can do some measuring for you when we go back up there . Might be the weekend before we can do that though.

2015 Lifestyle Luxury RV LS36FW FBP
2019 GMC 3500HD Denali Dually
TrailerSaver TS3 air ride hitch

[JohnD222ParticipantParticipantTopics - 8Replies - 518Total - 526]

Thank you all for your comments so far?

new questions –

Do any of you have heat pumps in front as well as the rear?

For those with front ac or heat pump units, did any of you get one initially installed after the factory build? I ask because there are instructions for top down mounting indicating that a “factory” metal mounting plate much larger than the straight thru 14×14 hole needs to be in place to accept the top down mounting bolts.  I also ask because there needs to be within the 14×14 opening a full height separation between outside air and inside air that cannot be installed from below.

 

JohnD222
Based in Florida except summer
2013 36FWS Lifestyle (our great 2010 Cameo 36FWS has happy owners)

[PartimewagesParticipantTopics - 4Replies - 62Total - 66]

We do not. I ran the rear heat pump extensively and saw no need to convert the front. The rear kept the rig warm down to the outdoor cutoff temperature.

We replaced the rear HP unit two years ago. If I remember correctly it was just 4 screws not bolts that held it down. I don’t remember seeing any plate. Could have been one but we weren’t looking for it.

[Author]

Replies