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hot rod · 07-02-2014, 02:27 AM

Two ac's definitely overkill for 20'. I have one 15k rooftop carrier heat pump on the 20' living quarters on my race trailer and it will more than do the job. It will keep up easily on on 85-90 degree day in full sun, and my trailer has NO insulation whatsoever (not my idea, the lq was already partially completed when I got it). You will be more than fine with one ac. I like my heat pump vs a standard ac as it will also put out the full 15k btu as heat just as nicely as cold. A 5500w generator will run an entire rv with one ac and use a LOT less fuel than your 20k unit. At $4.25 a gallon for diesel you may be much farther ahead in the long run to sell that big ass generator and get something more appropriate to the load. That would also take up a lot less space.

I also think you will find that RV appliances, in particular the refrigerator, are much better in the long run than the home stuff. More expensive up front, and maybe at little more involved to install, but they are purpose built for what you are doing, more compact and will hold up far better to road abuse. You don't want to have to run the genny 24/7 to keep your beer cold, when the rv fridge will automatically kick over to propane when the power goes off and keeps everything nice and cold with no power. I think you will be shocked how much smaller 20' is in reality than is looks on paper once you start filling it up with oversized appliances.

Bushpilot also makes a really good point, that 40 gallon water heater is going to be useless, if you actually could take a long enough shower to use all that water, you'd never have gray water tank big enough to take it all. You need to consider the water consumption and how many days you have to go between dump stations. It is a pain in the ass that takes up at least a 1/2 hour of my time, and that is with a unit that can pull right up to the dump station at flying J, it sounds like with your rig that won't be easy so you need to have a realistic idea of the water you will need to conserve to get through the time you will need between dumps.

07-02-2014, 02:27 AM	#10
hot rod Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 527	Two ac's definitely overkill for 20'. I have one 15k rooftop carrier heat pump on the 20' living quarters on my race trailer and it will more than do the job. It will keep up easily on on 85-90 degree day in full sun, and my trailer has NO insulation whatsoever (not my idea, the lq was already partially completed when I got it). You will be more than fine with one ac. I like my heat pump vs a standard ac as it will also put out the full 15k btu as heat just as nicely as cold. A 5500w generator will run an entire rv with one ac and use a LOT less fuel than your 20k unit. At $4.25 a gallon for diesel you may be much farther ahead in the long run to sell that big ass generator and get something more appropriate to the load. That would also take up a lot less space. I also think you will find that RV appliances, in particular the refrigerator, are much better in the long run than the home stuff. More expensive up front, and maybe at little more involved to install, but they are purpose built for what you are doing, more compact and will hold up far better to road abuse. You don't want to have to run the genny 24/7 to keep your beer cold, when the rv fridge will automatically kick over to propane when the power goes off and keeps everything nice and cold with no power. I think you will be shocked how much smaller 20' is in reality than is looks on paper once you start filling it up with oversized appliances. Bushpilot also makes a really good point, that 40 gallon water heater is going to be useless, if you actually could take a long enough shower to use all that water, you'd never have gray water tank big enough to take it all. You need to consider the water consumption and how many days you have to go between dump stations. It is a pain in the ass that takes up at least a 1/2 hour of my time, and that is with a unit that can pull right up to the dump station at flying J, it sounds like with your rig that won't be easy so you need to have a realistic idea of the water you will need to conserve to get through the time you will need between dumps.