elkhornsun
Monterey
Senior Member
Joined: 11/29/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
We opted for the 9000btu AC as it is more efficient but was doubly pleased with the decision when I realized I could use a Honda EU2000 Companion instead of a 2500 Watt gas or propane generator to operate it. The 13,500 draws too much at startup for the smaller, lighter, and more compact 2000 Watt generators.
When I saw that the Onan propane generator burned through 0.4 gal per hour of propane I knew it was not for us. I cannot see carrying around extra cylinders to keep it running. With a 2000 Watt gas generator less than 1.5 gal of gas will provide the same run time as the Onan with 4 gal of propane.
When I get the time to do it I plan to wire in a couple of DC fans to blow over the sleeping area. With a breeze the need for AC is greatly reduced. The fans have worked great in the boats I have sailed on which never had AC or a generator.
|
arto_wa
SW, WA
Full Member
Joined: 02/25/2007
View Profile
|
elkhornsun wrote:I cannot see carrying around extra cylinders to keep it running.
I wonder if there is a big advantage in carrying a portable generator and a gasoline can vs. spare propane bottle 
99 F350 4x4 CC DRW 7.3L PSD, 97 Bigfoot 10.6
89 Duckworth 17' Pro 302
|
Moomba2002
Sebastopol, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/29/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I have been watching this thread with intrest as I need to change my A/C for a low profile to be able to get it under it's storage roof without hitting it. I have an Arctic Fox 1150 and always thought to stay with the 13,500 but after reading thru this thread I was wondering if the Polar Cub would work as well. We spend a lot of time in the California Delta and many 90 to 100 degree days so keeping it cool is a priority. Thanks for any insight.
1999 Ford F350 DRW 4X4 PSD 6spd.
Banks Stinger Package
Fords upgraded Air Intake System
ExtremeAire 150 PSI 100% Duty Cyle on board air w/4gal. tank
Air Bags & Rancho 9000's
2003 Arctic Fox 1150 loaded except solor
|
big whitey
raleigh,nc
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Moomba2002 wrote:I have been watching this thread with intrest as I need to change my A/C for a low profile to be able to get it under it's storage roof without hitting it. I have an Arctic Fox 1150 and always thought to stay with the 13,500 but after reading thru this thread I was wondering if the Polar Cub would work as well. We spend a lot of time in the California Delta and many 90 to 100 degree days so keeping it cool is a priority. Thanks for any insight.
unless your camper is made of straw the Polar Cub is absolutely all you need and IMHO is the A/C of choice for a TC and is the most compatible option for a H 2000 gen set.
|
travelnutz
West Michigan - On the Lakeshore
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2006
View Profile
|
We ordered one of our new Lances, a 9'6" with a Polar Cub A/C and the other with a 13,500 A/C as the Lance is 11'4" long thinking we it needed a larger A/C. WRONG!!! The Polar Cub did a much better job of cooling with so much less fuel (Honda EU2000 generator) than the 13,500 with a built on 3400 watt propane fueled generator. Like less than 1/3 the fuel cost than the 13,500 gobbled up. The Polar Cub is so much quieter also. Both campers spent many weeks in the Southeast and Florida and you'd die without A/C down there as it's extremely HUMID and HOT. To the point of being nauseating. We are discussing replacing the 13,500 with a Polar Cub presently as the constant noise and cycling of the 13,500 has gotten to us bigtime. Not even including the cost of so often refilling the two 30 lb propane tanks in the 11'4" Lance.
You did right!
louiskathy, you did right! If you are planning on traveling on the west side of Michigan along Lake Michigan, you won't need any A/C as the cooling breezes blow onshore all summer long (natural A/C and it's free!). Few residents around here even have A/C and we haven't even turned our home A/C on to see if it still works for over 7 years now and counting. Daytime temps here are 76-80 for a high and 58-62 at night all summer and into fall. Lots of sun and fun!
A superb CC LB 4X4, GM HD Diesel, airbags, Rancho's, lots more
Lance Legend TC 11' 4", loaded including 3400 PP generator and my deluxe 2' X 7' rear porch
29 ft Carriage Carri-lite 5'er - a specially built gem
A like new '07 Sunline Solaris 26' TT
|
|
|
louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
travelnutz wrote:We ordered one of our new Lances, a 9'6" with a Polar Cub A/C and the other with a 13,500 A/C as the Lance is 11'4" long thinking we it needed a larger A/C. WRONG!!! The Polar Cub did a much better job of cooling with so much less fuel (Honda EU2000 generator) than the 13,500 with a built on 3400 watt propane fueled generator. Like less than 1/3 the fuel cost than the 13,500 gobbled up. The Polar Cub is so much quieter also. Both campers spent many weeks in the Southeast and Florida and you'd die without A/C down there as it's extremely HUMID and HOT. To the point of being nauseating. We are discussing replacing the 13,500 with a Polar Cub presently as the constant noise and cycling of the 13,500 has gotten to us bigtime. Not even including the cost of so often refilling the two 30 lb propane tanks in the 11'4" Lance.
You did right!
louiskathy, you did right! If you are planning on traveling on the west side of Michigan along Lake Michigan, you won't need any A/C as the cooling breezes blow onshore all summer long (natural A/C and it's free!). Few residents around here even have A/C and we haven't even turned our home A/C on to see if it still works for over 7 years now and counting. Daytime temps here are 76-80 for a high and 58-62 at night all summer and into fall. Lots of sun and fun!
We're almost done with hwy 1 down the Oregon/CA coast line. Heading to Yosemite in a few days. (No, we have not needed the a/c yet...and did not expect to on this leg. lol) Looking at AZ,NM,TX and MS in the weeks before Mother's Day and then heading north into Michigan by Mid June, ND by the 4th of July and Montana before we come back to our MH in Oregon in August.
If we don't need that a/c before the end of this summer, I'm gonna give up on this global warming warning. We've needed a heater every night so far.
Kathy
|
wintersun
Monterey
Senior Member
Joined: 12/22/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
arto_wa wrote:elkhornsun wrote:I cannot see carrying around extra cylinders to keep it running.
I wonder if there is a big advantage in carrying a portable generator and a gasoline can vs. spare propane bottle
Am carrying around the two cylinders to keep the fridge running and for the oven and for the heater and for the hot water heater.
Simple math - carry around a third 37 lbs. LPG cylinder under pressure and mount it where? Or carry around a 1 gallon gas can that weighs less than 8 lbs. and can be stowed on the roof of the camper. Same run time for the generator and the propane costs $17 to refill and I need to go to a propane fill station and the gas I can get at any gas station and pay $4.
And an Onan LPG generator costs $2500 plus installation and the Honda EU2000 sells for $1100.
No really all that difficult to figure out why it makes more sense to use the Honda and have a less expensive solution to set up and a less expensive solution to operate and no need to figure out where to store and extra 37 lb. LPG tank.
Am I missing something?
|
hunterj
Miami, Fl.
Full Member
Joined: 08/14/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Moomba2002 wrote:I have been watching this thread with intrest as I need to change my A/C for a low profile to be able to get it under it's storage roof without hitting it. I have an Arctic Fox 1150 and always thought to stay with the 13,500 but after reading thru this thread I was wondering if the Polar Cub would work as well. We spend a lot of time in the California Delta and many 90 to 100 degree days so keeping it cool is a priority. Thanks for any insight.
We have a AF 1150 with he polar cub and it keeps us nice and cool here in South Florida.
04 Dodge 3500 DRW 4x4
05 Arctic Fox 1150
|
Moomba2002
Sebastopol, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/29/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks for the replies I think that will be the next purchase then.
|
louiskathy
Oregon (presently)
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Update on how the a/c is doing.
We are in Wickenburg, AZ elevation is 2200ft. right now..it's 85 deg according to NOAA but according to our indoor/outdoor temp indicator, it's 100 deg in the sun. Been driving since we left Lake Mead this morning. We decided we'll try out the air conditioner with the generator. Have not used it at all so far since we started out from Oregon the beginning of April. It all worked beautifully. Not even a hic-cup from the generator when we turned on the a/c.
Indoor temp is 77 deg. after running the a/c for 30 min. It wasn't all that bad in here when we stopped though. I forgot to look but I think it was 85 deg. The rubber backed curtains REALLY help keep the heat out.
After turning off the a/c. It went from 77 to 79 deg in 15 minutes. We're done napping. Time to roll.
|
|
|
