wjschill

Texas

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After traveling in a 35 foot fiver for many years, we have now started looking at class A gassers. We like to travel out west and southern locations.
My question...Do you need to run the roof a/c's while driving to keep the rv cool? If so, doesn't this mean running the genny and killing an already challenged gas mileage?
May sound like a dumb question...
Thanks
KillingTime
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Lwiddis

Bishop area, California

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Not a dumb question! Depending on the temperature you may need to run the ACs powered by the generator to maintain a comfortable temperature in the MH while driving.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, 300 watt solar-parallel & MPPT, Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state & county camps. Bicyclist! 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
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rlw999

Washington State

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My Onan 4000 is rated to use around half a gallon of fuel an hour at half load. My RV (28 ft class C) gets around 9.5mpg, so at 60mph running the generator would only lower my mileage by around 10%, which isn't a big strain on my travel budget.
As long as I get going in the morning when it's cool and don't stop for long, I haven't needed to run the RV A/C to keep it cool, the chassis RV keeps the front cool enough. But if I stop and park in the sun for an hour, then I need to run the big AC for a while to cool things down. For me, warm weather means up to around the mid-90's.
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rk911

DuPage County

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wjschill wrote: After traveling in a 35 foot fiver for many years, we have now started looking at class A gassers. We like to travel out west and southern locations.
My question...Do you need to run the roof a/c's while driving to keep the rv cool? If so, doesn't this mean running the genny and killing an already challenged gas mileage?
May sound like a dumb question...
Thanks
not dumb at all.
- need? no, depends on how hot and when during the day you travel but it sure helps. we do.
- yes to running the genny. yes to affecting the MPG but it's minimal.
* This post was
edited 12/18/20 09:19pm by rk911 *
Rich
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gbopp

The Keystone State

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Hang a temporary curtain behind the driver/passenger seat.
The chassis A/C will keep you cool.
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Tom/Barb

Oak Harbor, Wa

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We have run the gen/set to get both A/C on full. The Newmar doesn't seem to mind.
of course it uses fuel..
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.
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Tom/Barb

Oak Harbor, Wa

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wjschill wrote:
My question...Do you need to run the roof a/c's while driving to keep the rv cool? If so, doesn't this mean running the genny and killing an already challenged gas mileage?
Thanks
That's why diesel is better.
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Janss

Sedona, AZ

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We've had two Class A gas motorhomes. Never ran the generator and house a/c. We've run around the western States every summer for the past many years. The dash a/c has kept us cool enough. Point the vents right at you.
When I have trouble is after we stop for the day. Very first thing I do is plug in to electric post and turn on the house a/c. Then I do the rest of the campsite setup outside, sweating, while the inside of the mh cools down.
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craig7h

Branson MO area

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With my three class a's I have always ran the gen.,I start the motor then start the gen. unplug and off I go.
The reason for me makes sense. The coach stays cool all the time, this way once stopped with no dash air the coach is already cool. I also like to keep the frig running on 120v with the gen. running my frig stays cold also. When stopping and want something warmed up to eat in the microwave its ready to go. Generators are made to run the little fuel they use to me is not worth it. But then I am not concerned about my fuel mileage. I have the coach to use if I get 5mpg or 50 mpg I am going to use the coach.
Enjoy
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H & E

North Texas

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We always run ours in weather that is warm enough to warrant it. I also run the generator for the the heat pump in cold weather. That is one of nice features of a class A.
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