kannonvaggon
Shorewood, Illinois
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There is less duct temperature rise with a basement duct system...
The A/C unit will be able to lower the temperature of intake air by around 25F on a good day no matter which system it is....
The BAD news is that the basement systems usually have floor level output locations. This doesn't provide as much APPARENT cooling to the occupants as does a ceiling outlet ducted A/C system IMHO.
Both can work just fine. Ya just need enough cooling capacity to work within your floorplan and volume requirements. A coach with 3 good A/C systems will pretty much work great assuming it has good INSULATION, thermal pane windows, window awnings , sun shades and a well unsulated roof AND CAP construction.
My own experience tells me that the construction of the coach in general is probably more of a margin that whether the air is ducted through the ceiling or through the basement. No doubt though that SOME margin does exist for the basement systems from what I've heard. Less duct temperature rise, which can be mitigated to a certain extent by good insulation properties.
That's more than I actually know about A/C and stuff....
;-)
Jay and Joyce
2009 Tiffin Phaeton 42 QBH
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MeanderMan
Fulltiming Somewhere
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My last MH was a 2006 Tiffin, my current a 2006 Itasca (Winnebago). The basement air in the Itasca has a slight edge in our experience, but it's a bit bigger (35K BTU vs two 15K BTU) and the fan's a bit more powerful. We like the basement a bit better, especially because we can use a quality air filter, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. They're both great quality coaches, go with the floor plan and price you like.
Happily Fulltiming Somewhere
2006 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
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427435
Rochester, Mn
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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kannonvaggon wrote:
The BAD news is that the basement systems usually have floor level output locations. This doesn't provide as much APPARENT cooling to the occupants as does a ceiling outlet ducted A/C system IMHO.
The Winny products duct the cool air to ceiling vents.
What brand of MH has basement A/C and doesn't duct it to the ceiling??
Mark
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis
2003 Ford Explorer toad with US Gear brakes,
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kalynzoo
Los Angeles , California
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My current Winnebago has basement air. I do like it. We spent a week in Las Vegas, outside temp 105 and above. Inside temp never got over 90, usually 80+ with all windows shaded, silver in windshield, and 3 extra fans plugged in. The plus part of basement air is that it is much quieter when living in the front of the MH, and at night, it is not too loud, even though it is under the bed. The previous PaceArrow had twin roof air units. They performed about equally in Las Vegas, but the noise level was MUCH greater. Down side: if your basement AC/heater goes out it is out. Ours did once. Extented-Warrenty/insurance covered the repairs but it would have been very expensive. Given my experiences I would choose basement air again. I like the feeling of home air, equally distributed, with less noise. I would not make this the sole reason for choosing a MH. Floor plan, personal taste, and cost are issues not to be forgotten.
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cpd520
Arizona
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Thanks for the feed back. There is so much to research and consider.
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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Any HVAC system is based on BTU's and the load as well as to some extend the volume of air distrubuted. It doesn't matter if the mechanics are in the basement, roof, or in a window unit.
The load is a function of the coach's insulation and exposure to elements (sun load, wind exposure, etc.).
A basement unit might have a slight advantage as it could be engineered to produce a better air flow, and more BTU's than roof units.
Roof units might have a slight advantage since they can be run individually, so you could still have A/C with 20 amp or 30 amp electric service. A basement unit may require full 50 amp electric service.
The bottom line is to consider the HVAC system as a component of the total decision making process. For me, floor plan, drive train, and manufacturer reputation would be more important.
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D & M
Laurel, MD
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Drop it forty degress from what??? 
I don't know from degrees, but the A/C in our Winnebago product always kept our coach cool.
Dave
Mary, the world's best wife (1951-2009)
Isabel & Buddy (the Bostons)
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D & M
Laurel, MD
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duplicate post caused by pilot error 
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Daboo
Texas Panhandle USA
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as a person who has owned both...present have the basement air in the Winnie...my choice..the roof air...no way will the basement air drop the temp 40degrees unless the outside temp is 50 degrees then it feels like40..example..we were in Missouri last week...the temps were in the high 90s and heat index in the 100s...when we started the basement air, the thermostat showed 87 inside temp..after the air ran for 8 hours, the thermo showed 80---after about 12 hrs the thermo showed 79--..so you can see it just doesn't work that way..we have the insulated windows, covered them with the silver backed stuff along with the windshield and vents.....
Me I prefer the overhead air..you will get all kinds of answers
good traveling to you and yours
Served proudly 1957-1965..U.S. Air Force
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flrvman
Texas
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Basement A/C ducted through floor vent? Alfa! Probably just 1 reason they nolonger are in business. JMHO
2007 B+ Lexington GTS 300SS Blue & Grey Ford V-10
2005 Malibu LT V6 toad
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