Get with it Keystone!

fatcatzzz · 08-30-2015, 08:05 AM

Wondering when Keystone will offer an heat pump option on the Montana's? Big Sky, Alpine both have the option. Heartland, Crossroads also have an option.

I have been in several coaches with heat pumps and they are a perfect option for temps around 40 deg.

fatcatzzz
2014 Ram 3500 DRW
07 Montana 3400..........Looking for a New One!

C130 · 08-30-2015, 09:23 AM

I agree, along with the stupid tile flooring that no one else has in their toy haulers. It's the reason I'm going with another brand. Personally, I think it's outdated but that's just my personal opinion. Otherwise I love their floor plans and we were very happy with our Fuzion.

ChuckS · 01-15-2016, 03:26 AM

Yep. We were all set to buy the Montana and instead bought the Alpine because of the heat pump.. Love it

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bsmith0404 · 01-15-2016, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Yep. We were all set to buy the Montana and instead bought the Alpine because of the heat pump.. Love it

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Same here, kind of. The heat pump was one of several reasons we went with the Alpine. The reason was ultimately more for less, the heat pump was part of the more.

dcg9381 · 01-15-2016, 09:06 AM

Isn't this a relatively easy retrofit if you want to do it?

I'm not a fan of the residential heat pump (non-RV). Somewhere between 42-32 degrees, I find my compressor running all the time. It maintains temperature in the house, but it constantly runs - pretty sure it's less efficient than running heat strips part time.

Given, I've never had a heat pump in an RV.
Couldn't you retrofit with heat strips if you want non-propane heat?

CaptnJohn · 01-15-2016, 07:27 PM

I have a heat pump in my SE NC home. Wish I had a gas furnace there. If on campground metered electric you will certainly notice a usage difference.

ncrzrbk · 01-16-2016, 09:49 AM

My profession of being a sales rep in NC selling products to the Hvac market has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about heat pumps. From what I have learned, the most efficient and comfortable approach to home would be a heat pump duel fuel system with gas furnace backup instead of electric strip heat. I would think in an Rv it would be the same. It would be nice to have a HP option along with our gas furnace. Since it isn't an option, we use the electric fireplace and a portable heater. When it's really cold then the gas furnace is the back up.

Modern day HP's are better at producing heat at lower temps today. I think you still see this more in the southern states. Up north gas and oil furnaces with boilers are still the preferred means of heating.

Just my .02 worth.

I agree though Keystone should have a HP option on a new unit. As mentioned, it can be switched out and if or when our AC goes out, I will replace it with a HP.

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dcg9381 · 01-16-2016, 02:19 PM

Makes sense for a house, but in an RV, the propane supply is generally limited - and electricity more available...

**chuckster57** · 01-16-2016, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcg9381

Makes sense for a house, but in an RV, the propane supply is generally limited - and electricity more available...

Think cost per unit. RV's come with propane tanks. A/C with a heat pump is more than just an A/C so when your building thousands of units, every dollar counts. To operate a roof A/C with a heat pump involves a different ($) thermostat.

**JRTJH** · 01-16-2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Think cost per unit. RV's come with propane tanks. A/C with a heat pump is more than just an A/C so when your building thousands of units, every dollar counts. To operate a roof A/C with a heat pump involves a different ($) thermostat.

Chuckster, Do you know if the rooftop units for a heat pump and the "whisper-air" A/C system are interchangeable? I know they are interchangeable for the conventional ducted roof air system, but I'm not sure if the ducting for the whisper-air system is compatible. ????

**chuckster57** · 01-16-2016, 07:23 PM

I don't know, but I sure can try to find out.

**JRTJH** · 01-16-2016, 08:20 PM

Thanks Chuckster. I think I remember seeing (somewhere) that the return air system in the Montana is different from other "whisper-air" systems and that the heat pump Briskair II won't work with the Montana system. I know the Alpine "whisper-air" system is compatible with both A/C with Heat Strips and A/C Heat Pump models. I'm not sure what differences (if any) there are between the Montana and the Alpine ducting systems.

cw3jason · 01-17-2016, 05:54 AM

The big problem I see and probably why Keystone does not offer the heat pump/ac option in the Montana is in order to keep your pipes and tanks from freezing with 4 season living you need to run the gas furnace. This pumps hot air and radiant heat into the underbelly of the trailer and gives it that tested to zero degree rating.

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hdxbonez · 01-17-2016, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cw3jason

The big problem I see and probably why Keystone does not offer the heat pump/ac option in the Montana is in order to keep your pipes and tanks from freezing with 4 season living you need to run the gas furnace. This pumps hot air and radiant heat into the underbelly of the trailer and gives it that tested to zero degree rating.

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I agree. And they offer supplemental heat through the electric fireplace. I also use an electric oil filled radiator for additional heat.

bsmith0404 · 01-18-2016, 05:00 AM

From what I've noticed with ours is that the heat pump and fireplace are good down to about 40*. If it starts dropping below that the furnace will need to kick in to keep everything comfortable. Realistically, you do get some radiated heat into the underbelly from the living area even without the furnace running so things aren't going to start freezing at 32*. Alpine uses the furnace air pumped into the underbelly to keep things from freezing as well. If you are in freezing temps you need to use the furnace. Additionally, both Alpine and Montana are 4 season luxury RVs with electric heated holding tanks so I don't see this as a reason for not installing a heat pump.

**chuckster57** · 01-19-2016, 06:14 PM

Okay, got an answer from tech support. If you have the roof A/C with the ducted return, changing the unit to a heat pump model is no problem.

I still maintain my personal opinion that it's a $$ issue.

**JRTJH** · 01-19-2016, 07:20 PM

Thanks for the information, Chuckster. I've emailed Keystone Customer Support and asked the question: Why is there no heat pump option on the Montana brand?

tdawg · 01-21-2016, 05:17 PM

I love our heat pump in our Alpine but I don't have electric heaters on my tanks like Brent posted if I do I don't know where to turn them on. I have a 2013 3535

bsmith0404 · 01-21-2016, 08:35 PM

tdawg, I know the new ones use heating pads on the tanks and the website states they are rated down to -14*. I don't know for sure which year they started doing this. Check for a switch down near the circuit breakers. I've never had a need to use mine, but seem to remember them talking about it during my pre-delivery.

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