Alpine question

[chunker]

We are getting another Keystone soon likely, this time an Alpine 3700FL. It's a 21 uses with 2 air conditioners and we'll put it on a lot we have in NW FL on a bayou with full sun. The current trailer there is a Prime Time Crusader bunkhouse that I added a second installed unit. BUT that's inadequate in the dead of summer. The Alpine we're considering is prewired for a third unit in the kitchen are ceiling. There is a Fantastic fan and a 4 bladed ceiling fan and my guess at this time the prewired mounting location for the third air unit is where the ceiling fan is since it's in the middle of the ceiling and that location would tie to the ducting rather than the Fantastic fan spot. Haven't had a chance to get on the roof so don't know if there's an access plate or if the roof material will have to be cut in the mounting location. Is that correct?

Also what make/model air conditioner unit is the correct one to tie into the ducting and be able to talk to the control pad?

It's possible that 2 air conditions may be adequate but if not I want to be ready. Ideally a roof/pole barn structure would be the ideal way to keep excess heat of the trailer but due to "rules" in the county, not possible.

 

[Viper02]

Your year Alpine should be using the Dometic NXT Blizzard units.. If you add a third AC unit it WILL NOT be ducted... There is no exterior precut hole in the roof TPO.. Whether or not you can tie the third AC unit into the In Command HVAC control easily depends if it is prewired with the wiring for the gateway that would also be needed... I think I would try with existing two AC units first .. our 2014 Alpine has two AC units and we have not had any issues keeping the inside comfortable...

** Added - contact Keystone Customer Service with the VIN # of your Alpine and they should be able to provide you with the exact make/model number AC unit, gateway, etc to purchase should you consider installing third AC unit...

** Note - you would also need to change the dipswitches on Zone 2 AC gateway and the new AC unit ( third AC ) to reflect correct CANBUS configuration...

** THe Floorplan would also need to be modified on the In Command Display to reflect the added AC unit

 

[chunker]

Your year Alpine should be using the Dometic NXT Blizzard units.. If you add a third AC unit it WILL NOT be ducted... There is no exterior precut hole in the roof TPO.. Whether or not you can tie the third AC unit into the In Command HVAC control easily depends if it is prewired with the wiring for the gateway that would also be needed... I think I would try with existing two AC units first .. our 2014 Alpine has two AC units and we have not had any issues keeping the inside comfortable...

** Added - contact Keystone Customer Service with the VIN # of your Alpine and they should be able to provide you with the exact make/model number AC unit, gateway, etc to purchase should you consider installing third AC unit...

** Note - you would also need to change the dipswitches on Zone 2 AC gateway and the new AC unit ( third AC ) to reflect correct CANBUS configuration...

** THe Floorplan would also need to be modified on the In Command Display to reflect the added AC unit

Thanks according to a 2021 Alpine brochure and a couple other statements, it is prewired both 120VAC and thermostat wiring. The brochure shows the ducting in an "artist conception" and references being prewired. Yes checking with Keystone is a good idea and yes we'll try and see how it does before spending big $$$$ on a third. We got a free standing air conditioner that piped through a window in the current bunkhouse 5th wheel. It made a huge difference in comfort especially for her grandkids and their friends who took up "residence in the bunk room". May try it on the dining area slide first before spending on a third installed. Next visit to the prospective purchase is look and inspect the roof.

 

[Viper02]

I would also look very closely at the following items:
.. slide out roofs at the outer four inches looking for evidence of screw heads pushing up thru the four inch eternabond tape
.. Wiper seals on hydraulic slides
.. Wiper seals on the two front Schwintek slides
.. Look at the lower front corners of the front slide out walls outside looking for any evidence of cracks ( any... and I mean any signs of cracks is a "NO BUY"
.. Look at both Schwintek slide outs upper and lower drive tracks mounted on the outside walls looking for any evidence of metal to metal galling with the spur gear to drive guide bars
.. Front forward area forward of basement doors along the lower edge of the wall and at the front cap where it meets the walls ( looking for ANY evidence of the sealant being cracked ( If cracked its a "NO BUY"
WHY? Evidence of cracks at front slide outs or at front cap to wall lower edge is telling you there are issues with Frame weld cracks with the frame and wall studs
.. Tires - if it still has the OEM HISPEC ORACLE tires trash them before towing and install either Hercules H901 or Sailun S637 series G rated 14 ply tires
.. Look at the suspension looking at the spring hanger bracket welds... any cracks and you need new spring hangers
** I could go on but these are the highlights.. IMO

 

[workinonit]

You will need a third AC. It is prewired if you have the roof fan and it can be ducted as the ducts are right there on each side of the precut opening after you remove the fan. You should have a third remote AC temp sensor on the wall by the In Command. Your In Command may already be configured. Mine was. I just installed mine to dump air in the kitchen as that is what I wanted. You have to buy the Coleman Mach AC unit, control module and gateway as well as the louvre for the inside. Most of these campers have Coleman Mach or Dometic as far as I've seen. Mine is a 22 year model. In 90 degree to 100 degree weather the inside never got cool. Now it does.

 

[chunker]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. Since we have the freestanding air conditioner, we'll see how this summer goes before adding a third on the roof. Girl friend has committed to buying it and we'll probably pick it up this weekend and bring to my place e to do a "deep clean", then move it to the bayou lot and swap everything over. First order of business will be installing slide awnings. Any comments on whether a Lippert Solera, Carefree or other brands are best? No I haven't searched yet for postings.

 

[Gamma]

I have a 2021 alpine and we were fine with the 2 a/c units in southern utah and AZ. It was over 100 some days. Pretty sure they are Coleman mach units and according to the specs one is 35k and the bedroom 15k but they both blow into the same ductwork to act as 1 large unit.

 

[chuckster57]

Slide toppers: we are finding issues with the Lipprt Solera toppers. I have preferred carefree with the “tall” brackets.

 

[chuckster57]

I have a 2021 alpine and we were fine with the 2 a/c units in southern utah and AZ. It was over 100 some days. Pretty sure they are Coleman mach units and according to the specs one is 35k and the bedroom 15k but they both blow into the same ductwork to act as 1 large unit.

35K? I can see 2 15K units, but I’m not sure Colman Mach comes any bigger in roof top. Furrion has a new 18K unit.

 

[workinonit]

There's no 35K unit that I found when I added my third AC.

 

[workinonit]

I have preferred carefree with the “tall” brackets.

Is that the name of the slide topper Chuck? I plan to add 3 to my Alpine and the only reason I haven't yet is I'm just not sure which ones to buy.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

I am certain it is a very common 13.5k unit, not a 35k unit. 13.5k is commonly used in the front bedroom with 15k used in the rear or main areas

 

[chuckster57]

Is that the name of the slide topper Chuck? I plan to add 3 to my Alpine and the only reason I haven't yet is I'm just not sure which ones to buy.

Carefree makes slide toppers, and offers 2 different brackets. Previous employer always got the tall ones to keep the fabric off the slide flange. The Ascent is an extremely nice topper with a price to match.

 

[JackieHWard]

We are getting another Keystone soon likely, this time an Alpine 3700FL. It's a 21 uses with 2 air conditioners and we'll put it on a lot we have in NW FL on a bayou with full sun. The current trailer there is a Prime Time Crusader bunkhouse that I added a second installed unit. BUT that's inadequate in the dead of summer. The Alpine we're considering is prewired for a third unit in the kitchen are ceiling. There is a Fantastic fan and a 4 bladed ceiling fan and my guess at this time the prewired mounting location for the third air unit is where the ceiling fan is since it's in the middle of the ceiling and that location would tie to the ducting rather than the Fantastic fan spot. Haven't had a chance to get on the roof so don't know if there's an access plate or if the roof material will have to be cut in the mounting location. Is that correct?

Also what make/model air conditioner unit is the correct one to tie into the ducting and be able to talk to the control pad?

It's possible that 2 air conditions may be adequate but if not I want to be ready. Ideally a roof/pole barn structure would be the ideal way to keep excess heat of the trailer but due to "rules" in the county, not possible.

I have a Keystone Alpine Fifth Wheel and we were out West in July last year and it did a good job. Temps in AZ was 212 degrees.

 

[workinonit]

Wow, 212 with 2 AC units and it was comfortable. That's impressive.

 

[Alibaddy]

Wow, 212 with 2 AC units and it was comfortable. That's impressive.

We are getting another Keystone soon likely, this time an Alpine 3700FL. It's a 21 uses with 2 air conditioners and we'll put it on a lot we have in NW FL on a bayou with full sun. The current trailer there is a Prime Time Crusader bunkhouse that I added a second installed unit. BUT that's inadequate in the dead of summer. The Alpine we're considering is prewired for a third unit in the kitchen are ceiling. There is a Fantastic fan and a 4 bladed ceiling fan and my guess at this time the prewired mounting location for the third air unit is where the ceiling fan is since it's in the middle of the ceiling and that location would tie to the ducting rather than the Fantastic fan spot. Haven't had a chance to get on the roof so don't know if there's an access plate or if the roof material will have to be cut in the mounting location. Is that correct?

Also what make/model air conditioner unit is the correct one to tie into the ducting and be able to talk to the control pad?

It's possible that 2 air conditions may be adequate but if not I want to be ready. Ideally a roof/pole barn structure would be the ideal way to keep excess heat of the trailer but due to "rules" in the county, not possible.

We have a 2021 Alpine 3650rl with two Dometic 16,000 BTU air conditioners. The rear unit is also a heat pump. We are sitting as I write this in Fort Myers Florida with temperature at 87° f. Two air conditioners are more than adequate to keep the RV cool. However what we discovered was the foil tape around the vents in the ceiling at every outlet was blocking air flow and so I retaped all of those but I did not do it as it was done at the factory. I cut the foil in narrow strips to avoid making a compound curve in the metal foil. The second problem I found was that the zone sensor located in the living room was in the back wall and heat from the sun on the wall, conducted heat to the sensor, forcing the air to remain on even when the interior was cool.

 

[workinonit]

The two units in my Alpine were far from adequate to overcome 90 to 100 degree days. I removed the roof vent fan in the kitchen and installed a third AC unit.

 

[JackieHWard]

I have a Keystone Alpine Fifth Wheel and we were out West in July last year and it did a good job. Temps in AZ was 212 degrees.

Temp was 111 degrees. Big fingers little keyboard. 212 reply was almost like an AH.

 

[workinonit]

LOL. I couldn't help myself.

 

[Mikelff]

Thanks according to a 2021 Alpine brochure and a couple other statements, it is prewired both 120VAC and thermostat wiring. The brochure shows the ducting in an "artist conception" and references being prewired. Yes checking with Keystone is a good idea and yes we'll try and see how it does before spending big $$$$ on a third. We got a free standing air conditioner that piped through a window in the current bunkhouse 5th wheel. It made a huge difference in comfort especially for her grandkids and their friends who took up "residence in the bunk room". May try it on the dining area slide first before spending on a third installed. Next visit to the prospective purchase is look and inspect the roof.