heating and cooling options?
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Topic: heating and cooling options?
Posted By: green18
Subject: heating and cooling options?
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 1:39pm
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I am wondering if anyone can help me out. I am close to purchasing a new r-pod. Every unit on their lot has a standard slide dial for the furnace and the a/c is controlled by dials on the a/c itself. Every picture i have seen on the web site and every other r-pod I have seen for sale has the dometic digital thermostat and a different looking air conditioner (that i don't believe has controls on the a/c itself). The dealer tells me this is how they come from the factory and the controls are on the A/C itself because it is not ducted. I realize it wouldn't be ducted but I am still confused why the setup looks different than every other new unit i have seen. I am just trying to make sure I am not getting an inferior setup. They claim Forest River's web site must just not be updated but i am looking at the new brochure with new colors. In all my research I have never seen any mention of different options for the cooling system. Help?
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Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 2:01pm
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Just replied to you on the FR forum. I'll repeat the answer here. The digital controls have been on all models for
years, and the dial controls right on the A/C were only used in the first model
year (2009). What I didn't add on the other forum, is if those really are 2015 models it is possible the dealer is ordering them w/o A/C from FR, then is installing old used A/Cs into his models to save a buck, or old but new stock (therefore cheaper). I would be very suspicious of the dealer. 2015s come with digital thermostats, period. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 2:02pm
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Something seems bogus here. I'd try to contact Forest River by phone and get a definitive answer. Don't take " I think" for an answer. I suspect the units came from FR that way (but see Techntrek's comments), but you need to know why. Are they changing the design, and if so, why? Are they just temporarily out of digital thermostats? What's up? The Dometic digital thermostats have been cussed at length, but mostly just misunderstood. They generally work well and are easier to set than the A/C mounted or cheaper heater controls. I call the slider controls "grope and hope" since they have no real calibration. Also, stats work better when mounted on the wall away from the heater or A/C. Have patience when trying to contact FR and let us know what you find out. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 2:28pm
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Thanks so much for the feedback! Sorry I didn't see the reply on the other one...running out of time before the deal so thought I might get more eyeballs here. Their exact reply was that this is how they come from the factory and the controls are on the A/C because it is not ducted. When I again questioned it they said "I don’t really see what your problem is regarding the AC and thermostat. This is EXACTLY as the latest production from R-POD, otherwise you can get the older unit." I am sort of taking pause for the exact reason you are saying...I have never had as much luck with the dials right on an A/C. My current camper has the dometic and I enjoy the operation. I am also nervous about having an A/C different from everyone else on here because that immediately limits my support group. I have no idea whether it is just as good or worse or what. For those of you with the digital thermostat, I assume the one thermostat controls both furnace and A/C?
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Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 3:11pm
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yes, one thermostat controls both. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 3:57pm
Ducting has only a minor third order relationship to the type and placement of the thermostat. That said, my Camplite came exactly as you describe and the A/C works OK, but I would have preferred the digital control. The heater had the cheap Grope and Hope control which I immediately replaced with an inexpensive digital unit. As for the rest of their reply, I could climb on my soapbox about dealers, but you've probably heard it before  . I'd still recommend contact and/or confirmation from FR. And, there are other dealers who might appreciate you business more.------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 6:52pm
| Thanks again everyone. I don't think it is that big of a deal and their prices are good but I don't think I am getting any sort of break over a unit that has the digital. At the end of the day if they were saying they order it this way to keep prices down I would understand and adjust my mindset. They seem shocked that I would suggest there are any other options out there and it just leaves me with a bad vibe. I mean the brochures in the lobby show a different AC and thermostat. I understand the digital can be a little wonky to figure out but I really liked the one-stop location for heating and cooling in my toy hauler. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 9:04pm
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Definitely a bad vibe with them, especially since they are flat-out lying. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 9:21pm
| I am going to hold off and revisit in the spring. Really bummed out that I am not joining the club yet but it was probably my last weekend to camp (iowa). Thanks again...I will be on the forums because I am getting an r-pod...I just don't like the smoke and mirrors. |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2014 at 10:51pm
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Our 2011 RP-172 has the non digital wall mounted thermostat. It has a slide button on the right to set the temp and a selector button on the left for AC , OFF, Heat. blower on the AC can be set to Auto or On. Simplicity. Never had a problem with it. Set it, Forget It. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 7:41am
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I think 2011 was the last year for the analog thermostats. I prefer it, like you said, simplicity. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Cankicker
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 7:45am
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[/QUOTE] "The heater had the cheap Grope and Hope control which I immediately replaced with an inexpensive digital unit". [/QUOTE] Can you please tell me what you used? Is it a standard home unit? |
Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 8:34am
I can see that. I am sure it works well and might even be preferable. I just want to dig in and see if I can figure out if there are other differences between the actual units (noise, etc.) before I move forward and this late in the year I might as well wait until spring. Thanks again.
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 9:02am
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There won't be any difference beyond the placement of the controls. In fact, the housing where the controls are on the a/c, is exactly the same as the housing on the ones with a wall mounted thermostat, minus 2 holes and 2 stickers. I agree though, my bet is the dealer is ordering without a/c then adding it, either to save money, or because a large enough percentage of buyers in Iowa don't want a/c in the first place... I would be bothered way more by the "not really sure" type answer to your question, then the control location. Unless it's some GINORMOUS dealership, everyone there knows whats what. When you buy a replacement, or new, a/c unit, you buy the unit itself, and the inside panel, separately.. ------------- |
Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 9:56am
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Thanks furpod....I thought I read a thread where people tried to upgrade their thermostat to digital and it was not an easy thing to do on the AC with controls? I also thought I read impressions that stated the newer units were a little quieter (i realize it is all relative, its going to be noisy) than the older units. I sort of assumed the older units would be the one with the controls but maybe I am wrong. I wish I could compare them but that seems highly unlikely. If you are suggesting there is no real difference in performance, noise, etc. I believe you and it is probably as close as I will get to a comparison. I had a really, really bad experience at a dealer when I bought my toy hauler so I might be overthinking this a little bit but I just really wanted it to be a good experience this time. If they would have just said "let me find out" or "yes we specifically order this type" instead of "i don't know what your problem is, this is the only setup Forest River offers". Like I said, maybe just a little touchy from my last really bad experience. This is one more reason I really like the r-pods...the strong community to tap into.
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 11:18am
"The heater had the cheap Grope and Hope control which I immediately replaced with an inexpensive digital unit". [/QUOTE] Can you please tell me what you used? Is it a standard home unit? [/QUOTE] I used a LuxPro PSD010BF thermostat, but they are now superseded and hard to find. However, any digital non-programmable battery operated single stage heat thermo rated for 12-24 volt systems will work. A newer model, LuxPro DMH110, is available at http://www.amazon.com/ - Amazon , Lowes, HD, etc for 20-30 dollars. It has a fan switch, but that will not be functional with your heater. Other brands like Honeywell have similar models so it becomes an issue of personal preference and availability. The interface to the heater is a simple two wire 12 volt circuit. The heater contains its own relay, fan control, and cycle logic. Even an old style mechanical thermo will work, but then that's what we're replacing  ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 12:37pm
| Haha, now they say if I want the digital they have one of those in the older exterior colors. Amazing after being told there was no other type. I realize it really doesn't matter and I am not going to get hung up on it any longer but I think I will just step back for a few months and start the hunt again after the first of the year. Thanks again for the sounding board! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2014 at 1:20pm
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Just stay away from that dealer in the spring! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2014 at 4:04am
It would be nice to develop a relationship with a dealership where you could really trust in the answers you were given. Sadly, that seems pretty uncommon. In fact, product knowledge by most of the RPod sales people we encountered seemed very limited. We learned to just dig & dig for answers. There are plenty of great resources, including this forum. No need to rely on, or be disappointed by, a sales person who's less than pro. ------------- John & Teri Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
Posted By: green18
Date Posted: 25 Oct 2014 at 2:24pm
| Well said and great advice. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2014 at 10:30am
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I have said it before and believe to be an absolute truth.. It's much better to have a great dealer than a great camper, one can be fixed... ------------- |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2014 at 10:54pm
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Good Point Furpod. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |