Command Heatpump AC in Aliner Ranger 12 inadequate

[jdotterw]

Dealer confirmed “ac works to spec”. Aliner sent me a carefully worded email saying the best i can expect is 10 degrees outside temp. Just wow is all i can say. Definately inadequate.

It doesnt serve any advantage over a tent for me or my family at this point. Decision is made, this thing is going. Wife is shopping travel trailers at this point. We get a lot for our money with one of them than this overpriced aliner. Cutting my losses and moving on.

 

[neighbormike]

Wow! That’s certainly disappointing (to put it mildly)!

 

[jmkay1]

Aliner sent me a carefully worded email saying the best i can expect is 10 degrees outside temp.

That’s actually scary the manufacturer thought that would be sufficient. I get it’s a “popup” and are unable to put the AC on the roof, but that is nuts.

 

[TimAZ]

That’s actually scary the manufacturer thought that would be sufficient. I get it’s a “popup” and are unable to put the AC on the roof, but that is nuts.

Yes, 10 degrees delta-T is pitiful, even the cheapest home systems are designed for 30 degrees. But it’s not the A/C’s fault. If Aliner designed the roof and wall panels with radiant heat barriers and used better air seal gaskets where the roof meets the walls, the system might work better.

It’s not a 4-season camper.

 

[Hilldweller]

Yes, 10 degrees delta-T is pitiful, even the cheapest home systems are designed for 30 degrees. But it’s not the A/C’s fault. If Aliner designed the roof and wall panels with radiant heat barriers and used better air seal gaskets where the roof meets the walls, the system might work better.

It’s not a 4-season camper.

I think the radiant heat barriers alone would do the trick.

Like I told the OP, park it in the shade and the a/c works fine.
In direct sun in OK, 105 outside and 93 inside. Yeoch. Find an air conditioned bar until sunset and then go back to camp for dinner. Luckily the bars in OK allow dogs...

 

[CamperRandall]

All the suggestions here are good ones. Modding the area where the command unit sits so it doesn’t suck hot air from the storage compartment is inexpensive and worth the time. The other important suggestion is reflectix. Finally, when the bed is fully setup in the Aliner LXE, the ducts are way under and back. A fan put under the bed and one on the counter blowing on the bed provide very good cold air circulation. It’s possible to do a little better than a 10 degree differential between outside and inside temps.

 

[Dnodoz]

All the suggestions here are good ones. Modding the area where the command unit sits so it doesn’t suck hot air from the storage compartment is inexpensive and worth the time. The other important suggestion is reflectix. Finally, when the bed is fully setup in the Aliner LXE, the ducts are way under and back. A fan put under the bed and one on the counter blowing on the bed provide very good cold air circulation. It’s possible to do a little better than a 10 degree differential between outside and inside temps.

There is a really good modification document on the Aliner Owners Club website under DYI’s. Shows in detail how to create vents up behind and above the bed in the LXE to get cool air in the bed area and not trapped on the floor.

 

[CamperRandall]

There is a really good modification document on the Aliner Owners Club website under DYI’s. Shows in detail how to create vents up behind and above the bed in the LXE to get cool air in the bed area and not trapped on the floor.

I saw that and considered it if the fans didn’t work. So far I’ll stick with fans, sealing gaps, and the mod to close off the unit from the storage compartment.

 

[CamperRandall]

Well, we had to cut a camping trip short because of the heat. Had made the alteration to close off storage area, used the fans as posted above but could not get the inside below 84 degrees. Also, had a big piece of reflectix on the large window where the sun came in. However, it wasn’t trimmed so just sat against the window which helped but still let a lot of heat come in around it. I plan to trim and use Velcro to attach to window more tightly. We had absolutely no shade. But all in all disappointing, especially considering the outside temp was only 90 degrees! Both the humans and the cats couldn’t take it. Will look to moving intake vent and other alterations but this doesn’t look good.

 

[Hilldweller]

Well, we had to cut a camping trip short because of the heat. Had made the alteration to close off storage area, used the fans as posted above but could not get the inside below 84 degrees. Also, had a big piece of reflectix on the large window where the sun came in. However, it wasn’t trimmed so just sat against the window which helped but still let a lot of heat come in around it. I plan to trim and use Velcro to attach to window more tightly. We had absolutely no shade. But all in all disappointing, especially considering the outside temp was only 90 degrees! Both the humans and the cats couldn’t take it. Will look to moving intake vent and other alterations but this doesn’t look good.

Nothing beats shade.
Big tarp, a few poles, some rope, some stakes.
That's just how it is.

Our next trailer will be a 4 season. With 2" thick walls. And real insulation.

But until then, the Aliner does what it does. It fits in the garage and it works great. In the shade.

 

[Dnodoz]

This really worked well blocking intense heat coming from Fantastic Fan. Just pops on and off with magnetic edges.

 

[CamperRandall]

Nothing beats shade.
Big tarp, a few poles, some rope, some stakes.
That's just how it is.

Our next trailer will be a 4 season. With 2" thick walls. And real insulation.

But until then, the Aliner does what it does. It fits in the garage and it works great. In the shade.

Thought about a big tarp over the top. Might try that. Will probably have to be more careful about campsites to be sure we get under some shade. Disappointed but still enjoying the Aliner.

 

[CamperRandall]

View attachment 91285
This really worked well blocking intense heat coming from Fantastic Fan. Just pops on and off with magnetic edges.

Will have a look. Thanks.

 

[kudzu]

Must confess, we don’t camp much in the Summer. Though when we did, that side mount, thru the wall A/C worked well, though small fans helped to direct that cold air specifically where you want it. First time I saw A frames with heat pumps I was really surprised. It takes up so much room & I was doubtful about performance. Sorry those don’t work for people. Aliner should offer an option for the older they the wall A/Cs. There are downsides to everything, but at least those worked.

 

[Campeador]

Haven't checked into this site in a while, but I followed Hilldweller's advice (closed off the storage area with plywood and board insulation and insulated the "ducts") and had good results. The other key (which I don't think has been mentioned here) is that I bought 1" pipe insulation and cut them in half lengthwise (could also use pool noodles) and I jam those in all the seams. Trying to climate control an Aliner is a bit of a fool's errand because they are quite porous, but insulating the seams is important. I wouldn't camp in anything too far above 90 (especially in TX summer where it's still above 90 at midnight), but have had good success at 90 and below.

Like Hilldweller, we look forward to the day of having a more robust, four season camper, all the while we're thankful that the Aliner gets us out more. It does better in the cold than the heat, but again within reason (I wouldn't camp below 20... we did fine in the 20s a couple of winters ago).

 

[kudzu]

I’ll echo Campeador. I stuffed foam strips in the gaps between roof & side panels. (Not the upper gap between the retina roof panels because uber sort me can’t reach that.) It helped with heat & A/C. Without reasonably effective A/C, an A-frame is the camper equivalent of a solar oven.

 

[GaWalker]

I believe that the heat in issue is all about the windows. They provide great views but an Aliner has a much higher window to wall ratio than most RVs. The windows being thin single pane have much lower conductive heat insulation values than the walls and let in all the sun's radiant heat.

That said, the location and plumbing of the 9000 BTU heat pump models must be far from optimal. My wall mounted 6000 BTU AC has never failed to get down to 75 degrees or lower. This includes a 103 degree, no shade campsite at the Badlands. Note that all the "local" Class C and Class A RVs had external sunscreens over there windshields.

I plan to make Reflectix window covers before again venturing into the Bandlands or other sunny shade-less regions.

 

[Econ]

@GaWalker
<<<I believe that the heat in issue is all about the windows.>>>

I disagree. The Command A/C showed up during covid when the Cool Cat wasn't available. I have a Cool Cat. 10,500 BTU. It's old but........ it works.

Point 2. In the Deep South the campgrounds are mostly full of trees.

*************************************************
Just checked. The Cat is still available. Guess it is a money thing.

Dometic™ Duo-Therm 441003AXX1 CoolCat RV Under Bench Air Conditioner w/ Heat Pump

The Dometic Cool Cat provides heating and cooling in small spaces. Its compact size allows it to be installed in a variety of places without taking much space. Lightweight and robust construction with simple installation. Common in small trailers, this unit fits under a bench or in a cabinet...

pantherrvproducts.com

 

[GaWalker]

@GaWalker
<<<I believe that the heat in issue is all about the windows.>>>

I disagree. The Command A/C showed up during covid when the Cool Cat wasn't available. I have a Cool Cat. 10,500 BTU. It's old but........ it works.

Point 2. In the Deep South the campgrounds are mostly full of trees.

*************************************************
Just checked. The Cat is still available. Guess it is a money thing.

Dometic™ Duo-Therm 441003AXX1 CoolCat RV Under Bench Air Conditioner w/ Heat Pump

The Dometic Cool Cat provides heating and cooling in small spaces. Its compact size allows it to be installed in a variety of places without taking much space. Lightweight and robust construction with simple installation. Common in small trailers, this unit fits under a bench or in a cabinet...

pantherrvproducts.com

I am not sure how you are disagreeing.

 

[Hilldweller]

It was 78 and very sunny at the campground last week. My trailer had some nice shade except for about a 1 hour interval.
While in the shade the Command A/C got the cabin down to 65 with no problem. When the sun poked through for that hour it climbed up to 72 inside.