What Variable Speed Air Conditioner Can I Replace My Rooftop Unit With?

Question

Question:

I have a 2019 Forest River Salem villa Estate destination trailer model 394FKDS. I need to replace my main AC unit. I only run on a 30amp service and want something with soft start, variable speed fan and non ducted. I am looking for a recommendation on what I should buy. Thanks for your help

asked by: Tim K

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Expert Reply:

Hi Tim,

It looks like your 2019 Forest River Salem Villa Estate model 394FKDS originally came with a Coleman 15K BTU unit for a ducted system. Since you're wanting an air conditioner with variable speeds, the only option on the market currently is the Furrion Chill Cube 18K BTU AC part # FR49TD with a built-in start capacitor. Because of a law passed in 2024 that required a new refrigerant, any AC unit manufactured before 2024 is incompatible with units made in and after 2024. This means that you'll need a whole new system and not just a new rooftop unit. The FR49TD is a complete system with a remote, thermostat, and rooftop unit and on top of having a higher BTU than your current unit, it also has a lower power draw of only 15.5 amps when cooling which works great for your 30 amp set up. This is one of the quietest, most energy efficient, and high BTU units on the market and would be a definite step up from your current AC. However, if you have a furnace, you won't be able to wire in your furnace to the Furrion Chill Cube thermostat. You will need to run the furnace wires to a different thermostat to control the furnace.

If you want the AC and furnace wired into one thermostat, you'll need to use a different unit that allows that, like the Furrion Chill HE 15K BTU Single Zone AC part # FR65T. The Furrion Chill HE, however, is not a variable speed unit (the Furrion Chill Cube is the only variable speed AC on the market currently) but still has a built-in start capacitor and takes 29 amps to start and when running uses 15amps.

What kind of temperature are you usually taking your Salem Villa Estate camping in?

expert reply by: Claire H

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Answer 1

Hey Andrew! Yes, Furrion does have a Chill Cube model with a heat pump. This was actually just released for aftermarket sale. You will need a complete system to make the switch, new R32 units aren't backwards compatible with old R410A systems.…

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Answer 2

Hey Melanie. The reason you can't find a replacement for your GE ARC15AACBL2 15,000 btu air conditioner is because they phased them out. In 2025 all RV AC systems had to change over to a new coolant called R32. This was a EPA mandated decision.…

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Answer 3

You can use the RV Propane Gas Detector #RS64FR (white) or #RS44FR (black) to replace your current Atwood 31013 propane gas detector. This will also use a 12v, 2-wire installation like your current detector.

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Answer 4

Hey Tim welcome back! Your ARH15AACBL2 GE AC unit has the old 410a refrigerant in it so the GE Appliances item #GE64FR you were looking at isn't going to work as a replacement. The EPA mandated R32 refrigerant has been used in all new AC's…

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Answer 5

Thanks for the picture! I checked with Progressive Dynamics the replacement power converter you need for your Parallax Series 7300 Model 7345 is the Replacement Converter for Parallax/Magnetek or WFCO RV Power Centers - 45 Amp item #PD4645V.

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Answer 6

The Dometic RV Water Heater - Gas - Automatic Pilot - 12 Volt - 8,800 Btu - 6 Gal Tank Item AT96121 is the direct replacement for the GC6AA-10E. Unfortunately it is out of stock with no expected restock date. Instead I recommend the Furrion RV…

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Answer 7

Hey Mike! The Advent Air RV Air Conditioner #ADV74QR is only designed to work with an R32 setup. Your old unit is going to be R410A, so the old components won't be compatible. Since everything moved to R32 last year due to EPA regulations a…

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What Variable Speed Air Conditioner Can I Replace My Rooftop Unit With?

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