Replacing Broken AC Unit In 2017 Forest River Cherokee - Ducted With Vents In Ceiling

Published 04/27/2026

Question:

I’ve got a 2017 Forest River Cherokee with a non-working ducted AC unit, and I’m honestly less worried about replacing it with the exact same thing and more interested in just getting the best setup for how we camp. We’re in Texas a lot, the trailer is around 33 feet, and our old 13.5K unit never really felt like enough once the sun got on us. What would you recommend?

asked by: Brandon

Expert Reply:

Hey Brandon, for a 33-foot trailer in Texas heat, I’d recommend stepping up to the Coleman-Mach Signature Mach 15 # CM52RR. If your old 13.5K unit already felt like it was struggling, going back with another 13.5K system probably won’t change much.

It’s also a good time to replace the full setup, because these newer systems use R32 refrigerant, and the newer AC parts aren’t backward compatible with older systems. The nice thing with # CM52RR is that it’s a complete ducted system with the rooftop unit, ducted air distribution box, and wall thermostat all included.

And just to be sure, these are for ducted RV systems only. If your AC feeds air through ceiling vents around the trailer, you’re looking at the right style. What model AC unit did you have before? Was it original to the RV?

expert reply by: Andrew N