Which AC Unit From Coleman Is Good For Boondocking With Generator?

Published 04/27/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Coleman-Mach Signature Mach 15 RV Air Conditioner System - 15K Btu - Ducted - Polished White - R32

(11)

$1429.67

Coleman-Mach Signature Mach 3 RV Air Conditioner System - 13,500 Btu - Ducted - Polished White - R32

(5)

$1329.82

Question:

My camper is ducted now, but I also do a fair amount of boondocking with a generator, so I’m trying to be smart about not going bigger than I need to. I still want a good recommendation though, not just “buy the biggest one.” Which of these Coleman ducted systems would you point me toward?

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

Hey Steve, that’s exactly the right way to think about it. If your RV is ducted and your old system cooled reasonably well most of the time, I’d probably go with the Signature Mach 3 # CM83RR instead of automatically jumping to a 15K unit.

If your current AC was always struggling, then the Signature Mach 15 # CM52RR becomes the better recommendation. But if you’re mainly trying to make a smart full-system replacement, the Mach 3 may be the better fit for how you camp since it draws about 1 less amp than the bigger unit.

It’s also worth remembering that these newer systems use R32 refrigerant, so replacing the whole setup now makes sense because newer AC parts aren’t backward compatible with older systems. And like the others in this group, these are for ducted RV units only, meaning the air should be routed through ceiling vents around the coach. Steve, if you want, tell me what RV and generator you have, and I’ll help narrow it down.

expert reply by: Andrew N