Best Inverter Heat Pump RV Air Conditioner Upgrade for a Coleman Mach 15K on a 2024 Outdoors RV 22FQ  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hi Jim! Yes, there are inverter style rooftop AC options now that are much more efficient and have significantly lower startup draw than your current Coleman Mach 15K, so your thinking makes a lot of sense. Instead of spending money adding a soft start to an older fixed speed unit, a lot of RV owners are moving directly to inverter driven systems because they start easier on generators and batteries, run quieter, and maintain temperature more smoothly overall.

For your 2024 Outdoors RV 22FQS, the Furrion Chill Cube systems are the main option I would recommend right now. If your current setup is ducted through the ceiling, the inverter heat pump version would be part # FR97TQ. If your trailer uses a non ducted ceiling assembly, the ductless inverter heat pump version is part # FR87TQ.

You probably already know, the biggest advantage with the Chill Cube is the variable speed inverter compressor. Instead of hitting the electrical system with the large startup surge you get from a traditional Coleman Mach unit, it ramps up gradually and runs much more smoothly. That makes it far more generator and inverter friendly while also helping reduce breaker trips and overall power consumption. The built in heat pump is a really nice bonus for cooler mornings without having to fire up the furnace right away.

One important thing to be aware of is that the Chill Cube is not a direct plug and play swap with your existing Coleman controls or ceiling assembly. You would be replacing the rooftop unit and all associated control components together as a complete system. The Chill Cube uses its own electronics, thermostat, and air distribution components, so there is not currently a way to reuse the old Coleman Mach controls, ceiling assembly, or thermostat with this setup.

Physically, the roof opening itself is still the standard 14 inch by 14 inch size, so fitment in the roof is usually straightforward. The biggest thing we would want to confirm is whether your current setup is ducted or non ducted and whether you currently use a wall thermostat tied into your furnace?

I honestly think this is one of the best upgrades available right now if your goal is to cool the trailer more comfortably without constantly thinking about startup spikes or adding separate soft start components afterward. Do you camp much during cooler shoulder seasons where having a heat pump for mild morning heat would be useful too?

expert reply by: Heather A

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Jim M.

5/20/2026

Hi Heather, Thanks for the quick reply. Our current rig does indeed have a ducted air conditioner and I do use the wall mounted Coleman Mach thermostat. It was good to hear the roof openings are a standard 14 x 14, I had no idea. I’m a handy guy, but I’ve never replaced an air conditioner on an RV before. I’m completely comfortable doing the wiring, but the ductwork is a complete unknown. Does the Furrion chill cube come with its own thermostat or would that be a separate purchase? Thanks, Jim

Heather A.

5/20/2026

@JimM You’re actually in pretty good shape for this upgrade then. Since your trailer already has a ducted setup and you’re comfortable with the electrical side, I honestly think the install will feel much more manageable once you get into it. Most RV rooftop units, including the Chill Cube, still use that standard 14 x 14 roof opening, so the physical mounting side is usually pretty straightforward. One important thing to know is the Furrion Chill Cube does not reuse your existing Coleman wall thermostat. The Chill Cube comes with its own control system and remote, but it does not integrate directly with the Coleman furnace controls the way your current thermostat does. Right now, that is probably the biggest tradeoff with these newer inverter systems. Your current Coleman thermostat is likely controlling both the air conditioner and furnace together as one system, the Chill cube will come with a remote that controls just the cooling and the heat pump. We currently do not carry a compatible wall thermostat that would work to control the furnance and the Furrion chill cube.