Replacement for Dometic Air Conditioner in 2017 Forest River Forester

Updated 07/29/2026 | Published 07/23/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Furrion Variable Speed Chill Cube RV AC w/ Heat Pump & Ceiling Assembly - 18K Btu - Non-Ducted - R32

(19)

$1525.46

Dometic Digital Thermostat - Furnace Control Only - White

(10)

$47.30

Question:

My 2017 Forest River Forester came with a Dometic 15k btu ducted roof air conditioner with heat pump. When in heat pump mode, if the outdoor temperature falls below the units capabilities, the Dometic thermostat automatically switches from heat pump to the propane furnace. I want to replace the Dometic unit with a complete Furrion Chill Cube 18k BTU ducted air conditioner with heat pump system with thermostat. My questions are: 1. Will I be able to used the existing thermostat wiring? 2. Will I be able to replace the Dometic thermostat with the Furrion thermostat and still have furnace control? If so, 3. Will the Furrion thermostat automatically switch to the furnace like the Dometic does when outdoor temperature s below its capabilities? Not a deal killer, but convenient.

asked by: KirkS

OEM Dometic thermostat in 2017 Forest River Forester
(click to enlarge)

Expert Reply:

Hey Kirk!

The Furrion Chill Cube RV AC System # FR87TQ is a great replacement for the Dometic unit on your 2017 Forest River Forester, but it does change how the heating and cooling systems are controlled.

The Chill Cube does not use a wall thermostat. Instead, it's operated with the included wireless remote, so your existing thermostat wiring won't be used by the new air conditioner.

Because of that, you also won't be able to use a Furrion thermostat to control both the Chill Cube and your propane furnace. At this time, there isn't an R32-compatible thermostat that can operate both a Chill Cube heat pump and an RV furnace from a single controller.

Your best option is to leave (or replace) the furnace thermostat with a standalone thermostat like the Dometic Digital Thermostat # DMC84RR to operate the furnace, while using the included Chill Cube remote to control the air conditioner and heat pump.

This also means the automatic changeover from heat pump to propane furnace that your current Dometic system provides will no longer be available. You'll need to switch from using the Chill Cube's heat pump to the furnace manually when outdoor temperatures get too low for efficient heat pump operation.

Do you do much camping in colder weather where you'll rely on the heat pump? Are you looking to keep your heating and cooling controls on a single wall thermostat if possible, or are you okay with using separate controls for the AC and furnace?

expert reply by: Jerry B

Kirks

7/29/2026

Thank you for the reply, but that was not my question. I already have the FR87TQ NON-DUCTED unit in a different room and I'm aware that it is controlled by a remote. My question is about the Furrion Variable Speed Chill Cube RV AC w/ Heat Pump, ADB, & Thermostat - 18K Btu - Ducted - R32 - .FR27TQ I asked the question on the wrong product page. Will the FR27TQ with thermostat work like my Dometic?

Jerry B.

7/29/2026

@Kirks sorry about that! the thermostat on the # FR27TQ will not work like the Dometic thermostat. Furrion has rated these thermostats for use with a furnance, but the overwhelming response has been that they are not compatible, so I recommend branching the furnace control off to the Dometic Digital Thermostat # DMC84RR