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  1. #1
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    Cooling down Solitude basement...how?

    Hi everyone, we are looking to purchase the 377MBS Solitude in a couple months. We plan on using our rig for extended stay traveling for a family of 5, at the most, maybe up to 2 months at a time. We do our own shipping fulfillment for one of our businesses because it saves us about $2,000 a month, which basically pays for the truck and RV itself. So, for extended traveling, we have to bring our product with us. For our longest projected trip (2 months), at the start of our trip, our product would weigh about 682 pounds and take up about 144 cubic feet of space.

    Ideally, this product should be stored at temps below 80 degrees, so storing it inside of the rig becomes important. The weight will not be an issue, and for the most part, with some inconvenience, in using the washer/dryer space, and some space under the bed, it will all fit inside, where I can keep it reasonably cool.

    However, storing the product in the basement would be ideal for obvious reasons. During warmer seasons and/or warmer geographical regions, I would expect the basement to be rather warm. That would be a problem. So, it would be great if we could figure out a way to cool down the basement, which leads to the question.

    I see that the Solitude can heat the basement (I think). Is there way to modify the air to cool down the basement using AC? Has anyone ever had to do this for any reason?

  2. #2
    Commercial Member huntr70's Avatar
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    The A/C is ducted in the roof structure.

    You would have to try to direct some of that into the basement.

    Maybe adapt one of the home interior room a/c units for the pass through?
    Steve- Inventory Manager at Tom Schaeffer's RV, Shoemakersville, PA www.tomschaeffers.com
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by huntr70 View Post
    The A/C is ducted in the roof structure.

    You would have to try to direct some of that into the basement.

    Maybe adapt one of the home interior room a/c units for the pass through?
    That is the only thing I have thought of as well. Certainly could become a rather complex project.

  4. #4
    Big Traveler boyscout's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jds119 View Post
    However, storing the product in the basement would be ideal for obvious reasons. During warmer seasons and/or warmer geographical regions, I would expect the basement to be rather warm. That would be a problem. So, it would be great if we could figure out a way to cool down the basement, which leads to the question.
    Put the product in the trailer and the kids in the basement?

    Sorry. @huntr70's idea was my first thought too, but it may ask a lot from your electrical supply to be running two roof ACs and kitchen appliances plus another fairly high-demand appliance in the basement. Family training in power management required.

    I'll *guess* that the 377MBS like other Solitudes has a large space under the stairs that is open to the basement below. It's there to help equalize temperatures between the basement utility area and the trailer. For your purposes you'd have to drop the wall between the utility area and the storage area - very easy to do - and would certainly have to help the air movement between trailer and basement to achieve the balance you want. Perhaps a small fan tucked under the stairs blowing trailer air into the basement would do it.

    It would probably be better to exhaust air FROM the basement to the outside, and let the under-stairs vent replenish the basement with cooler air from the trailer. This approach would require you to cut the wall of the trailer and install a vent to the outside (an appliance air conditioner in the basement would require this too). Not a very difficult task, but not simple either.

    My *guess* - by no means an expert - is that the basement fan venting to the outside would work well. My one reservation is whether or not the two rooftop air conditioners can meet the demands of a family of five and all their in/out activity compounded by a steady inflow of outside air due to the outflow fan in the basement.

    My advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.

    Good luck.
    Last edited by boyscout; 01-17-2020 at 09:45 AM.
    Mark - 2018 Solitude 310GK - 2017 F-350 diesel SRW short box - Pullrite Superglide hitch

  5. #5
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    I’d think another concern would be keeping it cool while driving. I’d guess you’ll have to run the generator while on the road.

    The basement presents two problems. The doors will let a lot of heat in when the sun hits the side of the rig, and the issue of creating air circulation to get cool air in and provide a return. Since the thermostat will be monitoring the theoretically better insulated living space, it might be difficult to keep the basement cool without turning the living space into an icebox.

    I think with the complexity of using the living space AC, I’d consider mounting a small mini split system with the condenser unit mounted on a cargo carrier at the rear of the rig and the wall unit in the basement.
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