Is the Heat Pump an Option?

[StageCoachDriver]

Yes, it's standard and is part of the rear (main) A/C unit.

[cghsatx]

Originally Posted by StageCoachDriver

Yes, it's standard and is part of the rear (main) A/C unit.

Is the rear unit always considered the Main unit? For some reason, it seemed to me that the front ought to be main. I guess mine is were its supposed to be. Thanks.

[RMcNeal]

I think it depends on the floor plan. Most of the ones we looked at had rear living, front bedroom and the heat pump was in the rear living area. I think I remember reading somewhere that another member had his front unit replaced such that is also has a heat pump. It seems whichever end is the living area is the one that gets the heat pump when you only have a single unit with heat pump.
I've had problems with the CT thermostats and according to Dometic, both thermostats are the same and will only show Heat Pump as a mode if it detects that you actually have one.

[Biker bill]

My 2019 came with 1

[Mikelff]

Originally Posted by montyfishing

Hello Everyone.
We just purchased a slightly used 2019 Montana 3791 20th Anniversary Edition.



Does the heat pump come as an option during the build out or is it a standard piece of equipment? I do not have access to the unit until April, just wondering if we have heat pumps or not.


Thank's in advance.

If you call Keystone customer service with the year, make, model, and VIN number of your unit, they can tell you just about anything you want to know about your particular unit. I bought my unit used and they sent me the build sheet for my unit so i know exactly what was installed on my unit from the factory. Make a list of questions before you call and they will try to answer them. I have a heat pump in the back of my HC but by the time the heat gets to the front bedroom it has cooled and takes a while to take the chill off. We use an electric heater in the front bedroom which works great. Also one in the main living area. The fireplace heater is in the back bedroom so that area stays toasty. When the heat pump is going the only place we might use another heater is in the front bedroom. Electric blankets are great at night. Rarely camp in freezing temperatures so don’t use the furnace much.

[sparks3761]

My 20th anniversary 2019 3761fl has the heatpump in the bedroom, and it is only for knocking the chill off. We had some nights a few moths ago where it got down to 40 degrees, and it didn't do anything but blow cold air.

[Kyle and Lisa]

In my 3 1/2 years on the road full time, heat pumps are good to about 47 degrees.

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

Ours is a front bedroom, rear den model. The Heat Pump option only displays on the thermostat in the kitchen which controls the rear unit. Front/bedroom thermostat only shows AC and Furnace, but the Furnace option doesn't seem to do anything.
To save on propane, you can get the heat pump to operate at lower temps by supplementing with electric heat inside. I have 2 electric heaters and position one of them so that the return ducts on the rear unit pick up the warmer air and recirculate it throughout the coach. I also purchased remote thermometers and put one in the belly and one in the basement so I could make sure there was no danger of freezing pipes.
By using electric heaters with the heat pump, I can keep the inside of the coach livable even down into the 20's outside. Inside temps will maintain 60-65 and the belly and basement never went below 40 without using any propane at all. Much below 20 and I will need to kick the furnace on from time to time. HTH.

Where are you positioning you heater to help the heat pump? the HP is drawing it's air from outside by design. There is no return air for HP.

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by cghsatx

Out of all the replies, the heat pump is always reported to be on the front AC unit. Mine is on the rear AC unit/rear bedroom (2019 3731). I had the roof repaired a couple of years ago (don't ask!) and I wonder if they reversed the units, and if it matters?

I believe the HP is always in the rear. If you have the BR in the rear, that's where the HP is.

[RMcNeal]

I put the electric heater directly below the return ducts for the heat pump/AC. It is drawing air from inside the rig the same way our AC does. I can actually feel it and confirmed with powder and vapor. Without a heater inside, the heat pump freezes up below around 40 degrees. With the heater or fireplace on, it continues to work down into the low 30's and is not frozen.
I was told that the heat pump essentially runs the AC in reverse. Is that not correct?

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

I put the electric heater directly below the return ducts for the heat pump/AC. It is drawing air from inside the rig the same way our AC does. I can actually feel it and confirmed with powder and vapor. Without a heater inside, the heat pump freezes up below around 40 degrees. With the heater or fireplace on, it continues to work down into the low 30's and is not frozen.
I was told that the heat pump essentially runs the AC in reverse. Is that not correct?

Your last point is correct and since it's running in reverse it's drawing air from the outside, extracting any available heat from it and pumping it to the inside.
Once the outside air is below 40deg the efficiency is reduced to the point that it cannot produce warm air.

[DebNJim B]

https://www.doityourselfrv.com/rv-heat-pump-hack/

hope this helps

[RMcNeal]

That's a very interesting article. Thanks for the link. I'm not an HVAC guy so I know very little about how they work. I have noticed that when I put electric heat blow the heat pump, it doesn't visibly freeze up like it does without it and will keep working a few degrees colder. I guess the ambient temps inside were keeping it from freezing up rather than the warm air circulating as I had guessed.
Good Info!

[DebNJim B]

One time I left ours running while we were gone for the day. When I returned the temps had dropped and the fan was clattering as it hit the ice that had built up on the exchanger. Now I watch the forecast like a hawk.

I also went to that website because the title indicated a hack for the heat pump. I was expecting a "how to" for getting more heat out of it but not so.

[montyfishing]

So I was able to get in the camper this weekend. I looked on the living room AC and did not see an option for the heat pump. I did not have shore power so I am assuming it would not show that option since the AC itself did not have power and once I get shore power it will show up. Just guessing thats how it will work.



Monty
2019 3791RD
20th Anniversary Edition.

[montyfishing]

So unless I am completely incompetent or a complete idiot, my 2019 Montana did not come with a heat pump. I have double checked both thermostats and neither of them give me the HP option. I was hoping maybe I overlooked something, but I am almost positive that I did not overlook anything.


2019 3791RD 20th anniversary edition (at least mine) does not have heat pump. We had to rely on the furnace this past weekend as it was chilly at night.


Sean Montgomery
2019 3791rd 20ths Anniversary edition

[RMcNeal]

That's odd. I also have a 2019 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition. It has heat pump in the rear unit and the front was upgraded to 15K Air Conditioner.

[Mikelff]

Originally Posted by montyfishing

So unless I am completely incompetent or a complete idiot, my 2019 Montana did not come with a heat pump. I have double checked both thermostats and neither of them give me the HP option. I was hoping maybe I overlooked something, but I am almost positive that I did not overlook anything.


2019 3791RD 20th anniversary edition (at least mine) does not have heat pump. We had to rely on the furnace this past weekend as it was chilly at night.


Sean Montgomery
2019 3791rd 20ths Anniversary edition

So if you want to verify your rear A/C unit does not have a heat pump, call Montana/Keystone customer service with your VIN number off your 5er. They can tell you everything that is in your unit, and if your A/C has a heat pump. I have one but we still use a small portable electric heater in the bedroom as our heat pump doesn't heat the bedroom much coming from the rear of my 5er. That little heater really does a good job keeping us toasty, and it’s very quiet.

[Option 65]

Sean
I would advise you to completely checkout the heat pump option on your unit. My 2019 3120rl was supposed to have one but did not. After 6 months I finally got my dealer and Keystone to agree that I should have a heat pump. Two months after that, they replaced my rear unit with a heat pump and I could not be happier. It turns out that the factory installed two single zone A/C units with consecutive serial numbers on our unit. Mistakes can be made but my dealer fought hard with Keystone and fixed my issue even though I did not bring it to their attention for 15 months after delivery.

Good luck.

[montyfishing]

I talked to someone named Lisa Calderon who could not confirm I had the four season features even after providing them with the VIN and that heatpumps are not necessarily standard equipment. I though I had the four season features but I guess not.



Thanks for all the input but I guess I will not have the heatpump after all.


Monty
2019 Montana 3791RD
20th Anniversary Edition