Incredible noisy AC, any solutions in sight.

[Nick and Linda Stratigakis]

Last week we were camping at a TX state park for our first outing since April. Around mid day the temperature was well over 93 degrees and we decided to turn the AC on. Had forgotten how loud this thing was but we had no other choice. Shortly thereafter a family with 3 children camped next to us in a tent. The next morning the neighbor ( visiting from Holland) came over, introduced himself, very polite and very respectful and asked if we could turn off our AC because they did not sleep the night before because of the noise. In desperation I started looking for options and decided to go to a close by Walmart store. They had a 6000 btu portable unit and looking at the size and measurements looked OK to me. Installed it at the very back between the two beds with the air exhaust and the moisture drain through the back bottom door, plugged in and it was an instant relief, noise level was very low, low enough to have a conversation and listen to the radio. Next morning my Dutch neighbor came over to thank me for not using the AC. Will try to improve the installation by building a removable “door” for the left rear storage compartment with an opening large enough to accommodate the AC exhaust and prevent potential critters coming in. 

[katanapilot]

Not really new news, unfortunately.  Plenty of discussion on this forum about the Dometic and high noise levels.  Many have now converted to quieter units.   Good place to start your research is a post from several years back here

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Nick and Linda Stratigakis said:

Had forgotten how loud this thing was but we had no other choice.

Yeah, the OEM Dometic A/C is a horrible POS and to not bother your next neighbor, and to get some sleep yourself, you will eventually replace it (sooner rather than later).

Search on this Forum for keywords like Atmos, Tosot, Turbro, Greenland and Pioneer, maybe even Houghton is still viable (nice if Houghton brings an inverter A/C to the states).

[Ronbrink]

12 hours ago, Nick and Linda Stratigakis said:

They had a 6000 btu portable unit and looking at the size and measurements looked OK to me. Installed it at the very back between the two beds with the air exhaust and the moisture drain through the back bottom door

I did the same with a portable air conditioner given me and generally used when working in confined spaces, garage or shop for heat relief. Shown here being used in the Oliver, vented out the side window, when replacing the noisy Dometic Penguin ll last summer. Useful in a pinch, but certainly wouldn’t want to travel with one and endure the encumbrance! Unlike the DPll, my Atmos replacement is quite both in and out; oftentimes I can’t even hear it running when outside the trailer, so don’t think all RV rooftop air conditioners are created equal.