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what is the advantage of this system
New to this and trying to understand difference of OTR To other systems
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8 Replies
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If the question is “What is OTR” it’s the big AC system run by the engine on your Prevost. This is the Prevost Compressor (Carrier O5G-Bus 41 CFM) on mine. Other systems on/in your coach are Electric AC systems. I have 3 Cruisair AC’s for the house.
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Here we go again………I expect the OTR vs driver’s air was pretty much beaten to death and the new debate was going to be Li vs AGM batteries.
OTR is a whole coach A/C and heating system. If a coach is not equipped with OTR it will have A/C at the dash only, called driver’s air.
If a coach does not have OTR the only way to keep the rearward portions of the coach cool while driving is to run the house A/C units.
That leads into a debate about the benefits of Cruiseairs vs roof airs which leads into a discussion about running the generator to power them or running them from the inverters.
One thing you can be sure of is owners will defend what they have, and to sort through the answers you have to understand when folks brag about how cool they can keep their coach that 85 degrees is comfortable to some, while others are comfortable at lower temps which makes most answers unqualified unless you know how a person defines comfort.
Let the discussions begin.
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Wouldn’t do without the OTR in mine. Oh by the way, that big bugger Carrier O5G compressor up top is available if anybody needs one.
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I describe it to folks as: a “Prevost only” installed engine driven 80,000+ btu AC and heat system, with vents throughout the whole bus. It is NOT installed by a converter, but the converter DOES install a lot of the vents inside the bus. Advantage? I think so.It is a very expensive option when the converter is ordering a chassis from Prevost.
A disadvantage is it takes up 2 basement storage bays.
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Yeah Don, And keeps you cool as a cucumber riding down the road without generator and working off the motor pushing you.
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Bigger issue is that it limits you to no more than 2 slide outs. I have had 3 coaches so far, and never had bus air. I feel that I have never needed it. I keep perfectly comfy with the dash a/c and running the bedroom a/c unit…either a cruise air or roof air. Only twice have I turned on another unit while running down the road to keep the temp down a bit.
I don’t hang meat in the coach like Jon, so I don’t need it for that….
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OTR takes up the equivalent of 1/2 bay only.
In the OTR bay position the passenger side is the condenser and condenser fans. That bay area is relatively shallow.
On the opposite side is the evaporator and evaporator fan. It also makes use of a shallow depth. In between the two 1/4 bay sized areas is the coach fuel tank.
OTR does not require two bays.
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Like Mark3101 above, we have also never had OTR and at almost 5 yrs. of ownership (November), we have stayed nice and cool in the warmer months traveling down the road.
We are currently on a small 10 day trip. I turn on roof air #2 and #4 along with the dash air (generator running). After a little while I turn off the dash air. I always keep a small fan blowing on me as I like air moving.
When we stop for lunch (mid 90’s outside), the coach is a nice comfortable 68-70 degrees. If I want it cooler, I have two more units to turn on!
As Jon said, all coaches are a compromise.
Buy and drive what works for you.
Safe travels,
Mark
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