Choosing a small RV AC unit comes down to roof opening, ducting style, amperage, and profile height — not just BTU rating.
Most small RVs use a 13,500 BTU rooftop air conditioner, and the practical comparison isn’t about cooling power — nearly every option moves similar BTUs. The real differences hide in fit, current draw, noise, and whether your RV has ducted or non-ducted airflow. Getting those details right beats chasing specs that rarely matter in real use.
This comparison covers the four units that dominate small-RV installs — Dometic, Coleman, GE, and RecPro — so you can match the right one to your roof and your electrical service.
What Actually Differs Between 13.5K Units
All 13,500 BTU rooftop units cool roughly the same space, but the specs that matter vary sharply between models. Profile height, weight, airflow, refrigerant, and whether heat is included change the install and the comfort.
Standard-profile units like the Dometic Brisk II sit tall on the roof and weigh about 85 lb. Low-profile models like the GE Profile PLC13XHHW drop to about 11 in of roof height, which matters if you’re tight on overhead clearance or want less wind drag on the highway.
Refrigerant also splits the market. Dometic, Coleman, and Furrion use R410A; RecPro’s Quiet AC line uses R32, which carries a lower global-warming potential. Neither choice changes day-to-day operation.
How Much Power Does Each Unit Really Draw
Current draw is where small RVs get into trouble. A 15-amp circuit won’t run every unit on the market, and some models want 20-amp protection. Check your RV’s electrical service before you buy.
| Model | Amp Draw | Profile & Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Coleman Mach 3 Power Saver | 10 A | Medium, 13.8 in H |
| GE Profile PLC13XHHW | 15 A circuit | Low, 11 in H |
| Standard Coleman Mach 13.5K | 14.6–15.3 A | Standard, 79.5 lb |
| RecPro 13.5K Quiet AC | 12 A rated, 14 A max | Low or standard options |
| Dometic Brisk II 13.5K | 20 A max protection | Standard, 85 lb |
Ducted Or Non-Ducted — And The Installation Trap
The most common mistake is mixing ducted and non-ducted configurations without the matching parts. The Dometic Brisk II needs an air distribution box for non-ducted installs, and a return air grille plus control kit for ducted ones. GE’s low-profile unit requires a 14 in x 14 in roof opening, and Coleman Mach 3 units fit the same 14 in x 14 in vent standard.
Before ordering, confirm three things: your roof opening size, whether the ceiling assembly matches the model’s plenum dimensions, and whether your RV routes air through ducts or dumps it straight down. Several listings give separate outdoor and interior assembly dimensions — don’t confuse the two.
If heat matters, note that the RecPro heat-pump version delivers 12,000 BTU of heating and draws about 10 A in heat mode. Coleman offers an optional heater assembly that adds 5,600 BTU of heat to its 13.5K unit. If you camp in cold shoulder seasons, heat-pump capability beats a resistive heater for efficiency.
Which 13.5K Unit Fits Your RV
Match the unit to the constraint you can’t change. If your roof is low and you tow through wind, the GE Profile’s 11 in height wins. If you’re on a 15-amp pedestal and want headroom, the Coleman Mach 3 Power Saver’s 10 A draw is the safest bet. If breaker trips plague your setup, RecPro’s soft-start handles inrush best.
Quiet operation follows a similar pattern: the RecPro low-profile models list outdoor sound pressure at roughly 61 dBA or better, and the Dometic FreshJet 3 Series specs 58 dB in its 13.5K version.
For most small RVs, the Coleman Mach 3 Power Saver or GE Profile PLC13XHHW delivers the best balance of low amperage, reasonable weight, and standard 14 in x 14 in roof compatibility. Buyers who need heat or run on generators lean toward RecPro. And if you’re replacing an older Dometic with an existing ducted ceiling assembly, staying in the Dometic family keeps the control kit wiring simple.
References & Sources
- Dometic. “Dometic Brisk II 13.5K BTU Air Conditioner.” Official specs: 115 V, 20 A protection, R410A, 85 lb.
- Dometic. “FreshJet 3 Series 13.5K.” Lists 13.5K and 15K options, SEER 13, 58 dB.
- Camping World. “Coleman Mach 3 Power Saver Series 13.5K BTU.” Retail listing: 10 A rating, 320 CFM, 14 in x 14 in vent opening.