⭐ New Rooftop Inverter Technology A/Cs vs. MINI-SPLIT Systems

🆕 NEW INVERTER ROOFTOP A/Cs

What They Do Right

  • Much quieter than the old rooftop dinosaurs

  • Better airflow, especially dual-fan Furrion systems

  • More efficient thanks to inverter compressors

  • Drop-in replacements (bolt off, bolt on)

  • Better temperature control than the classic models

  • No wiring changes needed

Where They Still Fall Short

  • Still sitting on your roof, exposed to Texas sun, heat, storms, and bird crap

  • Still a 14x14 roof opening, meaning leaks are ALWAYS a possibility

  • Still louder than a mini-split (you won’t meditate under one)

  • Still one combined box → heat + cold fighting each other

  • Still sends air down, not across the room

  • Still use more power than a mini-split

  • Still don’t cool long horse trailer LQs evenly

  • Still have shorter lifespans than mini-splits

  • Still rely on duct design (which is often terrible)

The Honest Truth

They’re a big improvement over the old models…
But they didn’t suddenly become mini-splits.
They’re “Rooftop A/C 2.0,” not “Home Comfort Level 10.”

❄️ MINI-SPLIT SYSTEMS

What Mini-Splits Do Better

  • Whisper quiet (like “is this thing even on?” quiet)

  • Much lower power draw even under heavy load

  • True inverter technology done the right way

  • Separate indoor & outdoor units → dramatically better cooling

  • Move air across the room, not just down

  • Zero roof leak risk

  • Longer lifespan (10–15+ years)

  • Built-in heat pump for silent heat

  • Excellent for horse trailers because they cool EVERY zone, not six inches around the vent

  • Easy on generators

  • Allows incredible custom installs (recessed, hidden, vented compartments, etc.)

The Honest Truth

A mini-split cools like your house.
A rooftop A/C cools like… an RV.

There’s the difference.

⚔️ SIMPLE, HONEST COMPARISON

Noise

  • New Rooftop: Quieter than old ones, but still noticeable

  • Mini-Split: Nearly silent, like a whisper

Efficiency

  • New Rooftop: Improved, but still fairly power-hungry

  • Mini-Split: Best efficiency you can put on an RV or horse trailer

Cooling Quality

  • New Rooftop: Better than old units, still a “cold ceiling / warm feet” problem

  • Mini-Split: Even cooling everywhere, home-quality comfort

Roof Leaks

  • New Rooftop: Still a risk because it uses the same roof hole

  • Mini-Split: No hole = no leaks = no drama

Airflow

  • New Rooftop: Blows downward

  • Mini-Split: Blows across the room, way more effective

Lifespan

  • New Rooftop: 7–10 years

  • Mini-Split: 10–15+ years

Horse Trailer Performance

  • New Rooftop: Decent

  • Mini-Split: Outstanding, whole-LQ cooling

Comfort Level

  • New Rooftop: “Hey, that’s not bad.”

  • Mini-Split: “Holy crap… this feels amazing.”

⭐ MINI-SPLITS vs Older Non-Inverter ROOFTOP A/Cs

🧊 OLD ROOFTOP A/C SYSTEMS

What They Do Well

  • Simple to install

  • Cheap upfront

  • Replacement units available everywhere

  • Built to handle vibration while driving

Where They Fall Short

  • Extremely loud

  • High power consumption (bad for generators)

  • Cold air stays near the ceiling

  • Weak airflow across the room

  • Short lifespan (5–7 years)

  • All heat and cold packed into one rooftop box

  • Potential roof leak from the 14" x 14" opening

  • Poor cooling performance in Texas heat

  • Really struggle in horse trailers with living quarters

❄️ MINI-SPLIT SYSTEMS

What Mini-Splits Do Better

  • Whisper quiet operation

  • Much lower power draw

  • Heat outside, cold inside (far more efficient)

  • Moves air across the room, not just down

  • Long lifespan (10–15+ years)

  • No roof penetration = no roof leak risk

  • Excellent performance in horse trailers

  • Great on generators

  • Includes a heat pump for winter

  • More comfortable, more even temperature everywhere

⚔️ DIRECT COMPARISON 

 

Noise

  • Old Rooftop: Very loud

  • Mini-Split: Nearly silent

Efficiency

  • Old Rooftop: High power, struggles in heat

  • Mini-Split: Uses much less power, cools better

Cooling Quality

  • Old Rooftop: Uneven, warm spots, weak airflow

  • Mini-Split: Even, strong cooling across the entire space

Roof Leak Risk

  • Old Rooftop: Always a possibility

  • Mini-Split: No roof hole, no leaks

Lifespan

  • Old Rooftop: 5–7 years

  • Mini-Split: 10–15+ years

Horse Trailer Performance

  • Old Rooftop: Barely adequate

  • Mini-Split: Cool, quiet, and perfect

Comfort Level

  • Old Rooftop: “It works…”

  • Mini-Split: “Feels like home.”