RV air conditioning is always a hot topic (get it?) because many of us spend time traveling and living in our RVs in hot weather. Since the purpose of an RV is to offer us the comforts of home as we travel, efficient air conditioning is an important matter that commands a great deal of attention. And when any new product enters the market promising a more efficient (and less noisy) air conditioning system, most RVers are interested in learning about it. The Truma Aventa is no exception. This new rooftop air conditioner offers some pretty sweet specs and looks mighty promising.
So, in today’s post, we’re investigating the Truma Aventa and all of its key features.
- 1) What Is the Truma Aventa?
- 2) Who Makes the Trumal Aventa?
- 3) How Many Truma Aventa Models Are There?
- 4) How Long Has Truma Been Selling Aventa Air Conditioners?
- 5) What Are the Key Features of the Truma Aventa Rooftop Air Conditioners?
- 6) Will My Generator Run a Truma Aventa RV Air Conditioner?
- 7) When Will the Truma Aventa Air Conditioners Be Available?
What Is the Truma Aventa?
The Truma Aventa is a German-engineered air conditioner that combines a remarkable balance of cooling and humidity control to achieve a comfortable RV interior with minimal noise. The Aventa is billed as energy-efficient with a low-profile design.
One thing we want to be sure to mention right off the bat here is that Truma’s Aventa will be available on select new RVs and can be installed through authorized dealers… but is not currently an aftermarket offering for DIY installation.
We want to mention this early on because we dislike spending time learning about an interesting new product only to reach the end of an article to learn that it’s unavailable to us. We’re reporting on the features of this air conditioning unit because we like the design, we think the balance of cooling and humidity control is a winner, and a quiet, low-profile air conditioner is worth mentioning.
We have readers who are in the market for new RVs, and it benefits them to be aware of the Truma Aventa because they may encounter it as an option as they shop. And in time, as Truma continues to offer the Aventa as a dealer-installed aftermarket unit, we’ll all have been prepared in advance.
So let’s take a look!
Who Makes the Trumal Aventa?
The Truma Aventa is made by the Truma Corp. in Putzbrunn, Germany.
Truma Corp., named after United States President Harry S. Truman, was founded in 1949 by Philipp Kreis. Mr. Kreis’s first product was a gas lamp which he designed to address an issue he faced with lighting during power outages when he was running a night school teaching English in Munich. Today his company is the leading RV component supplier in Europe.
In 2013, Truma Corp. opened an office in the U.S. in Elkhart, Indiana, an area often referred to as the “RV Capital of the World”, (and, interestingly, it’s also known as the “Band Instrument Capital of the World”). Truma’s Elkhart office handles all of its distribution and tech support in the North American marketplace.
We have considerable personal experience with the Truma brand, as all four of the RVs we’ve rented during international RV trips (Australia, England, Italy and New Zealand) were equipped with the Truma Combi. That’s a combined furnace & water heater that we absolutely loved.
We also recently had a Truma AquaGo on-demand water heater installed in our own RV. We’re loving it so far and will have lots to report about it in a future post.
You can learn more about the fascinating history of Truma Corp.
You can also visit Truma’s locator for dealer partners throughout North America.
How Many Truma Aventa Models Are There?
There are two models of the Truma Aventa, both of which operate on 120V AC power.
The Aventa Eco offers 13,500 BTUs of cooling capacity, while the Aventa Comfort offers 15,000 BTUs.
How Long Has Truma Been Selling Aventa Air Conditioners?
Truma has been selling air conditioners in Europe and Australia since the late ’90s, but the North American version of the Truma Aventa was designed more recently, with the comparatively warmer weather of North America in mind, backed by more than 70 years of German engineering.
What Are the Key Features of the Truma Aventa Rooftop Air Conditioners?
Balance of Cooling and Humidity Control
Truma’s Aventa models offer a balance of cooling and humidity control designed to achieve maximum comfort in an RV’s living space. This focus on controlling humidity while cooling the RV is a stroke of genius if the Aventas do it well (which we’ve read they do) because as those of us who have lived in our RVs in areas with high humidity can testify, heat is not always the central issue that needs to be addressed.
If Truma achieves this balance as well as we’ve read they do with the Aventa, they’ve got a winner on their hands.
3 Energy-Efficient, Low-Amp Cooling Modes
Both Truma Aventa models have three manual cooling modes (low, medium, and high) and their three low-amp speeds appear to be very efficient.
- Low speed = 9.4 amps AC (or 104 amps DC)
- Medium speed = 9.6 amps AC (106 amps DC)
- High speed = 10.5 amps AC (116 amps DC)
Ultra-Quiet
The Truma Aventa is marketed as “ultra-quiet”, and we’ve read that in real-world use one can actually hold a conversation without strain near a running Aventa. Truma achieves this by using a thick, noise-absorbing EPP foam core and shock absorber mounts for the compressor, which not only contribute to the quiet operation of these units but also reduce vibration.
Several Operation Modes
- Cooling Mode
Cooling mode offers the three fan speeds noted above, or the system can be set to an automatic mode which allows the Aventa to select and adjust the fan speeds toward a comfortable temperature. Cool-down happens quickly and efficiently.
- Air Circulation Mode
Air circulation mode allows you to keep the air circulating in your RV when cooling is unnecessary. Here you can manually choose your preferred fan speeds as well.
- Dehumidification Mode
Dehumidification mode removes moisture from the air, giving you an effective dehumidifier in your rig. (This could prove to be a game-changer in some climates for sure.)
- Night Mode
Night mode allows you to operate the unit at low speed with a timer, serving to keep noise at a minimum both inside and outside the RV when you are trying to sleep.
Compatible With Ducted and Non-Ducted Systems
Whether an RV has a ducted or ductless system, both models of the Truma Aventa are compatible for a seamless installation.
Air Flow Distributor
This feature is applicable to non-ducted installations and allows airflow to be directed downward and to the sides, distributed where it’s most needed.
Digital Thermostat With Remote
Both models of the Truma Aventa come with a remote that has a thermostat control allowing you to digitally set the temperature in the camper for automatic cooling and dehumidification to your desired settings.
They can be controlled wirelessly with the remote control or by using the Truma CP plus control panel (sold and installed separately), and they can be integrated into multiplex systems.
Will My Generator Run a Truma Aventa RV Air Conditioner?
You’d need a 3,000 Watt generator (or a 3,000 Watt inverter) to operate either model of the Truma Aventa. This is due to the power surge required at start-up.
We have no information as to whether the Truma Aventa is compatible with something like our Microair EasyStart 364 to handle the initial surge, but that would be a good question for Truma!
When Will the Truma Aventa Air Conditioners Be Available?
That’s a good question, and one we can’t answer except to reiterate what we stated at the beginning of this post. The Truma Aventa will initially only be available on select new RVs but is not currently available as an aftermarket offering. Here again is that locator for Truma dealer partners, for those in the market for a new RV.
It’s possible that one day it will be available on the aftermarket, and with its reported success in achieving a remarkable balance of cooling + humidity control along with its low amp-draw, low noise, and low profile, we suspect it would be very well received.
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Greg
Thursday 22nd of February 2024
The Aventa is indeed a terrific unit, which we have on our 2023 Leisure Travel Unity. It's quiet and efficient. Also, you might want to update your post as I understand that it is now available in the aftermarket.
TheRVgeeks
Friday 23rd of February 2024
Thanks, Greg. You're right... Truma is now offering the Aventa for installation through their authorized dealer network. But you still can't just order one yourself and install it (new or as a replacement) DIY. Yet! 😉🤞
John
Thursday 22nd of February 2024
Curious, the Truma Combi articles I’ve read seem to indicate that it heats the perimeter of the RV and I’m thinking that it’s like baseboard heating but behind the cabinets and appliances. Is that true? Seem inefficient, what am I missing?
TheRVgeeks
Friday 23rd of February 2024
Hi John. We've had the Combi in almost all of the RVs (small Class B or B+) we've rented overseas... and it had hot air outlets in various places throughout the interior, not just along "the perimeter", so we're not sure where that idea is coming from. The Combi, in furnace mode, isn't specifically much different than any other forced hot air RV furnace... so it depends on how the RV manufacturer routes the air outlets in the RV.
Bill
Friday 31st of March 2023
In agreement with the bonus of the Truma dehumidifier mode. Discovered early on in becoming a full timer the benefits of having a separate dehumidifier for year-round humidity control in humid climates such as the American southeast.
It really helps with humidity control and therefore comfort during wet winters. Find I can get by with less heat and less air-conditioning in humid climates.
Running my Energy Star rated dehumidifier in conjunction with my 25 year old Dometic Penguin Really helps keep things comfortable during humid summers. The dehumidifier only draws about 350 W AC.
Denny Johnson
Monday 20th of February 2023
Sounds like Coleman and other manufacturers better get on the ball and modernize...
Scott
Monday 20th of February 2023
Sounds like this is a real quality unit and it would be nice to have replacements that are quit and efficient. The only downside I see is, those of us with coaches that have heat pumps it appears these are only straight cool units. Hopefully in the future they'll come out with a heat pump version if the get into the retail replacment market