Dometic Brisk II is one of the best 15,000-BTU air conditioners for RVs. It works well both as a ducted or a ductless AC system.
The Dometic Brisk II features a lightweight and durable construction suited to all kinds of road conditions. Also, the Dometic AC is designed to be as quiet and vibration-free as possible,
If you are looking for a powerful rooftop RV AC that will last for years, we highly recommend the Dometic Brisk II.
Read on for our full review.
If the Dometic Brisk II is not what you were looking for, the Coleman Airxcel Mach 15 is a good alternative with a similar cooling capacity (15,000 BTU). We also have other great recommendations in our roundup of the top 10 RV air conditioners.Key Features
1. 15,000 BTU Cooling Capacity and 350 CFM Airflow
The 15,000 BTU cooling capacity makes the Dometic Brisk II a good choice for large RVs. Compared to the older model with 13,500 BTUs, the new AC is more powerful and cools your RV quicker and more efficiently.
Cooling performance is not just about BTUs; airflow is also important. High BTUs with weak airflow will result in less than optimal cooling performance.
We are happy to report that the Dometic Brisk II’s airflow matches its powerful cooling capacity. At 350 CFM or cubic feet per minute, it moves more air than the Coleman Airxcel Mach 15 with its 320 CFM airflow.
The high airflow means the Dometic Brisk II cools your RV faster and easily maintains a comfortable temperature even on those extra-hot days. On the downside, the powerful fan is a bit noisy.
2. Heating Option
Similar to most RV air conditioners, the Dometic Brisk II comes with an optional heating feature. However, you cannot use it out of the box. You’ll need to buy a heat strip separately and install it in the AC.
Note that the heating capacity is less than half (5,600 BTU) the cooling capacity. For large RVs, we don’t recommend relying on the Dometic Brisk II as your main heat source, especially if you spend a lot of time in cold areas or love winter RV camping.
The heater function is ideal for keeping you warm during cool evenings and nights.
3. Durable Construction
The Dometic Brisk II air conditioner is constructed with three main things in mind: durability, reduced weight, and noise/vibration reduction.
For durability, the Dometic Brisk II has a galvanized steel top plate and a carbon steel base. These allow it to withstand rough conditions without breaking down.
The laminated shroud on top is UV resistant.
To reduce weight, the Dometic AC uses EPP foam housing. The lower weight makes it easier to carry the unit up to the RV roof and reduces the impact of the AC on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
As for noise reduction, the motor, compressor, and evaporator are bracketed to each other to reduce the amount of noise and vibration coming from the AC.
Unfortunately, this does not make the Dometic Brisk II noise-free. The fan can get a bit loud.
4. Versatile Installation
As we mentioned, you have the choice of installing the Dometic Brisk II as a ductless or ducted system. It depends on what system you already have in your RV.
If you are outfitting a new RV or converting an old school bus, going ductless is the best option. It makes installation easier, faster, and cheaper.
Note that you’ll need to buy the control unit separately if you opt for the non-ducted (ductless) option.
If your RV already has a duct system in place, you can just connect the Dometic AC to it and use your existing wall thermostat to control the temperature (you don’t need the control unit).
Issues & Limitations
The Dometic Brisk II produces a fair amount of noise, likely due to the high CFM. If you find fan noise distracting or annoying, get the Coleman Mach 15 instead. It’s much quieter.
If you still prefer the Dometic AC, you can move your sleeping area a bit further from the location of the AC.
Another issue with the Dometic Brisk II is that it doesn’t come with a control unit. If you are installing it as a ductless system, you’ll have to buy it separately.
The heat strip is also not included. That’s one more thing to buy if you want to warm your RV.
Bottom Line
Though a bit too loud for most people’s liking, the Dometic Brisk II makes up for it in cooling performance.
Anyway, you’ll probably get used to the noise after some time.
If you have a large RV or spend a lot of time in hot climates, we highly recommend the Dometic Brisk II rooftop RV air conditioner. It’s also a great choice if you are shopping for a ductless AC for your RV.
