Visit our Popular Forums

RichardT · 02-18-2008, 09:43 PM

This question is for Motorhome owners, how often do you need your dash A/C?
I am going thru my engine bay doing headers and a new intake etc... and am removing smog equipment and all unnecessary items and doing a general cleanup.
And even though everything is there for A/C, It needs to be charged and have a new drier etc... I am considering just removing the dash A/C and just using the roof air and generator when A/C is needed.

Plus I like the room in the engine bay when there is no A/C.

Let me know from experiance if you feel dash A/C is needed.

Thanks

klattu · 02-18-2008, 09:46 PM

I've always been very happy to have it each time it gets turned on.
Hot sunny days in traffic, with Sun coming in thru the front can get sweaty in the front seats.

2airishuman · 02-18-2008, 10:19 PM

i could (and did) live with

no ac in the house...

no ac in the car...

but i could NOT imagine going without the dash ac in the moho...

i never found the roof ac to be very good at cooling the FRONT area of the moho while in motion.

and opening windows at 60+ mph didn't work well either, so a small 12v fan on the dash was a nice extra.

cheers
2air'

str8strm · 02-18-2008, 10:25 PM

We don't use ours very often, but it's good to have when you need it. I wouldn't remove it if I were you. Ron

Poprivet · 02-19-2008, 06:06 AM

Gotta Have It - I Suguest You Upgrade To The New Freon System While Your At It.

lewster · 02-19-2008, 06:33 AM

When I full-timed in my 40' Monaco Dynasty diesel MoHo, the dash air was on almost all of the time! In fact, we used to run the front roof A/C with the generator a lot while zipping down the road too!!!!

RichardT · 02-19-2008, 07:00 AM

I am seeing a clear trend developing that dash A/C is a keeper.

I sure do like the extra room and the looks without it, but will reconsider removal based upon the advise given so far.

Thanks
RichardT

cooperhawk · 02-19-2008, 08:08 AM

Here's the clincher. Without it on those rainy days your windhsield will fog up and the roof air won't help a bit. We use our all the time.

pumpkin · 02-19-2008, 08:19 AM

I had it in my Argossy, but on one trip from LA to Vagas it was 130 degrees out side and with the size of the windows the a/c did nothing but add heat to the engine. Since the a/c was useless when I needed it most, I decided to just remove it all. Now the engine runs a bit cooler, getting direct air to the rad, and it neetend up the engine comartment.

Alumatube · 02-19-2008, 08:36 AM

We could not live without dash A/C (and have been very, VERY uncomfortable when ours has gone out before). Roof A/C will not keep up with all climates (we live in and travel around the South) and dash air is a must. And as cooperhawk says, it is the only way to defog those huge windows without a squeegee!

Susan

Robfike · 02-19-2008, 02:25 PM

We use ours all the time in our 345. There is nothing better than a well operating R-12 system!
Good luck, Rob

ralley · 02-19-2008, 02:48 PM

So:
Since the Zeppelin is sitting in the cold--
Since it isn't going to be used for another month or so--
Since the Dash AC has been kaput since we've had it--more than 2 years
It might be a good time to do something about getting it to work.

Problem is, I'm a complete idiot....about AC systems. Is there a decent manual out there somewhere that is usable by the average shade tree wrench-turner, for these or similar systems??

I don't expect parts to be a problem--it's figuring our which parts.

Rob

345bill · 02-19-2008, 03:08 PM

we are in so. nv. and in summer use front & dash air constantly while using the 345, even nightime driving.

Poprivet · 02-19-2008, 04:59 PM

P-30 chassis's are pretty simple and any licenced A/C shop can fix you up. Can't do it on your own. Get several estimates - Good luck!!

Skater · 02-22-2008, 01:21 PM

I clicked back and forth between "Yes" and "No" several time before settling on "No". Why? Because my dash air conditioning hasn't worked since I bought the van nearly 3 years ago, so it obviously must not be necessary.

That said, I WOULD like to get it working, but it's at the point where it pretty much entirely should be replaced - new compressor, several lines leaking, accumulator, etc. Expensive even if I do the work myself and have a shop test and fill it.

The other thing is that I would still need the generator and rooftop air, because I travel with my cat, and when I stop for breaks I don't want it to get hot in there (and I'm not sure the dash air would be enough to cool the entire B-van down). However the cab area does get significantly warmer than the rest of the camper, even with the rooftop air running and blowing air right at it. I'd like to get some of those 12-volt clip-on fans to help that situation.

myfirstrv · 02-25-2008, 01:53 PM

I would keep it
1)Re sale Value
2) What if the roof AC dies (I know nothing breaks on these things But what if ?)
3) Running the AC mode to defog winds
4) Short trips
5) When your low on fuel

elbundi · 02-28-2008, 06:04 PM

the roof air helps keep passengers and my neck cool, but sure would like the dash air to work too, it may be a simple fix or it could cost. the dc fan i have up front doesn't blow strong enough! am considering an auto repair course at a local tech.

i'd say keep it unless you plan to only travel north of the 'bat cave.'

GlenCoombe · 03-01-2008, 07:07 AM

Richard, having removed mine I can attest to what everyone else has said.

When running down the road in the direction of the sun you're driving a greenhouse.

On the positive side you've got the a/c unit just behind you on the roof.

I'd keep the dash a/c and go electric cooling fans for more room in front of the engine. Give the engine a break on turning that big cooling fan.

Also for those who don't have one or two of them I recommend dash mounted fans for cooling the body! When the front end gets hot I turn on the body fan and get a lot of relief. It's quite dramatic.

balrgn · 03-01-2008, 07:16 AM

I use mine, being a 20', it cools the rig with out running the Armstron AC

Taxman · 03-02-2008, 11:12 AM

Richard,

I removed mine before our trip last summer, and never missed it. Engine ran cooler, and I am led to believe that genset/roof airs use less gas. I do have small 12v fans in front to circulate air, and the defrost still works on rainy days.

For us, not having dash air has worked well.

Safe travels,

FRank