A/C for a 1965 Caravel

[toastie]

We are thinking about putting a low profile A/C (Dometic Penguin with Airstream drip pan) unit on top of our 1965 Caravel, I talked to a Airstream tech and they told me that if you take the front rib and measure back 60" there you will fine a wire and a drip tube for a A/C unit, the front opening of the Hehr vent is about 8" from the 60" and if I place the A/C unit in that opening can I still get to the wires and drip tube. My Hehr back opening is on the back rib, so if I install the A/C unit in the Hehr will it overhang to much?

[flyfshr]

That picture is almost too shiny to tell what's going on. Is this looking toward the front of the trailer? How about a side shot of the roofline showing where the 80" falls?

Brad
FF

[Melody Ranch]

YES! It will overhang too much.
I put a Fantactic Fan there and installed the Carrier low profile ahead of it. Now the AC covers the entire inside quite well (I like the modulating fins) and the fan is perfectly located , aft just enough, for use above the stove area and the bath/toilet area. Outside looks balanced too.

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

YES! It will overhang too much.
I put a Fantactic Fan there and installed the Carrier low profile ahead of it. Now the AC covers the entire inside quite well (I like the modulating fins) and the fan is perfectly located , aft just enough, for use above the stove area and the bath/toilet area. Outside looks balanced too.

So you had to cut a new hole, how far from the front of the Hehr vent for the new hole, and was there a pre-wire and a drip tube, what Caravel did you use.

[Melody Ranch]

Yes, unfortunately had to cut a new mount hole for the AC. Wiring was O.K. from the old AC (Coleman.)

The drain is still a problem and I have turned that over to my local shop. I am looking for that supposed drain line mentioned earlier. If its there we will find it. If not, the job commences. Someone in the forums said they ran a short line to the Black tank vent line....right there....You should have heard the screams from the Airstream mech on that one. I will let you know and beware....I just got a digital camera.

I really like your Caravel!! Nice job.

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

Yes, unfortunately had to cut a new mount hole for the AC. Wiring was O.K. from the old AC (Coleman.)

The drain is still a problem and I have turned that over to my local shop. I am looking for that supposed drain line mentioned earlier. If its there we will find it. If not, the job commences. Someone in the forums said they ran a short line to the Black tank vent line....right there....You should have heard the screams from the Airstream mech on that one. I will let you know and beware....I just got a digital camera.

I really like your Caravel!! Nice job.

Thanks, Airstream told me that if you measure 60" back from the front rib that there is a drain tube and a pre-wire for a A/C, they also told me that I needed a drip pan and that you can only get those from Airtream, and I did for about $70.00 and can only be used with a Dometic Penguin A/C according to Airstream.

[Melody Ranch]

Toastie,
If your still up on the AC project, I finally got some help with the camera instruction. Here is a picture of the overhang problem we discussed.

[C Johnson]

My .02, My a/c unit was installed forward of the rear vent. The wiring should be there. I had no drain tube in my 1965 Caravel. I doubt that the 65 Caravels came with one. I have had the int. skins off and there was no evidence of a drain tube ever having been installed. The wiring was there, however, for the a/c unit in the forward position. Check my pictures in the members photos section, I think I have a few pics of the original a/c unit that was on my Caravel. It was an old Coleman with the Metal shroud.

One note. If you do install the a/c in the forward position. Make sure that there is some bracing/support under the unit as the ribs in the center of the roof dead end before the center line of the trailer. I can't find the pictures I have of it right at the moment, but the Coleman I had on there leaked bad because there wasn't sufficient support under the a/c unit for the gasket to make a proper seal.

I will take some pics tomorrow when I get home from work to try and explain what I am talking about.

[Melody Ranch]

Note the overhang in ref to the before pic of the Coleman. Chris is absolutely correct on checking the support structure. I wish I had pics from the 66 installation. I had the Dealer maintenance do that installation. Pics on that when I get a chance.

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

Note the overhang in ref to the before pic of the Coleman. Chris is absolutely correct on checking the support structure. I wish I had pics from the 66 installation. I had the Dealer maintenance do that installation. Pics on that when I get a chance.

Camping World installed Dometic Penguin on my 65 Caravel and with an Airstream made drip pan, Camping World would NOT install the unit having it overhang, they called Airstream, and Airtream just happened to have a 65 Caravel that they just installed air, and we installed per there procedure, see attached pic.

[Imlhaas]

I know this is an old post, but there is little to no information on where the hole is to be cut. Airstream provided an instruction sheet that said 60" from the front rib, but the correct answer is around 30" from the front rib. There was a 10/2 and an 14/2 wire under the trailer skin. Hope this helps someone.