A/C unit on roof or indoor?

[Pschoerrn]

Hi all,

as our Ambassador has no A/C unit (and he never had one) we are thinking of installing one sooner or later. My question is, if anyone of you has an indoor unit that is installed i.e. under the seats of the dinette or in a wardrobe?

I only saw the on-roof units on most Airstream, but I wouldn´t really like to add more wait to the roof of the trailer, as I think that it is better to have the weight point as low as possible.

Are these indoor units just not very common in the US or are there any concerns about them? Maybe except of the loss of storage space...

Any thoughts??


Thanks

Bjoern

[fastrob]

The unit on the roof takes hot air from the top and blows cool air down.

The unit being outside should be quieter.

I would like to lower center of gravity and place the unit lower.

The outside would be more aerodynamic without that hunk on top.

How about a using the heating ductwork to distribute the cool air?

[Pschoerrn]

Well, for the inside A/C we are thinking about, it is possible to get some sound absorders and it is probably possible to insulate the space the A/C is installed in, so I guess the noise shouldn´t be too loud.
I will try to see a build in sample and hear/see it in action.
BTW We are thinking of a Truma Frostair 2300.
I thought of using the heat lines,too, but I am not yet shure if this is possible... We´ll have to see.

[Torii]

I also have considered putting it elsewhere (besides the roof) Besides the weight, I think the thing is ugly and detracts from the clean lines of the airstream.


I was looking at a portable 9000btu unit at sears last weekend. I only use the AC when its really warm. It would be nice to take it along during the warm months and leave it at home the reat of the time. Just another idea...

[fastrob]

The smooth, sleek lines of the Airstream do not need a lump on top.

Insulation around the unit would make it quieter.

On my trailer the water heater is next to the space heater. The outside cover

for the water heater would take a grill for air exchange.

A tankless water heater could work well in another location.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Pschoerrn

Well, for the inside A/C we are thinking about, it is possible to get some sound absorders and it is probably possible to insulate the space the A/C is installed in, so I guess the noise shouldn´t be too loud.
I will try to see a build in sample and hear/see it in action.
BTW We are thinking of a Truma Frostair 2300.
I thought of using the heat lines,too, but I am not yet shure if this is possible... We´ll have to see.

Björn,
I like the Truma product a lot. I suppose it's a good brand in Europe.
I am going to install a basement style A/C unit in my 1963 Overlander, I want to preseve the lines of the trailer and keep the center of gravity very low.
My unit will go under the bed, venting to the outside through a louver in the side of the trailer, where the old water heater was. I have relocated the water heater to where the heater furnace was, and am using 2 vented catalytic heaters instead now.
Good Luck with your project.

[Torii]

Bjoern,

That looks like a great product. I had been wondering if there was something like that and now I know that there is. (well, in Europe anyway). I will look around and see if I can find something like that over on this side.

Uwe,

Do you happen to know of a good brand here in the US? ( for a basement style AC )

-T

[uwe]

Originally Posted by T Man

Bjoern,

Uwe,

Do you happen to know of a good brand here in the US? ( for a basement style AC )

-T

Yes, indeed, Dometic makes a small basement A/C that would fit under a bed in most Airstreams. Venting would require cutting the flor, like a refrigerator vent, to cool the condenser.
search for this: 39115.626
Or, go to the Dometic USA website and take a look.
This unit is available with electric heat as well. It is one I am contemplating for the 1963 Overlander.

[Pschoerrn]

Hi Uwe,

do you know what the dometics shall cost? I haven´t found it on the dometic site or is a unit for boats? The performance data would be very interesting.
Truma is a well know Product overhere and they are the most selling heaters in Caravans and MH.

Greetings from good old Germany.

Bjoern

[Over59]

http://www.dometicusa.com/Market/Lo%...0SpecShtLO.pdf

Originally Posted by Pschoerrn

Hi Uwe,

do you know what the dometics shall cost? I haven´t found it on the dometic site or is a unit for boats? The performance data would be very interesting.
Truma is a well know Product overhere and they are the most selling heaters in Caravans and MH.

Greetings from good old Germany.

Bjoern

[Pschoerrn]

Over59

thanks for the link!

Bjoern

[Rivetedude]

I own a '72 29' Ambassador and it does have a roof AC. Your unit was probably prepped for it but it might have been an optional feature. Or maybe mine was installed aftermarket.?.?. Mine is mounted in the bedroom with the front part of it protruding into the kitchen area so it blows throughout the coach. I like a basement A/C unit. Winnebago uses them on their motorhomes, however, they still duct the unit from the ceiling. An easier and possibly less expensive alternative might be simply installing a slim-line roof A/C. They've got them that are only like 6" tall and they've got some really sleek looking shrouds for them too.

[Over59]

I asked Duo-therm for and received installation instructions for a 39115 & 39045. The instruction call for placing the unit "under" the trailer. At 16.25 inches high there is no way. Besides that would be worse than the roof. Prehaps there is a variant which can be inside on the floor. Either way they want 330 Square inches of "free air" for intake and discharge. That's a hole 15 by 22 inches at least. If there is a screen they want it bigger to make up for the screen blocking the "free air".

I'll call again tomorrow and ask about the 39115.626 units specifically. Prehaps they can be interior like the Kool Cat. http://www.advrv.com/ac.htm half way down.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Pschoerrn

Hi Uwe,

do you know what the dometics shall cost? I haven´t found it on the dometic site or is a unit for boats? The performance data would be very interesting.
Truma is a well know Product overhere and they are the most selling heaters in Caravans and MH.

Greetings from good old Germany.

Bjoern

Björn,

The dometic basement A/C units can be had for around $ 900.00, with electric heat. They will not run on 230V, though. It's all made for 120V.
The heat/cooling output is 16000btu, if memory serves me right.

[swebster]

Many of the major manufacturers have begun to introduce "basement air" on their motorized (class A's) for about year now. National and Winnebago were first (I think) and both implemented in-wall ductwork to move the air up and around the coach. The units typically sit within the basement storage or in a rear comparment of the coach. Moving to basement air allowed for higher ceilings and reduced wind resistance...not to mention better access to the AC/Heat for servicing.

My bet is that basement air units will become the "norm" across all classes as manufacturers strive for large interior volumes in their coaches - which will increase the product offerings and lower street prices

I've considered this concept for the 345. Right now I have two DuoTerm roof airs with the heat strips. They look like giant, goofy, plastic "things" bolted to the roof of an otherwise clean roofline.

I think I could use the large baggage compartment located on the curbside rear of the coach to house the unit. It seems to be a strange "storage" compartement in that it's too small for skis or golf clubs and ends up collecting random "junk" that serves no purpose for camping.

Not that I've been thinking about this too much but here is a conceptual Photoshop of the 345 without roof units (I need another hobby).

[Over59]

Cann't beat the price. http://www.genieac.com/dom2.htm for a MH AC

[fastrob]

I like the look.

When I do my unit over it will probably have a lower unit.

I enjoy thinking about Airstreams, when the wife asks what I am thinking about I

tell her I was thinking about the time we spent in the Airstream.