Have you mounted your own AC unit?

[TxDave]

Last week I removed the old Armstrong from my 1971 Sovereign and installed a new 15,000 BTU Dometic Brisk II. Removing the Armstrong was the hard part. That thing weighs a ton. The Dometic probably weighs a fourth the weight of the Armstrong.

I used a rented duct jack for $60 to lift the units. It was the ideal tool for the job.

Reinforced the opening with 2X2 lumber between the skins.

[WayneG]

If you dont have another way to get a AC unit on your roof, check out my method:
http://theouterlimits.ws/projects/ai..._ac/index.html
Out the window over the garage on 2x10 planks. Just dont ask me how I got the old one down.

[HowieE]

Wow I got the planks I just need a second story.

Great article Thanks

[64airstream]

Thanks WayneG. Your approach raises an interesting possibility for our upcoming installation.

Roy

[Steve Bryant]

Howie,
Keep us posted on what you end up doing. I think that my original equipment Penguin is following the lead of Vernon's unit.

Steve

[Air83]

I'm replacing my a/c with a Coleman Mach 15 / 15,000BTU... Does anyone know where to get the drain pan kit. Coleman told me Van Pan in FL. But he wanted $299.99 for the kit.

[shadrick5]

I installed a 15k Coleman Mach 8 heat pump on my 75 sovereign. The most difficult was running the wires to the new thermostat control. The original Armstrong had been vandalized for the copper before I purchased and renovated, so the factory wiring to the unit and drain line were already in place. It was a moderately difficult project with snaking the thermo control wires. It's been a couple years since but I'm certain I didn't need an extra kit or pan for the drain. I just connected to the original line and it drains as it should.

[HowieE]

Well it in in and running. I wrote a short descriptions of what I did with suggestions of what you may want to consider if you want to install your own AC.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ac-155662.html

[thestork]

Local RV person here wants $1700 for a new roof A/C and labor for installation. Is this in the ballpark of your installation? The unit I have now that is not working, I think is the original Armstrong.

[HowieE]

A Premium AC can be bought for about $800.00 plus $40.00 for the drain kit. Its about a half hour to install the drain kit and an hour for 2 people, with knowledge, to install the unit. That is why they call them Stealers.

[carl2591]

plus they cut the coils out of the unit and take to local metal recycle place and get another 20 or so bucks for the old unit.

The unit is like $800 or so, depending on model and size and the remove, install is not all that. you need a good helper, some osb board cut in sections of like 2.5 ft x 3 ft some blankets to cover the metal up top. you can find a video on youtube with enough info to get you through it.

good luck

Originally Posted by HowieE

A Premium AC can be bought for about $800.00 plus $40.00 for the drain kit. Its about a half hour to install the drain kit and an hour for 2 people, with knowledge, to install the unit. That is why they call them Stealers.

[Silverhorse9]

We have a 2001 Excella BTW. After reading this thread and others, I'm totally confused about which Brand to replace my original AC with...
My local repair guy suggested Atwood but after reading a thread about the Atwood unit not working with the original heat pump(not communicating)and their lack of customer service...... and Atwood being bout out by Dometic) not so sure...
Also, with all appliances these days being made cheaper and cheaper is there no good option anymore?
should I just repair the Dometic?

thanks, Billy

[Cperreira]

Hi Everyone,
First timer picking up our very first '76 Safari 23' A/S tomorrow. The trailer doesn't come with an A/C unit at all. Do you think this will be an even more complicated job to install?
Thanks for the help,
Chris

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by WayneG

If you dont have another way to get a AC unit on your roof, check out my method:
http://theouterlimits.ws/projects/ai..._ac/index.html
Out the window over the garage on 2x10 planks. Just dont ask me how I got the old one down.

I used two 16' 10x2 pressure treat to come up from the tailgate of my truck on the Silver Streak ("better" roof than an AS, perhaps, I never worry about walking on it except when slippery; roof penetration is supported by aluminum rectangle tubing. I closed off with alum tape).

Cut boards up later to use for parking and leveling. Would have bought 12" had I thought about it a little more for the secondary use.

A neighbor was good enough to help guide and push as I pulled a rope fixed around the shipping carton. Have done (4) AC replacements the last five years on (3) trailers.

Another method is two men on two side by side ladders. I'm just too old to horse these 105# units up by myself any more.

[HowieE]

Originally Posted by Silverhorse9

We have a 2001 Excella BTW. After reading this thread and others, I'm totally confused about which Brand to replace my original AC with...
My local repair guy suggested Atwood but after reading a thread about the Atwood unit not working with the original heat pump(not communicating)and their lack of customer service...... and Atwood being bout out by Dometic) not so sure...
Also, with all appliances these days being made cheaper and cheaper is there no good option anymore?
should I just repair the Dometic?

thanks, Billy

You mention repair as an option. That depends on what is wrong with the unit. If is not the compressor or a leak repair is a possibility.

[mccrosti]

If you have an Armstrong you are in luck. Those units are commercial grade and rebuildable.


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[Bill M.]

$1300 installed on site last year in Dade City, Fl. Took the Toy Doctor about 2 hours max and he hooked up the drain lines and made sure the pan did not leak.