A/C ducting. What year did it start?

[Planenut]

I see some new units have ducts for the A/C with vents spread through out the camper. I hear it is quieter?

What year and models did it come with and what are the pros and cons?

I like the idea but it may be a great idea with unforeseen problems...

[DoubleR]

2015

[WhereStream]

Decidedly quieter.

[Planenut]

Any negatives?

[mane3215]

While I cannot answer your question, I would love to hear more about it also! I am soon to be renovating my Airstream and may look to implement the ducting system.

[Bob662]

Originally Posted by mane3215

I am soon to be renovating my Airstream and may look to implement the ducting system.

May be tough to do. It would require major metal work on the top of the roof for the ducting, and repairs to eliminate the air distributor than hangs beneath the roof on yours.

But then, anything is possible with enough time and money!

[hhendrix]

Much quieter and much better air circulation.

[RVDreamer]

2015. We have an International Serenity 27FB that was one of the first with A/C ducting. It was well worth it. It is much, much quieter and much better at distributing the air conditioning. Also cools the bathroom which in non-ducted units is a bake box. No negatives that I can think of.

[mane3215]

Originally Posted by Bob662

May be tough to do. It would require major metal work on the top of the roof for the ducting, and repairs to eliminate the air distributor than hangs beneath the roof on yours.

But then, anything is possible with enough time and money!

Thanks, Bob! That's exactly why I was wondering how it is plumbed in. Do new airstreams have a higher head height to allow for additional ductwork below?

I would really love to see how the system is ducted out.

[quietguy]

Originally Posted by mane3215

Thanks, Bob! That's exactly why I was wondering how it is plumbed in. Do new airstreams have a higher head height to allow for additional ductwork below?

I would really love to see how the system is ducted out.

They basically raised the roof 4” to accommodate the ducting...the roof cap has a bump up between the end caps and above the vista windows where it joins the sides and ends of the shell.

[Scott59]

2015 was the first year AS built the trailers with ducted air vents for the A/C system.

We have a 2017 30’ International with 2 A/C units and we really like how we can run the front unit only at night. We have twin beds in the rear and it’s very quite with the air moving through the ducts and only the front a/c unit running.

We have been inside AS’s that are not ducted , it is much louder, with no real air flow control.

If you look at the roof of a 2015 or later AS you can see how the roof has a hump that rises about 3-4 inches just behind the front roof dome. This space creates the room to run the air ducts.

I haven’t heard of a single reason why the new ducted units are not desirable.

[zapper]

Originally Posted by Scott59

2015 was the first year AS built the trailers with ducted air vents for the A/C system.

We have a 2017 30’ International with 2 A/C units and we really like how we can run the front unit only at night. We have twin beds in the rear and it’s very quite with the air moving through the ducts and only the front a/c unit running.

We have been inside AS’s that are not ducted , it is much louder, with no real air flow control.

If you look at the roof of a 2015 or later AS you can see how the roof has a hump that rises about 3-4 inches just behind the front roof dome. This space creates the room to run the air ducts.

I haven’t heard of a single reason why the new ducted units are not desirable.

The only negative thing I can think of is the tendency for the vents to drop on the floor or table top. Annoying but fixable. Glue them in. The pin-headed dealer who did it for me glued the ones in the bathroom so you can't rotate or close the vent. Sigh, you can't win them all.

Huge improvement over the earlier models. Wonder why it took AS so long to figure this one out? My silly 1995 22' Prowler had ducted vents.

[PKI]

The 23 did not get ducts until the next year, 2016.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f542...fb-147043.html

The initial duct installs on the 23 had some problems with the duct construction. The restriction was corrected on later production. The link discusses some impressions and is worth researching.

The quiet is a definite plus.

Good luck with your investigation. Pat

[james.mileur]

Originally Posted by Planenut

I see some new units have ducts for the A/C with vents spread through out the camper. I hear it is quieter?

What year and models did it come with and what are the pros and cons?

I like the idea but it may be a great idea with unforeseen problems...

This may help.

[rmkrum]

Mine is not ducted, but I just looked through the slides. It sure looks a lot like how air ducts are tucked into airplanes...

[mane3215]

Originally Posted by james.mileur

This may help.

Very nice, thank you for that .pdf. Answered my questions. Looks like my old renovation isn't getting ductwork!

[MayaW1010]

Very nice, thank you for that .pdf. Answered my questions. Looks like my old renovation isn't getting ductwork!

I'm renovating a 70s Airstream with plans to add ducting. It is possible if you get a bit creative.

[TBRich]

The original installations of ducted air did not include the 23' or 19' Flying Cloud models...then they added the 23' the next year... We were at an Airstream dealer the other day and we peeked into the new 19' and it had ducted air! Wow! (I would guess that it's standard, but I am not sure.) I think the ducted air is one of the best creature-comfort changes AS has made in recent years...it really is quieter.

[mane3215]

Originally Posted by MayaW1010

I'm renovating a 70s Airstream with plans to add ducting. It is possible if you get a bit creative.

Awesome, will you have a build thread?

[jrwayne]

The ducting was a big deciding factor when looking for our 26 RB. Very happy with did it with 2 ac units on top. And yes, the bath is the coldest room in the house.