2023 23FB - MicroAir install dealer quote is $800

[englewoodfl]

We're getting "Herman?" next week. The dealer wants $800 to install a MicroAir soft start unit. Is this reasonable?

[SuperTrouper]

Well, the job is about an hour total if you count unpacking unit, gathering tools, getting on roof, installing, testing, going through the learning cycle and buttoning up if that helps.

[DCPAS]

Way high. It comes with good instructions. You can do it yourself if you feel comfortable getting on the roof and have done any wiring at all in the past. There are also decent YouTube videos on what to do.

[thewarden]

I did mine in about 45 minutes. It would not take long if I had to do it again. Your dealer wants too much.

[Bill M.]

About a $400 or a little less unit retail. An hour or so for a technician that has done one before. Maybe a little longer if it is his first. So about a $600 job with $200 profit. All in all about what I would expect it to be from an Airstream dealer. Some car dealers mark up parts 100% before they even start on the labor. To get it for much less you are probably going to have to do it yourself. Or go through a lot of hauling and scheduling to get someone else to do it. I did the 2 I have purchased myself. The instructions on the website were pretty good. I have done electrical work before.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

About a $400 or a little less unit retail. An hour or so for a technician that has done one before. Maybe a little longer if it is his first. So about a $600 job with $200 profit. All in all about what I would expect it to be from an Airstream dealer. Some car dealers mark up parts 100% before they even start on the labor. To get it for much less you are probably going to have to do it yourself. Or go through a lot of hauling and scheduling to get someone else to do it. I did the 2 I have purchased myself. The instructions on the website were pretty good. I have done electrical work before.

$200 profit??? Techs aren't free, nor is the shop overhead.

[Legion]

Does this include the cost of the Micro Air or is it $800 just for the install.

[Legion]

Sounds high for 1 unit even if it includes the price of the Micro Air. I installed 2 last Sommer and bought them direct from Micro Air. I paid $716 for both with tax shipping and delivery. I had an issue getting 1 of them to start up. I called Micro Air directly and they told me that I inadvertently bumped one of the dip switches. They e-mailed me directions with pictures the same day from the info for my ac unit. They nailed it. Great Company!

[banderabob]

I am not electronically inclined. Period. I went to my local RV shop and they installed the unit (which I had) and ran it through the “training process” for $300. I considered that a fair price.

[B17drvr]

This is new from soft start. I have one and it is great! It is a surge protector that has the soft start built in. Plug and play, no wiring required.



https://softstartup.com/

[Bill M.]

"$200 profit??? Techs aren't free, nor is the shop overhead"

Well, I intended that the $200 allowed for the actual work would cover shop and overhead fir the job.

But I understand your point. I am part owner of a struggling small business. We have not logged a "profit" in the last 4 years. So far we are keeping the lights on and pay the actual employees. We have not been able to get parts and deliver anything in a decent time interval in the last few years. I am owed 3 years back salary for the work I do. Likewise for all the owners. We feel an obligation to our customers to keep the service for the machines we have sold alive.
.

I guess the only answer to the Micro Air install is "am I likely to get it done enough cheaper to take the risk somewhere else".

Maybe a bad assumption but I "assumed" the $800 included the Micro Air.

The plug in Soft Start sure looks like an interesting alternative.

[mtnbikerNM]

I wonder what affect the whole trailer plugin soft start would have on a microwave. I've already noticed that when running on my generator, if I've got the low idle switch on, which means it takes a second or two for the generator to come up to full speed when it sees a load, that the microwave makes a somewhat disturbing sound until the generator is up to full speed.
I guess in theory, it shouldn't affect it, since I believe the soft start is monitoring the phase lag caused by the large inductive load of the A/C motor, whereas the microwave uses a switching power supply that shouldn't present an phase lag, but instead a voltage sag.

[smsmith50]

I found a Micro Air dealer through the company dealer locator. My 23D (2015) is there now, dropped off yesterday and ready this afternoon. The shop said cost for the Easy Start and labor would be between $450 and $500.

[howell57]

smartest on this page

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

"$200 profit??? Techs aren't free, nor is the shop overhead"

Well, I intended that the $200 allowed for the actual work would cover shop and overhead fir the job.

But I understand your point. I am part owner of a struggling small business. We have not logged a "profit" in the last 4 years. So far we are keeping the lights on and pay the actual employees. We have not been able to get parts and deliver anything in a decent time interval in the last few years. I am owed 3 years back salary for the work I do. Likewise for all the owners. We feel an obligation to our customers to keep the service for the machines we have sold alive.
.

I guess the only answer to the Micro Air install is "am I likely to get it done enough cheaper to take the risk somewhere else".

Maybe a bad assumption but I "assumed" the $800 included the Micro Air.

The plug in Soft Start sure looks like an interesting alternative.

Sorry your business is struggling but 800 is way too much even including the unit. Its a 45 minute job even for a first timer. It should be about 15 minutes for an experienced installer. That would be 500 dollars in shop time considering the unit retails for 299.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by englewoodfl

We're getting "Herman?" next week. The dealer wants $800 to install a MicroAir soft start unit. Is this reasonable?

Englewoodfl, we got our EasyStart and installation at the 2022 International Rally for $299 (with install kit) and $135 for installation by their mobile tech (contractor). It took him about 30 minutes. I could have done it but since we were there and the install cost was reasonable, I let them do it.

This year’s rally is in WY if you want to get the same deal.

[airdreamers]

Obviously, this dealer doesn't want to work for you. Very inflated price. BTW, it does not have to be an Airstream dealer. The people at Micro Air are wonderful. They may have a network of installers by now. If not call around for a local RV dealer in your area. You could also ask Micro Air if they will be somewhere close to you, at a RV show etc. They do on site installs at this RV shows. They are the bomb!! Good luck!

[s1000pre]

The Microair is $320 on Amazon, install kit is $15 $335 delivered. $465 labor.
I have installed two of them, really simple work, as others mentioned 1 hour of work.
I wouldn’t pay $400 labor, but that’s me. If you don’t feel comfortable, what’s another $400 after spending 100k.

[Captn.Ken]

It takes less than an hour and easily done by anyone. Complete parts supplied and great instructions. It's hard to mess it up, and hard to take more than an hour. Just way too much money for the job.

[lewster]

It takes us about 15-20 minutes to install an Easy Start on Airstreams, including removing and replacing the A/C cover. That's IT! Add the $300 for the Easy Start unit, 4 crimp connectors and the 20 minutes (.5 hour minimum) and that's $395 complete. Anything over $400 is Way too much to spend on these.