Installing a new A/C-1962 Tradewind

[harrison]

I have a question on installing an ac unit on my 1962 trade wind.
My trailer has a popup vent that I removed. My question is should I cut the raised frame from the popup vent flush with the trailer then set the ac unit on that? This is might be a stupid question but I wanted to ask before I started cutting on my trailer. On my next post I will enclose pictures. Thanks Scott

[harrison]

here are the picture

[Jammer]

The roof might not be reinforced to support an air conditioner.

If it is, yes, you would have to remove the curb.

[harrison]

How would you reinforce it if it was yours?

[Jammer]

Ask around. There may actually be a reinforced area further to the rear.

Otherwise, you might want to consider something besides roof mount.

[Dan Clayton]

I have never heard of needing a reinforced area on an Airstream to support an air conditioner. Airstream from what I understood would just add the unit as a dealer option, and they never added a additional support that I was told, and how would you go about adding it in the first place. This would be a good question for Andy.

[Becky B.]

When my husband & son installed a Penguin Low Profile on my daughter's Argosy Minuet, they reinforced the ceiling by making wood that went with the profile of the curve in the ceiling. They were placed as pictured to support the roof from caving on the sides (front to back) of the a/c. My husband also installed an a/c on my previous AS & did the same thing. It's basically a shim to keep things square & weight distribution even so leaks are less (theoretically!) This was suggested by others on this forum. So far, so good for the install!

[azflycaster]

Current AC units attach to the trailer by clamping it to the outer and inner skins. Without the reinforcement between the two skins, the skins will bend and buckle. I did the same as pictured above (with a lot of help, thanks Zep!) and it has held up for a couple of years now.

The original Armstrong on my 75 was attached to the outer skin only with 40+ screws in the skin. Even with the weight of the unit distributed over a larger area of the roof, the old unit had started to bend the outer skins.

[harrison]

Thanks for your help. That is what Im going to try.

[63air]

I had a Coleman unit installed on my Globetrotter at a very reliable dealer who was recommended by a fellow forum member . To properly place it , a new hole was cut (vent remained and now has a Fantastic fan in it) and the area around the cutout was reinforced with wood. I was not sure of the location and did not want to goof up the cut . I did the electrical which the dealer said was the hard part and it was a challenge. The A/C should be on its own breaker with 12 ga minimum wire ( I used 10 ga. ).