Ceiling A/C registers

[QC TORPEDO]

The round slotted things that the ducted air conditioning comes out of don't allow much cold air to come into the trailer. Has anyone altered or replaced these registers with something that allows greater air flow? I read a post where someone just left them off when they fell off and seems happy with the improved cooling. Any suggestions or ideas?

[cabinetmaker]

I'm with you QC...the registers are terrible. When airstream first came out with ducted air they didn't use adjustable registers...just screen mesh like the return vents have.

I think the original mesh had better air flow but people complained they weren't adjustable so they supposedly improved them...fast forward to the new and improved adjustable registers that cut air flow and fall out of the ceiling.

[Motown]

Agree that the air flow is weak. Also a couple of them keep falling off. While stationary. Hit my wife in the head while she was standing in the galley.

[QC TORPEDO]

I am on the verge of a breakthrough for the replacement of the ceiling registers. While testing replacement ideas, one register kept falling down. I drilled out the rivet and took it apart. Using a piece of aluminum channel to span the opening from the inside, I put a jacknut in the channel and used a screw through the center hole in the register and screwed the thing to the ceiling. It can still be directed if the screw is loosened and re-tightened.
I have two shower drain covers on order and I will use them in the same manner. They just have holes and no directional louvres. I should get good down draft where its needed. The only concern is balance between front and rear registers (only one A/C unit). If it is a problem, I may change out the rear registers too.
If this works, I will post the result. If not, I will retreat.

[QC TORPEDO]

parts
stainless steel floor strainere drain cover bath sink filter 6 inch - amazon - use the search term above
6-32 short jacknut - hardware store
1 3/4 “ 6-32 screw
3/8” aluminum trim channel – hardware store
preparation
cut aluminum channel to 7”
drill 5/16” hole in center of cut aluminum channel
push jacknut in and expand
drill .136 (#29) or .140 (#28) hole in center of drain cover
bend a 10” piece of stiff wire to hold the work during installation so you can pull down on the channel while turning the screw
installation
start screw through drain cover and into jacknut in the aluminum channel
remove existing vent register
install the channel, spanning the hole
using the wire to hold the channel to the inside of the duct, tighten the screw so the new duct holds tight to the ceiling.
test

great airflow to the dining area below the ducts! :d

[cabinetmaker]

Originally Posted by QC TORPEDO

parts
stainless steel floor strainere drain cover bath sink filter 6 inch - amazon - use the search term above
6-32 short jacknut - hardware store
1 3/4 “ 6-32 screw
3/8” aluminum trim channel – hardware store
preparation
cut aluminum channel to 7”
drill 5/16” hole in center of cut aluminum channel
push jacknut in and expand
drill .136 (#29) or .140 (#28) hole in center of drain cover
bend a 10” piece of stiff wire to hold the work during installation so you can pull down on the channel while turning the screw
installation
start screw through drain cover and into jacknut in the aluminum channel
remove existing vent register
install the channel, spanning the hole
using the wire to hold the channel to the inside of the duct, tighten the screw so the new duct holds tight to the ceiling.
test

great airflow to the dining area below the ducts! :d

Pictures??? Sounds interesting...we haven't had any of ours fall yet but want to be prepared.

[QC TORPEDO]

Here are 4 pictures.
1.An original vent in the ceiling
2.Removed
3.Curb side installed
4.Driver side installed
I apologize for the angles, I thought I had fixed them.

[cabinetmaker]

Originally Posted by QC TORPEDO

Here are 4 pictures.
1.An original vent in the ceiling
2.Removed
3.Curb side installed
4.Driver side installed
I apologize for the angles, I thought I had fixed them.

Looks great QC...don't think those will fall out! My wife want's to keep the original adjustable factory ones. I'll just have to come up with something like you if they start falling. This coming hot weather and a couple planned trips this summer should tell the story if I will need to modify...so far so good!

[Too tall]

QCT > Great work. I'll do similar however am thinking I'll stack two strainers together and cut/bend a small tab so that I can rotate the lower (stacked) strainer in order to adjust airflow. Thanks for the creative work.

[SYC2Vette]

Been reviewing the posts on this topic when I discovered that removing a vent drastically increases how quickly we cool down the interior. It would be great if someone with HVAC experience could do some flow and pressure measurements to actually characterize the design issues.

[BruBen]

How do you remove the vents? Do they just pull out or are there some type of clips holding them in place?

[QC TORPEDO]

They just pull out. Get a finger or a plastic or wood wedge started under one edge. Work around until it pops out. There are plastic clips attached to the vent.
Now that it is out, you can make the openings in the plastic ring bigger and use a needle nose pliers to make the louvers more open.
I have done both my original fix and made the vent opening bigger. Both work really well.

[Plunderdog]

We had the same issues. The register in the bathroom kept falling out when in transit so we just took it down. Then we noticed the improved airflow. This last weekend, I removed all 6 registers. I drilled out the backside of the rivet and removed all the plastic diffuser parts and the rivet. Using a 6.5 inch piece of quarter round (I bought the plastic kind), I drilled a hole in the center then mounted it in the vent opening with some double sided tape to keep it in place. Using a 1.5 inch stainless screw, I just attached the vent cover to the quarter round. The vents will definitely not fall out anymore and you can still rotate the register to control the direction. It looks the same and we didn’t have to buy any new covers. We expect much better cooling and heating airflow and will test it out on our next trip.

[Seanlb]

The oem diffusers are terrible.. We made some adapter collars for spot diffusers a few years ago and now the ac actually works.

Unfortunately, they no longer make this spot diffuser... But anything that opens the restrictions up will make a dramatic difference in cooling. I can’t believe JC is still shipping new trailers with these terrible diffusers in them.

[mgblake13]

Great suggestions. Following.

[rhumbliner]

My 2020 Flying Cloud had the diffusers riveted into the ceiling solving the problem of falling out, but did nothing to improve the airflow. Building on QC’s idea, I used ¼” aluminum straps and then drilled & tapped a #8-32 hole in the middle. This allowed me to screw a ¾” machine screw thru the original diffuser directly into the strap holding it tight to the ceiling. By removing the plastic inserts I get double the airflow and still direct the air in a semi-permanent direction.