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Old 06-23-2015, 11:20 PM   #1
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rooftop ac replacement reccomendations

one has stopped working and its getting hotter.

im no expert......any advice, brands, features, im all ears.

whats cool in A/C?

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Old 06-24-2015, 06:11 AM   #2
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I think they're all about the same.
Dometic and Coleman are two popular choices.
I personally don't buy Atwood or Norcold products...
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Old 06-24-2015, 06:57 AM   #3
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I bought a 15,000 btu Dometic when I first started my bus build 5yrs ago. I haven't had any problems with it. I bought it new. Last fall I decided to add a second one. Started watching craigslist. A 13,500 Dometic, 4 years old showed up for $350. I bought it and works great. It's a year newer then my first one. Really have to be careful on Craigslist though. I bought another one first from a guy who said it worked great. As soon as I got home a hooked it up and the motor was froze up. I was back at his door within the hour and demanded my money back. He gave it back.
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Old 06-24-2015, 09:36 AM   #4
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I thought I could get by with vent fan, and pull air thru. I live in Alabama. That strategy does not work. Gonna try a window unit today sometime. If I like it might get 2.

If that does not work, I am gonna start a bakery...... cookies, bread, molten steel, etc.....
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Old 06-24-2015, 10:35 AM   #5
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Where ya planning on putting that window unit?
I'm going to stick a tiny 5k unit in one of the back window spots by the back door.
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Old 06-24-2015, 11:42 AM   #6
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Quote:
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Really have to be careful on Craigslist though. I bought another one first from a guy who said it worked great. As soon as I got home a hooked it up and the motor was froze up. I was back at his door within the hour and demanded my money back. He gave it back.
you got lucky!


most people would have said you damaged it upon install
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Old 06-24-2015, 12:04 PM   #7
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If you have the underbelly space, it is not that difficult to create a "basement" A/C system using a fairly large & efficient window unit similar to what they put into the high-dollar coaches these days. And it doesn't take much in the way of ducting to get the air where you want it. Just wish I had the space under my shorty to go that route.

Personally, I have a loathing of all the "RV roof-top units".
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Old 06-24-2015, 12:27 PM   #8
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Personally, I have a loathing of all the "RV roof-top units".
Agreed. Most I ride have 5 on the roof. You need a substation to run them!
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Old 06-24-2015, 01:15 PM   #9
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fortunately....
i do have a built in substation..... ima packing my 12.5kw genny
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Old 06-24-2015, 01:30 PM   #10
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Gee...I still use a 4kw/115v
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Old 06-24-2015, 07:27 PM   #11
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you got lucky!


most people would have said you damaged it upon install
Nice thing about Iowa. It's easy to find people, and most still have morals. Plus, I picked it up where he lived, I don't take no for an answer. He apologized, saying he replaced the unit with a exhaust fan, taking the other guys word that it worked. Do I believe that, no. I had bad feeling from beginning and should have followed my gut.
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:44 PM   #12
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Personally I really loathe the look of a window AC unit. It just looks plain ugly. I'd just take the time to install a rooftop unit even if it means spending weeks on Craigslist or Ebay finding the right one.

For people that have installed rooftop ACs, do you repurpose the emergency hatches or cut your own holes?
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:46 PM   #13
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If I end up running one, I'd use the hole from a roof escape. Of course, they're different sizes, but at least its not adding a new hole.
That said, I'm installing three pop up roof vents, so cutting new holes isn't really a problem to me...
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:51 PM   #14
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Most of the buses at my company have two emergency hatches. I'd probably use them both for AC units and then cut a new hole for a roof vent, probably in the bathroom somewhere. I've noticed a lot of stickbuilt RVs usually have a roof vent right above the shower.
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:55 PM   #15
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YEah I have 3 "Fantastic" vents. One is three speeds reversible fan, one is a 3 speed exhaust only fan, and one is just a static, non fan vent. Will probably put the exhaust only fan in the restroom. I got them new in box for about 50 apiece.
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Old 06-25-2015, 12:57 PM   #16
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Quote:
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Personally I really loathe the look of a window AC unit. It just looks plain ugly. I'd just take the time to install a rooftop unit even if it means spending weeks on Craigslist or Ebay finding the right one.

For people that have installed rooftop ACs, do you repurpose the emergency hatches or cut your own holes?
I really dislike the window AC too. I plan on installing a rooftop unit. I have a vent fan toward the rear of my bus. I don't have an escape hatch. I'm thinking I'll cut the hole where that vent fan is and install it there. I might try to relocate the vent fan in order to repurpose it as a fart filter in the bathroom.
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Old 06-25-2015, 09:47 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird View Post
Personally I really loathe the look of a window AC unit. It just looks plain ugly. I'd just take the time to install a rooftop unit even if it means spending weeks on Craigslist or Ebay finding the right one.

For people that have installed rooftop ACs, do you repurpose the emergency hatches or cut your own holes?
One of the best things I've done to date is get rid of those water leaking escape hatches! I had two also. Made one cover for a powered vent, the other for a AC unit. The nice thing is that they are both 14" holes. So you can just add a vent for now, then later on swap it for rooftop AC.

Here is the removed rear escape hatch
20150417_165717 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr

The front AC was also an escape hatch
20150417_165735 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr

6" of rain last night, the bus is completely dry inside. Before, very little rain would find its way in through those hatches.
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Old 06-25-2015, 10:01 PM   #18
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slight threadjack, but it's providing another option

I really liked this idea from another build thread.....
I would rather see the unit intrude into the living space, rather than a bump sticking out of the wall

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Old 06-25-2015, 10:11 PM   #19
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Or...you can roof mount a window unit...in an armored can...




My 8K btu window unit fits inside there and (eventually) a roof deck will sit flush with it.
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Old 06-25-2015, 10:14 PM   #20
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Or...you can roof mount a window unit...in an armored can...




My 8K btu window unit fits inside there and (eventually) a roof deck will sit flush with it.
That looks really cool in a Mad Max sort of way.
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