Air Conditioners

S

serge leduc

New member
Jan 28, 2011
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Ok, I am a long ways from getting new air conditioners but my wife and I
were making up a wish list and cost for the future.

Since we live in hot climate, (NM) I am assuming I will need two roof Air
Cond. To keep cool, what are the preferences for most of you and what size?
Of course price is always a big factor, so please consider that also. I have
one air conditioner on the GMC at the moment but I haven't gotten far enough
to even see if it works, since the PO painted everything out side on the
roof Pink, I don't even know what kind it is, again this is something in the
future so any information would be helpful.

Before we had our diesel pusher MH, we had a Rialta, it came with a small
roof top air unit, it really never cooled the MH down at all even though it
was only 24 feet long. I replaced it with a much larger unit and from that
point on we could have used our Rialta as a meat locker. It only had room
for one unit on the roof as opposed to two that we have on the GMC.

Thanks for any input, it will be added to my wish list info file for later
use.

Serge
1973 GMC HobbyCraft
 
There are several manufacturers of rooftop ACs, and they all have their luses and minuses. If cost is not a factor, the Carrier Low Profile series is very nice if you can find one (Carrier stopped building them last year). Otherwise, use the search function and you can see the choices out there.

Two units should keep you cool down there. Up in Chicago, my 15,000 BTU Carrier does a great job by itself.
--
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
 
We live in the northern Sacramento Valley and use our coach
mostly in the summertime.

It is hot. With the limited space (headliner to roof) for insulation and all the glass, the heat gain is a major problem
for us.


105 degrees are standard here. I put a new rooftop unit on
and it seems to deliver about as much air as my original, which
is also on the roof. Neither are very impressive in our situation.

Running both together with the dash air (all 3 at once) makes
it loud and almost cool in our rig.

One option you might look at is a add-on to the dash air
system. One of the guys in our GMC club showed me his
'Vintage Air' set-up. Very cool while engine is running.

I think both Jim Bounds and Jim Kanamoto sell them.

Other owners have said one roof top unit will freeze them out.
Not our experience.

Good luck and let us know what you end up doing.
--
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
Chico California
 
I have two carrier Low Profiles. They are in my opinion the best design of them all. The condenser fan has it's own motor, and runs at high speed regardless of the indoor fan speed, so you get max heat transfer with that when the indoor fan is on low. I have the heat pump version. I live in Phoenix. Camp in the desert. Just one unit does really well, but you need two for a GMC.
--
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
77 Ex-Kingsley 455, Power Drive, 3:21 FD, Quadra bag. The Engineer's Motorhome
Scottsdale, AZ

Photosite: Chrisc "It has Begun"
 
Well being from central California I can attest to the need for 2 roo=
ftop a/c units as many summer days are in the 100-110 range. If the coach =
has been sitting in the sun the 2 on full blast cool it down fairly rapidly=
, then you can throttle them back and sometimes revert to 1 to maintain, bu=
t on those hot days 2 is a requirement. One thing to note is the OEM insul=
ation, is meager and I am currently redoing the headliner so I am redoing t=
he insulation down to the beltline. I've read that many say that the therm=
al gain is really cut down so it should help alot. I prefer not to run the=
units on full blast all the time so I think having too much capacity is be=
tter than under and easier on the equipment. My setup is 15k OEM DuoTherm u=
pfront and just replaced the rear with a 13.5K DuoTherm HP. I think the ne=
w one in the back puts out as much volume as the front and is colder. I li=
ke the reduced amp requirement of the HP and at night sleeping in the back =
with the closet door open, shutting off the front and running on low can tu=
rn the bedroom into a meat locker..makes for great sleeping and low demand =
on the generator. My only wish is that the low profile units were cheaper, =
if money no object then the penguin is it... sure looks good! -- John =
Blankenship '76 Palm Beach Tulare, CA
 
There is a Carrier low-profile a/c on eBay.
The seller started with 10 and is down to 1.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ex-Palm Beach, 76 ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



> To: gmclist
> From: GeorgeRud
> Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 22:35:33 -0600
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Air Conditioners
>
>
>
> There are several manufacturers of rooftop ACs, and they all have their luses and minuses. If cost is not a factor, the Carrier Low Profile series is very nice if you can find one (Carrier stopped building them last year). Otherwise, use the search function and you can see the choices out there.
>
> Two units should keep you cool down there. Up in Chicago, my 15,000 BTU Carrier does a great job by itself.
> --
> George Rudawsky
> Chicago, IL
> 75 Palm Beach
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
 
I have the add on under the dash unit that jimB installed for me.
It hooks into the existing dash air and while the engine is running will put frostbite on your knees. On the roof I have replaced the original A/C unit with a 13.5K BTU Low Profile Penguin w/ a heat strip by Dometic. My coach only has one roof A/C which is located in the center of of the coach in line with the door. Fore and aft I have Fantastic Vents. This set up has worked for me the past 6 years in Virginia and Florida (if I can find shade). I wonder if 15K BTU would make a difference before I would go to 2 roof A/C units?

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Chesterfield, Va / LAKE MARY, FL
 
Here in AL we have one 15K in the center of the coach with fore and aft fantastic fans. If we can't find shade, the coach gets warm in the summer with high humidity. We re-insulated a good portion of the coach when we re-did the interior, but 90+ degrees with high humidity our one AC 15K AC just doesn't keep up. Driving can get warm as well. Despite the fact that our 15K unit is only 3 years old, I'm already thinking about buying two 13K units. I'd like them in the fore and aft holes with the fantastic fan moved to the middle and bathroom. I'm not sure I want to have the power drain of a 15K and 13K, although I could be convinced. Personally I think we'd only use them both when plugged in, since we don't dry camp, and our troll runs the 15K, fridge, and lights for passengers just fine.
--
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
 
You might wish to read my message of 8:39 (CST)
from a bit earlier this morning, Jeremy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ex-Palm Beach, 76 ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

----------------------------------------
> To: gmclist
> From: jtknezek
> Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 10:05:24 -0600
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Air Conditioners
>
>
>
> Here in AL we have one 15K in the center of the coach with fore and aft fantastic fans. If we can't find shade, the coach gets warm in the summer with high humidity. We re-insulated a good portion of the coach when we re-did the interior, but 90+ degrees with high humidity our one AC 15K AC just doesn't keep up. Driving can get warm as well. Despite the fact that our 15K unit is only 3 years old, I'm already thinking about buying two 13K units. I'd like them in the fore and aft holes with the fantastic fan moved to the middle and bathroom. I'm not sure I want to have the power drain of a 15K and 13K, although I could be convinced. Personally I think we'd only use them both when plugged in, since we don't dry camp, and our troll runs the 15K, fridge, and lights for passengers just fine.
> --
> Thanks,
> Jeremy Knezek
> 1976 Glenbrook
> Birmingham, AL
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
 
> Do I remember something about a recall on heat strips???

I think that was Carrier. Mine was really interesting when I blew sparks out of the vent. It was replaced under warranty.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie
'73 Glacier 23 Chaumiere (say show-me-air)
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Not a recall, they are no longer recommended or supplied by the manufactures. I checked with a factory approved tech and he found not problem with mine. Just like with any other heat source, there is a fire hazzard if not used with care.

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Chesterfield, Va / LAKE MARY, FL
 
G'day,

Last year Adventure RV had a sale on the 13,500 BTU Brisk Air Hi-efficiency
units and I bought two of them with heat strips.

Basically they are copies of the OEM units from the 1970's. HOWEVER, they
are made in China and the alignment of the control knobs attached to the
outside unit and the holes in the inside part that attaches to the ceiling
is way off.

They seem to be louder than the 13,500 BTU low profile Dometic unit I
removed and they're DEFINETELY louder than John Sharpe's Carrier's units.

They are hi-efficiency units and I have run them both off the Onan and
through the OEM 50 amp service cord of the Avion.

Having two units is nice if one fails you have a backup.

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
 
Jim,

I too have an aftermarket A/C unit under the dash. Unfortunately, I am quite confident that it doesn't work correctly. That is one of the things I am going to be looking at this spring and possible at the Bean Station Rally.

Under the 'hood' I have a hose that appears to lead to the back of the A/C distribution box (not sure the correct name) behind the dash. The strange thing is that there is a ball valve in line with this hose that is obviously designed to cut off the flow of fluid. Does a setup like this sound familiar? Once the weather starts to warm up I am going to have to start doing some detective work!
--
Robert Peesel

1976 Royale 26'

Side Dry Bath

Sterling, Va
 
> Jim,
>
> I too have an aftermarket A/C unit under the dash. Unfortunately, I am quite confident that it doesn't work correctly. That is one of the things I am going to be looking at this spring and possible at the Bean Station Rally.
>
> Under the 'hood' I have a hose that appears to lead to the back of the A/C distribution box (not sure the correct name) behind the dash. The strange thing is that there is a ball valve in line with this hose that is obviously designed to cut off the flow of fluid. Does a setup like this sound familiar? Once the weather starts to warm up I am going to have to start doing some detective work!


Robert

What you are describing sounds like the hose to the heater core. Originally it had a vacuum operated shut off valve -- some owners have replaced with a ball valve or such. I used a replacement vacuum valve....

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=30899&title=gmc-motorhome-009&cat=4620

Dennis

--
Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Germantown, TN
 
Robert,

I have the same setup as you plus I installed a ball valve like Dennis discribed. We can compare coach setups at Bean Station.
The ball valve makes sure that no hot water is going thru the heater coil and fighting the A/C unit.

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Chesterfield, Va / LAKE MARY, FL
 
> I have
> one air conditioner on the GMC at the moment but I haven't gotten far enough
> to even see if it works, since the PO painted everything out side on the
> roof Pink, I don't even know what kind it is, again this is something in the
> future so any information would be helpful.
>
>
> Serge
> 1973 GMC HobbyCraft
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist


Serge,

I have been told by someone who's opinion I trust, that the original Duo-Therm units cool as well, or better than the newer units. I have two on my coach and both work, although they both have problems. The front one has a worn bearing in the motor and rattles at low and medium speed, and the rear one has a weak motor and will not keep running on low speed. I have put up with this because they DO cool quite well. I will eventually replace them with something a little quieter (hopefully) and more efficient but, for now, I have other priorities for my Motorhome budget.

My suggestion would be that you get power to your rooftop unit, even if it is from the Onan, and try it out. This might end up being an upgrade you can put off for a while. If the capacity of the single unit is not enough (and in the desert Southwest, it probably won't be), you can always add a second unit in the rear, and upgrade the front one later.
--
Carl S.
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
 
Sorry, Carl. I have to disagree with that. There have been many
improvements in the design. Newer units pull less power and operate
more efficienrly. The airflow is better, they start better and are
quieter.

Emery Stora

>
>

>> I have
>> one air conditioner on the GMC at the moment but I haven't gotten
>> far enough
>> to even see if it works, since the PO painted everything out side
>> on the
>> roof Pink, I don't even know what kind it is, again this is
>> something in the
>> future so any information would be helpful.
>>
>>
>> Serge
>> 1973 GMC HobbyCraft
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
> Serge,
>
> I have been told by someone who's opinion I trust, that the original
> Duo-Therm units cool as well, or better than the newer units. I
> have two on my coach and both work, although they both have
> problems. The front one has a worn bearing in the motor and rattles
> at low and medium speed, and the rear one has a weak motor and will
> not keep running on low speed. I have put up with this because they
> DO cool quite well. I will eventually replace them with something a
> little quieter (hopefully) and more efficient but, for now, I have
> other priorities for my Motorhome budget.
>
> My suggestion would be that you get power to your rooftop unit, even
> if it is from the Onan, and try it out. This might end up being an
> upgrade you can put off for a while. If the capacity of the single
> unit is not enough (and in the desert Southwest, it probably won't
> be), you can always add a second unit in the rear, and upgrade the
> front one later.
> --
> Carl S.
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
 
""I have been told by someone who's opinion I trust, that the original
> Duo-Therm units cool as well, or better than the newer units. I
> have two on my coach and both work, although they both have
> problems. The front one has a worn bearing in the motor and rattles
> at low and medium speed, and the rear one has a weak motor and will
> not keep running on low speed. I have put up with this because they
> DO cool quite well. I will eventually replace them with something a
> little quieter (hopefully) and more efficient but, for now, I have
> other priorities for my Motorhome budget.


"' I have two friends with the original units and although they are amazing as far as longevity, they don't hold a candle to the newer Duotherm units when it comes to colling capabilty and noise..
--
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
 
I happen to be outside today for a few minutes after my physical re-hab,
the sun was hitting the air conditioner just right and I could see the name
on the side of the unit even
Though it has been heavily painted. It is a Coleman unit and I still don't
know the output, but it is a big unit compared to the smaller ones I have
had on my other Motor homes.

I have to work slow due to my health, first I am working on the suspension
and brake system, I have to get the rear end off the ground. Next I have to
work on the fuel system, old dried up gas in fuel tanks and lines. At the
same time seal it from the weather and protect what is left of the inside, I
will get it running and then worry about things like heat, air and
re-finishing the inside.

All it will take is lots of time and even more $$$$$$$$$.

Hey, I am having fun, after spending the last 5 years building our house
while sitting in a wheel chair during most of that time, this is a peace of
cake, at least now I can walk, not far but I can walk, Thank God for that.

Serge

1973 GMC HobbyCraft


-------Original Message-------

From: Emery Stora
Date: 3/3/2011 7:29:44 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Air Conditioners

Sorry, Carl. I have to disagree with that. There have been many
improvements in the design. Newer units pull less power and operate
more efficienrly. The airflow is better, they start better and are
quieter.

Emery Stora



>
>

>> I have
>> one air conditioner on the GMC at the moment but I haven't gotten
>> far enough
>> to even see if it works, since the PO painted everything out side
>> on the
>> roof Pink, I don't even know what kind it is, again this is
>> something in the
>> future so any information would be helpful.
>>
>>
>> Serge
>> 1973 GMC HobbyCraft
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
> Serge,
>
> I have been told by someone who's opinion I trust, that the original
> Duo-Therm units cool as well, or better than the newer units. I
> have two on my coach and both work, although they both have
> problems. The front one has a worn bearing in the motor and rattles
> at low and medium speed, and the rear one has a weak motor and will
> not keep running on low speed. I have put up with this because they
> DO cool quite well. I will eventually replace them with something a
> little quieter (hopefully) and more efficient but, for now, I have
> other priorities for my Motorhome budget.
>
> My suggestion would be that you get power to your rooftop unit, even
> if it is from the Onan, and try it out. This might end up being an
> upgrade you can put off for a while. If the capacity of the single
> unit is not enough (and in the desert Southwest, it probably won't
> be), you can always add a second unit in the rear, and upgrade the
> front one later.
> --
> Carl S.
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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