RE: A/C Installation

[PatrickG]

 
Has anyone installed A/C on thier PU on their own.  We have a 2003 Coleman Mesa that already has the support beam, but no hole in the roof.  I am nervous about cutting the hole.  Any advice for or against???  Anything anyone can offer would be a great help!!
 
 Thanks.
 PG

[mike4947]

 PatrickG
The worst part is cutting the hole. Not that it s difficult but for me it was like I had to cut the hole in myself.[&:]
 There are four dimples/marks on 14 inch centers on the inside of your roof that mark the location for the hole. Camping buddy used a 3/8 s drill to drill the locators and a jug saw to connect the dots.
 Have a friend around to help get the unit on the roof and in position. At 90-110 pounds one prson can have problems and drag marks on the roof don t look nice.
 Other than that it s follow the directions provided by the AC manufacturer.

[campingboaters]

 PatrickG
The only thing I would change about my camper right now is the air conditioner which is a Duo-therm (I think).  It s EXTREMELY noisy as was the Coleman Mach air conditioner I had on the pop-up.  There HAS to be a quieter unit for these campers.  A friend suggested replacing our air with a heat pump, but we re not doing anything unless this air conditioner dies.  My advice would be to shop around for a quiet unit.
 
 Here s a great website with detailed directions:
 
 http://community.webshots.com/album/32985484trZYGd
 
 

[2manytoyz]

Has anyone installed A/C on thier PU on their own.  We have a 2003 Coleman Mesa that already has the support beam, but no hole in the roof.  I am nervous about cutting the hole.  Any advice for or against???  Anything anyone can offer would be a great help!!

 

 Thanks.

 PG

Yea, I know, old thread, but nobody responded...

Yes, I have installed a couple of Coleman roof top A/C units.  One Mini-Mach on a conversion van, and a Mach III on our current camper.  The one on our camper died, and I replaced it.  

The biggest part is making sure your roof can handle the weight, and if the manufacturer requires it, getting the needed bracing for the inside of the roof.  Once that's done, the job is EASY.  In your case, you already know those answers.

Coleman includes an installation guide which will walk you through all the steps.

Basically, you'll need to cut a 14" square hole in your roof.  Take your time to mark it where you want it, verify that's where the manufacturer recommends it, and that nothing is going to be accidently cut, such as a support brace.  Take a Sharpe marker, and put a 14" square mark on your roof.  Drill a pilot hole, then use a jigsaw to cut the hole.

Put two wooden 2x4s across your roof.  This will allow you to put the A/C on your roof and slide it into position without damaging your roof (slides on the wood).  Once in position, use a marine grade of RTV on the seal attached to the bottom of the A/C unit.  Set it in place and remove the wood.  Raise the roof completely at this point.

A metal plate will be mounted to your ceiling.  It has several bolts that go through this plate, into the 14" opening, and thread into the bottom of the roof top A/C unit.  As the bolts are tightened, the roof is sandwiched between the two pieces.  This is how it stays in place.  Work swiftly to get the plate attached, then verify the roof unit is in the final postion you want it before the RTV cures.  Here's roughly what you'll have on the ceiling at this point: http://2manytoyz.com/camp/mods/heatstrip2.jpg

The unit needs to be wired with a flexible power cord, capable of carrying a 20A circuit.  As seen in the picture below, my power cord snakes into the roof bracing, and runs across the ceiling inside the bracing.  The cable is mostly hidden: http://2manytoyz.com/camp/mods/ac1.jpg

The cable reappears on the other side of the ceiling and is routed to a corner.  A piece of velcro keeps the power cord bundled up for storage when closing up the camper.  To use it, the cord is unwrapped, and plugged into a 20A circuit: http://2manytoyz.com/camp/mods/ac2.jpg

Once the wiring is done, a plastic shroud is held in place with two screws.  Ready to use.

Only basic tools are needed.  The instuctions are detailed.  This can be done solo, but it would be much easier having someone initially help set the unit on the roof.  Having done this before, I can replace one in about an hour, or do a new install in two, working at a leasurely pace.  Add an extra hour or two if you've not done it.

Tip: If you buy an A/C unit at Camping World, you'll pay no shipping if you pick it up yourself.  Make SURE you get TWO boxes.  One contains the A/C unit, the other the inside shroud.  I managed to get a couple of miles down the road before my spider senses told me something was missing.  I opened the box, and headed back to get the missing shroud.  They appologized and quickly gave it to me.  It would have been over an hour to return had I not stopped.

[maromeo]

We purchased our A/C unit from //www.rvaddons.com. At the time they offered a 20% discount and free shipping and no sales tax. It was delivered to our door. We had the dealer install it because DH had the same feeling about cutting the hole in the roof. They charged us just on hour of labor. It saved us a couple hundred dollars. The hardest part was delivering to the dealer. Not a problem. So you do have options.
Hope this helps.
Mary Romeo

[JonesFamilyJayco]

I too purchaed my Coleman Mach III AC from //www.rvaddons.com  They had the best price & free shipping of anyone else I found.  I even tried ebay several times & I am glad I lost the bidding, because the deal I got was better.  

I was able to install it by my self, but it took me most of a whole day (New Years Day).  It took me a little longer to run the wire inside the roof & hidden down a sleeve to the fuse box.  Last, I had to figure out how to wire the AC into the proper fuse.

I would recommed to do it yourself if you like to work & figure things out yourself.  I would discourage buying a used unit as I tried to do because the installation kit & directions are very important.