News:

SMF - Just Installed!

Main Menu

Air conditioner gift/mod

Started by Hargus, Dec 15, 2006, 03:48 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Hargus

Hi all,
       I was looking for some opinions on installing an air conditioner on my pu. We currently have a 91 Starcraft Starmaster. I'm not a big fan of AC because we live and camp in the Northeast and it really only gets hot a couple of weeks a year in this part of the country. (Although I do have to admit, some of those weeks are camping season.) My reasoning is this, I'm out of ideas for a "big gift" for my wife. The heat does not agree with her sometimes :(  while camping. I think as some of you may agree I have a good reason to get it.
 But I have a little fear of having it installed on my PU. I hate to give up a good roof vent. But what about the electrical? Since my PU wasn't designed for it when it was built in 1991. Would you run a seperate cord instead of running it through the electric that wasn't designed for it? What about the lift system on the roof ? I have a 12' box, but I keep my lift system maintained. What about drilling into 15 year roof that has never leaked? :yikes:  
 The only other PU I've camped with that has AC is tlhdoc. Could you chime in Tracy?
 I've done some mods on my PU before and enjoy it. But I think this is out of my league with electrical and install. I keep a good relationship with my rv dealer I'll be asking his opinion soon. But I wanted to see if anyone had done a mod like this before.

Thanks,
Mike

JimQPublic

Quote from: HargusHi all,
       I was looking for some opinions on installing an air conditioner on my pu. ... My reasoning is this, I'm out of ideas for a "big gift" for my wife. The heat does not agree with her sometimes :(  while camping. ...

In my household adding anything to the trailer or camping equipment would count as a gift to me.  Even if it were something 110% for her, it would count as another gadget for Jim.

Especially considering it'll be about 8 months before she would use it, I think you better keep looking for gift ideas.  Perhaps a new iron or mop? :yikes:

wavery

I'm not familiar with your particular PU but I am familiar with A/C in my PU.

My A/C electrical outlet is wired in, in my PU as it is in most. Although, if I were adding an A/C, I wouldn't bother running it through the camper's converter and circuit breaker. For the few times that I use the A/C, it just wouldn't be worth it to me.

As it is, there is a cord coming from my A/C unit to the outer edge of the roof. When I want to use the A/C, I have to uncoil the cord and plug it in the wall in the box, next to the dinette. I see very little difference in plugging it into an appropriate extension cord. In fact (in my case) it would actually be easier.

The CG has a circuit breaker on the box that you are plugged into. I just don't see much upside in having 2 circuit breakers doing the same job.

Get her a vacuum cleaner. :p

fritz_monroe

Good luck with your mod.  I have not tackled a mod this big, and when we bought the pup we had the dealer install the AC.

The AC will require its own 20 Amp circuit.  In my Bayside, there is an outlet just for the AC.  Of course we can use it for other stuff, but that outlet is the only thing on that circuit.  It is possible that the dealer will need to install a new converter to handle the current.  But since I'm not familiar with the electrical of your pup, I can't offer much more than this.

As for cutting into a perfectly good roof, that is the exact reason that if we bought a pup without the AC, I would not be comfortable doing this mod.

I would think that your DW would love the gift.

tlhdoc

Hi Mike,
Yes I think your DW would love the AC and you may need it if you are coming to Cape May in 2007.  I would contact Starcraft and see if your roof is capable of supporting an AC unit.  It may need some kind of brace.  If you don't want to loose your vent (I don't blame you), you will need to cut into the roof.  If you are good with power tools it is a DIY job, but you will need one other person to help lift the unit into place.  I know the Carrier Air V (I highly recommend this AC unit with the HEAT option) comes with detailed instructions on installing the unit.  From the power end, does you camper have 30 amp power cord?  If it does you might have a 20 amp outlet in the camper (the 20 amp outlet has one slot that looks like a T, the other slot is a standard l.  If you have the 20 amp outlet you just run the power cord from the AC to the outlet.  If you don't have the 20 amp outlet you can run the cord to the power pole.  Good luck on the gift.:)

wavery

You'll have to post a picture of it under the tree.......then, another picture of the look on her face when she opens the box........in fact.............it'd be worth the plane ticket too see this in person. :p




j/k :D

I don't know your wife but I'd be waring it, if I got that for my honey.....sweetie.....cupcake......sugar dumplin' (she reads this sometimes ;) )HMMMMMMMMMM :confused:  Now that I think about it......I haven't got hers yet.......HMMMMMMMM!! Think I'll give her a storage box for the front of the trailer :-() . She's been bugging me about that for 6 months. :D

tlhdoc

My list.
 
Blue water filter (keeps gunk out of the water heater)
New white 5/8th inch diameter, 15 foot fresh water hose
Big jug of blue toilet chemical (I refill my little 8 oz bottles from the big jug)
 
I will be very happy if DH gets me any of these items.:)

Hargus

Hi all,
       Thank you as usual for all your opinions. I did decide against the mop, iron or vacuum cleaner  :p but thanks for the suggestions. I opted to install the AC on my pu as kind of a useful gag gift for my DW. I delivered the gift in a wrapped box that had some tissue paper and a rhyme with one of my 5 year olds toy campers roof with an AC on it.
 Sorry we missed you Christmas morning Waverly.  :J
 After speaking with my PU dealer who I keep a good relationship with he explained that most likely the PU could accept an AC. The PU has many options that came with it and it has 30 amp electrical, most likely it just wasn't an option the owners wanted when they purchased it.
 I let him install it. It was installed on the excisting vent. No holes or drilling since the AC has a flange that adapts to the opening on the PU and holds it in place. What a relief on my 15 year old roof and myself. The roof cranks up with no effort at all with the extra weight and the inside controls are flush with interior, meaning it looks pretty good on the ceiling. :-()  It was a pretty good deal because he had a used one that was in good shape that came off another camper so it wasn't a big investment. He wasn't busy this time of year here on the East coast so timing was good.
 Since the temperature here is on the Northeast in Boston in January is currently 63 :frosty:  after I finish work I may go out and play with it. If it gets any warmer I may even need it. Since I'll be working inside my PU putting back all my gear I store for camping so my dealer could work inside the PU.
 Of course now we have to check more closely with the hooks up in some of our not so fancy campgrounds we're used to.
Tracy, I'm anxious to trade AC tips with you and I'm hoping to get some info for the rally. I think your AC came with your PU. Was it factory installed or dealer? I'm definitely want to get some of the Gizmos for the ends. Where is the best place to get them?
Thanks,
Mike

wavery

Quote from: HargusHi all,
       Thank you as usual for all your opinions. I did decide against the mop, iron or vacuum cleaner  :p but thanks for the suggestions. I opted to install the AC on my pu as kind of a useful gag gift for my DW. I delivered the gift in a wrapped box that had some tissue paper and a rhyme with one of my 5 year olds toy campers roof with an AC on it.
 Sorry we missed you Christmas morning Waverly.  :J
 After speaking with my PU dealer who I keep a good relationship with he explained that most likely the PU could accept an AC. The PU has many options that came with it and it has 30 amp electrical, most likely it just wasn't an option the owners wanted when they purchased it.
 I let him install it. It was installed on the excisting vent. No holes or drilling since the AC has a flange that adapts to the opening on the PU and holds it in place. What a relief on my 15 year old roof and myself. The roof cranks up with no effort at all with the extra weight and the inside controls are flush with interior, meaning it looks pretty good on the ceiling. :-()  It was a pretty good deal because he had a used one that was in good shape that came off another camper so it wasn't a big investment. He wasn't busy this time of year here on the East coast so timing was good.
 Since the temperature here is on the Northeast in Boston in January is currently 63 :frosty:  after I finish work I may go out and play with it. If it gets any warmer I may even need it. Since I'll be working inside my PU putting back all my gear I store for camping so my dealer could work inside the PU.
 Of course now we have to check more closely with the hooks up in some of our not so fancy campgrounds we're used to.
Tracy, I'm anxious to trade AC tips with you and I'm hoping to get some info for the rally. I think your AC came with your PU. Was it factory installed or dealer? I'm definitely want to get some of the Gizmos for the ends. Where is the best place to get them?
Thanks,
Mike
Mike,

Thanks for the insperation....I actually did get the storage box (that I mentioned in the above post) for "My wife" :p  as a "Gag Gift" also. She thought it was a cute story, when I showed her this thread, afterwords.

Keep cool :sombraro:

tlhdoc

Quote from: HargusTracy, I'm anxious to trade AC tips with you and I'm hoping to get some info for the rally. I think your AC came with your PU. Was it factory installed or dealer? I'm definitely want to get some of the Gizmos for the ends. Where is the best place to get them?
So what did your DW think of your gift?
 
www.popupgizmos.com is the best place to order the bunkend solar covers.  Right from Bob Pitney the owner of the business.  What brand AC did you get?  Do you have heat in your AC unit.  My PU did not come with AC.  I didn't add it to the trailer until 2003.  I had the dealer install my unit.  They had to special order the Carrier Air V with heat for me.  They usually install Coleman AC units, but I wanted the Carrier.:0

Hargus

Tracy,
        My DW loved the gift. I have to give her credit it was always my hobby to start camping back when we started tenting. She adapts well to all situations and tries to improve on her end (she's a better cook than I am). We both love to be outdoors, but whether it be home or away the heat sends her over the edge. It not just being uncomfortable, it bothers her.
 The brand of the AC is Thermo King or air? The name escapes me right now. I can't remember correctly and I spent the afternoon in the camper. I wanted to go online and get some specs for it.  :compumad:
 My rv dealer was happy with this particular brand he has replaced some others but is happy with the reputation this manufactur has. My rv dealer steered me away from the Colemans from his past experience. It is an older model but my rv dealer offered to assist if any problems. He also thru in the heating unit for the AC that we will install along with the filter in the spring. The day of the install it started to snow so we wanted to finish up.

Mike

tlhdoc

I understand about the heat bothering her.  I am glad that you have the heating element.  I used the heat on my AC this weekend on our January trip and it kept the PU nice and warm.  Really too warm at night.  Looking forward to seeing you this summer.:)