Installing Roof AC on a 74 coleman

[Pop up tom]

Hello

We have a 1974 Coleman pu that we just got a couple weeks ago. We are fixing it up. I will be adding a furance that I have just got and a power inverter.

My question is I have a cahnce to get a bran new roof ac unit that was on a new pu and the person was driving it home and someone hit the back and total the camper. The AC was only turned on once to make sure it worked after the pu got hit. I can get it for $350.00. Is this a good deal?

The next question is that can this be put on my 74 coleman and what will I have to do to make the roof to hold the ac unit. There is no vent in the roof so what do I have to do to the roof to put it on there.

Thanks in advance:
Tom

[Dadjelma]

Hello

We have a 1974 Coleman pu that we just got a couple weeks ago. We are fixing it up. I will be adding a furance that I have just got and a power inverter.

My question is I have a cahnce to get a bran new roof ac unit that was on a new pu and the person was driving it home and someone hit the back and total the camper. The AC was only turned on once to make sure it worked after the pu got hit. I can get it for $350.00. Is this a good deal?

The next question is that can this be put on my 74 coleman and what will I have to do to make the roof to hold the ac unit. There is no vent in the roof so what do I have to do to the roof to put it on there.

Thanks in advance:
Tom

The price sounds good if it is a 13500 BTU

I have a 71 Starcraft that I just put a rooftop unit on. My roof is nothing but aluminum, styrofoam, and a thin board on the inside.
I measured where I wanted the unit to go on the inside because that is where any obstructions would be. Drilled up through the roof and then marked the square 14 by 14 opening on the roof. I took a jig saw and cut out the opening, praying the whole time.
After I checked for clearance on the inside when popped down, I placed a 2x3 (that I first covered in white shelf liner to match the ceiling cover and to save from waiting for paint to dry) in front of and behind where the unit was going.
I then placed the unit on the roof with the pup down. This is where you will need some help the ac unit is heavy.
I used a 12/3 rubber cord for the power with a heavt duty waterproof plug on the other end. I run the unit to a seperate plug at the CG since my pup wasn't wired for AC.
The entire install took about 1 1/2 hrs and was very easy when folowing the instructions.

Doug

[wavery]

Good job Doug. That's the way it should be done. The support is important. If the roof is arched, it is important to arch your support as well.

Just take your straight piece of wood, cut it to length and put it up against the ceiling (before installing the AC). If the ceiling is arched, there will be a gap between the ceiling and the center of the wood. Take a dividers (with a pencil on one side) follow the contour of the ceiling with one side of the dividers while marking the track on the piece of wood with the pencil side.  Cut your contour along the pencil line and you've got your arched brace. When using wood, I would recommend one brace on either side of the AC unit.

The later model Colemans have a steel brace available for the AC installation. It would be good if you the guy to throw in the brace when you buy the AC. It may be able to be adapted to your roof somehow.

[trumpet87]

Hello

We have a 1974 Coleman pu that we just got a couple weeks ago. We are fixing it up. I will be adding a furance that I have just got and a power inverter.

My question is I have a cahnce to get a bran new roof ac unit that was on a new pu and the person was driving it home and someone hit the back and total the camper. The AC was only turned on once to make sure it worked after the pu got hit. I can get it for $350.00. Is this a good deal?

The next question is that can this be put on my 74 coleman and what will I have to do to make the roof to hold the ac unit. There is no vent in the roof so what do I have to do to the roof to put it on there.

Thanks in advance:
Tom

You won't find a better price than that. We just paid that for a factory refurbished duotherm, and it looks like new.

[mike4947]

Good price, BUT until the mid 80's PU roofs were not designed to handle the 90 to 110 pounds of concentrated weight.
Bracing like the others did are definitely in order. On older PU's we also after cutting the hole or removing the vent cut out foam around the opening and using firing strips to make a box frame inside the opening. A lot of the foam used in older roofs has slightly deteriorated and will crush some when you tighten down the AC to get the correct crush on the AC to roof gasket. (this will be in the instructions) And no caulk/sealant is needed or recommended to seal the unit to the roof. Only the gasket.