Can I fit a small split system home air con to campervan?
Denise said
05:37 PM Feb 26, 2010
I have read some of the other posts and several have recommended this but usually for a larger unit than a campervan!. Could I put the fan on a front bumper somehow and the outlet on the roof? Thanks :)
dave06 said
07:38 PM Feb 26, 2010
in theory you could, but to have the external unit hanging off the back of a camper would seem a bit silly, what about the air commanders that are commonly seen on trucks, all the unit is in the roof, but then if it is a pop top it would be very cumbersome
Denise said
08:46 PM Feb 26, 2010
Thanks Dave..I meant on a front rack like some bikes...no I don't have a poptop.
On the other hand if I had a tiny little slider like the motorhomes I could slide a box aircon in and out in a wall for travelling I guess, maybe that's easier..it would need a bracket arrangement ...maybe a fold back bracket on each side of the wall ...I wish I knew more about this stuffand had the skills to do it!
I don't know what they use on trucks..would that be easier and/or cheaper? Cheers Denise
Wombat 280 said
10:46 PM Feb 27, 2010
Spotted on at Stockton last week It was a domestic split system and the chap has had no problems . What about a small window rattler which can be made to fit on a slide in /out arrangement .
Try picking up a small unit at a trading center they always seem to have a range of redundant aircons form work site huts and small flats , get a fridgie to look at it to see if it's worth re -gassing .
I take it we are talking rag walls on a box trailer. Maybe a portable roll around unit is the go not all that hard to man handle in and out of the vehicle / trailer .
Cheap option a fan and a bucket of ice cubes. LOL
Denise said
12:01 AM Feb 28, 2010
Hi Wombat, I have an ex tradie's merc vito van with no pop top. Would a slide in/out be too heavy for the thickness of the metal wall?. I think on the drivers side wall up high behind the drivers seat may be the best spot to put it ......what do you think? Thanks Denise
dave06 said
11:00 AM Feb 28, 2010
a slide in and out would be out of the question for a camper, simply making the stays would be astronomical neverlone keeping the thing in there,
the air con I was eluding too is maybe an "air top" or "air chief" basically all you see is a white pointy shaped fibreglass box on the roof with a low profile, to contemplate a "split system" on a camper I think is ridiculous, far better to get a air con as described above, I think electrolux make them as well
go to a c/van supplier or showroom and ask them what is suitable and within budget
Wombat 280 said
02:36 PM Feb 28, 2010
If you do go roll in roll out then it will need to be self supporting, the hole in the wall would need to be reinforced . I can visualize how this could be done but to explain it here is somewhat difficult. The unit I'm thinking of is about 1/3 to 1/2 hp , if you can get a small enough unit it could be mounted on top of a wall cupboard behind the driver with the vent end ( Cooling Fin) the only bit flush with the van wall and you mount a couple of Tricky Dickies computer cooling fans to suck out the heated air from the unit enclosure .
To neaten the job up a swing up or down hatch cover to match the vehicle wall and to protect the cooling fins while on the roof and to secure the unit from the lowlifes out there could be installed at bugger all cost.
Post some pics of your rig and the possible location of you intended aircon installation, may be able to figure it out a little better.
Denise said
04:34 PM Feb 28, 2010
Is it cheaper than the roof one Dave suggests? I want to put some vertical steel tube from floor to roof for a number of other reasons....it may be able to go off this as a support partly to the reinforced exit on the slider..
My main concerns are......money,
cutting a hole in the roof
Something inside says "DON"T cut a hole in your roof....it will rust and destroy the integrity of the roof....don't know if that's a valid fear but somehow the wall seems more acceptable.
I will go see whats available in those hp's and see if its feasible . Looks like I've gone into italics again and can't get rid of it....rats!!
Its raining at present so I'll take a photo later...i'm not sure if I can post the photo but can email it to you and if you 'd be kind enough perhaps you could post it for me....don't have a mouse ad some things don't work without! Cheers wombat..thanks for your help:)
DeBe said
05:34 PM Feb 28, 2010
Hi Denise, This size AC should do the job on a slide through side of you van, it only needs to protude 9inches outside. Its a Kelvinator mod KWH15CMA, its half HP 780Watt max weghs 26Kg price was $300 it keeps our van 25Deg when 45deg outside. I would mount it on some sort of slide, ive seen a simmilar setup in a bus on one of the other caravaning forums some timeago but cant remember where. cheers Daryl ( roof mount A/C seem to be very expensive & if you look at other caravan forums dont generaly work all that well)
-- Edited by DeBe on Sunday 28th of February 2010 04:37:56 PM
DeBe said
05:42 PM Feb 28, 2010
This is what i run it when free camping, also will run a fan heater. Daryl
Denise said
09:35 PM Feb 28, 2010
Fantastic Daryl, I knew there'd be a way...do you know the dimensions of the aircon and what year you bought it? I'm wondering if it might fit into an adapted filing cabinet drawer to roll in and out? thanks...Denise:)
seonau said
10:29 PM Feb 28, 2010
Daryl a question for you. Your just the man.Why must Denise as she is suggesting cut any hole? Is it possible to have a genny powered air conditioner sitting outside her vehicle and have ducting from the unit to say a window? Maybe the unit sitting on a trolley with wheels which is the same height as her van floor so it can be moved more easily out of the van and into position?
DeBe said
11:24 PM Feb 28, 2010
Hi Denise, Purchased 2Yrs ago. Dimensions W445mm X H320mm X D400mm. I dont see why a filing cabinet type draw system shouldnt work sounds good to me. The bus pictures I saw the track system was on top of a bench & the A/C slid out through an opening in the side of the bus with a small door on it. This A/C only needs to stick out about 9 inches. I like your Idea mounting behind the drivers seat. cheers Daryl
DeBe said
11:29 PM Feb 28, 2010
Seonau Hi I personaly think mounting it on slides through the side mutch easier to mannage. Years ago well back in the 70s i had an a/c mounted outsid my caravan & it was a pain every time we shifted. Cheers Daryl
DeBe said
09:58 AM Mar 1, 2010
Hi Denise, After giving this a bit more thaught, A neat way of puting a hole in the side of your van would be to fit a wind out caravan window in, it would look neat & be weather proof. Just wind it out slide the A/C out & fillin any gaps with a piece of thin plywood whick could be just cliped in for easy removal. Cheers Daryl
Denise said
01:14 PM Mar 1, 2010
Hi again, would the window be big enough for those dimensions to fit through? and do they open high enough ...at 90* or more.?... may be a good solution! who are the tradies I should see to do it cheapest... i suspect conversion people charge lots more? Thanks :)
DeBe said
03:22 PM Mar 1, 2010
Hi again Denise, The wind out windows that were on my old Millard van were big enough, just check the measurements. The window didnt need to wind out 90deg as the A/C only needs to protude 9inches through window. What you need is find a suitable size window & get a reliable Handy Person to fit it It. Cheers Daryl (unfortunatly you dont live down the road)
Denise said
03:26 PM Mar 1, 2010
Thanks for the implied offer Daryl...its very kind. I'll see what I can rustle up around wreckers etc. Thanks for the ideas!! Denise
Wombat 280 said
04:33 PM Mar 1, 2010
Avoid a roof mount , cutting a hole in a roof is far more difficult to water proof than a wall hole
Wombat 280 said
04:44 PM Mar 1, 2010
DeBe wrote:
Hi Denise, This size AC should do the job on a slide through side of you van, it only needs to protude 9inches outside. Its a Kelvinator mod KWH15CMA, its half HP 780Watt max weghs 26Kg price was $300 it keeps our van 25Deg when 45deg outside. I would mount it on some sort of slide, ive seen a simmilar setup in a bus on one of the other caravaning forums some timeago but cant remember where. cheers Daryl ( roof mount A/C seem to be very expensive & if you look at other caravan forums dont generaly work all that well)
-- Edited by DeBe on Sunday 28th of February 2010 04:37:56 PM
This is it , a small 1/2 hp unit mounted in or on a cupboard and with computer extractor fans to remove the hot exhaust to outside the need for external protrusions can be eliminated . If you have a roll out awning just make sure you exhaust to the other side other wise you will get the hot air blast while sitting under you awning . To give the unit a bit of shade I would install a sail track mounted privacy screen mounted on the side with the aircon
Denise said
05:17 PM Mar 1, 2010
Roll out will give me more space in the van, roll in to travel. Good point about the exhaust and annex ...it will go on the other side. Also shade tip...more efficiency the better ....Thanks again guys :)
Denise said
05:20 PM Mar 1, 2010
Do you get sail track at bunnings type h/w or at a chandlers?
DeBe said
07:30 PM Mar 1, 2010
Have purchased sail track from Bunnings I used it to secure the sides of clear vynil blinds to the verandah post on the house. About 3Meter lengths. Daryl
Denise said
10:43 PM Mar 1, 2010
another good idea!! thanks Daryl :)
seonau said
12:17 AM Mar 2, 2010
I sell sail track at work and i have my doubts about it being suitable for supporting the weight of an air conditioner. The gap in the aluminium channel is quit small and the unit would be hard to slide anyway. Perhaps an alternative would be a heavy duty extending drawer runner. They can be attached both to the base of the unit if you have the conditioner sitting on a bench top when travelling or from above, This type of extendable runner would mean when the conditioner when extended outside of the vehicle would be supported along its entire length. Imagine a pot drawer in a kitchen that extends right out. Heres a link Denise.
-- Edited by Wonker on Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 05:48:37 PM
dave06 said
09:39 AM Mar 4, 2010
yeah! some are and some aren't, the one's I am familiar with are the "air commander" series,.......... http://www.aircommand.com.au/..........
we ran these on a few of our earlier trucks, the air is now integrated of course but the air commander went across to the "R.V" market and is now one of many "leaders" in the field
Cruising Granny said
12:26 PM Mar 7, 2010
I have a split system to cool, and warm my 20ft van.
Wombat 280 said
12:31 PM Mar 9, 2010
Way to go .
Another feature when traveling would be a bag over the unit to stop the road grim been sucked up into the cooling fins, Be surprised just how many rocks and crap get sucked up the back of the van when underway. Just a thought
Could I put the fan on a front bumper somehow and the outlet on the roof? Thanks :)
On the other hand if I had a tiny little slider like the motorhomes I could slide a box aircon in and out in a wall for travelling I guess, maybe that's easier..it would need a bracket arrangement ...maybe a fold back bracket on each side of the wall ...I wish I knew more about this stuffand had the skills to do it!
I don't know what they use on trucks..would that be easier and/or cheaper?
Cheers Denise
Thanks Denise
My main concerns are......money,
cutting a hole in the roof
Something inside says "DON"T cut a hole in your roof....it will rust and destroy the integrity of the roof....don't know if that's a valid fear but somehow the wall seems more acceptable.
I will go see whats available in those hp's and see if its feasible . Looks like I've gone into italics again and can't get rid of it....rats!!
Its raining at present so I'll take a photo later...i'm not sure if I can post the photo but can email it to you and if you 'd be kind enough perhaps you could post it for me....don't have a mouse ad some things don't work without! Cheers wombat..thanks for your help:)
-- Edited by DeBe on Sunday 28th of February 2010 04:37:56 PM
This is it , a small 1/2 hp unit mounted in or on a cupboard and with computer extractor fans to remove the hot exhaust to outside the need for external protrusions can be eliminated . If you have a roll out awning just make sure you exhaust to the other side other wise you will get the hot air blast while sitting under you awning . To give the unit a bit of shade I would install a sail track mounted privacy screen mounted on the side with the aircon
another good idea!! thanks Daryl :)
I sell sail track at work and i have my doubts about it being suitable for supporting the weight of an air conditioner. The gap in the aluminium channel is quit small and the unit would be hard to slide anyway.
http://www.hafele.com.au/isapi/online/tchff/tchff.aspPerhaps an alternative would be a heavy duty extending drawer runner. They can be attached both to the base of the unit if you have the conditioner sitting on a bench top when travelling or from above, This type of extendable runner would mean when the conditioner when extended outside of the vehicle would be supported along its entire length.
Imagine a pot drawer in a kitchen that extends right out.
Heres a link Denise.
My two bobs worth .
seonau
Most of the ones I've seen are Viesa brand
http://www.ctyre.com.au/Viesa/viesa.htm
-- Edited by Wonker on Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 05:48:37 PM