I am considering the installation of an air conditioner to our van I have been advised that an under bunk unit would be preferable to a roof mounted unit because of our existing wind up roof hatch arrangement & as such have been recommended an air command saphire r/c unit. I would like to know if any nomads have one of these units & how it performs in real conditions ??? Our old girl is a 1973 Viscount 15x7 full height caravan. The unit would be located under the rear bed & ducts could be located at head height via the wardrobe/overhead cupboard arrangement. This all makes good sense in keeping weight down low as the Viscount tows quite well considering its basic suspension & braking set up,
hako said
02:30 PM Oct 29, 2015
We looked at installing Truma saphir but the cost was over $2000.....ended up buying a small Kelvinator box A/C for $400 brand new and installed it under a bunk. Works quite well in our van and the cost saving is considerable.
If you direct the outlet vents so they blow upwards you will get proper cooling equivalent to overhead outlets without the complication.
Good Luck.
in transit said
06:47 PM Oct 29, 2015
our campervan came with an air command split system (compressor under bunk and outlets at head height). The ducting is located in the wardrobe and doesn't cause any problems. We mainly free-camp and the only issue we have had is that on one occasion it didn't work after a lot of dusty roads had let enough dust in through the external compressor vent that the fan would not rotate. A good cleanout fixed that.
I find it a bit noisy but it is almost 10 years old. It would be rarely that we would run it on high for more than 15minutes before turning it down.
Hope that is of some help.
jrk36 said
11:38 AM Oct 30, 2015
I'm having a Truma Saphir Air Conditioner installed under-bed in my recently purchased Bailey Senator Louisiana next Tuesday.
This was recommended for its out of the way installation (and keeping the weight down low), low noise, and no major surgery to van required. However, the big down side is that the installed cost is $3K!
We will be living in this van a lot in the heat of WA's North so hoping the money being paid is well spent.
John K
Lakers said
05:49 PM Oct 31, 2015
I have a Denso UB1 RC under bunk air con in our Coromal 615 poptop, and I believe it is under spec for the van (20ft). The outlet is above the bed at one end, and it struggles to get the air flow through the van. It really needs assistance from an electric fan placed halfway along the van... it may be OK for a 16ft-ish van. It is also not as quiet as advertised, and yoiu cannot sleep with it on. If I had my time again, or buy another van, I would look at installing a split system domestic unit.
FYI
Cheers
Greg
Wombat 280 said
07:44 PM Nov 1, 2015
See a lot of domestic split systems fitted to vans You can buy a suitable one from Bunnings for around $400 but need to get it hooked up which can be almost as expensive as the initial unit . Most of the new inverter units run on start up under 10amps . if I was to fit one I would run a separate CB protected circuit back to the in van switch board.
Aus-Kiwi said
02:57 PM Nov 2, 2015
Would I be right in saying cooling to top isn't as critical as a house due to box like size ?
I doesn't take long for the cold air to rise .
hako said
10:35 PM Nov 2, 2015
Wombat 280 wrote:
See a lot of domestic split systems fitted to vans You can buy a suitable one from Bunnings for around $400 but need to get it hooked up which can be almost as expensive as the initial unit . Most of the new inverter units run on start up under 10amps . if I was to fit one I would run a separate CB protected circuit back to the in van switch board.
Many of the split systems are pre-charged with gas so the instal cost will be reduced - just the electrical to worry about.
Regards
Roving-Dutchy said
04:49 PM Nov 8, 2015
Yes the split units are already charged with gas but you still need a qualified installer to vacuum pump the lines and finally charge the system and leak test.
There is no need to run a dedicated 240v line back to the switchboard as the head unit is plugged into a normal power point and a cable is run from the head unit to the outside unit.
The startup current for a unit of the size required for a van is about 6 amps and cuts back to about 3 amps once the van is at the required temperature
Consider paying the extra for a well known brand of split system as you do get what you pay for and in some cases the installer may not be interested in installing a no name unit because of inferior quality tubing in some of these units.
Cheers
David
Vanderee said
08:07 PM Sep 26, 2017
Trying to re jog my memory. Does not always go "click" I had an under bunk aircon in a 1990 Winnebago Freeway, with two ducts which
was very efficient in fact we had to turn it off after 20 mins even on the hottest days. I want to find a similar
under bunk unit ( I think it was a Robin brand "help me out on that one") the roof mounted Dometech is not currently doing the job, had it checked out
and found it works perfect. The experts tell me it should; it is large enough to handle the cooling area.
The under bunk unit had a cold blast the new hi-tech model only puts out a breeze.
Anyone had any similar experience? Thanks very much appreciated.
Keith W said
12:22 AM Apr 4, 2024
i know your post is quite old but I will ask anyway. You said you mounted a box ac under the bed where and how did you vent it etc. thanks keith
Are We Lost said
12:55 AM Apr 4, 2024
Vanderee's profile shows that he has not been online since December 2022. You could try sending a PM (Private Message) and he may get that.
Keith W said
09:43 AM Apr 4, 2024
i know your post is quite old but I will ask anyway. You said you mounted a box ac under the bed where and how did you vent it etc. thanks keith
Hi all,
I am considering the installation of an air conditioner to our van
I have been advised that an under bunk unit would be preferable to a roof mounted unit because of our existing wind up roof hatch arrangement & as such have been recommended an air command saphire r/c unit. I would like to know if any nomads have one of these units & how it performs in real conditions ??? Our old girl is a 1973 Viscount 15x7 full height caravan. The unit would be located under the rear bed & ducts could be located at head height via the wardrobe/overhead cupboard arrangement. This all makes good sense in keeping weight down low as the Viscount tows quite well considering its basic suspension & braking set up,
If you direct the outlet vents so they blow upwards you will get proper cooling equivalent to overhead outlets without the complication.
Good Luck.
I find it a bit noisy but it is almost 10 years old. It would be rarely that we would run it on high for more than 15minutes before turning it down.
Hope that is of some help.
This was recommended for its out of the way installation (and keeping the weight down low), low noise, and no major surgery to van required. However, the big down side is that the installed cost is $3K!
We will be living in this van a lot in the heat of WA's North so hoping the money being paid is well spent.
John K
FYI
Cheers
Greg
I doesn't take long for the cold air to rise .
Many of the split systems are pre-charged with gas so the instal cost will be reduced - just the electrical to worry about.
Regards
There is no need to run a dedicated 240v line back to the switchboard as the head unit is plugged into a normal power point and a cable is run from the head unit to the outside unit.
The startup current for a unit of the size required for a van is about 6 amps and cuts back to about 3 amps once the van is at the required temperature
Consider paying the extra for a well known brand of split system as you do get what you pay for and in some cases the installer may not be interested in installing a no name unit because of inferior quality tubing in some of these units.
Cheers
David
Trying to re jog my memory. Does not always go "click" I had an under bunk aircon in a 1990 Winnebago Freeway, with two ducts which
was very efficient in fact we had to turn it off after 20 mins even on the hottest days. I want to find a similar
under bunk unit ( I think it was a Robin brand "help me out on that one") the roof mounted Dometech is not currently doing the job, had it checked out
and found it works perfect. The experts tell me it should; it is large enough to handle the cooling area.
The under bunk unit had a cold blast the new hi-tech model only puts out a breeze.
Anyone had any similar experience? Thanks very much appreciated.
i know your post is quite old but I will ask anyway. You said you mounted a box ac under the bed where and how did you vent it etc. thanks keith
i know your post is quite old but I will ask anyway. You said you mounted a box ac under the bed where and how did you vent it etc. thanks keith