I am looking at a split system AC,,Is it possible or practical to fit the outside unit on the rear of the van?
I have no space on the drawbar
Thanks
Peter
RickJ said
11:41 AM Jan 29, 2023
I have seen those units on the rear.
I would believe that it is extremely important that the weight and the balance of the van are carefully considered before just going ahead with installation.
If in doubt you might contact an engineer with the expertise in caravan construction and safety for accurate advice.
Mike Harding said
11:53 AM Jan 29, 2023
We have covered this a few time so it's worth searching for but it's not an easy search term, I think.
A few people have used spilt systems in caravans and they work very well, better than standard caravan rooftop systems I understand.
I don't have the knowledge to advise but I'm sure others will bob up soon :)
PS. You will need *lots* of battery/solar if you wish to run off grid.
yobarr said
01:43 PM Jan 29, 2023
phum wrote:
I am looking at a split system AC,,Is it possible or practical to fit the outside unit on the rear of the van?
I have no space on the drawbar
Thanks
Peter
No, no, no! Too much weight hanging off the back, and you will have problems with dust if you use dirt roads. As Mike says, you'll need heaps of Solar and battery power. Mitsubishi and Daikin both are very power-efficient. Because I have 1650 watts Solar and 540ah Vuctron Lithium I can run my AC 24/7. Heating, however, is no good so I have a Truma Comb that uses next to no diesel. Cheers
Whenarewethere said
02:12 PM Jan 29, 2023
Move the stuff off the drawbar. One probably has a tool box carcuss worth half the weight of a 2.5kW AC condenser.
Just have to focus on quality of life & get priorities in order.
phum said
02:59 PM Jan 29, 2023
gas bottles occupy the drawbar now i dont know where I could move them to
yobarr said
03:32 PM Jan 29, 2023
phum wrote:
gas bottles occupy the drawbar now i dont know where I could move them to
Can they not go in the front boot of your van? Alternatively, you could build a lightweight (aluminium?) frame over the AC unit. Or you could throw the gas bottles away and go all Electric as I have done. No worries about exhorbitant gas prices in bush, or potential gas shortages ahead ???? Cheers
Whenarewethere said
03:59 PM Jan 29, 2023
We are only in a car so no room for gas so use a methylated spirits cooker. It's a bit slower than our lighter fuel stove but a lot safer.
Mike Harding said
04:02 PM Jan 29, 2023
yobarr wrote:
phum wrote:
gas bottles occupy the drawbar now i dont know where I could move them to
Can they not go in the front boot of your van?
I'd be very reluctant to put gas bottles in an enclosed space.
phum said
05:59 PM Jan 29, 2023
i spent a fair while looking at the drawbar but it was swmbo came up with the solution. build a frame and move the bottles out and put the compressor between them. now the other problem the local repair shops wont fit it, could a normal AC person do this propely?
thanks
Peter
Possum3 said
06:21 PM Jan 29, 2023
Peter,
Any good caravan repairer could do the relocation of gas bottles, mounting inside a boot is quite common usually 4.5 kg bottles - ensure airtight seal between boot and cabin and ensure there is sufficient venting in bottom of boot (gas is heavier than air).
Any normal A/C installer should be able to mount and set up A/C - the problem I see is the material and fabrication of the front wall of your van - it may require some reinforcement.
Ivan 01 said
08:21 PM Jan 29, 2023
phum wrote:
i spent a fair while looking at the drawbar but it was swmbo came up with the solution. build a frame and move the bottles out and put the compressor between them. now the other problem the local repair shops wont fit it, could a normal AC person do this propely? thanks Peter
After you have assessed the position and safety relating to the van the best way to achieve what you want is for you to fit the two units both inside and out and with a pre arranged agreement you could get a fridgee to connect it up for both power and refrigerant. The fridgee would need to be a licensed electrician with some knowledge of 240 volt specifically for caravans. If he is not then you would need to find that tradesman as well. It might be as simple as connecting it to the existing air con power supply. Fingers crossed.
You would be doing all the organising and co ordinating and with anything air conditioning I would avoid the project during the summer. Fridgees are usually quite busy during summer and wont be prepared to do the harder jobs, generally speaking.
As a simple bit of advice I would avoid refitting gas bottles in the front boot unless you are confident that the compartment you fit them in is separate from the main boot and sealed to be completely isolated from the boot and the interior of the van. To leave them or relocate them outside at the front would be the easiest way to comply with regulations.
Your project is not that uncommon so you may find a workshop or a tradie that will do it for you if you are lucky with your search.
As Rick and others said above, be sure of your van safety and weight compliance.
Good luck with the project.
If you get it done and report back on this forum I know that at least I would be interested in how you achieved the projects success.
yobarr said
09:12 PM Jan 29, 2023
Mike Harding wrote:
yobarr wrote:
phum wrote:
gas bottles occupy the drawbar now i dont know where I could move them to
Can they not go in the front boot of your van?
I'd be very reluctant to put gas bottles in an enclosed space.
Hi Mike. Interesting comment, but when I bought my van it did indeed have 2x9kg bottles in the front boot, along with water pumps etc.
Seems that as long as bottles are in a separate compartment, divided by only a wall that is higher than the bottles, all is good.
As Possum says, there must be adequate venting in the bottom of the boot to allow gas to escape if ever there is any leakage from the bottles, as, being heavier than air, gas will never rise above the top of the bottle.
This was a good arrangement because when I got rid of all bottles and gas fittings etc there was a lot more room, so I put a Donaldson aircleaner and a bilge pump in there so that I can pressurise the van to keep dust out on dirt roads. Works brilliantly! Cheers
Ivan 01 said
10:43 AM Jan 30, 2023
Hi Phum
My suggestion is to be very cautious of any recommendations to install gas bottles in your front boot.
While those that offer this advice may have their van set up that way, the forum has not had a description of the electrical design of your van or the location of electrical equipment.
Many vans have the main electrical components installed in the front boot. This might include batteries, isolators, circuit breakers, fuses, wiring and the like. As such any spark could ignite LPG if at all present in that boot. If that happens then the new air conditioner will be the least of your worries.
Some manufacturers of new vans contain the gas bottles in a totally separate compartment and although they are in the front of the van they are completely isolated from all other areas. The solution advice your wife offered is a very sound and sensible suggestion.
My suggestion is to be very cautious of any recommendations to install gas bottles in your front boot.
Hi Ivan. Please note that the advice contained in my post was not a recommendation, but simply a statement of how my van was set up when I bought it. All legal,all safe with a couple of nice little complance stickers, one in the front boot and one on the main entrance door to the van.
The front boot, as previously stated, was divided into three compartments, with a wall separating compartments. One had gas bottles, one had water pumps x2, and one was storage.
These walls were higher than the top of gas bottles and the floor had several large vent holes in it so that any gas that leaked from the bottles could escape outside the confines of the boot.
All safe, all legal, so simple. And it got weight further back on the chassis. Queensland rego. Cheers
yobarr said
12:27 PM Jan 30, 2023
phum wrote:
i spent a fair while looking at the drawbar but it was swmbo came up with the solution. build a frame and move the bottles out and put the compressor between them. now the other problem the local repair shops wont fit it, could a normal AC person do this propely? thanks Peter
Yes. Mine was installed by a licensed electrician who regularly does AC installs in houses. Cheers
Mike Harding said
01:40 PM Jan 30, 2023
yobarr wrote:
These walls were higher than the top of gas bottles and the floor had several large vent holes in it so that any gas that leaked from the bottles could escape outside the confines of the boot.
LPG is heavier than air so the theory is good and most motorhomes carry gas bottles in enclosed spaces but I still would not do it if I didn't have to.
Ivan 01 said
02:50 PM Jan 30, 2023
For my entire working life I was a fitter mechanic by trade.
I have moved gas bottles but only on the draw bar of any van or camper. Never into an enclosed or semi enclosed position.
Why? Because I am not that silly to expect that the owner and subsequent users of that van would realise that there actually are certain precautions regarding having gas bottles stored in an enclosure or part enclosure as it is being suggested.
A very simple scenario is that a new owner of the van may decide to travel on a dirt road and because he was told advice on a forum he got some tape and blocked off the vents. Yes, including the one he was supposed to leave open but of course he didnt know or didnt remember the original owner advising him that he can seal all the other vents but he MUST NOT seal that one vent.
So there was a minute leak of LPGas which under normal circumstances was vented but under this circumstance the new owner pulls up and the first thing he does is connect the 3 way fridge back to 240 volt.
From that moment on the poor fellow may never ever remember that he should not have blocked the vent at the gas bottle compartment and probably neither will his wife or anyone else who maybe close by.
Wether it is a recommendation or a suggestion to keep the gas on the drawbar, really is insignificant probably to most except family and friends and the Coroner.
I am sure that common sense in most cases will prevail, particularly when it is entirely possible that operators other than the guy who performed the modification may be using the van.
Joda said
03:53 PM Jan 30, 2023
Put them on the drawbar, just make sure the back of the car clears your bottles/ frame on a tight steering lock or any type of sharp turn,
Joda
Ivan 01 said
05:34 PM Jan 30, 2023
Joda wrote:
Put them on the drawbar, just make sure the back of the car clears your bottles/ frame on a tight steering lock or any type of sharp turn, Joda
That is a good point. Not much good if they restrict the turning ability.
yobarr said
01:06 PM Jan 31, 2023
Joda wrote:
Put them on the drawbar, just make sure the back of the car clears your bottles/ frame on a tight steering lock or any type of sharp turn, Joda
That's what I've done but there still is room to turn when reversing etc, even if the nose of the car is facing uphill. And my drawbar is not particularly long either, as can be seen. Cheer.
I am looking at a split system AC,,Is it possible or practical to fit the outside unit on the rear of the van?
I have no space on the drawbar
Thanks
Peter
I would believe that it is extremely important that the weight and the balance of the van are carefully considered before just going ahead with installation.
If in doubt you might contact an engineer with the expertise in caravan construction and safety for accurate advice.
We have covered this a few time so it's worth searching for but it's not an easy search term, I think.
A few people have used spilt systems in caravans and they work very well, better than standard caravan rooftop systems I understand.
I don't have the knowledge to advise but I'm sure others will bob up soon :)
PS. You will need *lots* of battery/solar if you wish to run off grid.
No, no, no! Too much weight hanging off the back, and you will have problems with dust if you use dirt roads. As Mike says, you'll need heaps of Solar and battery power. Mitsubishi and Daikin both are very power-efficient. Because I have 1650 watts Solar and 540ah Vuctron Lithium I can run my AC 24/7. Heating, however, is no good so I have a Truma Comb that uses next to no diesel. Cheers
Move the stuff off the drawbar. One probably has a tool box carcuss worth half the weight of a 2.5kW AC condenser.
Just have to focus on quality of life & get priorities in order.
Can they not go in the front boot of your van? Alternatively, you could build a lightweight (aluminium?) frame over the AC unit. Or you could throw the gas bottles away and go all Electric as I have done. No worries about exhorbitant gas prices in bush, or potential gas shortages ahead ???? Cheers
We are only in a car so no room for gas so use a methylated spirits cooker. It's a bit slower than our lighter fuel stove but a lot safer.
I'd be very reluctant to put gas bottles in an enclosed space.
thanks
Peter
Any good caravan repairer could do the relocation of gas bottles, mounting inside a boot is quite common usually 4.5 kg bottles - ensure airtight seal between boot and cabin and ensure there is sufficient venting in bottom of boot (gas is heavier than air).
Any normal A/C installer should be able to mount and set up A/C - the problem I see is the material and fabrication of the front wall of your van - it may require some reinforcement.
After you have assessed the position and safety relating to the van the best way to achieve what you want is for you to fit the two units both inside and out and with a pre arranged agreement you could get a fridgee to connect it up for both power and refrigerant. The fridgee would need to be a licensed electrician with some knowledge of 240 volt specifically for caravans. If he is not then you would need to find that tradesman as well. It might be as simple as connecting it to the existing air con power supply. Fingers crossed.
You would be doing all the organising and co ordinating and with anything air conditioning I would avoid the project during the summer. Fridgees are usually quite busy during summer and wont be prepared to do the harder jobs, generally speaking.
As a simple bit of advice I would avoid refitting gas bottles in the front boot unless you are confident that the compartment you fit them in is separate from the main boot and sealed to be completely isolated from the boot and the interior of the van. To leave them or relocate them outside at the front would be the easiest way to comply with regulations.
Your project is not that uncommon so you may find a workshop or a tradie that will do it for you if you are lucky with your search.
As Rick and others said above, be sure of your van safety and weight compliance.
Good luck with the project.
If you get it done and report back on this forum I know that at least I would be interested in how you achieved the projects success.
Hi Mike. Interesting comment, but when I bought my van it did indeed have 2x9kg bottles in the front boot, along with water pumps etc.
Seems that as long as bottles are in a separate compartment, divided by only a wall that is higher than the bottles, all is good.
As Possum says, there must be adequate venting in the bottom of the boot to allow gas to escape if ever there is any leakage from the bottles, as, being heavier than air, gas will never rise above the top of the bottle.
This was a good arrangement because when I got rid of all bottles and gas fittings etc there was a lot more room, so I put a Donaldson aircleaner and a bilge pump in there so that I can pressurise the van to keep dust out on dirt roads. Works brilliantly! Cheers
Hi Phum
My suggestion is to be very cautious of any recommendations to install gas bottles in your front boot.
While those that offer this advice may have their van set up that way, the forum has not had a description of the electrical design of your van or the location of electrical equipment.
Many vans have the main electrical components installed in the front boot. This might include batteries, isolators, circuit breakers, fuses, wiring and the like.
As such any spark could ignite LPG if at all present in that boot.
If that happens then the new air conditioner will be the least of your worries.
Some manufacturers of new vans contain the gas bottles in a totally separate compartment and although they are in the front of the van they are completely isolated from all other areas.
The solution advice your wife offered is a very sound and sensible suggestion.
On page 4 here;
https://www.resources.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1431660/gas-safety-compliance-caravans-rv.pdf
Hi Ivan. Please note that the advice contained in my post was not a recommendation, but simply a statement of how my van was set up when I bought it. All legal,all safe with a couple of nice little complance stickers, one in the front boot and one on the main entrance door to the van.
The front boot, as previously stated, was divided into three compartments, with a wall separating compartments. One had gas bottles, one had water pumps x2, and one was storage.
These walls were higher than the top of gas bottles and the floor had several large vent holes in it so that any gas that leaked from the bottles could escape outside the confines of the boot.
All safe, all legal, so simple. And it got weight further back on the chassis. Queensland rego. Cheers
Yes. Mine was installed by a licensed electrician who regularly does AC installs in houses. Cheers
LPG is heavier than air so the theory is good and most motorhomes carry gas bottles in enclosed spaces but I still would not do it if I didn't have to.
I have moved gas bottles but only on the draw bar of any van or camper. Never into an enclosed or semi enclosed position.
Why? Because I am not that silly to expect that the owner and subsequent users of that van would realise that there actually are certain precautions regarding having gas bottles stored in an enclosure or part enclosure as it is being suggested.
A very simple scenario is that a new owner of the van may decide to travel on a dirt road and because he was told advice on a forum he got some tape and blocked off the vents. Yes, including the one he was supposed to leave open but of course he didnt know or didnt remember the original owner advising him that he can seal all the other vents but he MUST NOT seal that one vent.
So there was a minute leak of LPGas which under normal circumstances was vented but under this circumstance the new owner pulls up and the first thing he does is connect the 3 way fridge back to 240 volt.
From that moment on the poor fellow may never ever remember that he should not have blocked the vent at the gas bottle compartment and probably neither will his wife or anyone else who maybe close by.
Wether it is a recommendation or a suggestion to keep the gas on the drawbar, really is insignificant probably to most except family and friends and the Coroner.
I am sure that common sense in most cases will prevail, particularly when it is entirely possible that operators other than the guy who performed the modification may be using the van.
That is a good point. Not much good if they restrict the turning ability.
That's what I've done but there still is room to turn when reversing etc, even if the nose of the car is facing uphill. And my drawbar is not particularly long either, as can be seen. Cheer.
A picture front and back would be good, and dare I say it, some weights
I might have to make some more popcorn. I'll make enough for both of us.
I didnt think of it until you aided it and I re-read it. Hopefully the author will refuse my request
I am curious as to how noisy the diesel heater externally. Thinking of those around me ? Thanks
putiing them in the boot should be ok but fitted ventilation panels in both side walls.
Some are very noisy, like you say depends on location. Try spending a night parked next to one on the exhaust side, you won't be there long.
Diesel heater?
It's about fitting an aircon.
bob