Love this forum we are newbies and preparing our first big 4 month trip later in the year with our much loved pooch in our current 1992 Coromal 475 Seka on a budget
Would appreciate advice on purchase/installation of rooftop air conditioner. No doubt will have many more questions. Appreciate any input
Ibis seams to be the best A/C but that is jujst my opinion, Darens caravan repairs at Cardiff will do a good deal or for a better deal check out central coast caravans at Tuggerah. Central Coast will do awnings as well
Have you thought of installing a domestic split system airconditioner?.....well under half the cost of one on the roof and from reports more quieter and efficient.
Have you thought of installing a domestic split system airconditioner?.....well under half the cost of one on the roof and from reports more quieter and efficient.
Agree,,, we would do this IF there is a next van.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
We have a split system and its fantastic when compared to a roof mounted system. Quieter (both inside and out), more efficient and keeps the van a lot cooler but it was installed when the van was being built so I don't know how fitting one later would go but well worth investigating.
go the split system - one scrap of trouble with our rooftop model and we'll have a domestic air-con. Last van had an Ibis and it was hopeless despite spending $500 on repairs
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
In Karratha split systems were used extensibly in permanent vans, many of the 200 odd vans do use them, but there is a disadvantage. Price wise great but the compressor unit on the bumper or the draw bar have trouble with copper pipes fracturing. Probably a flexible hose option available at an extra cost, but like most of us will attempt to do it ourselves. I believe a start up auto isolator are now mandatory also at cost.
Also splits recycle interior air, cooking smells steam, breath etc and in those hot and humid, also dusty conditions it is not only the filters need cleaning but also the mould that blocks up the barrel fan. In those parks in WA we cleaned the fan with a nitrogen bottle regulated of course and an air gun to blast the mould off. If the fan was removed to clean electrical disconnection was generally needed.
Home work and ask around is necessary but I personally think the cost initially saved could blowout.
As the mould builds up on the fan and it is ignored the air flow reduces the complaints increased and allergies have to be considered.
We've had most if not all the roof mounted A/C rubbish on previous vans and the last one, an Ibis was the noisiest of the lot. Two 6" fans roaring like a jet engine and the compressor thumping every time it cycled on and off, totally impossible for me as a light sleeper to leave on at night.
We now have a Fujitsu inverter domestic split in our 5th wheeler and it is just brilliant, been on the road for just over 2 years full time and never missed a beat heating and cooling, from 47C down to -3C !
Efficient (can run on a 1kw Yamaha on low) quiet inside and out (super quiet actually) and just does the job as an AC should.
I actually had one "know it all" in a CP stand near my outside unit and say these are ok but very noisy when working ! I said can you hear it now mate, and he said no cause its not running, I said take another look as its been running for several days now. He had to eat his words.
I wouldn't buy a rooftop unit again even with your money .
And as for failures, Blah Blah, never come across one in all of our travels. Not saying there has never been a failure but so long as they are installed correctly no problems, I've heard of many roof top failures and lots of people unhappy with the noisy inefficient rubbish.
I clean the filters regularly as they do become dusty but that's it.
And if it was to die for whatever reason, I would put another straight in and still be way ahead cost wise.
I have had a Fujitsu installed in my van now for 7 years the cost was one third the cost of a caravan unit, if it failed now I would be well ahead.
I don't believe you need flexible pipes if the unit is installed correctly, these units are installed on fishing trawlers and the would be subjected to a greater hammering than on any van.
Very quiet and efficient and low cost and can be fitted after market to most vans.
Phil @ Chez if you would like to have a look at my installation PM me I live at the Southern end of Lake Macquarie so not far away.
Cheers
David
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