Generally speaking yes. They are also dearer and harder to instal and service if anything goes wrong.
Good Luck.

Plendo, do you have problems with stones getting into and behind the condenser?, Layout plan of the van shows an Ibis Air Command. The roof mounted system gives a centaly mounted air flow, a split system would direct from the end of the van. Is either just as effective when used?

They need not be. We had a caravan custom built 2014 and requested a Denso Roof Mounted Air conditioner. DENSO received the ultimate Australasian Engineering Award for Excellence for the design of this unit. Once installed the caravan manufacturer (of 30years experience) was amazed at how quiet it was when operating, he stated that he had never installed one which was so quiet and effective. We have operated it in both heating and cooling modes and are very pleased with the performance of it and it is no problem to sleep without being disturbed when in use. Denso air conditioners are lighter in weight than others also slimmer in profile so not protruding extra height. They also make a unit that can be retro fitted to older vans which have had other brands fitted previously. Very happy with this unit, highly recommend. Check out the web site, www.denso.com.au

Our van came fitted with the roof mounted Ibis. It is quite noisy when the inside temps are high and you have it on cool. Once it gets closer to the pre-set temp, then the noise is not too bad and once at pre-set temp it cycles between just air and cooling - so not too bad at all. Easy to clean the dust vents inside - its about all you can do to it.

There was a post here about 2 months ago concerned running air cons with gennies and it was generally thought the Ibis was about the only one that could handle a Honda 2 gen (the most common one around). A few said they had problems with the cooling cycle.

I ssaid they had spoken to an air con/auto-sparkie and as a result got the biggest diameter cable made up and only 5 metres long - then they found the Honda 2 ran the cool cycle perfectly (cable size cut down power loss). I also guess that if you have the van too hot and try to cool it too quickly, your genie cannot cope and will shut down.

Bit off topic - sorry

deverall11 wrote:

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Dougwe wrote:

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I have the air command ibis and is nice and quiet in and out. Naturally there is some  noise though.

It was suggested to get the ibis by a aircon mechanic in Townsville last year. I thought if a aircon expert in the tropics recommends it that's good enough for me.

-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 28th of April 2015 08:00:28 PM

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 Ditto. Our previous van had a Dometic and very noisy. New van has a Air Command Ibis. Comparatively very quiet and more efficient.

Larry

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 Ditto over here as well, the ibis is not too noisy. 

Cheers

Mmmmm, mine doesn't go "Ditto" Must be something wrong with it ?

Doug it is ok mate

It was Phil who was going Ditto where he is.

nothing to do with aircons mate

probly more to do with vineyard workers just after work

hope you are well phil mate

I just opened a bottle of Chivas 12 yo and it is delicious.

shame you can't have some with me. Maybe when we are a bit further north and more likely to run into each other somewhere

bloody frank(KFC) ever so slightly off topic

 

 

Hi , we have a denso roof mounted on our van , its fine until the compressor kicks in , then there's an annoying resonance in the van Denso were great about it ( we bought the van used last year and the unit was on it  ) , they sent a brand new unit up to replace it and it was fitted  ( properly ) yesterday .

Unfortunately its hardly any better which is dissapointing , so i'm guessing the Baley's solid compisite roof and this unit don't play together well :(you can feel vibration throughout the van when the compressor kicks in , so sadly l can't reccomend this combo of AC and van , but Denso's backup service is faultless ( i have'nt told them about the result.....l doubt there's much more they can do really )

Hate roof top AC's with a vengeance, had all of them, from a Coleman, Dometic, to the Aircommand Heron, Ibis, all noisy rubbish.

I smile when I read that an Ibis is "fairly quiet" ours was like a chimpanzee jumping on the roof when it cycled in and out, and the condenser fans ! OMG, think jet engines !
And yes we had it checked, rechecked, new mounts tried everything, just useless.

Now we have simply the best AC ever, for last 3 years full time on the road, used for cooling and heating, simply works as an aircon should with no fuss, excess noise (cant hear it half the time so have to check the led display to see if it is on)

It's a Fujitsu domestic inverter split.

And if required will run on a 1kva Yamaha! try that with an Ibis.

I have seen a photo of a van with the condenser of a domestic unit "build" into the body, and closed off when traveling by a door. When I went to a caravan show I talked to the rep manager etc., and asked him about this, he said its to do with the gas if there is a leak in the system, not being environmentally friendly. I thought all gas types had been changed to comply?