Rear A/C Cover

Topic: Rear A/C Cover (Read 1021 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear A/C Cover

January 22, 2018, 10:41:29 am

Took the coach out for the weekend. Everything was good. Coming back to Fort Worth, we stopped for church. When I came out of church, the rear A/C cover was lying on the ground broken and shattered into quite a few pieces.

I quickly got the coach back to the hangar and out of any potential weather. I heard there were some strong wind gusts yesterday late morning. I'm very thankful it didn't come off and hit someone on the roads coming back to Fort Worth.

Can I buy a replacement cover? Any idea which one I need or how to tell?

I need to have coach safely back out on the road for the weekend for a men's retreat.

Your help and advice is priceless!

TIA.

Best,
JWH

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #1 – January 22, 2018, 10:51:38 am

What brand is it? Don't feel alone, we've seen countless along the roadsides. We call them "plastic tumbleweeds".

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #2 – January 22, 2018, 10:56:34 am

Try these folks maybe we can do a group buy and save on shipping "LOL"

Air Conditioner Shrouds | AC Shrouds | RV Air Conditioner Covers

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #3 – January 22, 2018, 11:04:14 am

Quote from: Super8mm – January 22, 2018, 10:56:34 am

Try these folks maybe we can do a group buy and save on shipping "LOL"

Air Conditioner Shrouds | AC Shrouds | RV Air Conditioner Covers

Yup, quite a bit better quality than OE.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #4 – January 22, 2018, 11:51:56 am

Check the attaching screws on your (remaining) cover, and when you install the new one. Our old (original) covers were being barely secured by tiny little sheet metal screws. I replaced all the existing screws with bigger, stronger stainless pieces and added large stainless washers under each new screw. Covers seem much more secure now.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #5 – January 22, 2018, 02:00:36 pm

Boy, for the cost of the shroud, I should just replace the entire A/C. I assume it's the original A/C.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #6 – January 22, 2018, 02:12:03 pm

I added 1" X 5" aluminum strips pop riveted from the not so good looking attach holes up on the inside of the cover. Added washers to the pop rivets on the outside of the ageing plastic cover. Plus added larger outside washers like Chuck did.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #7 – January 22, 2018, 02:21:19 pm

Quote from: Tom & Lynda – January 22, 2018, 02:12:03 pm

I added 1" X 5" aluminum strips pop riveted from the not so good looking attach holes up on the inside of the cover. Added washers to the pop rivets on the outside of the ageing plastic cover. Plus added larger outside washers like Chuck did.

Some good previous discussions about reinforcing the mounting holes of A/C shrouds (search on reinforce shroud). Here's the top "hit"

AC Shroud Reinforcement

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #8 – January 22, 2018, 02:46:05 pm

I'd choose to reinforce a new one before my old one. With age these get extremely brittle. Over the years I have heard too many stories of one blowing off and doing damage. I experienced a rv owner (me) toss the old one onto the pavement from the roof and be amazed that it broke up like tempered glass. Also when you get the replacement, it will come with strips of foam and instructions how to use. The strips of foam mount on the A/C unit, and are not to be applied to the shroud.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #9 – January 22, 2018, 03:04:18 pm

Quote from: Jack Lewis – January 22, 2018, 02:46:05 pm

I'd choose to reinforce a new one before my old one.

Definitely. I'd meant my link to the reinforcement topic to be what to do with a new shroud before you install it

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #10 – January 22, 2018, 03:26:21 pm

The ICON folks were at a conference that I went to last October and one interesting thing they talked about is that if you have something plastic that they dont have it you can send them the broken parts and they will make a mold to make your parts.

They dont charge you for the mold.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #11 – January 22, 2018, 04:05:26 pm

I've seen more (ex) shrouds on I-40 between Flagstaff, Arizona and the New Mexico line than anywhere else. That's where the sidewinds are not only dangerous, but bye bye for shrouds!

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #12 – January 22, 2018, 09:26:24 pm

My new Coleman power saver a/c has shroud that is about 1/8" thick and really flexible like polyethylene. Unit is noisier than I would like but noise is from the indoor fan and ducting.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #13 – January 23, 2018, 08:55:46 pm

Now that I think about it, the shroud could take a slow limb strike, or a high speed bird strike. It also 2 piece with a front and rear section so each could appear to be replaced independently. The shrouds appear to be able to nest in much smaller box for shipping. Runs on 1200 watts IRC. Should have taken pictures. Some thought went into the design of that shroud.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #14 – January 29, 2018, 02:17:15 pm

A certain Brett Wolfe recommended applying a small square patch of permabond over the screw hole in the cover, and a fender washer over it with the original screw. I did that. I also replaced the cover that had cracked from the screw holes to the edge with this one (in case none of the other links pan out) Amazon - Dometic A/C shroud

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #15 – January 29, 2018, 04:47:47 pm

That is Eternabond (if you have it-- would not go out and buy it just for this. But it is a little bit flexible and helps spread the load from the "hard" small area around the screw to the much larger fender washer size. Almost anything that helps distribute the pressure applied by the washer evenly on the plastic cover helps reduce the chances of cracks developing.

Lots of other good "home remedies" on this. Best permanent answer is to get the much better quality cover from Canada.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #16 – January 29, 2018, 08:38:15 pm

Quote from: Super8mm – January 22, 2018, 03:26:21 pm

The ICON folks were at a conference that I went to last October and one interesting thing they talked about is that if you have something plastic that they dont have it you can send them the broken parts and they will make a mold to make your parts.

They dont charge you for the mold.

Wonder if they can make a Kool-o-Matic interior cover? I think they could sell a bunch of those.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #17 – January 29, 2018, 08:46:17 pm

Quote from: Jeff & Sandy – January 29, 2018, 08:38:15 pm

Wonder if they can make a Kool-o-Matic interior cover? I think they could sell a bunch of those.

I agree.......

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #18 – January 29, 2018, 10:22:06 pm

Today I stumbled onto a hard core 50 year old, RV supply and hardware warehouse 5 blocks from where I work in an non descript brick large warehouse building. This joint is run by a couple of men in their late 70's or early 80's. Hard to find RV specific items hardware and appliance repair parts filled the shelves. They had the diamond electrical outlets in brown, replacement furnace vents that matched my oem. Lots of roof vents, skylights, etc. They had 50 amp hardwired PI EMS-50 in stock, and the max air roof vents in stock. They do not have an internet business. Lots of different fan blades and motors. I will try to check if they have any NOS Kool o matic items in stock. This would not surprise me.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #19 – January 29, 2018, 10:34:29 pm

To protect our roof air cover screw mounting holes, we use a piece of flat rubber folded up so the screw goes through both sides of rubber. Rubber is between cover and inner metal roof air frame. Rubber is between cover and outer fender washer. We also use aluminum tape to 'repair' any roof air & fridge vent cover cracks.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #20 – January 29, 2018, 11:36:15 pm

Quote from: Jeff & Sandy – January 29, 2018, 08:38:15 pm

Wonder if they can make a Kool-o-Matic interior cover? I think they could sell a bunch of those.

If you can find one that is mostly there they can and will make a mold for it, and they do not charge for making the mold as they hope to use it over and over.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #21 – January 30, 2018, 02:05:10 am

Molds are extremely expensive, even a simple vacuum formed one anymore.

Re: Rear A/C Cover

Reply #22 – January 30, 2018, 10:01:42 am

Quote from: Super8mm – January 22, 2018, 03:26:21 pm

The ICON folks were at a conference that I went to last October and one interesting thing they talked about is that if you have something plastic that they dont have it you can send them the broken parts and they will make a mold to make your parts.

I will have to recant on this some what, I just talked to ICON and the only custom parts they make are lower skirts.

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