Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: New A/C (Read 690 times) previous topic - next topic

New A/C

My front A/C motor has died.  I thought it a good time to upgrade to newer and bigger.  Does anyone have a unique (and easy) way for one person to get the new unit up to the roof by one person?  I do not have a lot of friends here, so it is me or the heat.  Thank you for any help.  Is there anything that I could rent. . .  cheap?
Curtis
1989 GV

Re: New A/C

Reply #1 –
Curtis,

Find a place that has a fork lift and let them lift it up for you.  So any lumber yard, box store, etc.

Other option if you are STRONG is a long ladder at 45 degree angle to the side.  Push it up the ladder in front of you in the box.

Two people make the whole job a LOT easier-- particularly placing the new unit on the gasket without tearing it.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: New A/C

Reply #2 –
I would check out the possibility of picking up the new unit with the coach and have them place it on the roof with a fork lift.  Tie it down until you get home and can install it.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: New A/C

Reply #3 –
If they sell you the A/C, they may have a guy help you for 5 minutes to place the new unit on the gasket.  That is all it takes once you have removed the old unit and placed the gasket.

Remove the old unit (I take a 4'X4' piece of plywood up on the roof for a "working area" so the metal of the A/C does not scratch the roof).  Have the fork lift lift the new one AND remove the old upper unit-- same trip. Been there, done that.

If not, consider installing the new unit in their lot yourself-- much better than driving with it on the roof.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: New A/C

Reply #4 –
Are you near a rental store that has a man lift? Drive there and I bet for $20 they would take it up and hand it to you w/I having to rent unit
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: New A/C

Reply #5 –
Had a friend chain hoist his roof A/C unit from an overhanging tree and then drove motorhome under it.

Re: New A/C

Reply #6 –
I trust you are aware you will need more than an A/C roof unit if it is a Dometic. If you are using Coleman, I don't know.

You will need the roof unit, the ceiling air distribution unit, a new digital thermostat, a wiring converter kit for the thermostat and you will have to provide 12V electricity to the new digital thermostat. I know this because I just replaced my A/C unit three weeks ago and the rear A/C two years ago. I installed the rear A/C myself and it was so much hassle that I had this one installed by a dealer for $240. It was well worth the labor charge. They were done in three hours and it took me three weeks to accumulate all of the parts for the rear unit due to the age of my original A/C unit.

The best price I found was PPL in Houston at $750 plus $150 shipping but they did not stock a 15,000 btu heat pump and it was going to be 2 weeks, from previous experience with Dometic make that 4 weeks, for delivery so I found a dealer that had one in stock and paid $1,250 full retail for it, $1,500 installed and out the door in three hours.

The hard part with doing it yourself is getting Dometic to talk to you so you can order everything you need. PPL doesn't seem to have the expertise either. Good Luck
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: New A/C

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
I trust you are aware you will need more than an A/C roof unit if it is a Dometic. If you are using Coleman, I don't know.

You will need the roof unit, the ceiling air distribution unit, a new digital thermostat, a wiring converter kit for the thermostat and you will have to provide 12V electricity to the new digital thermostat. I know this because I just replaced my A/C unit three weeks ago and the rear A/C two years ago. I installed the rear A/C myself and it was so much hassle that I had this one installed by a dealer for $240. It was well worth the labor charge. They were done in three hours and it took me three weeks to accumulate all of the parts for the rear unit due to the age of my original A/C unit.

This is accurate if you wish to have the remote thermostat. There is also the option of buying a Dometic with the controls built into the ceiling unit. This eliminates the convenience of the wall-mounted digital thermostat, but it does cost less and results in a simpler system.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: New A/C

Reply #8 –
I would ASSUME that an 89 Would not have the remote thermostat.
Gary B

Re: New A/C

Reply #9 –
Quote from: D.J. Osborn –
This is accurate if you wish to have the remote thermostat. There is also the option of buying a Dometic with the controls built into the ceiling unit. This eliminates the convenience of the wall-mounted digital thermostat, but it does cost less and results in a simpler system.

David, you are quite right. Dometic makes an an air distribution unit with the controls built in. That cuts the cost by about $250. It is also possible that Curtis has a Coleman unit with built in controls. Our 93, U225 had the Coleman but our 93, U300 has the Dometic with remote thermostat.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: New A/C

Reply #10 –
Everyone,

Thank you for the suggestions.  They are all great.  By the way I "had" a Coleman Mack 13,500 and going to a 15,000. I just found out there are some guys going to be cutting trees in the park I am in in a couple days.  I am going to ask them if they want to make a quick 20 bucks with their bucket truck, maybe more. :) 
Curtis
1989 GV