Cab AC

Topic: Cab AC (Read 1726 times) previous topic - next topic

Cab AC

April 26, 2019, 11:14:38 am

Good morning,
I'm in the process of purchasing a foretravel and actually drove my first one yesterday.
I noticed that the front Dash AC wasn't cooling enough on its own .
Is it standard practice to be driving down the road with the generator on to run the rooftop A/C's

Re: Cab AC

Reply #1 – April 26, 2019, 04:56:13 pm

In the summer heat you will have to run roof air going down the road..it's nice if dash air works too but many don't and get by. In extremely hot weather you may set a fan in the floor behind traveling chairs. I wouldn't cancel a trip over dash air not blowing but I am happier when everything works as it should but the best of dash air isn't meant to cool a coach.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #2 – April 26, 2019, 05:09:47 pm

Those big windows require a LOT of AC so turn on the roof AC and the generator.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #3 – April 26, 2019, 05:18:54 pm

Notorious for Foretravels, but mine has worked since 19 and 94.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #4 – April 26, 2019, 05:21:30 pm

Window tint will help with the heat inside, and I believe they now make a clear that can be used on the windshields to cut down on heat and UV.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #5 – April 26, 2019, 05:49:19 pm

Drove my 280 from one end of the gulf coast to another with just roof airs and a fan and stayed plenty cool in July.. I aim to keep dash air working on the 270 just because it frets me when something doesn't work.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #6 – April 26, 2019, 05:51:18 pm

Quote from: Lt403 – April 26, 2019, 11:14:38 am

Is it standard practice to be driving down the road with the generator on to run the rooftop A/C's

It is in our coach.

That way, when we get to the RV park at the end of the driving day (4:00PM in our case), the whole coach is nice and cool and ready for a relaxing evening. Others may do it different, but we get along fine without a functional dash A/C.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #7 – April 26, 2019, 06:14:46 pm

The previous owners told us our dash air has never worked, in spite of several coach bucks being spent on it over the years. We have a residential refrigerator, so the generator is generally on when we're traveling. On those rare occasions when it is neither too hot nor too cool we can use the inverter for the refrigerator. I think that has happened once or twice. Usually I start the Detroit and make sure that it is running properly, then start the generator. Since I can't hear the Detroit when the generator is running I want to hear it as well as see the gauges before adding a louder (closer) engine noise.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #8 – April 26, 2019, 06:43:04 pm

Dash air is a weakness on almost every motorhome I've experienced. You have a big sunny window in front of you and a big box of hot air behind you. I think infrequent use contributes to seal failures.

We just had a new compressor installed, but it's just hanging there on the bracket waiting for new lines to be fabricated and hooked up.

Our expectation is that, in central Texas, we can run the dash a/c during the spring and fall and add the roof a/c's during the summer.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #9 – April 26, 2019, 08:10:19 pm

I think most dash air conditioners are designed to cool roughly the same volume as is in a typical car or perhaps van. Therefore they probably can't be expected to properly cool a motorhome except in moderate weather. We use our dash air when it's sufficient and add the roof air when needed.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #10 – April 26, 2019, 09:06:25 pm

I have a 2002 U270 36' single slide I replaced the AC compressor the expansion valve and the condenser electric cooling fan (spal) this is a very high dollar fan check nascar used parts I have never had an issue where we need to run the roof top AC units even driving in Arizona . My personal thought is most shops Add entirely too much oil to the system I consistently see temperatures in the low 40s high 30s from the evaporator coil with fan on high and 95* outside temperature I personally think foretravel designed the AC system on this particular motorhome quite well .

Re: Cab AC

Reply #11 – April 26, 2019, 09:23:29 pm

The dash air on my coach is 22,000 btu 8,500 more btu than my roof air and closer to the passenger compartment.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #12 – April 26, 2019, 09:33:21 pm

2002 U270 , 28.000 btu Automotive air conditioner

Re: Cab AC

Reply #13 – April 26, 2019, 09:49:15 pm

Quote from: opelgt327 – April 26, 2019, 09:33:21 pm

2002 U270 , 28.000 btu Automotive air conditioner

Wonder where they picked up the additional 6,000 from my '99?

Re: Cab AC

Reply #14 – April 26, 2019, 10:10:00 pm

Quote from: craneman – April 26, 2019, 09:49:15 pm

Wonder where they picked up the additional 6,000 from my '99?

Looks like 2001.
http://beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/models/2001-u270-foretravel-specifications.pdf

Re: Cab AC

Reply #15 – April 26, 2019, 10:25:59 pm

The airflow for the dash AC is poor. The ducting from the air handler is undersized and restrictive. The dash AC can make lots of cold when working correctly, but at least in my '98 it really could use better ducting.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #16 – April 26, 2019, 10:30:42 pm

OPELGT327
Can you elaborate on what you did in layman's terms?
Where did you get the parts and do you have part numbers?
Thanks

Re: Cab AC

Reply #17 – April 27, 2019, 09:13:29 am

Quote from: Lt403 – April 26, 2019, 10:30:42 pm

OPELGT327
Can you elaborate on what you did in layman's terms?

He didn't DO anything. 28,000 is the standard 2002 dash A/C BTU rating. See link below (scroll down to Heating/Cooling/Electrical):

2002 Foretravel U270 Specifications

Re: Cab AC

Reply #18 – April 27, 2019, 09:36:19 am

2001 is when the Unicoaches dash style changed from the electroluminescent black aluminum gauge panels with the padded vinyl upholstered hood, to the molded plastic design. The new style apparently gave more room for the HVAC assembly along with different cup holders and some storage. I still like the older style better, but the higher btu rating of the 01's and above might make me learn to love it...
Don

Re: Cab AC

Reply #19 – April 27, 2019, 10:24:21 am

As I stated earlier all the components on the factory system 2002 are good components they just need to be properly filled with the right charge with the correct oil you might wanna check your condensing fan because most people will replace the fan with an inferior model all in all the system should work very well. If I was ever going to try to improve on the system I would replace the rear condenser with New style condenser As technology and materials have developed a new condensers that are highly efficient

Re: Cab AC

Reply #20 – April 28, 2019, 10:48:12 am

The FT a/c in my opinion is a money pit. MOT, Bern'd, Byer's in Jacksonville,IL and FT have all worked on the system. Each replacing different components. Compressor, expansion valve, condenser, and non of them was able to fix the a/c. I only know Krush to have been able to fix the a/c. I have had trucks that the a/c worked for the life of the vehicle. Not Foretravel.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #21 – April 28, 2019, 11:08:09 am

Quote from: John/Pat – April 28, 2019, 10:48:12 am

The FT a/c in my opinion is a money pit. MOT, Bern'd, Byer's in Jacksonville,IL and FT have all worked on the system. Each replacing different components. Compressor, expansion valve, condenser, and non of them was able to fix the a/c. I only know Krush to have been able to fix the a/c. I have had trucks that the a/c worked for the life of the vehicle. Not Foretravel.

I'll admit they are harder to service because of the long hose runs compared to a truck, but they came from the factory working and without personal experience on your coach can't say what your problem is. My '99 works great after changing compressor, expansion valve and condenser fan. And I was able to get my Monaco going after PO said they couldn't get it to work.

Re: Cab AC

Reply #22 – April 28, 2019, 11:30:59 am

Quote from: John/Pat – April 28, 2019, 10:48:12 am

The FT a/c in my opinion is a money pit. MOT, Bern'd, Byer's in Jacksonville,IL and FT have all worked on the system. Each replacing different components. Compressor, expansion valve, condenser, and non of them was able to fix the a/c. I only know Krush to have been able to fix the a/c. I have had trucks that the a/c worked for the life of the vehicle. Not Foretravel.

Then you need to find someone who really understands automotive air conditionong. The dash air on our 1995 U320 performs acceptably well. It doesn't do an outstanding job because the air flow volume could be much better, but it does hold a charge and does blow nice cold air. It is not a "money pit."

Re: Cab AC

Reply #23 – April 28, 2019, 11:32:25 am

You just need an AC guy that is an AC guy... They have no moving parts other than the compressor... whats the problem? Get a guy that knows what he is doing and one step at a time to fix it.

https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4090 Willy White Did mine Steve helped me out and spent almost all day with me .. explaining how they work and how simple a system...Awesome Character !! Maybe Pm him, Hes always willing to help

Re: Cab AC

Reply #24 – April 28, 2019, 11:55:55 am

....dash air can be fixed, depending on who fixes it.....I chose to defer it, 2 years later made it part of my nearly $10,000 bill at MOT but within a day or so of them "fixing" it, it died again...(on my way back to Florida)....got back to FL & had Paul Yasbeck do it right, he does everything right the 1st time, it's icy cold still.

Yasbeck Construction, Inc. - Home .....best FT tech in the state, possibly in the country....

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