KOOL BEANS

Worn Out Manager · Apr 22, 2015

Boy - Am I Cornfused! My Ford Transit 3500 Extended is almost ready to hit the road. Now I am working on getting a roof top AC unit and I know nothing about them, (remember, this is the Newbies Forum). I have read several threads and also received some input already from y'all, but now I want whatever you can throw at me. QUESTIONS:
I assume either 13,500 or 15,000 will do - NON ducted??
Brand experience? Coleman is the only one I know of but there must be others "as good"
When it says cooling and heating - is that just adding a heat strip
Does Top Unit only just mean that you have to also buy what goes inside
BIGGEST question - how do you find someone to install it properly??
I went to camping world to get these questions answered but the "Manager" new even
less than I did and told me $1600 installed

XIGGI, MOOT, RAGMAN & all y'all jump in here and 'splain this to me PLEASE

paullud · Apr 22, 2015

Is there a reason that you don't want to go with the more traditional setup? A simple house AC with a generator.

Worn Out Manager · Apr 22, 2015

paullud said:
Is there a reason that you don't want to go with the more traditional setup? A simple house AC with a generator.

I could say that I think cool air dropping from the roof would be more even and comfortable than air blasting from the rear door forward. But, to be honest, it's a new 2015 Transit and I don't really want to cut a "makeshift" hole in the side/rear of van.

paullud · Apr 22, 2015

Worn Out Manager said:
I could say that I think cool air dropping from the roof would be more even and comfortable than air blasting from the rear door forward. But, to be honest, it's a new 2015 Transit and I don't really want to cut a "makeshift" hole in the side/rear of van.

Just get an AC that will fit in the side window and build a brace for it. I totally understand not wanting to hack up a new vehicle but the rooftop unit is going to require some holes as well.

Worn Out Manager · Apr 23, 2015

Still on the Roof AC. I can get the Coleman Mach3 13,500 roof unit online cheap enough. Have any of you installed your own?? I am mechanically capable, but have never done this. My big concern is how strong the roof is on my High Top Transit. I will have to climb up on a ladder and I am not that small - let's say 250 "between us friends". If you have any experience, thoughts or suggestions, I'm all ears! Yup, 250 lbs of ears.

Ragman · Apr 23, 2015

Worn Out Manager said:
- how do you find someone to install it properly??

Camping World is known to be one of the most expensive place. Go to your local RV dealer for a quote.

LDB · Apr 23, 2015

I had a Coleman low profile rooftop a/c with an Onan 2800 Quiet generator mounted in the spare tire well. I also had a shore power connection that would power the a/c and lights etc. if an outlet was available. I had it installed by Sportsmobile in Austin, TX. as they aren't that far from home. They did good work.

Turtle · Apr 23, 2015

The roof of the Transit should hold at least 450 pounds. The lowest roof rating I've ever seen is the Sprinter at 450. That doesn't mean you should stand on the roof and jump up and down.

It would be kewl if you did that, tho.

xiggi · Apr 23, 2015

WOM I sent you a pm.

Unclebob · Apr 23, 2015

Do not stand or kneel on the roof of a Transit. You will dimple the roof panels. Either build a scaffold over the roof or support the roof from the inside (questionable).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Worn Out Manager · Apr 23, 2015

Unclebob said:
Do not stand or kneel on the roof of a Transit. You will dimple the roof panels. Either build a scaffold over the roof or support the roof from the inside (questionable).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I was thinking a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood with a square cut out in the middle to support me more evenly???

Worn Out Manager · Apr 23, 2015

xiggi said:
WOM I sent you a pm.

Don't know what you just said?

Worn Out Manager · Apr 23, 2015

Worn Out Manager said:
Don't know what you just said?

Scratch that - Just found out - Thanks

kg · Apr 23, 2015

Worn Out Manager said:
Still on the Roof AC. I can get the Coleman Mach3 13,500 roof unit online cheap enough. Have any of you installed your own?? I am mechanically capable, but have never done this. My big concern is how strong the roof is on my High Top Transit. I will have to climb up on a ladder and I am not that small - let's say 250 "between us friends". If you have any experience, thoughts or suggestions, I'm all ears! Yup, 250 lbs of ears.

Why such a large btu air conditioner? You may be able to make snow! Seriously, with adequate insulation in the van that is a lot for a cargo van.

Stay safe
KG

xiggi · Apr 24, 2015

That's not overkill at all for today's bigger vans well insulated. You sit in laredo in august for a few days, you might say hmmm maybe I should have got a 15000.