tabby
Posts:4
 | | 21 Feb 2010 6:54 p.m. |
 Alert | Hi
We are newchums to Caravaning and there are so many questions we have. First one is Air conditioners, what is better for a 16' pop-top,a roof type or the standard on the side wall or cupboard type. What is quieter to run, any help on this subject will be most appreciated.
Regards Newchums | | | |
| ozjohn0
Posts:154
| | 02 Mar 2010 4:20 p.m. |
Alert | Both types available to suite the Pop Top are pretty ordinary to say the least. The advantage with a Pop Top is it's low height that allows easier access and clearance under tree branches on forest tracks and National parks along with access under carports etc. Placing an air Conditioner on the rood negates this lower height. The Rood Top also adds extra weight to the roof (A bit over 40kg)That you'll have to lift up and they need to be placed at one end for good airflow through the van.
If you have a front door and rear bed then it will need to be at the back of the van which will lighten the vans Ball Weight and add extra weight to the rear of van which may cause a swaying problem if you can't maintain a proper Ball Weight.
The Split System unfortunately doesn't work any better and can be a bit noisier inside than the roof top. The usual split system for a 16' Pop Top is the Herron 2.2. If you're considering going up to the next size the Herron 3.0 I would recommend paying a little more for the Herron 3Q model.
IT has a bigger and more modern compressor but still suffers from the inclusion of the old style condenser and fan used by the smaller models.
Don't expect the RV air conditioners to be anywhere as good as Domestic units that you have at home. They're not. Some will only lower the vans temp by around 10 or 12 degrees. But on a hot day it's better than nothing.
Cheers. ozjohn. | | | |
| hexrunt
Posts:18
| | 18 Mar 2010 12:23 p.m. |
Alert | I second what Ozjohn says about the clearance and weight on the roof. For this reason, I wouldn't put an AC on the roof (which is heavy enough as it is, to lift).
You'll find that you can help your AC to cope by putting shade cloth on the off side as well as having the awning protecting the on side. The vinyl skirt section of the popped top gets very hot in hot weather so anything you can do to put some shade on that part will help. We have had a separate track installed (connected to the roof) so that we can slide shade cloth onto the offside. The repair centre initially installed the track on the section below the vinyl skirt. That is useless as it is the skirt that gets really hot. Insist on it being right on the top (above the skirt).
Cheers,
hexrunt | | | |
| spandau
Posts:16
| | 19 Mar 2010 2:43 p.m. |
Alert | | Tabbs, i would get one those fans that you put the frozen bottles in, thats if you have a good fridge/freezer, i think i saw them in Bunnigs harware for around $40. | | | |
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