12V split AC unit mounted on rear 320 rack?

YanniLazarus

I dream of this, either as a wildly ambitious mod, or as the next generation of NuCamp innovation. 

The industry is moving toward being able to 12V power air-conditioning, and NuCamp can adapt that technology to their trailers. 

Problem 1: the AC is too noisy- I'd rather swelter!

The split unit allows you to put the most noise outside...

Problem 2: they are either space hogs inside or ugly bumps on the roof top!

The split unit could be mounted on a boondock- like rear rack, that would actually give a here-to-fore silly decorative item a reason for being. I'm sure that NuCamp could reinforce the rack- area roof framing to carry the relatively small load of a spare tire and a 12V AC unit if necessary. This could actually look good! 

Problem 3: heat 

... could possibly be a heat pump unit. As battery bank/ solar panel sizes increase the days of propane heat are numbered. 

Wanna build a full size mockup? I'll volunteer my 320.  Setting gps for Ohio now.

Maxcamp

Agree on the noise issue on the Elwell Air8 AC unit!
It would be great to have a ductless split Heat Pump for both heating and cooling and ditch all the persnickety gear under the bed.  Then build in some drawers on full extension slides, for storage.

Good time to consider, as with the 2025 federal mandate to change to R454B refrigerant there are likely to be good deals on the current units.  When we phased out R22 I kitted out my whole house and shop with old style units.

Installing and maintaining these is not a typical homeowner project, due to the need to evacuate, purge, and charge the lines with the correct weight of refrigerant.  And pump down and repeat the process for heavy maintenance in the future.  Expensive gear and lot of know-how and regulation.

Looked hard at an affordable ductless trucker's style 650MBTU 12v/24v mini-split as well and decided against it:   

1. The through-bolts to the light tubing rack on the rear of the camper are not going to hold much weight/vibration for the external condenser unit.

2. Problem is where to put the indoor unit, overhead or over stove is a head knocker.  A cassette type ceiling unit would have to be inset into roof... which becomes a basic RV rooftop unitized unit.

I carefully measured the over-bed storage cabs and determined removing one door would just fit one indoor unit, with it sticking out a few inches.  However that will blow right on you and probably be intolerable.
Or remove and rebuild the cabinet entirely.

There are one or two brands of ducted split AC, where the blower (air handler...) could be situated where the Air8 is.  You'd have fan noise but far less compressor noise.  Prices were sky high, so rejected that idea.

It would be helpful to find out the actual output temp of a given brand unit at STP as this informs the consideration of where it might be tolerable to site it.