aftermarket airconditioner for 2014 T@B?

annphillips6

Hi All,

we are beginning to regret not ordering the AC for M@VIS.... is there a rooftop version that would work?  I saw some by Dometic in the Good Sam catalogue.  Any other suggestions?  Many thanks!

RollingLagrima

I have nothing to add to this discussion (as I am a cousin SS owner that came with AC). I just wanted to say I love the name you picked for your T@B. Hopefully, somebody will come along with an answer for you...

TABaker

I know the roof of the Dutchmen T@B will not support an AC unit.  Some have used a stand alone, as well as a window unit, both of which require some modification.  Have you called the factory to see what they recommend?

XPADREX

I would have to look at your interior, but the way they have the a/c mounted in my S is simplicity. It's essentially a boxed in framing unit on the driver's side ceiling. The a/c is a small window mount unit like you would use at home. The rear is vented to the outside, and there is an internal drip route that exits out of a vent to the side. A 110 volt outlet is wired to the outside of the box (interior of t@b) so the 110 plug from the a/c just plugs in.
I am o/k with the lost interior room to avoid one more roof hole.

Where are you located? This could be done by a co petent shop, or I'm certtain the fine folks at P,easant Valley may be able to retrofit it for you.

Sadly, I'll reckon it may cost more now, as the ease of rigging it on the line is lost.

You could mount a roof a/c unit. Bulid a platform that curves on the bottom to mirror the tab, and allows a flat base for an ac unit. Roof mounts essentially sandwich q control panel and vent (inside) and the ac unit up top with a gasket between the ac on top and the roof. This occassionally fails, so replacement over time is a good idea.

As for whether it would be recommended... well, that is where your own research may take you. Good luck in your quest!

jkjenn

What about one of those free standing portable units? Something like this?

Verna

Ann, I recommend that you talk to your dealer about an aftermarket A/C unit. The roof-top A/C units I'm aware of are too heavy for the T@B's roof. If it were me, I'd consider putting the A/C unit about where the original one would be.

Michigan_Mike

Excellent point Verna as it brought to mind the T@B unit that DID have a rooftop A/C unit mounted atop the trailer and everyone noted the obvious sagging going on in the roof.   here is a shot I took last year at the 2013 Rolling Home Rally at Atwood Lake in Ohio and you can see what I am referring to.   Not a good thing to do as it is too heavy for the trailer....

XPADREX

Look at those bench slats... you sure this wasn't just parked in a gravitational well?

Justjudy

My husband and I just took delivery of our new T@B S with A/C on Monday. It was pouring rain. After driving a few miles, we stopped just to do a little check - and discovered that about 2 cups of water had poured out from under the A/C onto the seat. Fortunately I had stowed our new cover in its bag right underneath and most of the water was contained in the bag. Now, though, I am worried that there is something amiss. Is wind blown rain supposed to be caught in the condensate system and escorted out in the same way? There is nothing stopping it from getting through the vent. Do we maybe have a plug pugged line? Running this by you experts, since the service department is not returning our calls.

Michigan_Mike

You need to speak to your dealer/distributor and get this problem checked out as this doesn't sound normal.   They can make things right and you could also touch base with the T@B factory rep, Ed Kauffman as Ed will be able to help resolve this issue to your complete satisfaction.  

Pleasant Valley Teardrop Trailers

Manufacturing Facility

754 Edelweiss Drive

Sugarcreek, OH 44681

330.852.4811 (office)

Ed Kauffman, Warranty Administrator

ed@tab-rv.com

Justjudy

Thanks. I'm just going to keep calling until they make it right.

TABaker

Many Dutchmen T@B owners have covered the outside of the CoolCat with plexiglass because we were getting rain blown inside.  I realize your AC unit is at the roof since you have a bathroom model, and it's not the CoolCat.  However, the same thing could be happening, especially with passing semi trucks and wind.

Justjudy

We think the kid who washed it before we picked it up from the dealer getting a little carried away with the hose. We haven't been out of the driveway, but since we're in Oregon, we've had rain and wind and haven't had any water issues. That's good information, though, and we will keep an eye on it.

annphillips6

Hi All, resurrecting this thread in anticipation of the camping season.  We don't need A/C most of the places we go, but have been talking about the Grand Canyon. Would definitely need it there!  We don't want to permanently install an A/C unit, so are considering a portable unit like the one jkjenn suggested. Does anyone have experience with a portable A/C in their T@B?  Many thanks!

TABaker

Like I mentioned in my comment above, I've seen them used in T@Bs.  Actually, before purchasing ours we were headed to PA to look at one that used a stand alone.  They had it vented through the wall.  I had photos on my computer for a long time, but think I've deleted them.   I know I posted photos on the Yahoo forum, under modifications.

sboesenberg

We tried our portable tall skinny a/c unit, venting the hose up through the roof when our a/c quit working.  It did not cool our unit down.  We were in Tennessee in July.  We also have trouble with rain soaking the carpet under the "couch" when we drive in rain.  We completely covered the bottom of the camper with rubberized mat spray-flex steel and that did not fix it.  So we figured it must be the a/c vent.  Haven't found an easy way to cover it during highway travel yet.  Seems like it would be easiest to slide something in from the inside (under the cabinet top).  We haven't tried it yet, since our a/c unit is out trying to get repaired.

JandJ92010

annphillips6 said:

Hi All, resurrecting this thread in anticipation of the camping season.  We don't need A/C most of the places we go, but have been talking about the Grand Canyon. Would definitely need it there!  We don't want to permanently install an A/C unit, so are considering a portable unit like the one jkjenn suggested. Does anyone have experience with a portable A/C in their T@B?  Many thanks!

Please keep in mind, as I have discussed in a previous thread, that when portable A/C units are running and venting the hot air outside, the air that is being expelled has to be "made up", and that the make up air has to come in from the outside. Not very efficient.

blueystar

works good for me makes more cold air than it lets in

Ratkity

lunafemme said:

I also ordered my t@b without air; I live in Seattle and seldom need it.  I am going to get solar powered air this summer though for the times I do need it.  

Gonna take a lot of solar panels to power an AC unit

sboesenberg

We are having trouble finding a compressor to fix our Duo-Therm Cool Cat heat pump a/c unit.  We tried our tall standing a/c unit, and a window unit but it did not cool it off enough.  May have to purchase a whole new unit.  I am having trouble finding one of those on the internet.

Ratkity

sboesenberg said:

We are having trouble finding a compressor to fix our Duo-Therm Cool Cat heat pump a/c unit.  We tried our tall standing a/c unit, and a window unit but it did not cool it off enough.  May have to purchase a whole new unit.  I am having trouble finding one of those on the internet.

If you call Little Guy, I'm sure they can help you get a new compressor or tell you who sells them! They are super nice folks there.

TABaker

sboesenberg said:

We tried our portable tall skinny a/c unit, venting the hose up through the roof when our a/c quit working.  It did not cool our unit down.  We were in Tennessee in July.  We also have trouble with rain soaking the carpet under the "couch" when we drive in rain.  We completely covered the bottom of the camper with rubberized mat spray-flex steel and that did not fix it.  So we figured it must be the a/c vent.  Haven't found an easy way to cover it during highway travel yet.  Seems like it would be easiest to slide something in from the inside (under the cabinet top).  We haven't tried it yet, since our a/c unit is out trying to get repaired.

Many of us Dutchmen owners have made a plexiglass cover to fit over the exterior of the Cool Cat vent.  When driving in hard rain, or the passing of semi trucks, water would occasionally splash inside.  The cover prevents that.

Ratkity

As TaBaker said, there are solutions to the AC vent issue while driving. Never underestimate the ingenuity of a tiny trailer owner! You'll find so many cool mods here and if it's not here, there's probably a link to another tiny trailer owner's blog/site/forum that has the info.