After many trips without we have decided to have an air conditioner installed. I have an appointment next week up at Backus to have a lighter version of a Dometic air conditioner installed. We have a 16 ft that was manufactured in 1999 or 2000. When I set up the appointment the Tech said they would have to determine if the roof will hold the new unit. My question for the forum is what they do if the roof will not accommodate the unit. Has anyone had this issue before? I have seen small window units put into Scamps, we have decided to try not to go with that option. I appreciate any and all comments and suggestions!
Sat, 07/19/2014 - 07:35
#1
AC install
Mine is a new to me 1999 13 foot standard. It has a window type installed through the side wall that enters the interior via the area under the small clothes closet. on the inside no space is lost and on the out side nothing projects. I have had many different RV units over the years, this is just fine for me. PG
The earlier year Scamps, prior to roof reinforcement, the AC from the factory was mounted in the bottom of the closet as Philip is describing above. Interesting note with Escape Trailers, I've heard they actually have a pre-molded fiberglass reinforcement piece that fits over the roof and is glued in place if you have an older trailer with no roof reinforcement. You can't tell it wasn't a part of the original trailer mold.
I'm not familiar with whether Scamp can retrofit reinforcement or would offer you the closet type setup if the roof can't take the AC. Maybe someone here knows the answer to that one.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
My A/C is under closet as that is what I opted for. I didn't want the A/C on the roof as the trailer will not go into most garage with a roof mounted A/C. Also I would not have the large emergency roof vent which I love and is in addition to a Fantastic fan. These two vents give me lots of fresh air. Having the large emergency vent also gives me the ablility to put my solar panel on the roof when needed. I simply open it up and set the panel out.
As far as the side mounted A/C, I recently took the outside vent off and unriveted the A/C on the inside so I could readjust it. Over the now 14 years I've had my trailer the A/C wasn't sitting quite level. My point here is that I could see how the A/C was installed. Installing one would be real simple. You just need to cut the hole on the outside for the vent and on the inside for the A/C to fit into. Put some kind of block on the wheel well to level it as that's where it sits. Rivet it to the cabinet. Then plug it in. Add a divider/floor to the closet and you are done. Oh, yes there is a drain pan with a tube in the center which needs to go through a hole. My tubing drains the condensation water onto wheel.
Joy A. & Olive
2001 13 Scamp "Puff"
Full-timer
2019 1500 Ram Longhorn
SOI #168
Another Scamper told me they had someone reinforce the roof with kevlar so that they could get a roof-mounted unit. I think he said they pulled back the rat fur and insulation and put the kevlar on the inside.
Realize this is an old thread, but I just spoke with a Service Tech at Scamp this week about my new to me 1999 13ft. axle replacement. I mentioned having them install a Fantastic Fan while I was there, and he said I should go with an Air Conditioner. I explained that I had the closet mounted one, and he said "They don't work, you'll be back for a roof mounted one after you try it a while". I didn't pursue it any further, but he didn't seem concerned about the re-enforcing issue. I guess I'm just assuming they have a way.