vented/sealed enclosure for A/C unit ? long post

[working on it]

• Reaching another decision point in my nearly one year build of my 4x8 TTT...Where to put the A/C unit? I had always planned on an A/C unit, living in Texas it's a neccessity, but always thought that it would go in the 18.5" deep rear storage/galley area. I had planned that area to house the generator, battery, fuel cans, ice chest... with a cooking/storage area on a shelf above them. The A/C would also sit in an opening in the wall above the shelf (neither it , nor the generator, would be used when the area was being used for cooking) so there would be no exhaust from either into the galley area while it's in use. And I wanted the area's inherent fumes to be totally sealed off from the sleeping area, so I made the bulkhead wall durn near airtight. I'm running the electric cables down under and around the bulkhead for that reason as well.Well, it seems that the rear wall will always leak fumes if the A/C unit breaches it, whether in use or not.
• Here's my dilemma ... I had thought of making a removeable side window that I could replace with a 5k BTU window unit. Using the specs of several different models, and a top-hinged window design of Angib, and the materials of my choice, I arrived at the fact that I couldn't afford to do it, and probably couldn't make it watertight (my lack of skills). Putting a permanently side-mounted unit didn't appeal to me, until I saw the way ilbigredtruck put his in a built-in cabinet (where only 2" protrudes from the side. But, again, two things bothered me here...I'm already cramped for interior headroom, and the idea of putting another large hole in the roof for venting lacks appeal. So then theres the rear wall mount again. NO David! put his in a rear wall that he partially boxed off from other usage.Why not combine both of the last two ideas, and fully box in the A/C where I had originally intended to put it ? If I were to mount it where I originally planned to, sealed the side/top intakes in an airtight box adding a wall vent (like I have for cabin venting), then routed the rear exhaust down and out the opened hatch, the no genny or fuel fumes would ever penetrate the cabin space (a washer drip pan would route the condensation out the same way). Illustrations :
• Anyone forsee any problems with this? (My wife really wants the A/C in the rear wall, and two windows for the sides...I may not have a choice?!?)

[CliffinGA]

One way ypu could do and I've been thinking of doing is I may install mine in the side of the tear with the door/ac opening that you close when traveling and in the winter and then if you need you unlatch and slide the a/c unit thru when you get set up at the campground. I've seen it on a couple of different builds this way, Justin and Katy from Amarillo had theirs this way in the front of the tear and in came out over their heads. Just a thought for ya!

Cliff

[Riptide]

Since I am in Georgia this is something I have been putting a lot of thought into as well.

My original thought was to put it in the back also, but with all the weight (ice chest, two golf cart batteries, charger, inverter, counter top, slide out counter top, and assorted galley stuff) already planned for back there, I didn't want the tongue of the trailer to lift the back of the car off the ground!

My axle is still on the provided spring mount positions on the Northern Tool trailer I am using, so moving the AC to the tongue of the trailer will help the balance and make the back end less crowded and less complex. It will be bolted to a couple of cross pieces with rubber isolation feet to keep down noise and vibration. I am not planning any modification to the AC unit so if I ever need to replace it, It should be a simple swap. My AC is a small LG window unit that I already own and with the cold pushed out the top, it will be simple to fit it to the trailer with dividers to keep the air flow separate and push the intake and outflow higher up the front wall, so it neither blows across our faces nor gets blocked by pillows.

My inflated 2 cents,
Kerry

[linuxmanxxx]

Your biggest concern is making sure the condensation water is dealt with correctly. Make sure it has a way to drain and easy enough to fix if it gets stopped up.

[Dale M.]

Just mount unit on roof.... Or get RV roof top unit....

Dale

[Shadow Catcher]

Or don't mount it permanently.

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=44561&hilit=hacking+a

[Kens]

I mounted mi8ne in the rear wall. Exhaust duct thru the floor and intake duct thru the side wall. Works good

[Todah Tear]

Working On It,

Did you make those lifts or did you purchase them? If you purchased them, where did you get them. I bought some FastCap Jacks on [url]Amazon.com[/url] that are very handy around the garage. They are a form of 3rd hand. I like the fact that they are slim.

FastCap Jacks



Todah

BTW, Here is the way I temporarily mounted the AC on my last build. It can be carried in the tow vehicle until arrival a the campsite. When camping in cooler weather, leave the AC at home and reduce weight.


Exterior View w/o AC installed


Interior View of AC



Exterior View with AC installed


Instructions on building the detachable AC support (Click on the pics in the gallery and enlarge to read.