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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 14, 2012 15:01:13 GMT -5
We just bought our 63' Shasta a couple of months ago and have not had time to camp out in it yet plus it is over 100 degrees and we needed air conditioning. This is what I came up with! Let me know what you guys think? I was going to put it in the closet and try to vent the exhaust through the floor but found the closet was too small to fit the portable air conditioner in it with the exhaust tube on the back. Plus I did not want to blow hot air on the door side where we would be hanging out around tables, etc.. I looked under the kitchen sink and did some measuring. I fit the LG 7000 BTU (200 sq ft) portable a/c perfectly under the sink. I used the exhaust hose that came with the unit and cut a small oval type hole in the street side of the camper. We put a new plug under the sink for the unit and placed it upside down just in case water happens to get in that area. I will add a couple more pics below so you can see. I am going to re-route the sink drain just to the side of the new a/c exhaust. Thanks so much! Attachments:
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offspringin
1K Post Member
Never question the engineer's judgement!
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Post by offspringin on Aug 14, 2012 15:50:21 GMT -5
I like it. Will you be hiding it behind wood or staying visible. My only notes are make sure your vents outside are screened, also may want to consider a way to cap them off for the winter? The plug under the sink, did you use GFCI or standard? I would recommend that unless the breaker its on is GFCI. So when is the first camping trip? Over 100 degrees... you must be in GA  |
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 14, 2012 16:12:14 GMT -5
I think I am going to buy a nice wood vent that matches the existing wood and install it on the door under the sink so you can close the door and still get air flow. I am also probably going to put a wood vent on the little door at the floor, left of the sink for the intake air. Once I find a vent cover that is around that size I will probably put screen in it to keep the bugs out but as far as capping it off for the winter, I do not think it would be necessary since the exhaust tube goes into the a/c unit. I do not think you would loose much heat or let much cool air in that way. Especially since it is under the sink. The electric hook up on the outside of the trailer was already under the sink so I just put my plug upside down in case water came down it would just go around the plastic box and off to the floor. I really do not see it being a problem either. I doubt I'm going to have a sink explosion. If it happens it happens.  lol! Hopefully the first camping trip is on Labor Day weekend! I still have to re-route the sink drain and put the custom wings on I had made through Tyler on this site under wings. He did a fantastic job! I'm actually in Texas!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2012 8:10:59 GMT -5
Just a thought, I think that I would definitely cap off the vent for the winter, and maybe even when the camper isn't camping. The vent goes into the A/C unit, and I sure would not want any critters taking up residence in the vent tube, or chewing up anything internal. I hate mice...
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shastaman
100 Post Member
Navy Veteran
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Post by shastaman on Aug 15, 2012 8:45:14 GMT -5
Can't wait to see the finished product.
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boandsusan
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Christmas parade 2012
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Post by boandsusan on Aug 18, 2012 0:45:02 GMT -5
Looks great! COOL idea lol. Enjoy.
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znorm
100 Post Member
Go camping before the big one gets away!
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Post by znorm on Aug 18, 2012 1:05:46 GMT -5
I have seen where they have installed a small window A/C in one of the storage doors under the bed and create a vent opening at the foot of the bed to cool the trailer. When they weren't using it they would push it back under the bed and lock the storage door. Its keeps you from having to cut any holes on the outside. I thought that was a great idea.
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Aug 19, 2012 8:53:39 GMT -5
Looks like the route we are going to take.  I have been window shopping for them and keeping my eye on the price. If you have a good looking approach there. Thanks for sharing |
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Post by lopo on Aug 19, 2012 9:11:15 GMT -5
Those of you who are using this method of air conditioning, please report on how effectively it cools. Tech support for this a/c told me that it isn't designed to work in such a small area. (I wanted to put it in the little closet of my Compact.) I suspect now that this is company policy to cover their fannies, and I wish now that I had tried it.
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 21, 2012 13:24:29 GMT -5
In response to Sarahbella - I originally wanted to put the a/c in the baggage compartment with a rack it could slide out on to exhaust it but the baggage compartment door is only 8 1/2 inches tall. Try finding a window unit to fit that. It is impossible from what I could find out.
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 21, 2012 13:27:37 GMT -5
In response to lopo - The LG 7000BTU Portable a/c is designed to cool 250 square feet of space. The trailer might have 100 to 150 square feet. I haven't used it to it's full potential yet but it did cool it down yesterday from 89 to 81 in a matter of 10 minutes. I will let you know more after the first camping trip Sept. 1st!
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 21, 2012 13:29:28 GMT -5
Here is the vent cover I found for the outside at West Marine. It is for boats but I think it looks pretty custom! Attachments:
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 21, 2012 13:30:54 GMT -5
Here is another shot of the vent and also got one of the new wings on! It looks so much better than having a big a/c box hanging out of one of the windows! Attachments:
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 21, 2012 13:31:50 GMT -5
Another angle on the vent and new wing! Attachments:
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 21, 2012 13:35:52 GMT -5
Wing #2 added! It was starting to get dark outside so we had to quit.  Attachments:
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Post by skipandwendy on Aug 22, 2012 6:37:25 GMT -5
Have fun on the camping trip and get pics of it setup Did you build a door yet for the a/c? |
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 22, 2012 17:23:26 GMT -5
Hey skipandwendy! I am using the existing door that was below the sink and found some nice wood vents that I will put in the door so the a/c can blow out with the door closed. I am also putting a wood vent on the small door at the floor just left of the sink for the air intake. It will be another four days before I can work on it again. I will put up pics of the finished product as soon as possible.
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 22, 2012 17:24:45 GMT -5
Also check out the other pics and info on this under the title:
The best a/c yet! Part 2
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Post by pattyd on Aug 26, 2012 22:14:12 GMT -5
We're sharing the same wavelength on a/c placement!
The refrigerator in my Scotty was a pile of rust, so I took it out and put a portable a/c in its spot. Fortunately, the spot was already vented for the refrigerator, so I didn't have to cut a new vent hole. And, there was already a little hole for a drainage hose, so that worked out well, too :-)
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 30, 2012 15:51:48 GMT -5
Here is a pic of the finished plumbing re-routed around the a/c vent!  Attachments:
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 30, 2012 15:55:03 GMT -5
The a/c unit is installed and this pic shows the door under the sink back on with a wood vent that I put in that blows cold air to the front and back of the trailer. It is awesome!!!  Attachments:
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 30, 2012 16:00:55 GMT -5
I put another wood vent for air flow on the side of the sink where the front benches are also so I could reach in there to connect the a/c vent hose to the back of the a/c unit. It made it much easier! Attachments:
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Post by shastamcnasty on Aug 30, 2012 16:03:56 GMT -5
The finished product! See you cannot even tell I cut a hole in the side for the a/c exhaust! So much better than redneck a/c, window unit hanging out the back, side or a giant a/c unit riding on top! IT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D Attachments:
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Post by skipandwendy on Sept 20, 2012 6:44:19 GMT -5
NICE!!!
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Post by lopo on Sept 20, 2012 20:09:49 GMT -5
Shastamcnasty, did your a/c cool well all during your Labor Day weekend? I'm so upset that I listened to their tech support who told me that it was not designed to be enclosed like that! Mine is still sitting here and my Shasta's gone, but I'm hoping to put it in the closet of my Frolic.
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Post by shastamcnasty on Oct 19, 2012 16:42:09 GMT -5
I know everyone is wondering how the A/C worked over the Labor Day camping trip. I have to say that it worked pretty well considering it was around 100 degrees all day and in the 90's at night. During the day it did it's best to cool it down to around 80 degrees inside the trailer or that is at least what the read out said on the unit but it felt much cooler. After being outside sweating I could come inside and cool down within 5 minutes and it felt great. At night it cooled down inside to the low 70's and I actually got a chill a couple of times through out the night. It did run on high for the entire 3 day trip. All in all I think it did the trick considering we were "roughing" it. It is kind of like trying to cool down a card board box. We also had a box fan blowing inside to circulate the air. Please let me know if you have any other questions. A higher BTU would work better but my space was so small this one was the only choice. |
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Post by shastamcnasty on Oct 19, 2012 16:45:52 GMT -5
Hello Lopo! As long as you have enough air flow for the intake the portable unit will work fine. No window units or portable were designed to be put in an old trailer anyway. Give it a try it works fine! |
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Post by lopo on Oct 25, 2012 14:26:56 GMT -5
Thanks, shastamcnasty. I'm going to use mine in my 64 Frolic! |
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lol! 
I have been window shopping for them and keeping my eye on the price.
