Re: [VACList] Re: Free standing AC

["Bobby Gill" <Gillguy@xxxxxxx>]

Patti
Back a few years ago I was looking to do the same thing in a '66 AS. I 
looked at every AS I could find, but mostly I was looking for one that 
had a regular house type A/C unit and to get an idea for how to best 
install it as for looks and from a practical easy to do way.  
1.) I saw an A/C unit that was built into one of the benches of the booth 
dinette. The exhaust was vented out the bottom thru an opening like the 
one under the fridge. This looked to be the easiest and one requiring 
less modification. The power to it was feed off the fridge outlet so it 
ran under under the trailer and wasn't visible. The most work appeared to 
be in making a square duct for the exhaust and installing it between the 
belly skin and the floor. I would not have thought of this, but was told 
that he'd done that as to provide protection while towing to the installation 
exposed around the cutout. Made since then, keep it dry.
2) Another was installed on top/above the fridge. It was mounted right on 
top of the fridge, the bottom of it was boxed in which covered the drip pan 
which was made to ensure the condensation was actually draining to someplace 
other than the floor. The exhaust was vented by a duct that was tied into 
the fridge exhaust duct. To help keep the temp down in the fridge 2 fans 
were installed at the bottom of the fridge exhaust to push the hot air out 
the top.
3) The other had like a drawer frame that the A/C sat on in front of the 
window. You had to open the window then slide the A/C unit out thru the 
window. To fill the gaps on the sides of the A/C, styrofoam was sandwiched 
between two pieces of aluminum which was durable but also provided some 
insulation, these were held into place with some screen clips.
4) The last one was installed in a booth type dinette that was on the street 
side. It sat on the floor much like the one described before. The biggest 
difference was that the exhaust was vented out the side. 
I didn't like it because of the hole in the side of the trailer. The others 
seem to be better because they do not really alter the exterior appearance 
and once they are removed the areas are pretty easily restored to the way 
they were before.
Bobby
'73 Ambassador
Valdosta, GA