Adding A/C...

[poppatello]

We have a 96 Starcraft pop-up we bought a few years ago from the original owners and it's in great shape. Only issue is I can't take much of the heat above 72 so I don't get to do camping much. Wife has decided to sell her pop up to look for another one with A/C. I am disappointed to have her do this but she wants me to go camping more with the family.

I've gone to two RV centers and both have told me that it could be done but I would need to check with the manufacturer to make sure it could be done and I may need to add supports across the roof. Now I don't understand this. shouldn't they know from selling pop ups if the roof will hold the weight? I also have never seen roof supports on unit with A/C. I am sure the factory doesn't make units with A/C differently then standard units. Or do they?

I would much rather have A/C installed on this unit but seems like the two places I went to didn't really want to do it. I mean @ first they were like no it can't be done then when I questioned it and pushed it a bit they give me the other answer above. I have placed a few calls into Starcraft with no return calls from Technical.

Any help here please or do I just need to look for another unit with A/C???

[poppatello]

Man, 40 lookers and no one has added A/C???

[JadedDancer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppatello We have a 96 Starcraft pop-up we bought a few years ago from the original owners and it's in great shape. Only issue is I can't take much of the heat above 72 so I don't get to do camping much. Wife has decided to sell her pop up to look for another one with A/C. I am disappointed to have her do this but she wants me to go camping more with the family. I've gone to two RV centers and both have told me that it could be done but I would need to check with the manufacturer to make sure it could be done and I may need to add supports across the roof. Now I don't understand this. shouldn't they know from selling pop ups if the roof will hold the weight? I also have never seen roof supports on unit with A/C. I am sure the factory doesn't make units with A/C differently then standard units. Or do they? I would much rather have A/C installed on this unit but seems like the two places I went to didn't really want to do it. I mean @ first they were like no it can't be done then when I questioned it and pushed it a bit they give me the other answer above. I have placed a few calls into Starcraft with no return calls from Technical. Any help here please or do I just need to look for another unit with A/C???

Me and my ex had a really nice PUP, but no AC and we installed one our own way. He was extremely crafty and he was able to go under the dinette and install a window unit and he did a darn good job. If you know someone handy you don't even need to fool with a roof top unit. A 5000 BTU window unit will make that thing very cool in the hottest of temps. He cut a hole under the bench, mounted the unit and it looked very nice.

If you are interested in any details, let me know. I will call him and ask him exactly how he did it.

[TXiceman]

On an older pop up, if it was not designed for a roof top A/C, your best bet will be to install a "window unit" in the end. You may need to rig a swing spare tire rack.

ken

[JadedDancer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman On an older pop up, if it was not designed for a roof top A/C, your best bet will be to install a "window unit" in the end. You may need to rig a swing spare tire rack. ken

Yep, hat is exactly what my ex did. I am very picky about how my camper looked and I have to say he did a quality job. He finished it off nicely and you didn't really even notice it was there except for the cool air inside!

Ours wasn't very old, but we were not prepared to pay over a grand to have a rooftop installed on it. We got a window unit for a hundred bucks or so and he did all the work. Couldn't beat it.

[poppatello]

Well that would work but I'm just not that handy in that way...

[JadedDancer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppatello Well that would work but I'm just not that handy in that way...

Do you have any handy friends? If so, you can probably pay someone to do it for you and even with the cost of a new 5000 BTU window unit you'll still be in the black....

[Shadowcatche]

I added AC to our teardrop trailer, and the advantage to the way I did it is that there is NO load bearing on the roof and it is a LOT less expensive than an RV AC. The write up is On the T&TTT forum Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • View topic - AC Hacking a Figidaire 5000 BTU

[sharonandi]

Pop, double check and call Starcraft or Jayco (Jayco owns Starcraft) to see if that roof can handle a unit. My 1994 Jayco Eagle 10 was already designed for one so I would think a 96 would be.. however,.. check to make sure. If it is, its really not that hard to install. basicly, in a nutshell, the roof vent comes off the roof and exposes a 14' by 14' square. The upper unit sits above and the lower unit bolts to it from the inside sandwitching a gasket down to the camper making a seal. The wiring will come down and plug into a 20amp plug if its equipped in your camper. If not you will need to either convert your power box up to a 30amp plug, or run the A/C cable all the way out to the post. Good luck!!