My Easily Removeable Window Air Conditioner

[Benny K]

Has anyone tried to simply put a 5000 BTU LG or similar unit on a collapsible stand outside, behind the trailer and just duct in the cold air thru about a 6" flex duct into a round hole under the dinette area? ....possibly leaving a vent window open a bit so air circulates....thus a smaller hole with a cover could work....I would think that some of these new units, being priced under a $100 and possibly being fairly light would be worth a try.....the only nuissance would adjusting the temp..... ...Benny

[Donna D.]

Has anyone tried to simply put a 5000 BTU LG or similar unit on a collapsible stand outside,

See CD Smith's and Tom Trostel's posts in this link: Front (or rear) window AC?, it will lead to pics and further discussion.

[Bonnie]

Thanks, Donna. That helped me too.

Bonnie

[Frederick L. Simson]

Update:

This summer (July 2009) we will be traveling across the mid-west after attending the Oregon Gathering. After spending time with Robert's brother and sister-in-law in Portland, we will go from there to Denver, and then across Kansas to St. Louis, MO.

Much of this leg of the trip will be to make time; we leave Portland Monday morning, July 20 and hope to arrive in St. Louis by Friday afternoon, July 25. If we average 450 miles per day, we will make it on schedule. But the thought of the time and effort involved in removing the AC each morning and re-installing it each evening just so we can get a comfortable night's sleep tires me out even now. I want to be able to leave the Air Conditioner in the window and leave the Bed configured as a bed.

After some study of my design, I just drilled one hole in the top of each piece of angle-aluminum and a corresponding hole in the inside lip of the window frame. Then I tapped (Threaded) the holes for the screws I used to fasten the angle mounts to the window frame. A couple of strips of Duct tape to seal window gaps temporarily finish the job.

The rock guard does not close completely over the Air Conditioner, so I have removed it and saved the parts. The Air Conditioner sits too low on the window frame to fit within the bulge of the unique Fiber Stream rock guard. I tested it this past weekend on my trip home from Palm Springs to San Diego, and it rides in the window just fine. I may have to consider rain while driving during the July trip and possibly caulk the edges around the unit, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

For now, I just wanted to allow the unit to stay in the window while traveling but still keep the easily removable aspect of the design.

[Ed Harris]

Fred

I think you know this already but you will want that AC unit when you are here!
The end of July in STL does not make for comfortable sleeping without the AC(understatement!).
I also have a portable you are welcome to use should some odd fate befall you on the journey.
And of course you are welcome to use my facilities if they can help at all.

Do you know what site you are in yet?
I am going to the park this week and I thought I would do Recon for you?

Ed

[Frederick L. Simson]

Do you know what site you are in yet?
I am going to the park this week and I thought [b]I would do Recon for you?

We have reservations in Babler State Park Campground for site #11.

I understand that there is electric service at the site, but no "city water" connection; so while I can run the Air Conditioner, TV/VCR, and Microwave, I must fill the fresh water tank and use my water pump.

The website states:
Site Type = Electric
Includes parking pad, grill, table, lantern post, and electric supply
Maximum Amps = 50
Site has 20, 30, and 50 amp service

The Air Conditioner worked well for us this past weekend at Palm Springs. While I don't think we'll need it in Oregon, I know we'll need it pretty much continuously after leaving Denver. I'm studying my installation to see if I can raise it to be more centered vertically. If I can achieve that, then I believe the unique Fiber Stream rock guard will close over it while it is mounted in the window.

[HustonFamily]

Here's a link to photos of the window install I did (posted here some time ago).

http://www.hustonfamily.com/gallery2/main....2_itemId=168650

The basic idea is one board attached to the AC unit via angle iron... cut to fit into the outside window channel (although my design of window, which seems somewhat rare on the Scamp is probably more conducive to this working well)... a second board fitting inside the inside window channel... and both boards attached together via carriage bolts... it fits very snug and I've logged many miles with it installed... although if need be I can quickly pull it out, loosening no tool knobs.

I personally think window installation is the only way to go... I haven't seen a closet installation which cools nearly as well.

[Steve Foster]

What is up with the 4:20 label on the black TV looking stand in your first pic? Should I dare to ask?

[Frederick L. Simson]

I believe the unique Fiber Stream rock guard will close over it while it is mounted in the window.

I just checked the fit, and it won't

[Frederick L. Simson]

What is up with the 4:20 label on the [b]black TV looking stand in your first pic? Should I dare to ask?

The meaning of 4:20




That is just an "inside" joke of mine: Television has the same effect.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Update:

The rock guard does not close completely over the Air Conditioner.

For now, I just wanted to allow the unit to stay in the window while traveling but still keep the easily removable aspect of the design.

I have moved the Air Conditioner to the Forward Driver's Side Window.




Since this is a Semi-permanent installation, I had to add a thin vertical strip of Plexiglas to the gap between the A/C unit and the window frame's center divider. This is where I had applied Duct Tape when leaving the A/C in the front window for the ride home from Palm Springs. (Note: I have not removed any part of the original window.) I have caulked all joints with a clear Lexan material. I added Reflective Tape to the outside corners of the A/C unit, White forward & Red aft.




I can still remove the A/C and close the window and there will be no evidence it was ever there.
The new location makes accessing the controls easier, and I put the Bulging Plexiglas rock guard back on the front window.

[Frederick L. Simson]

I can still remove the A/C and close the window and there will be no evidence it was ever there.

I am sure glad I designed it that way. It has been raining for most of this week in San Diego, and I somehow did not get the air conditioner fully sealed in the window. A tiny trickle ran down the wall under the air conditioner and after Monday's monsoon, soaked the cushion under it.

It was a pain to remove the caulk, but once I did the air conditioner popped right out. With the window closed, there is no more leaking.

I'll only need it in the summer, anyway.

[Frederick L. Simson]

I'll only need it in the summer, anyway.

I reinstalled the Air Conditioner this weekend, in the side window location again. To get to Bandon we have to cross the full length of California and spend the 1st night near the Central Valley. I think I figured out why there was a leak last winter. The wood spacer to the right of the A/C unit wasn't caulked properly then. I think I did a smarter caulking job this year...

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

I reinstalled the Air Conditioner this weekend, in the side window location again... I think I figured out why there was a leak last winter. The wood spacer to the right of the A/C unit wasn't caulked properly then. I think I did a smarter caulking job this year...

The air conditioner has stayed in the driver's side front window continuously since last July with no leakage; especially during this winter's heavy rain. I caulked all of the pieces properly before and during installation.

[Borden]

Really like the way you did this project.

[Borden]

The law says in Ontario we can not be over 102" wide and the boler is 97.5 at belly band (not counting awning outside). This leaves only 4.5" so easy to remove sounds best.

[Mike-N-Laurie]

Here is a Scamp 13' with a Frigidaire 5000 btu I put in today. No windows needed to be removed. The a/c can be set in from the rear all you need to do is wrap the window with pipe wrapping. Insert the a/c from the rear and slide the front 4.5 inch board in place. I haven't trimmed the outside yet but will do the same on the rear. Takes all of two minutes to install and when I'm traveling I will remove the a/c and set it inside and close the window.