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11-16-2017, 10:19 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tubac
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #11165
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Air Conditioner return Duct
I am having a problem with the rear AC not performing as it shouldI have read many posts abut rear air conditioner problems and some regarding collapsed return ducts. I have a 2014 3402RL Montana. The return duct is in fact collapsed to about 38th inch. I have tried fixes to prop it open. Since the ceiling and roof is curved I have found nothing flexible enough to span the duct. i also don't want to block air in the process. Worried also about damaging the duct. Tried pvc pipe, golf balls to no avail. Any ideas? Maybe i need to cut a new vent hole in the center below the AC? Increased noise? Or could replace existing return air intake vent covers with larger ones? I have an extend warranty but hate to deal with the dealer who would charge for evaluation and tell me it is performing as designed. It is not!
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11-16-2017, 11:25 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Have you considered using 3/4" or 1" flexible tubing? Should be able to get it at any Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc. It is normally clear and thin walled.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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11-23-2017, 05:25 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Groveport
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #18362
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We have a 2016 3791 that has compressor and fan cycling issues but that is another issue. One of the times we had it at the dealership they found the return ducts in the den, the main area of the coach, had collapsed. They took 1/4" plywood and cut strips about 1 1/8 wide and maybe 2' or so long. One for each return. He put them into the duct turned flat so they would flex and go all the way in. He placed them in the middle of the duct and once it was all the way into the duct he turned it up on its edge which forced the duct open. One other thing, he cut the strips on a curve to match the curve of the roof. He actually took a piece of cardboard and made a template which took several tries to get it just right. He would hold it up against the ceiling and kept trimming on it until it matched the ceiling. Then he used the template to mark and cut the plywood strips. He also used plyers or channellocks to grasp the strips to turn them onto their edge. Works great.
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11-23-2017, 07:18 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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Sounds like you have a dealer that doesn't mind thinking and doing outside of the box.
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11-24-2017, 07:06 AM
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#5
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tubac
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #11165
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Thanks for the ideas. Will try the plywood idea!
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11-24-2017, 07:38 AM
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#6
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Bixby
Posts: 59
M.O.C. #20088
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Same problem with our 2018 353 RL. Dealer installed 2 more returns added two new discharge ports. They matched the factory ones. Also used 1 1/2 pvc pipe to open up return and discharge plenums. We measured the distance of pvc needed cut to length and used a cap when pushing into place then removed the cap so no flow blockage. Wood might snag the insulation.
Actually works like it should.
Good Luck
__________________
Pete and Susan
2018 Montana 353 RL
2013 Dodge 2500
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04-26-2018, 02:38 PM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Mid Missouri
Posts: 156
M.O.C. #19889
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Quote:
Originally Posted by happy camper x2
Same problem with our 2018 353 RL. Dealer installed 2 more returns added two new discharge ports. They matched the factory ones. Also used 1 1/2 pvc pipe to open up return and discharge plenums. We measured the distance of pvc needed cut to length and used a cap when pushing into place then removed the cap so no flow blockage. Wood might snag the insulation.
Actually works like it should.
Good Luck
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Do you have any pics you can share? Especially of the cap you used while installing the pvc?
__________________
2017 Montana High Country 353RL
2017 Silverado 3500HD DRW CC LB 6.6L Duramax
B&W Companion
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04-30-2018, 09:48 AM
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#8
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Kissimmee
Posts: 48
M.O.C. #18844
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No pics, the techs used their camera and showed me the pics before NO light.
after strong daylight. Denny do you ever make it to Mark Twain Landing, we spend the summer their. SITE 27
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04-22-2018, 05:34 PM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 110
M.O.C. #19549
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Happy Camper,
How long was the pvc? Did you install parrellel with the duct or perpendicular? How was it installed?
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04-22-2018, 08:10 PM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Bixby
Posts: 59
M.O.C. #20088
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parrallel to ducts had to play with the lengths to make fit
__________________
Pete and Susan
2018 Montana 353 RL
2013 Dodge 2500
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04-22-2018, 09:24 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 110
M.O.C. #19549
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Quote:
Originally Posted by happy camper x2
parrallel to ducts had to play with the lengths to make fit
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Thank you. I have to get mine fixed before I leave in a week.
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04-23-2018, 08:18 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 663
M.O.C. #20906
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Quote:
Originally Posted by happy camper x2
parrallel to ducts had to play with the lengths to make fit
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What is the manufacture date of you camper? Montana was supposed to start installing redesigned ductwork sometime last fall that is not supposed to collapse.
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04-24-2018, 03:28 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Burleson
Posts: 111
M.O.C. #20065
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Beginning with what manufacture date would Montana's have the newer non-collapsible air conditioner ducting and return air ducts?
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04-24-2018, 03:39 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 663
M.O.C. #20906
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retire 2022
Beginning with what manufacture date would Montana's have the newer non-collapsible air conditioner ducting and return air ducts?
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Not sure of exact date, but sometime fall 2017.
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04-23-2018, 07:47 AM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tubac
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #11165
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After 2 trips to Camping world and several weeks later: They replaced AC which had a coolant leak, however they tweaked it during the install and it didn't work when i brought it home. They had to order another AC unit and double up the gasket seal under it. It now works but I need to do something about the duct collapsing. I am thinking about putting spacers in the duct (not sure what kind) and maybe even adding two more intake vents or increasing the size of the existing vents.
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08-03-2019, 03:42 PM
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#16
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tubac
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #11165
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2014 Montana 3402RL/August 2019 Update: Well We are sitting here at 2 PM in the afternoon in Cave Creek Phoenix area (113 degrees outside). with both front and rear Acs running it is now up to 87 in the living room. Meat thermometer in an outlet measured about 66 degrees. I had placed spacers in the return ducts as suggested a year ago. I also took the intake air grills off and have the paper framed filters screwed into the ceiling temporarily, I thought it was working better. Thinking about cutting larger holes i the duct and put larger filters on the openings..Maybe the AC units are freezing up. I often wonder with the fact the the the accents on the exterior including the AC covers are black that maybe it causes the units to overheat, I'm sure the everyone who has problems with their Dometic dual systems has reached a high frustration point. Short of ripping out some ceiling panels and working on the cut system I don't know what else to do!!! I am close to a decision to sell/dump it. Not a very comfortable rv during the Arizona summers!!!!!
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01-30-2020, 01:48 PM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Southoftheboarder :)
Posts: 109
M.O.C. #25725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Shasky
2014 Montana 3402RL/August 2019 Update: Well We are sitting here at 2 PM in the afternoon in Cave Creek Phoenix area (113 degrees outside). with both front and rear Acs running it is now up to 87 in the living room. Meat thermometer in an outlet measured about 66 degrees. I had placed spacers in the return ducts as suggested a year ago. I also took the intake air grills off and have the paper framed filters screwed into the ceiling temporarily, I thought it was working better. Thinking about cutting larger holes i the duct and put larger filters on the openings..Maybe the AC units are freezing up. I often wonder with the fact the the the accents on the exterior including the AC covers are black that maybe it causes the units to overheat, I'm sure the everyone who has problems with their Dometic dual systems has reached a high frustration point. Short of ripping out some ceiling panels and working on the cut system I don't know what else to do!!! I am close to a decision to sell/dump it. Not a very comfortable rv during the Arizona summers!!!!!
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Your post raised my eyebrow...what did you decide to do with your Rig? We also have the same problem with lack of volume of air flow. Its crazy and we live in the south..tried all the tricks in the book. It seems the new AC units and 'ducts' are not doing the job. We are learning we are not alone. Not a year into our 2019 and we are ready to get rid of it.
AC with quick cool OR dump AC as some call it will cool the rig with a lot of volume. Current set up is awful..
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01-30-2020, 02:21 PM
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#18
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Tubac
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #11165
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What I wish I could do
Quote:
Originally Posted by skippydoo
Your post raised my eyebrow...what did you decide to do with your Rig? We also have the same problem with lack of volume of air flow. Its crazy and we live in the south..tried all the tricks in the book. It seems the new AC units and 'ducts' are not doing the job. We are learning we are not alone. Not a year into our 2019 and we are ready to get rid of it.
AC with quick cool OR dump AC as some call it will cool the rig with a lot of volume. Current set up is awful..
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**********************
I wish I was physically able to cut larger holes in the return air ducts and see if that takes care of the problem and make other modifications to help. I'm not! We are seniors almost 80,
I have for sale signs on the front and back and have the unit sitting her right now. My recreation is baiting mouse traps and checking them every few days.
We had some good trips and I love the floorpan of the 3402 but heavily dissappointed in the AC system.
I think a commercial "mini-split" Ac would work better. I saw a trailer with the condenser mounted on the bumper to supplement the rooftop. Great idea
My latest problem was the transmission unit on the bedroom slide out motor. Gears blew for the second time. Had the same problem four years ago. As I have had those two incidents and the real AC failing and the fireplace failing when it was new,
I might have broken even on the cost of the extended warranty. I guess that means I paid for the repairs/replacements in advance! Should I be hoping for more failures to make it worth it? Just kidding! Pain to take the unit to Camping World 50 miles away for the routine: Evaluate, authorize, order parts, repair, and then pick it up a couple weeks later with a dead battery. The unit is fixed right now waiting for the next problem.
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01-30-2020, 02:39 PM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Southoftheboarder :)
Posts: 109
M.O.C. #25725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Shasky
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I wish I was physically able to cut larger holes in the return air ducts and see if that takes care of the problem and make other modifications to help. I'm not! We are seniors almost 80,
I have for sale signs on the front and back and have the unit sitting her right now. My recreation is baiting mouse traps and checking them every few days.
We had some good trips and I love the floorpan of the 3402 but heavily dissappointed in the AC system.
I think a commercial "mini-split" Ac would work better. I saw a trailer with the condenser mounted on the bumper to supplement the rooftop. Great idea
My latest problem was the transmission unit on the bedroom slide out motor. Gears blew for the second time. Had the same problem four years ago. As I have had those two incidents and the real AC failing and the fireplace failing when it was new,
I might have broken even on the cost of the extended warranty. I guess that means I paid for the repairs/replacements in advance! Should I be hoping for more failures to make it worth it? Just kidding! Pain to take the unit to Camping World 50 miles away for the routine: Evaluate, authorize, order parts, repair, and then pick it up a couple weeks later with a dead battery. The unit is fixed right now waiting for the next problem.
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LOL, you too experience the CW 'pick up with a dead battery'....WE thought it was just us. Similarly we thought at first we only had the AC problem. The more I google the more I see others do too.
Well, good Sir please know your not alone. We are going to take a hit on our 2019 M High Country....its a darn shame. Yes we have nice trips as long as temp is not above 70. Take care. Thanks for answering...Skippydoo
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08-03-2019, 03:50 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
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John, your last line is the correct one, 'not very comfortable...arizona summers.'
rule of thumb and answer for a home a/c: 'How much can an air conditioner drop the temperature in your home? Air conditioners are designed to lower the temperature of your home's air by about 20 degrees. So if the air in your home is 85 degrees, for example, your air conditioner can lower your air's temperature to about 65 degrees.'
87 degrees isn't bad if it is 113 degrees outside. In this situation it isn't dometic, it is the heat in arizonia.
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