Hope to replace A/C units soon - Montana Owners Club

vipermanden · 06-03-2017, 10:50 AM

I'm taking my 2017 3820FK in to the dealer on the 13th, and hope that will agree with me, that at least the front unit needs to be replaced. After that, I am replacing all of my A/C outlet vents to the one pictured in the attached pics. Look how little the sleeve sticks up, so it does not block the flowing air like the OEM ones do.

vipermanden · 06-03-2017, 10:52 AM

You can order these from Amazon for $6.99 each. Here is the link

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PeteandJoan · 06-03-2017, 10:58 AM

There also is another option for the vent.......it does not extend upward at all...it fits flush and the vents are adjustable (swivel) as for direction and you can close them down to restrict air flow and they only cost about $6-$7 each. makes a lot of difference in cooling down. Happy I did it. These were talked about last year, thats where I got the idea.

phillyg · 06-03-2017, 11:05 AM

Okay, so I think I have the same as you're showing, the whiter one, and you're saying because of the deeper insert (for lack of a better word) it partially blocks the airflow from the plenum?

I'm not having any cooling issues, but I will check mine out anyway. It makes sense that any impediment to air flow can reduce cooling effectiveness.
.

vipermanden · 06-03-2017, 02:48 PM

The link I show does let the vent swivel for directional flow. The insulation in the roof of the 5ver is thicker than the short sleeve, so it does not need to be shorter than this. In fact I am still going to put 1-1/2" PVC in the ducts after they give me a new A/C unit. No sense trying to do all the improvements and have them say i don't need a new A/C unit? :-)

richfaa · 06-03-2017, 05:50 PM

We did that last summer it did help some.

FreeRoamn · 06-03-2017, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipermanden

...After that, I am replacing all of my A/C outlet vents to the one pictured in the attached pics. Look how little the sleeve sticks up, so it does not block the flowing air like the OEM ones do.

Hmm...I just checked mine out and the taller ones actually help to keep any AC air from leaking into the attic space on a 3160RL. My guess is the attic space height varies from model to model but thanks for posting that as it made me check mine to see if it would make a difference.

kc8lvy · 06-03-2017, 07:01 PM

What is wrong with your AC unit or units so we can be on the look out.

vipermanden · 06-03-2017, 08:01 PM

Sometimes they seem like they are blowing so little air, that they could not blow a candle out, and the 20 degree differential they say you should get, we were only getting about 5 degrees when the temps outside were in the low 90's?

CaptnJohn · 06-03-2017, 08:18 PM

I put a 13.5K unit in less than a year ago that has rarely been used. Getting nothing for it on a trade. If I could get it off and put a new vent on I'd sell it cheap.

WeBeFulltime · 06-04-2017, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipermanden

You can order these from Amazon for $6.99 each. Here is the link

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Or you could do as I did and remove the original, trim it down using a utility knife, and reinstall it. Total cost $0.00. Same result.

mlh · 06-04-2017, 07:24 AM

I think that unless you can prove there is something wrong with your air conditioner and what it is Montana is not going to replace it. They won't reply what is wrong let alone what what you can't prove is wrong. Is it pulling too many amps is the compressor bad for example.
Lynwood

waynemoore · 06-04-2017, 08:25 AM

Maybe it is freezing up. Could that be the cause of little air flow?
I did cut the outlets with a utility knife saw no sence in buying new ones unless I wanted ones I could close. I also installed 2" PVC in the returns. Doing both helped a lot.

vipermanden · 06-04-2017, 08:26 AM

I paid for the 5 year warranty with Sierra RV in Reno, so if they don't make me happy, I will not be happy. If they don't replace it, then I will go ahead with all the new vents and put pvc pipes in all the ducts to open the gap, and I made a nice, stained to match, board that tucks in under the stairs to block that off, and I will buy a weighted sock to block the bottom of the bathroom door, and then see how all of these fixes make the A/C work better or not.

Christine Christiansen · 06-09-2017, 10:31 PM

I am looking for recommendations on changing out the AC unit on a 2002 Montana. I cannot find an AC unit that is the same as what we have on the fifth wheel now. It is a Dometic Duo Therm Quick Cool unit and I am trying to figure out what AC unit replaces this one. Also, do I need to replace the cover inside and the thermostat? I really am hoping to find a unit that fits the same as the current one.
Any help is appreciated.

1retired06 · 06-10-2017, 05:43 AM

Not sure they make the Quick Cool model anymore. Dometic advertises the Brisk II and the Blizzard NXT, both of which should be standard installs in your unit. We have the Brisk IIs on our current unit, and they work fine. Your existing thermostat may or may not be compatible. The last AC I bought came with the inside cover. Dometic has a customer support center 800 544 4881 that should be able to assist you.

The Old Fogies · 06-10-2017, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipermanden

I paid for the 5 year warranty with Sierra RV in Reno, so if they don't make me happy, I will not be happy. If they don't replace it, then I will go ahead with all the new vents and put pvc pipes in all the ducts to open the gap, and I made a nice, stained to match, board that tucks in under the stairs to block that off, and I will buy a weighted sock to block the bottom of the bathroom door, and then see how all of these fixes make the A/C work better or not.

I blocked the return under the steps when we were at the beach and it worked great. Just remove it when you use the heater. Also keep your basement doors closed will help.

vipermanden · 06-30-2017, 02:58 PM

OK, so Sierra RV did not replace my A/C unit, but said the ducting tape was all undone, and most of my air was going into my attic and not the actual ducts. I should have suspected something when we were seeing condensation on the roof in different places. Anyway, this past trip last week, we had a 99 degree day, and I got the inside temp to be 21 degrees cooler. I put a nice stained 1/4" thick piece of plywood on the step tight enough that when you slip it under the lip of the stair above it, it stays without any latches. I also bought a door sock to block the air going under the bathroom door, and I took off all of the factory A/C outlet sleeves, and put those low profile sleeves and vent combo, pictured above, and I put 1-1/2" sch 40 PVC in each side of the vents to expand the opening. Plus I kept the roof fan off while A/C was on, to keep it from blowing any hot air back down on us. This all seemed to do the trick.

CORattler · 07-01-2017, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime

Or you could do as I did and remove the original, trim it down using a utility knife, and reinstall it. Total cost $0.00. Same result.

I trimmed all mine as well. The only cost was my time.

richfaa · 07-02-2017, 12:35 PM

85 or so here at home today doing some work and packing in the Montana and both A/C's are on. We are in the direct sun in this pretty dark colored Big Sky and it is freezing inside. If it were 100 it would be sort of comfortable. If it were 110 as it was in Oklahoma last summer we would be melting. This thing needs 3 15.5 A/C units to do the job in temps of over 100 degrees.

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