How to Install an RV Rooftop AC with NO Experience

[@2gj906]

I love how inexperienced you guys are! Reminds of me when I first started tinkering in my first camper van.. **tears up**

[@Skwerm87]

The part I wanted to see yall skipped.... the hooking up the electric to it.

[@gabandbren]

Hey Jimmy - good news is that the electric for us was probably the easiest part! It was a lug and play harness, so we just disconnected the old ac and plugged in the new one and that was it!

[@brucedecker5398]

Hey guys great video just a few suggestions first you should caulk o top around your unit second you should take the inside cover back off and spray foam any holes and cover the inside lip around with metal duck tape. It really will help.

[@gabandbren]

Great suggestion! We did caulk around the outside a BUNCH to prevent any leaks. Thanks for the tip :)

[@terrycrowder8430]

❤ good job 👏 thanks for the video! Way to go dad always there to help 😊

[@gabandbren]

Haha daddiyo doin the most :)

[@jondickson75]

Thank you. This helps.

[@gabandbren]

Glad it helped!

[@wg7644]

oscillating multi tool to cut those bolts through

[@gabandbren]

Good point!

[@kenm6049]

Not sure why everyone keeps asking about the electrical, you just unplug the old unit from the bottom assembly and plug in the new one. Very simple. A child could do it!

[@gabandbren]

You bet!!

[@redriverbluesman]

Nope. Mine came with the wrong plug for the air controller. The female 6-pin receptacle from the air controller is twice the size of the male connector from the roof unit. I’ve contacted the company. Waste of time.

[@Oblivionsurveyor]

I am doing something similar, My Dometic A/C unit is fine actually. I am so sick of the fan never shutting off I purchased a Coleman Mach bluetooth assembly. I also purchased a Advent wire harness adapter that adapts to the Coleman Air box assembly I know works based off Advents compatibility with Dometic. It requires me to install a new metal frame but the Coleman Airbox comes with that and a new control box too. I will be able to conrtol my A/C via bluetooth app with smart functionality. I have a Nice battery setup and that fan never shutting off is a deal breaker. The install seems straight forward and will conduct it soon.

[@andresdominguez2520]

Lol that's cute 80 degrees ... PHX AZ !!

[@gabandbren]

Hahaha but you guys have dryyyyyyy heat! Nah jk, you win this one ;)

[@thetruththewholetruth6197]

Noticed the Michigan sign...Go Blue!

[@mandom1349]

Great video! Loved the butt shot! 👍🏻🤣

[@redriverbluesman]

I wish I'd seen how you got the ac up. I'm tackling this tomorrow.

[@gabandbren]

Apologies! It wasn’t the most conventional way 😂 We actually used a fork lift with a bucket on the end and transferred it onto the roof. But the much more “common” way I’ve seen is using an extendable ladder at a lower angle and using a rope to pull it up. Hope your install went okay!

[@redriverbluesman]

@@gabandbren I also ended up using a forklift, but another problem came up. The product ad said it came with all the plug-and-play options for any other compatible air controller. We were replacing a Dometic Penguin with a Dometic Penguin II. You would think there would have been a compatible plug. Nope. No match. I decided to buy a new Dometic air controller, thinking our 1988 may have just been too old. Got the new one, 4 days later. Just back from camping with no air conditioning to find still no compatible plug-and-play. The 6-pin connectors do not match. The one supplied with the air conditioner is half the size of the control receptacle. Some people get the matching connectors and some of us don't. I have requested the compatible plug but am currently looking for one locally in order to get this job finally done. I'm discouraged by how difficult this has been.

[@gabandbren]

@@redriverbluesman Ahhhh sorry to hear - I'm thinking you're right on the age. This rig was 2007. We are actually now in a 2002 C class and some parts can be hard for us to find too as the times have changed. I think you're on the right track though on getting a new air controller as well. My only other though is if adapter connectors exist? Not sure if that is a stretch. Keep us posted how it goes!

[@redriverbluesman]

@@gabandbren yes, the new unit is compatible with the also now new controller but we just didn't receive the correct adapter. It will work out, just too late for this hot summer.

[@gabandbren]

@@redriverbluesman I gotcha, well better late than never! Totally feel you on this insanely hot summer though

[@MrRentgould]

Good video , thanks

[@gabandbren]

Glad you liked it!

[@bobabooie6389]

Wow that old AC unit was toast

[@billray6557]

Multi tool or sawzall you would of had those rusted bolts off in less than 5 minutes, good job

[@gabandbren]

We learn as we go!

[@rcmodificados2658]

Thanks 👍

[@kenm6049]

What about the seal between the a/c unit and the roof?

[@gabandbren]

Hey! We just used an all weather silicone

[@gerrardromero7012]

Nice view

[@TyHudson42]

Very helpful video😎🖖 THANKS!!!

[@gabandbren]

No problem, glad it was helpful!

[@soundmindraw9935]

What did you use to convert 3 power wires to unit harness

[@gabandbren]

We had a plug and play system so it was the same wire harness!

[@dennybassett5561]

Wanted to see you wire it up

[@gabandbren]

Ahh we should’ve recorded it but it was just a plug and play system! So disconnected the old wiring harness and attached the new one!

[@randystauffer9091]

Did you caulk around the new unit when installed?

[@gabandbren]

Yes, this is definitely needed!! We used a roofing waterproof sealant.

[@hptbest2055]

Can I re wire the end of the ac plug to a normal outlet plug????

[@gabandbren]

I am unsure, but I would be cautious of the powerdraw the AC has

[@danthel]

Caravan roof aircon are designed to rot your van. The water Go all over the roof and runs down the side of your van. And if U have a pop up. The water will leak into your roof

[@gabandbren]

Yes must be careful here for sure!

[@blondydaniel0723]

How did you connect the wires? After watching your video which saves me $800 cause it helps me install the roof unit. But now I’m trying to wire the thermostat from analog to digital. And i have no clue. I’m replacing the Coleman with advent.

[@gabandbren]

We didn’t change our thermostat, just the AC unit which was plug and play through the wiring harness.

[@LONESTARPIONEERING]

But y'all didn't have a wire harness on the RV only the AC

[@cornpop7805]

I like her.

[@hptbest2055]

Does the ac plug need a breaker?

[@gabandbren]

Yes but the wireharness was already connected to a breaker for us

[@cornpop7805]

Gab is a minx!

[@lyndacipriani2874]

Do you have more than one unit on such a big rv?

[@gabandbren]

Yes we had 2!

[@toupsclassroomtoupsclassro9557]

are you still happy with the ac unit? is it real cold? ty

[@gabandbren]

Hey! So we have sold this RV at this point in time but the previous owners updated us a few months ago that it's still working like a charm!

[@toupsclassroomtoupsclassro9557]

@@gabandbren Thanks so much :)

[@juansaid3100]

is it still running cold?

[@gabandbren]

Hey Juan! Great question, the answer is YES!! Blows incredibly cold and runs all day long no problem :)

[@juansaid3100]

Thanks so much ....

[@bassoneman]

Tractor man that’s cheating. Hahahaha

[@gabandbren]

Hahaha I could agree , too good to pass up!

[@henrydennis7062]

It wasn't blowing cold air because you ran out of refrigerant. and you kept running the unit till it blew the Pistons in the compressor. when it starts blowing warm air usually it's running out of its refrigerant most of the units are charged with 410A.

[@gabandbren]

Hi Henry! We thought about trying to refill the refrigerant, however RV units are not designed to be serviced, only replaced. So there is no service valves available and the unit was incredibly rusted so even if we were able to pull off putting in refrigerant the unit really had only about another year of life left at max. It's that Florida salt and sun! Appreciate the feedback!

[@kenm6049]

Yep, there is no valve to add refrigerant to the system.

[@Kjellmclean]

Well, at least we got a nice "butt shot"! 😏

[@sammyreyes63]

Skipped the electrical part that I was hoping to see.

[@nickfaulkner4808]

Same that’s all I wanted to see

[@gabandbren]

It was just a plug and play system! So disconnected the old wiring harness and attached the new one!

[@freshappliancerepairs7213]

Poor Brendon forever in friend zone

[@gabandbren]

Haha we're married!

[@LONESTARPIONEERING]

No seal? I was hoping by watching this video I would be able to do it my self but didn't show putting on a seal so water doesn't leak inside or the wiring so I totally give this video 10 👎

[@gabandbren]

We did use silicone to seal it! Never leaked!

[@coyfrazier]

Thank you for saving my time. Good looking out.

[@gabandbren]

Hope it helps!

[@normstaley9799]

instead of turning off the breakers how about don't plug the camper in

[@Veliaria]

Because FL and not AC at all is no fun…

[@normstaley9799]

@@Veliaria you didn't have AC anyway it was broken that's why I suggested it

[@Flowing23]

awful!

[@captaingsvfreedom]

Waste of my time no electric thanks

[@gabandbren]

this system was a plug and play, it was the same harness that we plugged right into

[@timmylee41]

Ok...I was looking for a helpful video. Not someone calling a ac unit a giant white blob....later

[@gabandbren]

All good! We tried the emphasize the no experience since this was our first time! Hope you find some helpful content 😊