From the three options open to RV users to help keep their motorhome cool all year round, this can be either by the window, rooftop or portable air conditioners. RV owners have found the window AC option most advantageous, they are lower cost and require less preparation work and space than the other two and most of the units are extremely very efficient. These next few steps will give you a detailed understanding of how to install a window AC into your RV.
Preparing The Window
Prior to fitting the window AC unit, a lot of preparation work needs to be carried out; much less then installing a roof or portable air conditioning unit, but it is just as important. Many RV users prefer to use either the passengers’ seat window at the front of the vehicle or the rear window, this allows for the cool air to circulate around the RV, or so it is said.
The only real requirement is that the window must be larger than the smallest size of the AC unit; this may require you to measure the unit as opposed to using the measurements on the box. As most fully operating RV windows are circular, meaning they are not a sturdy base for installing the AC unit, also most of the adaptors included in many AC units are not helpful for installing them into RV’s.
Many RV owners recommend that creating an adapter that will allow the AC to be raised from the RV’s windowsill, but that is able to cover any gaps left in the window. This can be built quite easily with wood, plywood or any durable material, it is imperative that this adaptor is measured over and over to ensure there are no visible gaps, it is advised to prepare this apparatus using the AC unit one wishes to install as the guideline.
Creating this adaptor can be tricky, many people measure out one sturdy frame which can slot into the window and hold the AC unit with ease. However, it has been suggested that creating separate parts for the top and bottom of the AC unit is easier to measure, prepare and install. The bottom adaptor should be created with a raised lip closest to the outside of the window; this method stops the AC unit from tilting both in and out of the RV. This can be created with careful measurements and a power-saw quite easily.
Installing The AC Unit
After preparing the window for the AC unit’s installation comes the actual fitting, if the measurements have been correct then it should be a simple task. If you have chosen to create the unit which is all in one, position this into the window and slide the AC unit in between the gap till the smallest edge of the AC fits into place.
If you have chosen to make the two-part fitting, please slot the bottom fitting (with the slightly raised lip) onto the bottom of the RV window. Then take the top fitting and wedge this into the top of the window, this may require two people, one person to hold this in place whilst the other person slides the AC unit into the empty space until it is properly fixed in.
Both the AC unit installations described above allow for the RV’s owner to install an uninstall the unit easily, and for the RV to travel as freely as is needed. There are other, more dated ways to install a window AC unit which could impact the actual use of the RV, by cutting into the shell of the RV, making any of the windows unusable or adding any extra diameters (such as placing the AC unit on the outside of the RV window, as opposed to the inside). These have not been listed as they are not such desirable solutions to install a window AC onto an RV, they are considered dated and impractical.
The Future of Window AC’s for RV’s
Described above are the steps to installing a window AC into an RV with the least damage to the RV or its ability to be roadworthy. It may seem like a very elongated method and the future of Window AC’s does not look to follow suite. The traditional big AC unit will become a thing of the past, there are many products in development that are less than six inches tall, adaptable to a variety of windows, easy to store and easy to read interface and your window will not become unusable.