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Old 06-04-2019, 02:21 PM   #1
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Replacing a ducted air conditioner

Hey do it yourselfers! I am getting ready to replace the rear air conditioner on my Cedar Creek. I have searched this site and others and youtube. It seems nobody has ever done this or, at least, it has not been documented.
Has anybody ever changed one of these? Any advice, guidance? Pictures? Videos?

Thanks!
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Old 06-04-2019, 02:29 PM   #2
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BUNCHES of folks have done it.
Here is a link to some videos from a Googler search...
Replace R/V rooftop Air Conditioner.
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Old 06-04-2019, 04:48 PM   #3
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BUNCHES of folks have done it.
Here is a link to some videos from a Googler search...
Replace R/V rooftop Air Conditioner.
Thanks, but you missed the part where I said DUCTED AC. On a ducted AC, the hole in the roof does not go through the ceiling. I haven't found any videos for ducted AC's.
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Old 06-04-2019, 05:24 PM   #4
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Both ducted and non ducted A/C mount the same, the difference is in the A/C unit, onr forces air into ducts and non ducted has vents on the inside panel, but they both go through the same hole that recieves the A/C.
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Old 06-04-2019, 05:27 PM   #5
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Are you replacing just the top unit? The top unit is the same ducted or non-ducted, the difference is in the inside assembly.
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Old 06-04-2019, 05:29 PM   #6
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Are you replacing just the top unit? The top unit is the same ducted or non-ducted, the difference is in the inside assembly.
Agree, they mount the same you have to purchase which one you need.
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Old 06-04-2019, 06:17 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Joe_GA View Post
Thanks, but you missed the part where I said DUCTED AC. On a ducted AC, the hole in the roof does not go through the ceiling. I haven't found any videos for ducted AC's.
Nope, I didn't.
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Old 06-05-2019, 04:22 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Joe_GA View Post
Hey do it yourselfers! I am getting ready to replace the rear air conditioner on my Cedar Creek. I have searched this site and others and youtube. It seems nobody has ever done this or, at least, it has not been documented.
Has anybody ever changed one of these? Any advice, guidance? Pictures? Videos?

Thanks!
I think you’re talking about the units that have ducted return air? I would like to know this also. We are wired for a 3rd unit but I can find no info on installing where there none of the unit is inside. All we have is an cover inside that houses the wiring.
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Old 06-05-2019, 05:48 PM   #9
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I think you’re talking about the units that have ducted return air? I would like to know this also. We are wired for a 3rd unit but I can find no info on installing where there none of the unit is inside. All we have is an cover inside that houses the wiring.
Thank you for an intelligent response! Yes, I'm talking about a unit that you cannot see inside the RV other than the return and supply registers. All of the videos available are dealing with units that are bolted in place from below, these units have to bolt in place from above. At least that much is different. Maybe nothing more. When I wrote this thread, I was looking for tips from someone that had done this and knew exactly how it is done. Anybody can click on Google and come up with a list of videos that are not applicable. It may be that this is just plug and play, so to speak. I'll find out when I actually get on the roof and if there are any special techniques or tips that are specific to these units, I'll let the Newsoms know!
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Old 06-05-2019, 09:10 PM   #10
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I’ve looked too, and never found anything. I do really like them because they’re so quiet. Maybe you’ll find something. Sometimes products have the installation manuals available for download online but I don’t have access to my model information right now to see.
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Old 06-05-2019, 09:31 PM   #11
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AC Replacement

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Originally Posted by Joe_GA View Post
Thanks, but you missed the part where I said DUCTED AC. On a ducted AC, the hole in the roof does not go through the ceiling. I haven't found any videos for ducted AC's.

Joe you have a unit that is bolted from the roof down with 4 lag bolts. I know on Dometic units the bolt pattern has been the same for 15 years. If you order the same model number it will be a plug and play.
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Old 06-05-2019, 10:14 PM   #12
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I’ve looked too, and never found anything. I do really like them because they’re so quiet. Maybe you’ll find something. Sometimes products have the installation manuals available for download online but I don’t have access to my model information right now to see.
I even searched Dometic's site for info. If you go to the bottom of the page on the link below, you'll see where you can download the install manual. However, it does not cover the ducted method.
https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/pro...#documentation
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Old 06-05-2019, 10:21 PM   #13
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Joe you have a unit that is bolted from the roof down with 4 lag bolts. I know on Dometic units the bolt pattern has been the same for 15 years. If you order the same model number it will be a plug and play.
Thanks. I guess Forest River just made sure to place some wood at that location? I thought maybe Dometic had a insert that FR would have installed into the roof. The model I got is a direct replacement for the one that failed, so it should fit the same bolt holes.
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Old 06-06-2019, 10:19 AM   #14
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replacing a ducted air conditioner

Remove the outside air conditioner cover. There will be 4 mount bolts (9/16 or 1/2") running through the pan into the roof.
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Old 06-06-2019, 12:24 PM   #15
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Remove the outside air conditioner cover. There will be 4 mount bolts (9/16 or 1/2") running through the pan into the roof.


Would you happen to know what torque we should use on the lag bolts upon reinstall?
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Old 06-06-2019, 02:27 PM   #16
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Would you happen to know what torque we should use on the lag bolts upon reinstall?
Here is Coleman/Airexcel...

I am working on Dometic

A mounting frame is supplied with the ceiling assembly.
Follow the steps below to secure the air conditioner to the
roof.
A. Locate the air conditioner mount gasket over the
9400 Series square opening in the roof.
B. Install the ceiling assembly mount frame using the
four bolts, washers and springs found with the
ceiling assembly.
Proper tension has been achieved for each bolt when
the spring coils have just come together (See
Figure 4). The upper unit has now been properly
installed with optimum gasket compression.
C. Install the 9300 Series ceiling assembly mount frame
using the four bolts found with the ceiling assembly.
Proper tension has been achieved for each bolt when
the white gasket indicating tab ends are at roof level.
This creates approximately 6 mm of gasket
compression.
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Old 06-06-2019, 03:41 PM   #17
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Here is Dometic's



b. Tighten mounting bolts to
correct torque specifications. Overtightening could damage unit’s base pan or ceiling
template. Not enough torque will allow an inadequate roof seal, and could cause a leak.
Tighten all four (4) mounting bolts EVENLY
with in 40 to 50 inch pounds. (FIG. 13)
This will compress the roof gasket to
approximately 3/4″.
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Old 06-06-2019, 08:17 PM   #18
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40-50 “ pounds... Thank you.
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Old 04-18-2021, 07:51 PM   #19
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Hi, Did you ever replace that AC unit? Can you share any info?
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Old 04-21-2021, 01:36 PM   #20
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Hi, Did you ever replace that AC unit? Can you share any info?
Yes, I did. The hardest part of the whole job was getting the new unit on the roof and the old unit on the ground. I obviously did not get an exact replacement because the mounting hole placement was off by a couple of inches on the front. These units are held in place with lag bolts and a torque of 40 to 50 in. lb. might be too much. I believe that torque value is for the machine screws that hold units with an inside grill and screw in from the bottom. So, what I did was evenly tighten the lag bolts until I measured 1/4" of compression of the rubber gasket. The electrical was pretty straight forward and it worked well.
Good luck!
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