Aircon in Overlanding Trucks
 

Keeping the thread alive as I know a few people are on with aircon conversions, the below is duplicated from the Overlander:

Hi all,

As previously posted, I've now had my Bongo aircon repaired and can vouch for the quality of work of the chaps at Central Garage.

For my repair, they made up two new pipes from scratch that involve both rubber and metal sections and include specialised metal to metal connectors as well as crimped connectors for metal to rubber joints. They also had to TIG weld some sections of pipework.

I have no reason to doubt the proprietor's (John Padgett) claims that he has previously built and fitted specialised applications for military vehicles and can source anything needed to install aircon to a truck from scratch.

I've told him that several of you out there are in the process of gathering bits and he has indicated a willingness to make up any bespoke pipework or sort out any wrangles etc.

For what it's worth, the whole failed aircon dilemma has been a right faff. It's taken since summer to sort it once and for all and after a total of about 7 or 8 garage visits it's cost me - in total - about £900.

As before, if I hadn't had the Bongo aircon option forced on me there's no way I'd have chosen it. I'll be doing my absolute best to avoid it on any subsequent vehicle I own. I wish you all well and hope it works out for you but you are all even more bonkers than the level of bonkers it takes to turn a clunky old truck into a camping car.

My kit is sitting in the living room and its installation is in the thinking stages.
I can accomodate the compressor and the condensor easily, the evaporator is simply too big so this might end up on ebay. I have seen a selection of smaller under dash evaporators on ebay.com ( usa). So i think i will get one of these. They are about 4 kw which i think will be enough for a short cab. Its only about 2 cubic meters of space .
I am also exploring adding a second evaporator in the cabin area on the same circuit.

Needs a bit more thinking but i might be visiting your guy for the final commisioning.

Neil

Neil. Just a thought on your evaporator. I installed mine in my living area as it was too big for my cab area. The smaller 4.4kW units are about 15,000BTU and that's plenty for a small space. To compressor supplied in the kit is more than 'man enough' to supply both units with working fluid.

My kit is living in the garage for the moment but I have today discussed how to fit the condenser on my roof with the guys building my roof rack. I hope you guys have worked the rest out by the time I am ready and I don't end up with a useless box on the roof. :(

Nick
I am looking into the second evaporator in the cabin

The one from withams is a big box

Just thinking out loud, do you think its possible to add a second compressor 240v ( if there is such an item )
so that you could run it all on mains , obviously you would have to power the fan in the condensor but that doesnt take too much power .

It just seems to be a loss if you couldnt run it from tge mains or for short periods on tge inverter.

Any thoughts would be gladly received.

Neil

this site with its parts /components catalogue can be quite useful
Red Dot Corporation | Mobile HVAC |
No connection other than as a satisfied customer using their stuff :thumbup1:

Hi Neil,

Technically possible, yes. Real-world useful - no.

The power required to run all your hardware is considerable. You would be lucky to find a mains hook-up on a formal site that would support the power requirement without tripping the whole site out. Bear in mind the different standards worldwide for mains ac too; 110v / 230v / different phasing etc.

Running your hardware from batteries would require a huge amp/hour reserve and a very elaborate system for off-grid battery management.

I would agree with Steve. In addition to the above issues, there would also be the matter of where to put it in the system so each compressor when offline doesn't effect the performance when idle/off.

I have a secondary completely separate AC system that runs off mains (if I can find mains powerful enough). It is only for the 'bedrooms' in the cabin area and I don't expect it to drop the temperature more than a few degrees below the outside ambient. Time will tell.

Thanks guys, sound advice.

The wifes getting a fan for christmas, now thats sorted.

If anyone has worked out the wiring on the DAF kits it would help, bearing in mind i am fitting it into a merc and using a different evaporator. Therefore the plug and play aspect is lost

Thanks

Neil