I just read through the the long thread re: A/C units that don't work because they were im[span style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:10pt;"]properly installed. Now I'm freaking out!![/span]??? [span style="white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:10pt;"] We pick up our new 2017 QS 8.0 this week, but what to do about the A/C problem? It sounds like 2017 models have the faulty installation. I don't like that owners have had to fend for themselves to get the air conditioner to work. [/span]
What should we look for before we hand over the check ...how far should the A/C unit be sticking out of the camper box? How will we know it's a proper installation? My husband is not handy and a diy air conditioner project would not be pretty. :-[ Besides, if you pay for A/C, it should work, right? The dealer should give us a 100% working camper.
My AC works. It MUST be on high. It would work better with a popup gizmo and with a fan blowing air from floor up to bunk area (works great with curtain closing bunk area off during the heat of day). Recently I've wanted to make sure there was a dip downward (not too far off level) so water could drain better.
Our Quicksilver ACs don't work any worse than other 5,000 - 8,000 BTU units. If there were hard roofs then we could have a roof-top unit but gain a ton of weight.
If I were you, I'd focus on the people who have figured how to keep their trailer 80-85 when it's 100 outside. Their strategies will help you to make the most of your Quicksilver. It IS an air conditioned tent. ?
The factory install issue was corrected and should not be an issue with new units. The problem was due to air flow/ venting so if for some reason yours doesn't work the dealer certainly should correct it as a warranty issue. Keep in mind that it is only mildly more efficient than trying to run AC into a screen room.
Cold air falls. This is a popup, so the only mounting location will be low in the space. There is no venting up high, so where's the hot air gonna go ? Finally, tent material is a poor insulator to prevent thermal transfer from the warm air outside to the cold air inside - Oh, and if you're parking in the sun it will be collecting lot of sunlight.
So the efficiency/effectiveness of cooling will not be great, pretty much whatever you do. It really won't even be good. If it works as well as "poorly" it is probably the best you will see.
That said, if it is improperly installed, your dealer will make it right under the warranty.
Two things you can do are 1) As IRF mentioned, a fan blowing from low to high in the space will help circulate the cold air into the space. 2) Consider putting up a shade shelter around your camper to keep the sun off. You may also find this helpful in the event of rain, kind of like a rain fly on a regular tent.
What a relief to hear they have fixed the installation problem. I totally get that an air conditioner at floor level has serious limitations, and we are willing to live with that and deal with fans, Gizmos, and such to get a few degrees of relief. Thanks for all of your responses. I definitely am reassured.