But I carry boats up there, too, which rules out the rooftop unit. 

Jim

> On Oct 29, 2013, at 2:45 PM, Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I hear you loud and clear on this Jim.   Our vanagons/westies are not just campers.   They are mobile offices/hotels/tool sheds/moving van/dumpster which is what makes them so unique 
> and versatile.   Unfortunately, the simplicity of them also makes it difficult to use in the 
> extreme weather (usually hot) unless you can plug in a portable AC unit.   That is the difficult 
> nut to crack so to speak.   In the interest of getting a portable AC and if I had to do business as 
> you do Jim, I would opt for the smallest RV rooftop unit I could find and run a generator and 
> write it off as a business expense.   You are, after all, using it for business, so why not?
> 
> Steven
> 91 Westy
> 
> 
>> On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 6:27 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>> In my case, I have never spent the night outdoors in Alabama that I cold
>> not endure. It is the afternoons, in some remote campground, miles from
>> anything remotely scenic, preparing for a meeting or presentation the next
>> morning, that are hard to endure. From about two until sundown, the sun
>> beats in on the side of the van and the temperature skyrockets. There is
>> nothing to do but wait it out. AC would be nice.
>> 
>> Some people use their vans for other things besides recreational camping.
>> So, no I don't think it's case of outgrowing the Westy.
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> 
>> On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 8:16 AM, ralph meyermann
>> <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>wrote:
>> 
>> > The plan for the a/c is for the sweltering nights. During the day we're
>> > fine just cant sleep while sweating to death. I figure cutting off the
>> > shaft for the condensing coil side and installing  fan/fans where I
>> > relocate the condensing coil.
>> >
>> > Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
>> > On Oct 25, 2013 10:07 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Most all window AC use a single motor to drive both the evaporator and
>> > > condenser fans. You also have to consider the position of the coils in
>> > > relationship to the compressor so the oil circulates and travels through
>> > > the
>> > > compressor. Needing AC while camped is often the first sign your out
>> > > growing
>> > > the Westy.
>> > >
>> > > Dennis
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> > Of
>> > > Jim Felder
>> > > Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:07 AM
>> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > > Subject: Re: idea?
>> > >
>> > > My brother and I were discussing cutting an AC unit in two and mounting
>> > > part
>> > > outside, part inside, under the rear seat.
>> > >
>> > > Also, it would be possible--but more difficult--to mount a split unit
>> > like
>> > > that in the luggage rack with only vents down into the cabin, but the
>> > cabin
>> > > roof would have to be penetrated and all the controls would have to be
>> > > completely remoted. A weather cover would have to be created for the
>> > > luggage
>> > > rack mount. While the unit would not have to be "split" like it would if
>> > > mounted under the seat (the whole thing would be mounted outside the
>> > > vehicle) it would benefit from being rearranged to better fit the space
>> > in
>> > > the luggage rack to keep the profile low.
>> > >
>> > > The underseat mount would allow you to use the faceplate of the unit just
>> > > as
>> > > it came from the factory as long as it was not more than 13 inches tall.
>> > >
>> > > The problem of making up some mounts is not trivial but not much harder
>> > > than
>> > > some intercooler mounts. I have a friend who works on this type of small
>> > > window unit AC, and he said the only problem would be knowing where to
>> > cut
>> > > the lines and then installing the valves and plumbing to allow evacuation
>> > > and refill. He said he would show me when we had a unit to look at, which
>> > > hasn't happened yet.
>> > >
>> > > You could put one in the closet, too, I think but it wold be even harder
>> > to
>> > > split the unit using that space.
>> > >
>> > > Would love to hear from anyone who has modified a unit by cutting and
>> > > modifying the tubing.
>> > >
>> > > Jim
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 7:47 AM, ralph meyermann
>> > > <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > Correct placement is a must for issues like that. If I use the front
>> > > > part of the original unit, it would simplify the controls too?
>> > > >
>> > > > Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
>> > > > On Oct 25, 2013 7:40 AM, <ddbjorkman@verizon.net> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > Careful how you use that space above the transaxle.  It could cause
>> > > > > a space restriction should you decide to remove the engine or
>> > starter.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Dave B.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > On 10/25/13, ralph meyermann<ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Still thinking/brainstorming/planning on how I could make it work.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
>> > > > > On Oct 24, 2013 8:57 PM, "Scott Daniel" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
>> > > > wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > > There's quite a bit of unused space above the transaxle in a 2WD
>> > > > vanagon.
>> > > > > > huge 'outside' area there ....just integrate the unit into that
>> > > > > > rear firewall behind the rear seat.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > On 10/24/2013 5:33 PM, Mike B wrote:
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >> You can't integrate "everything" into the interior. The condenser
>> > > > > >> and it's fan still must be mounted outside or be able to exhaust
>> > > > > >> it's hot air to the outside or it won't cool the interior.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> On 10/24/2013 8:09 PM, ralph meyermann wrote:
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >>> Hi Volks! I have a possibly crazy but possibly doable idea. I am
>> > > > > >>> thinking about getting a new 110v window a/c unit, disassembling
>> > > > > >>> it and integrating it into the interior and underneath reconnect
>> > > > > >>> everything recharge
>> > > > with
>> > > > > >>> refrigerant and tie it into the the 110v of the van. Some slim
>> > > > > >>> low
>> > > > amp
>> > > > > >>> 110v fans will be needed. Am I the only one thinking with this
>> > > > possible
>> > > > > >>> nonsense?
>> > > > > >>> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
>> > > > > >>>
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > >
>> > > >
>> > >
>> >
>