Recommended AC Systems For Glamping Buses

Question:

We have 2 X 2014 Ford E450 Luxury 14 pax buses on a frame and size that would normally be a 25 pax bus. Due to leaving the Cruise Industry we are looking to convert them to Glamping vans at our small Hotel in Hilo Hawaii. The inside dimension is 8 feet wide x 16 feet long and they have a standard escape hatch which is much bigger than your 14 + inch install dimension for the 13,500 BTU unit. We do see that we would have to provide some sort of Fore and aft diverter to deflect the straight down air. We were most encouraged to see that the unit is already 115 volt as it would be run from a nearby outlet. The vehicles will be parked and not operated on the road, For capacity info there is a cargo area about 3ft fore and aft behind the main cab and a drivers section about 6 feet beyond the 16 X 8 interior. Would you recommend this unit or is there another made to fit escape hatches and is there a unit with a REMOTE CONTROL. We will attach a picture of one of the buses and are open to suggestions

asked by: Doug A

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Advent Air Replacement RV Air Conditioner for Dometic Setup w/ Start Capacitor # ACDOM135 you were looking at is just the rooftop unit. You would need to get a whole system (rooftop condenser unit, air distribution box, thermostat) since you're starting from scratch.

Since you're in a warmer climate I recommend going with the Furrion Chill HE RV Air Conditioner System - Single Zone - 15,000 Btu - White # FR55PV, which is a higher BTU rating at 15,000 and uses dual motors to allow fans to move cool air faster and more efficiently than a single motor. The higher BTU rating means it will run more efficiently, which will lengthen the lifespan of the unit.

The start capacitor in this unit offers an extra boost to help jump-start the AC do that you don't get that huge amp draw power surge when the unit kicks on. It doesn't come with a remote, but it does have a wall thermostat with 4 different operation modes and fan speeds optimize temperature.

This unit, along with all of the others we carry, require a 14-1/4" long x 14-1/4" wide mounting hole. The roof will need to be reinforced to brace for the weight of the unit as well. The components of this system have the following electrical requirements:

Air conditioner: 115V, 60Hz

Air distribution box: 115V AC/12V DC, 60Hz

Single zone premium wall thermostat: 12V DC - since this requires DC voltage you'll need to wire this to the battery and can install a converter/charger like the Progressive Dynamics RV Power Control Center with AC/DC Panel and Converter/Smart Charger # PD4135K to keep your battery charged.

Single zone controller: 115V AC/12V DC, 60Hz

To power these busses you'll want to install an RV power inlet like the SmartPlug RV Power Cord and Black Inlet - 125V - 30 Amp - 30' # SM69FR. These plugs are HEAVY duty and made to last. The casing of the plug has three separate waterproofing features and the thicker solid prongs offer a much better connection than standard RV power cords. This is an important feature because contact issues can cause heat to generate and melt the plug or cause an electrical fire.