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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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08-09-2020, 09:18 AM | #1 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-25-17
Location: Killeen, TX
Name/Nickname : Donnie
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Food Trailer Rooftop AC
Hey All,
This summer has finally forced me to break down and install an AC in my food trailer. I have a rooftop hole already cut for it and I already have an electrical line ran for it. For reference my food trailer interior is a 14' long and 8.5' wide, so I'm just under 120 square feet on the interior. I'm looking for suggestions as to brand / type of AC unit that I should be looking at. I also have no way to get on top of the trailer, so I'd likely need to have it installed by a professional. I'm trying to get a general idea of cost for parts and installation. Any and all advice will be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!
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Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS |
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08-09-2020, 10:39 AM | #2 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 01-31-19
Location: South Bend, IN
Name/Nickname : Bob
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Was the electrical service to the hole in the roof already there for something along the lines of a powered roof vent?
Make sure that's a 30 amp circuit before you spend any money... That aside you'll need at least a 13,500 btu unit and the Dometic Brisk is the best value unit for the price.
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Shirley Fabrication 24 X 70 elevated straight back "Fire for Effect" |
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08-09-2020, 10:46 AM | #3 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 06-18-14
Location: Denver, CO
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Maybe look at taking it to an RV shop and have them install it. Coleman makes RV air conditioning units as well.
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"Franklinstein" (Franklin Clone), "Ugly Clay Smoker" (UDS) |
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08-09-2020, 11:23 AM | #4 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-25-17
Location: Killeen, TX
Name/Nickname : Donnie
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Quote:
Thanks so much for your response.
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Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS |
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08-09-2020, 11:28 AM | #5 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-25-17
Location: Killeen, TX
Name/Nickname : Donnie
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Quote:
The Coleman 13500BTU looks like it's a 20amp, so that might be an easier way to go for me rather than upgrading my current setup for a 30amp for the Domestic Breeze.
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Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS |
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08-09-2020, 01:13 PM | #6 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 09-07-12
Location: Independence, MO
Name/Nickname : Justin
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We added a 2nd AC to our 5th wheel years ago. The hardest part, was getting the AC on the roof. If it's prewired-then it's just a matter of removing the current screen, dropping in the new one, making the connections, and clamping it in place. I think it took us 30 minutes?
I just used the back of the truck to climb up on the roof, since it already had the AC in the back... |
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08-09-2020, 02:11 PM | #7 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-25-17
Location: Killeen, TX
Name/Nickname : Donnie
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Quote:
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Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS |
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08-09-2020, 04:31 PM | #8 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 01-31-19
Location: South Bend, IN
Name/Nickname : Bob
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Quote:
We use the heat pumps in our trailers a bunch around the holidays when it's cold out they are handy to have. My old trailer uses a Coleman roof unit on a 20 amp circuit, I love it because my little 2000/1700 Champion inverter starts and runs that thing with ease and sips gasoline along with being very quiet. There's zero reason not to run it and use it, cheap and makes a long day at an event or job much nicer. Can't recall if that's a 9k or 12K btu unit, I think the original was 9k and we replaced it with a 12K. There's nothing to the install, just place the compression gasket aligned with the four corners of the opening and carefully set the unit down centered on it, the rest is all done below inside the trailer.
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Shirley Fabrication 24 X 70 elevated straight back "Fire for Effect" |
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08-09-2020, 09:50 PM | #9 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 03-17-12
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Name/Nickname : Mike
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12K to 14K BTU will work for your sq. footage. If no insulation in roof or walls and ovens going with windows open etc. consider a 24k BTU unit.
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Cooking Equipment: Weber WSM, Weber GA, Weber Spirit E-310, Weber 22" OTG Charbroil Oilless Turkey Fryer Wife LuzziAnn 1956 model. Ink Bird IBBQ 4T Wi-Fi Temp Monitor, Superfast LSU Purple Thermapen & ThermaPop, Party Q Ink Bird Sous Vide, HF Flame Thower My Motto these days is "Low Stress, Low Drag". The Artist Formally Known as Toast |
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08-10-2020, 03:54 PM | #10 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-25-17
Location: Killeen, TX
Name/Nickname : Donnie
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So I dragged my food trailer to Camping World in Garner (about 2 hour trip each way) as they told me they could do all the work I was requesting (AC, water heater, and a couple of other things). So I get there and they outright refuse to do any work on a food truck / trailer, even though on the phone they said they had worked on food trucks before and it wouldn't be a problem. What a mess...anyways, I ended up with a Domestic Brisk II plus the control panel.
I'm looking at installing the unit tomorrow so hopefully that will work out and not be too bad. I am very cautious about getting on top of my trailer though as it just doesn't look like it's designed to have people on top of it. Guess we'll see how that goes tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for helping out and responding to my post. Cheers!
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Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS |
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08-10-2020, 04:29 PM | #11 | |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 07-06-12
Location: Louisiana
Name/Nickname : Bill
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Quote:
Dometic's are good units. Have 2 on our motorhome. |
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08-10-2020, 05:26 PM | #12 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 12-19-15
Location: Belford NJ
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I put a replacement unit in my friends RV for him and the roof was definitely soft so I went and bought a sheet of 1’ blue rigid insulation to help spread the weight.
Attached is a video showing step by step directions. https://youtu.be/nbGKJMD-ibc
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Jesse Big Bear Ramirez Super fast purple thermapen GMG JB OG PBC Gen 1Weber performer |
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08-10-2020, 05:29 PM | #13 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 12-19-15
Location: Belford NJ
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Part two of the video
https://youtu.be/wNTXCs6CjXg
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Jesse Big Bear Ramirez Super fast purple thermapen GMG JB OG PBC Gen 1Weber performer |
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08-11-2020, 07:01 AM | #14 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 07-19-11
Location: In the Marsh
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I would skip the rooftop unit and go with a 24K btu ductless mini split if you have the wall space inside. You can get a heat pump or a straight AC. In the heat of the summer you'll be glad you have the extra btu's.
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08-11-2020, 07:35 AM | #15 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-25-17
Location: Killeen, TX
Name/Nickname : Donnie
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Thanks Pat but I've already got the rooftop unit and am going to get it going today.
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Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS |
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