-
Cruise Air Repair or replace
Hello,
I will be taking my coach to AAP in August…currently I have 3 cruise airs. My mid unit works perfectly, always cold air. My stateroom unit works well when in add Freon, but has a leak and after a week or so it not cooling. My front cools, but never gets cold even when I add Freon.
My coach is a 1998 and I am wondering if I should have them repair or just replace the two units with new ones. I plan on keeping this coach until I am too old to drive and I am concerned with just trying to repair and having issues down the road.
Any one have thoughts on the best direction? Does anyone know what an estimated replacement cost would be?
Thanks
David Thomas
1998 Featherlight
-
14 Replies
-
Repair will definitely coast a whole lot less than new units and really what is a new unit? New compressor and fan motor??? I mean if you change compressor and fan motor you basically have a new unit but the advantage of a new unit is that it come with the new r410 Freon or 134 which is not such a hassle as the r22 but it’s all on how deep your pockets are and what your willing to spend at the end of the day. I just repaired one of my cruisair units and I am going to install a new compressor on the other.
-
AAP can repair or sell a refurbished or a new one.
A refurbished unit retains a lot of the existing one, but you can specify how much of that unit you want to be new as opposed to re-used.
They will use R-22 because it is the most efficient. They will not use anything else.
Your choice depends on how much you are prepared to spend and your tolerance for risk. A repair is the least expensive way to go, but it leaves you with a bunch of original parts. A refurbished unit is more expensive and a lot of but not all working parts are replaced. A new unit is all brand new so it is the most expensive and has the most reliability.
If your units are easily accessed your tolerance for risk can be higher because it is not such a hassle to get at and repair them. But if accessing the units is difficult and time consuming you might want to consider going refurbished or new.
-
Hello,
Two of my three Cruise Airs are not keeping freon…when I fill my Front and Aft units they work well for a week or so then then stop cooling. I have decided to put in new units at AAP in mid August. I have prepaid and they have confirmed that they will be built and sent by Domectic to meet my trip deadline.
My question is after I install the new units, what are the chances I may have a leak in the copper lines leading to the evaporators or a bad evaporator themselves? AAP said they don’t chase down leaks between evaporator and the main box.
I know this would be a guess on the groups part, but has what are your thoughts?
Thanks
David Thomas
1998 Featherlight XL
-
I seriously doubt if the lines between the evaporator or condenser are going to leak, however when the installation is complete a vacuum is pulled on the system and if it does have leaks in those lines the amount of vacuum possible will not be what is expected and then they will check further.
My bet is you will not have leaks in those lines.
-
Jon and Jeff Rowe: How many fittings are there between the two parts of a Cruise-Air? Are there enough fitting that a “leak in the line” could be the problem? Jeff, how often do you find leaks in the C-A lines? Do the converters use soft copper that they bend around the corners, through the holes, and use only one piece … that due to vibration and/or chafing a hole has been worn in the line?
-
I would (and am) replace all the cruiseairs with rooftop air. I went with Mach 8 Colemans, they are the lowest profile..you can see why. I ran new wire to the panel for the AC’s, disconnected and capped the cruiseair wiring but left it in place. Not a hard project…just time consuming and HOT in Arizona right now. I had 3 basement airs and 2 roof airs, goal is 4 roof airs, 0 basement airs. Cruisair just cant cut it when its over 100 degrees in the AZ sun. Even when they dont shut off from high pressure, they dont move enough air. Bring your bus to my house…i got some tools…we can cut some squares……
-
Great pics. Any advice on handling the interior ceiling? Mike
-
Hello,
I have been down the road trying to repair things and almost always end up replacing at some point. I have ordered two new units that match my existing.
Costs:
Repair ??? No Warranty
Refub $33000 90 day warranty
New $44000 1 year waranty.
With me replacing them mid august, being able get through next summer under warranty is a good feeling.
Thanks for all your input folks!!
David Thomas
1998 Featherlight XL
-
Holy crap that is tight! Inch is as good as a mile as long as it clears.
-
“Great pics. Any advice on handling the interior ceiling?” Mike
Im using the non ducted ceiling kit. So the air blows straight from the bottom of the unit. I dont really care about having thermostats, they are either on high cool, or off.
-
“Holy crap that is tight! Inch is as good as a mile as long as it clears.”
Let me tell you about the time I backed in and the rear dump valve didnt cycle and I didnt double check… I check now.
-
Done! Follow up pictures.
-
Good Job.
-
I did the same but painted the lower units black
Log in to reply.