[Dorel]

Les, We have a Vantare equipped with bsmt ac, cruise airs(2) and OTR. It’s a great set up as far as I’m concerned…quiet and efficient. The downside when looking for a coach is that Featherlite used an R-Vac unit for bsmt ac and they are gone and no longer supported. BTW they are 2-stage units not double. While any competent ac guy can repair the unit, if you lose the control board you’re generally out of luck. There is a Coleman-Mach retro-fit, but is pricey….usually around 8k. We got lucky, the previous owner had done the retro-fit shortly before we bought the bus. Geo.

[Tim]

We had a control board built for our ’98 Vantare and it worked flawlessly!!

Apparently it isn’t rocket science.. we had the whole unit redone… new everything !! worked great !!

I wouldn’t be afraid of that system at all.

Cheers, Diane

[Rocky And Tonya]

Thanks! We will look closer at a Featherlite H.

Really appreciate the info.

[Archived]

Les,

Our friend has a Featherlite with basement AC, and it has never worked right. He has replaced the control board several times, last time at Featherlite FL. It also is much noisier than CruiseAirs of Roof ACs–the basement unit is about as noisy as his generator. He has one salon slide, and with no air outlet on the slide side, his coach does not cool very well. Before we bought our coach, I heard many negative comments on basement AC, and after experiencing our friends coach, there is no way I would buy or recommend a coach with basement AC

[Archived]

The Coleman replacement is a solid unit. It’s very quiet, moves lots of air and uses less power. Definitely wouldn’t let it be a deterrent to looking at a Featherlite.

[Tom]

Do you have the model number of the Coleman that replaces the original unit.

[Harry]

46515-811

[Alvie]

does the coleman unit work good for a replace for old rvac unit in a vantare h345 thanks randy

[AL]

Yes Randy that Coleman is what we are installing to replace the old RVACs

[Gerald]

Les,

I have the Coleman and it is super quiet both inside and outside. It is very efficient. A 2 ton unit with an additional fan booster if needed. Heat pump works well as well as the additional webasto (Aquahot) heat. See me at West Palm and we will go look at it.

Fred

[Archived]

Thank you Fred.

I’ll be in the SOB, parked in the VIP area amongst the proper buses. I’d like to learn more about the Coleman retrofit.

There is at least one Featherlite scheduled to be on display that I’m interested in. I don’t want the central basement air to scare me away needlessly.

[needtocamp]

Les, I don’t think it matters what conversion you consider because it is likely every one has something that has been shown to be a problem or source of irritation. I have never owned a Vantare but I would not hesitate to include one in a search because like all other conversions it is proven to be a good quality reliable coach.

Knowing if the basement unit has issues that you have options to deal with it makes the selection of a coach with one pretty much a no brainer.

[Archived]

I have looked at virtually everything in the 400k range and it is my opinion that Country Coach got it right on the interior and exterior just before they went out of business. We often speak of that “wow” factor and they have it -at least for my wife and I.

But – the AC is critical in the western summer and I am just not sure that dual basement AC’s are the best effort. I have read this thread which is helpful. Does anyone know what brand basement ac that CC was using in 2006. I see a Marathon a year older with an asking price 70k more than the CC. Is it just overpriced or does it reflect the original cost of materials used in each? Does the basement AC factor into this? I know any weak point can be “fixed” but I am not interested in starting that process when I make the plunge.

wave