Replacing The AC Shroud

**JohnB** · 11-25-2009, 06:11 PM

Hi Fellow Sunline Campers

The effects of the sun really plays havoc with plastic, especially if it is not formulated for high UV protection. My T310SR prior owner was not so religious about treating plastic with a UV inhibitor. In fact I do not think they used any. On my T2499 we bought new, I have babied it since it was new and it shows. The plastic is still in very good shape as I used 303 Protectant on it starting when we took ownership. It makes a difference. Than and being stored in side. Plus the OEM plastic I'm sure is not as good. They put the money in the AC unit, not the shroud so much.

Pretty soon I will have replaced just about everything on my T310 roof due to sun damage. The shower dome is still holding, but I’m keeping an eye on it. The Max air covers, well they are made out of better plastic and still holding there own, but I can tell they are not as pliable as the T2499.

So now it was time for the AC shroud. This summer I cleaned the AC coils from tips of Trailblazer and Frank. And when I did that job I saw the AC shroud was getting in rough shape. So I searched and ordered a new replacement cover. It took a while bu I found a good one.

I could buy the same Dometic replacement which did not thrill me after seeing what this one turned into so I went to look at Camco. They only make them for he Coleman Mach, not the Dometic Brisk air.

So I found these folks up in Canada, http://www.icondirect.com/ProductCart/pc/home.asp They offer them with a 30 year warranty. Which is enough for me…

They are not cheap but I have no reservations on there quality. I can tell by flexing the new should, the plastic is made better.

So here is the process in pics.

The new shroud out of the box. I put 303 on both the inside and outside before I ever installed this.

Here is the box tag. They have different models for different years.

Here is the old on one the roof.

And some of the cracks that are staring to run.

This one had me the most worried. As if it split the whole thing can come off and possible fly down the road into someones windshield.

And with the cover off

Now another problem is the screws. They are all rusting out and with it they are rusting the AC unit base. I am slowly fixing this problem across the camper. Stainless Steel screws. In the cost of a new camper, it would be like $20 more for outside stainless hardware. Wish that was even an option.

I used no. 10 x 1” long SS sheet metal screws and fender washers.

Here is the cover with the new screws

And the entire cover installed. Also not there are no back screws and no opening where the top split was.

Dometic themselves changed somewhere in 2004 time frame from that large opening to the covered back. I saw that at Kitty’s and EMD_Drivers T299. it had the new style cover the coils verses open. Must have had issues with the large open one.

Now here is how bad the old one was. I put light top down pressure on the top and the thing split apart in splinters it was so brittle. I could snap it up into pieces no problem to throw away in the trash.

While this is not a big repair, but one that needed to be done in my case. Hope it helps someone in the future.

John

EMD_Driver · 11-25-2009, 06:53 PM

Great post and great pics John! My only concern, would be the size of the exhaust holes in the back. I could only dig up one pic of the 299's shroud and it's not the greatest pic. I will have to measure them and get a better pic tomorrow.

With the increased hole size, you would get greater heat dissipation. The new shroud looks a bit restrictive to me..

Gary

**JohnB** · 11-25-2009, 07:35 PM

H'mm slot size.

Well I dug and dug on the web and can only come up with the rear pic of a Dometic with rear coil gurad.

I can find about 20 pics of the side.... no rear...

EMD_Driver · 11-25-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

I can find about 20 pics of the side.... no rear...

I'll get you one....

emam · 11-25-2009, 09:07 PM

Hey John, thanks for the post, I swear by the 303 Protectant, but havent been able to find any now for the past 6 months.

Where do you get yours. Wal Mart used to sell it, and they stopped carrying it and I've even checked a few boat stores, but no luck.

I try and put it on every plastic part on the roof and outside of the camper at least twice a year, and I'm due for my second dose

Poppy & Nana · 11-25-2009, 09:13 PM

We bought ours at Camping World when we went to the Western NY (Rochester) M&G......

**JohnB** · 11-25-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emam

Hey John, thanks for the post, I swear by the 303 Protectant, but havent been able to find any now for the past 6 months.

Where do you get yours. Wal Mart used to sell it, and they stopped carrying it and I've even checked a few boat stores, but no luck.

I buy it by the gallon. Ordered my last one from Camping World over a year ago. Boy I hope they did not get in trouble with the down turn in the ecomnoy. Wal-Mart changes stock a lot. If it isn't moving, they move it right out the door.

Let me know if you can't find any... I need to start looking soon too.

phillong · 11-26-2009, 01:23 PM

You can purchase it right from their website:

http://www.303products.com/

Phil

precorguy · 12-01-2009, 05:09 AM

John, how do you keep your roof so clean!
our Sunline is a 2007 and i wash the roof 2 times a year with rubber roof cleaner - it is not nearly as clean as yours ---- how do you do it!

i don't want to walk on it as its a non-walkable roof --- but i would like to clean take the max air vent covers off and clean them --- i am concerned about being on the roof.

**JohnB** · 12-02-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by precorguy

John, how do you keep your roof so clean!
our Sunline is a 2007 and i wash the roof 2 times a year with rubber roof cleaner - it is not nearly as clean as yours ---- how do you do it!

Well it's work.... And this 32 footer is a more work then the 26 footer T2499. But we like the room so work it is

I clean about every 2 1/2 to 3 months. So that is about 4 to 5 times a year. And I watch what I park it under...

I use Tide like the Sunline manual says to use laundry soap and and I use some of the rubber roof cleaner every now and then.

I have a long car wash brush on a pole and I have a good 300# rated labber. Have to move is about ever 6 to 7 feet and do some more.

I have not found the "simple" way yet. Maybe by next summer it will come. The simple way is to store it "inside" helps with black streaks too...

John

emam · 12-02-2009, 11:42 PM

I was up on the roof yesterday to put something away and noticed that our A/C shroud has the full cover all the way around it too. Want me to snap a pic of it?

**JohnB** · 12-03-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emam

I was up on the roof yesterday to put something away and noticed that our A/C shroud has the full cover all the way around it too. Want me to snap a pic of it?

Pat, YES. Also if you are up there, measure the slots in the back.

Thanks

John

EMD_Driver · 12-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Pat and John,
I can get the pics and measurements much easier. Ours is sitting on the floor, in the shed.

Gary

EMD_Driver · 12-03-2009, 02:58 PM

Here are the pics of the A/C shroud. I wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes, by taking these pics. I figure it's safer to take pics, while the unit is sitting on the floor, as opposed to on a roof..

emam · 12-03-2009, 03:23 PM

Gary, that looks like the exact same one I have, so no need in me posting any photos.

Besides, your's are better with the measuring tape and all

EMD_Driver · 12-03-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emam

Gary, that looks like the exact same one I have, so no need in me posting any photos.

Besides, your's are better with the measuring tape and all

Pat,
I just didn't want to step on your toes... I had offered to take some pics, but hadn't taken the time to get them. With all we have going on right now, I have to "Take" time for stuff..

Gary

emam · 12-03-2009, 05:17 PM

I totally understand about Taking Time to do things.

Better to have it all documented now while you're doing it, then to cuss at yourself later when you wish you could have

**JohnB** · 12-03-2009, 06:53 PM

Thanks for the pics guys. Both mine and the Dometic have 19 slots but the width, My pic was on an angle and may be a bit deceiving.

Now that I have a measurement target, I’ll go check and report back. Also email Icon Tchnologies on how that came up with that slot width if it is different then the Dometic.

Thanks

John

EMD_Driver · 12-18-2009, 05:03 PM

John,

I just noticed the cover on the F-311SR... It's different yet!

Obviously, I haven't yet had the opportunity to measure the holes for you.. They do look much larger that the one from Stan's T-299SR.

**JohnB** · 12-19-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMD_Driver

Obviously, I haven't yet had the opportunity to measure the holes for you.. They do look much larger that the one from Stan's T-299SR.

Gary, I saw that the 1st time I saw your rig pic. Those slots are on an angle even and the back is enclosed. It's like that vintage of AC unit is newer some how then the 2004 unit I have.

For the slots, I kept a chuck of my old one where the slots are on the sides. So I can measure my old one on the sides to the new one on the end.

I'll write a note to the company who made mine on just how did they come up with that slot pattern. Technically you only need enough slot to be equal plus some safety factor to the CFM of the fan at a certain pressure drop. If there is 200% more slot then needed well it does not hurt you but it is just extra. And on the other end of the spectrum, if you only have 80 or 90% of needed open area, then you have issues. The unknown is what is 100% flow path??

I have amperage readings and duct temperature drops from the AC cleaning I did last fall. Come spring, I can crank mine up and check the duct temp drop. If I’m still getting the same cooling across the system, intake temp to output temp, and the same amps, well then I can’t tell the difference I would think.

I’ll report back what Icon says on the slots and my duct temp check, but it will be a few months before for that right about now…. Winter is here!!!

John