Roof or basement AC

[bubblerboy64]

I am window shopping PT buses. I noticed the first two ads on the bill
board are both for 36 PT's. One talkes about roof ac and the other
talkes about basement ac.s, The newer one says roof ac. I would have
thought them the same. I thought all the PT's had the basement AC.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC

[Page Britt]

At least in the mid-80's I believe basement AC was standard and roof AC was an option. Our 84 PT-40 has 3 roof AC units.

Page & Lynda

1984 PT-40 "Lady Bird"

Greensboro, FL

On Aug 23, 2008, at 9:25 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

I am window shopping PT buses. I noticed the first two ads on the bill
board are both for 36 PT's. One talkes about roof ac and the other
talkes about basement ac.s, The newer one says roof ac. I would have
thought them the same. I thought all the PT's had the basement AC.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC

[Scott Forman]

Three roof A/C's on my 86 PT38.

I have no experience with basement A/C's, but conceptually I prefer the
roof units...easy to work on and relatively easy/cheap to replace of it
goes out.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> I am window shopping PT buses. I noticed the first two ads on the
bill
> board are both for 36 PT's. One talkes about roof ac and the other
> talkes about basement ac.s, The newer one says roof ac. I would have
> thought them the same. I thought all the PT's had the basement AC.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>

[Pete Masterson]

There are many PTs in the mid-80s that offered either "cruise air"
basement ACs or roof mounted ACs (usually by Duo-therm). Arguments
can be made for either. The basement ACs offer less roof clutter and
are potentially quieter inside the coach than the roof-top units.
Roof ACs don't take up space in the basement and are easier to
service and/or replace. To the best of my knowledge, both systems are
ducted so run through air vents throughout the coach (although my
knowledge of the earlier 80's era BBs is limited).

One argument is that the cruise air units draw their input air from
near the "hot pavement" and that the roof top units get "cooler" air
from above. I don't know if this really makes much of a difference in
actual practice.

From my view, the biggest issue would be the loss of basement
storage space with the cruise air. Beyond that, it's mostly a matter
of personal preference.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Idaho Springs, CO



On Aug 23, 2008, at 7:25 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> I am window shopping PT buses. I noticed the first two ads on the bill
> board are both for 36 PT's. One talkes about roof ac and the other
> talkes about basement ac.s, The newer one says roof ac. I would have
> thought them the same. I thought all the PT's had the basement AC.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>

[Glenn Allen]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman"
<scottforman75@...> wrote:
>
> Three roof A/C's on my 86 PT38.
>


Ditto on my 86 PT40. They are on the roof and I like it that way.
I'm in the process of changing out the original DuoTherms with
DuoTherm Low Profile Penguin units. I've got everything purchased,
one replaced, two to go....been on the go too much to get the rest
done. Will get it done soon when I slow down a little. Doing the
labor myself, the total cost will be $1200 for all three. From what
I've been reading, the basement units have a higher maintenance
costs. But, I also realize they are probably a little quiter.

The three original A/Cs were all working but the front one started
acting up. With their age, I decided to invest in new units to
maintain reliability. The last thing I want if for the DW and kids
to sweat on vacation!

The old units are about 15" high. The new units are only 9" high.
They just barely peek above the goat rail.

Regards,

Glenn

Glenn & Lisa
1986 PT-40
Marietta, GA

[Scott Forman]

My units are not ducted other than one small duct from the bedroom
unit into the bathroom. It has never been a problem, all three units
on high and you can hang meat in there on a hot day.

Scott

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> There are many PTs in the mid-80s that offered either "cruise air"
> basement ACs or roof mounted ACs (usually by Duo-therm). Arguments
> can be made for either. The basement ACs offer less roof clutter
and
> are potentially quieter inside the coach than the roof-top units.
> Roof ACs don't take up space in the basement and are easier to
> service and/or replace. To the best of my knowledge, both systems
are
> ducted so run through air vents throughout the coach (although my
> knowledge of the earlier 80's era BBs is limited).
>
> One argument is that the cruise air units draw their input air
from
> near the "hot pavement" and that the roof top units get "cooler"
air
> from above. I don't know if this really makes much of a difference
in
> actual practice.
>
> From my view, the biggest issue would be the loss of basement
> storage space with the cruise air. Beyond that, it's mostly a
matter
> of personal preference.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO
>
>
>
> On Aug 23, 2008, at 7:25 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > I am window shopping PT buses. I noticed the first two ads on the
bill
> > board are both for 36 PT's. One talkes about roof ac and the other
> > talkes about basement ac.s, The newer one says roof ac. I would
have
> > thought them the same. I thought all the PT's had the basement AC.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
>

[Bob Lawrence]

My bus came with both.
When running down the road, we start the genset,close off half the
bus and run with the roof air. It is not ducted like the cruise airs
are.
Can't run the cruise air's while driving since they get their air
from underneath and don't fair well when road is hot.
Roof air cools front of bus fine.
Don't like using the roof air when parked if we want to use tv as to
noisy for my poor hearing. Start the front cruise air and can hear
fine.
For us, both have their uses.
Bob Lawrence
84 PT36
Branson, Mo. (Where we have to use ac everyday)

There are many PTs in the mid-80s that offered either "cruise air"
> basement ACs or roof mounted ACs (usually by Duo-therm). Arguments
> can be made for either. The basement ACs offer less roof clutter
and
> are potentially quieter inside the coach than the roof-top units.
> Roof ACs don't take up space in the basement and are easier to
> service and/or replace. To the best of my knowledge, both systems
are
> ducted so run through air vents throughout the coach (although my
> knowledge of the earlier 80's era BBs is limited).
>
> One argument is that the cruise air units draw their input air
from
> near the "hot pavement" and that the roof top units get "cooler"
air
> from above. I don't know if this really makes much of a difference
in
> actual practice.
>
> From my view, the biggest issue would be the loss of basement
> storage space with the cruise air. Beyond that, it's mostly a
matter
> of personal preference.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO
>