MCI 102D3 AC removal YES NO ???

NeoplanAN440 · August 31, 2011, 11:48:26 AM

Trying to get the most info before i start with the new Bus.

The OTR AC system is fully functional and cooled down great when we brought the bus home last night. Looking over the components i am trying to find out if i take it out or not !!! this is a low mile coach and everything is in great condition so far, but my main idea was to take it all out and go with mini splits .

has anyone a system where they still only use the driver front ac ?? maybe with a different condenser and smaller compressor ??

on our neoplan with have roof airs running of a xantrex sw inverter. so far the system works great , but while driving we were missing some cold air from the front vents

interested what set up everybody here uses !!

bevans6 · August 31, 2011, 03:28:34 PM

The consensus is there is no consensus. Everyone's needs, situation and bus is different. You need to evaluate if your bus AC still works, what shape it's in, estimate cost to fix if broken, maintain if not, your travel habits, your climate and what you just happen to feel like doing. Remember that if you aren't running the engine, it doesn't work, so you still need the entire mini-split, roof air whatever. You will probably also find a need for the inverter, but maybe you can get away with a smaller one if you plan on the OTR AC always working, or maybe you are like me and would build in a backup plan - I hate driving when I am hot!

My OTR was broken and I yanked it. From what I am told you can't use the OTR AC to just run the drivers air evaporator.

Brian

Scott & Heather · August 31, 2011, 04:30:32 PM

We have a very well insulated coach with a single 13,500 BTU roof air unit mounted over the livingroom area of the coach. We pulled our OTR a/c and heat out completely. When on the road, we switch that roof air to full-blast, direct the air towards the front seats, and roll. It works great. Used it in 90+ degree weather driving out from Michigan to Pennsylvania this summer.

lostagain · August 31, 2011, 04:58:43 PM

When I looked after the hockey team's D3, the AC maintenance was the highest at +- $1000/year. Ask any comm. bus co. and they'll tell you the same thing: AC maint. is the most costly to keep a coach on the road. Roof airs are a lot cheaper to buy and replace.

JC

Scott & Heather · August 31, 2011, 05:43:40 PM

Quote from: Scotty on August 31, 2011, 04:30:32 PM
We have a very well insulated coach with a single 13,500 BTU roof air unit mounted over the livingroom area of the coach. We pulled our OTR a/c and heat out completely. When on the road, we switch that roof air to full-blast, direct the air towards the front seats, and roll. It works great. Used it in 90+ degree weather driving out from Michigan to Pennsylvania this summer.

Might I add, in retrospect, I wish I had kept the OTR heat....without a doubt. Stupid of us to remove it.

jmblake · August 31, 2011, 05:48:39 PM

I wouldn't do with out my OTR AC, I got it up and running for around $1000.00 about 3 years ago and it has been doing great (Knock on wood) This summer on vacation my wife had the cold air returns blocked off by some stuff and it froze up so I started the generator and fired up the roof airs and it didn't even compare to the bus AC, I like it when every one has to have a blanket on in the middle of summer. Jason

christopher · August 31, 2011, 05:50:10 PM

mine has been going for ten years without a problem. keep it
chris
mci5c

scanzel · August 31, 2011, 06:12:30 PM

I kept my otr even though it cost me $4200.00 to replace the compressor and some other things. If the generator fails then what backup do you have while traveling until the gen can be fixed etc. A small dask unit may help but nothing like a good system to cool everything while traveling. Everyone has their own opinion on this so do what you can afford. I will keep my otr especially when traveling out west in summer months. Also the existing duct work gives great heat when cold.

luvrbus · August 31, 2011, 06:17:30 PM

Age takes a toll on the road air, mileage really doesn't all that mean much.
I have a friend in the charter business they have 180 buses I have ask this question to him before he says no individual without AC knowledge the equipment and the right papers should never own a bus with factory air one compressor seal can cost you 2 grand in labor,parts and freon btw they change seals on theirs as PM on his buses.
He liked the old systems best that you could cut off the freon to compressor in the winter to keep the compressor seals from going bad he cannot do that on the new stuff now it cost a 5000 dollar compressor
He gave me a breakdown on his cost per year on new buses it is here somewhere,then check the HP use on a factory air

good luck

Highway Yacht · August 31, 2011, 07:05:45 PM

I ripped the OTR A/C unit out of my first bus since it wasn't working when I bought it. When I bought my 2nd bus (MC9), the OTR A/C system worked like a charm so I opted to keep it. I've only owned the MC9 for a little over a year but the A/C still works great.. I do crank the bus up about once a month and run the OTR a/c for a few minutes even during the winter months. I was told by an old A/C guy that was key to getting the most life out of the seals and unit itself. I do that with my auto and home a/c's as well. I hope the OTR unit will last for many more years, but once it does give out, I'll probably yank it out and spend my money on an inverter and battery bank if that route is cheaper..

Jimmy

Gary W · August 31, 2011, 07:48:24 PM

I have a 102A-3 kept the OTR AC system, it gets pretty hot with the big windshield . I had the system checked over when we bought the coach, found out the compressor was leaking. Bought a rebuilt from Welch Industries for $1600. Works great . Wouldn't be without.

Gary