upgrading dash air

[tyaughton]

the dash air system in our Class A sucks, to be polite about it. It blows cold just fine, but you can only direct the A/C through the vents in the dash, not onto the floor. It was not fun driving through Louisiana and Texas with my feet on fire and my face frozen. I would like to upgrade my system so that it works more like my car - I can direct the air in any direction, and augment it by pushing an A/C switch. Has anyone done this?

[tyaughton]

I have one extra hole I can use on the plenum. A friend also suggested putting splitters on the vent hoses so that some goes up and some goes down. Also a good idea. Will need to buy another length of hose.

[tyaughton]

I will have to look at the box. Seems to me there were a couple of capped off holes I could use. There are no 'vents' to block off underneath - their idea of directing air to the floor is to run the hose to the edge of the dash and screw the open end so it faces down. I had to replace a couple of hoses because they'd been zap strapped flat. Thought that was part of the initial problem, but there was a vaccuum hose to the engine that had deteriorated. Now I just need to direct the AC where I want it....and those rectangular vents are so '70's.

[sjholt]

Periodically I find my bottom vents knocked closed after I work in that area.
The top vents seem to cool the front area better.

[rgatijnet1]

Look underneath the dash and you may see a black plastic AC plenum where the supply hoses come off of to go to the various dash vents. You may find a couple of extra cutouts on the plenum where you can add another supply hose or two to direct cool AC air to your feet. I added one hose on my dash AC to direct AC at our big dog that likes to lay on the floor between us.

[tyaughton]

We have a '99 Rexhall. We have three separate controls - a control knob for the fan (off-low-medium-high), a control knob for the temperature (cold to hot), and a control knob that reads (clockwise from the bottom left) max air, air, vent, off, floor, bi-level, defrost. I can do bi-level/cold, with fan on high, but you're right, definitely not as effective as max A/C. Probably something I could live with for the most part, but the husband likes it COLD....except when the vents are blowing on his knees.

[bullydogs1]

On mine, there is a bi-level setting showing a pictogram of the driver with air at face and feet...I do that , then put lever to cold.
It is not as strong as MAX AC since not recirculated air but it does the job.

[tyaughton]

It can't be that difficult to upgrade the dash air to function more productively. I'm not looking to cool down the entire 200 square feet, just "cab" area. I wonder if I could find something suitable at a 'big rig' wrecking yard? Do they have pick-a-parts for big rigs?

[debaets]

What model Class A do you have? Most systems can be adjusted by moving the selector knob to dash, feet or a combination.

[J-Rooster]

Your going to have to use your coach generator to use your house air, unless your able to seal off your drivers seat area.