Check your AC mounting bolts
I was doing maintenance on my 5th wheel AC unit. I found three of the mounting bolts loose and one had almost fell out. Click For Full-Size Image.
Forum Discussion
The CAUSE of loose mounting bolts is simple. The AC gasket slowly compresses over time. Once that happens, the mount bolts are now "loose". Travel and vibration cause them to slowly get looser and looser. The problem with just tightening the existing bolts depends on HOW MUCH the AC gasket has compressed. The most common mistake people make with just retightening the bolts and NOT checking the gasket thickness is, you tighten the bolts but you have to tighten MORE to get the bolts snug and then odds are you have totally compresses the remaining AC gasket and NOW, you have the AC evap pan drain holes touching the roof top and NOT draining correctly and now you have condensation water overflowing into the inside of the RV.
1. ALWAYS replace the gasket when the bolts have come loose
2. One way to STOP the bolts from causing compression of the gasket and then the bolts get loose is to install springs between the bolt head and the retainer ring. This keeps constant tension on the bolts and does not allow the AC gasket to compress as much. Winne/Itasca used to install these springs years ago to stop this. Doug
1. ALWAYS replace the gasket when the bolts have come loose
2. One way to STOP the bolts from causing compression of the gasket and then the bolts get loose is to install springs between the bolt head and the retainer ring. This keeps constant tension on the bolts and does not allow the AC gasket to compress as much. Winne/Itasca used to install these springs years ago to stop this. Doug
