We just recently discovered that our Coleman Mach 8 Cub AC wasn't working, when we needed it most in Tucson, AZ in 100+ heat. It is 2 years old and was very rarely used, maybe twice as we had only traveled to cooler places.Of course it is out of warranty by about 2 1/2 weeks! After a $75 diagnosis, the guy told us the copper freon tube had a crack which usually happens because of vibrations. Well, we did travel to Alaska and Canada last summer, including 1000 or so miles on the Dempster Hwy and other gravel roads. So, my guess is that it broke sometime on that trip. We pretty much never plug into shore power, so didn't have a clue.As we were getting our house ready for sale and a major move, we didn't use our TC again until it was time to head cross-country on a dity move this month. Lesson learned: when your warranties are close to expiring, check all you systems.The tube is not repairable and we now have a 100lb or so doorstop.I called Airxcel just in case and they will be shipping me a free refurbished unit (not warrantied) from Kansas that I will have to install (or pay someone). I was very happy that they offered to do that as the local shop quoted $1500 for the unit plus labor.Anyway, my questions are: Why can't they design these things better and make more parts repairable? They cost an arm and a leg and can't take a bit of off-roading? I also question using these models in any TC or overland vehicle specifically designed to be taken off the beaten path. Is there really nothing better? Does anyone know of a brand/model that is "rated" to handle rougher terrain?Has anyone else's AC fallen victim to rough roads?

Glad you got a solution that hopefully gets your camper cooled down again soon.including 1000 or so miles on the Dempster Hwy and other gravel roadsvs.can't take a bit of off-roading?Well... I could show you pictures of my factory stock rear running board mounts on my 2014 Super Duty. There are fatigue cracks 3" long in the cab frame above the mounting brackets on both sides. The truck ran on gravel roads in Alberta before I got it. I need to take it to the shop to have it repaired when this camping season is over. That is just what vibration does to things.The manufacturer of the AC does not know where the unit will be mounted, and under which conditions it will be used on your vehicle. Most RVs do not go off road for long before they start falling apart, and that won't start with the AC unit. I guess they could put some support unter that pipe. Or maybe that would cause other problems. Apparently these things can be refurbished at the factory or at a repair center. Maybe the manufacturer does not want this work to go out to individual small shops, for some reason. Cost of stocking spares, liability for bad repairs, whatever.

You will also find cracked lines on occasion simply by the way they are mounted in the unit and depending on where the crack is, it is possible at times to repair the line and recharge the unit. It is not commonly done, however, and manufacturers' position at that point is they simply need to be replaced.I do not think this type of problem is a common occurrence although rough roads take their toll on, I guess, just about every part of an RV. No upside to rough roads.

They make a model designed for off road use, the Roughneck.

I had the same issue with a Dometic. Hopefully my Mach 8 I have will last longer than yours. I looked into repairing my Dometic, but it was about 10 when it failed. I didn't go anywhere near Alaska, and didn't go over rough roads that often or much when the Dometic failed. My Bilsteins on the current truck are smoother riding than the older Rancho 9000s on the previous truck.Glad that Airxcel covered it.Just curious, do you have the low profile or tall model?

Looks like the warranty is no better on the Roughneck, still two years, right?

Broken copper tube on AC, thanks to Dempster Hwy

joerg68
Nomad III
Aug 01, 2018
Glad you got a solution that hopefully gets your camper cooled down again soon.

including 1000 or so miles on the Dempster Hwy and other gravel roads

vs.
can't take a bit of off-roading?

Well... I could show you pictures of my factory stock rear running board mounts on my 2014 Super Duty. There are fatigue cracks 3" long in the cab frame above the mounting brackets on both sides. The truck ran on gravel roads in Alberta before I got it. I need to take it to the shop to have it repaired when this camping season is over. That is just what vibration does to things.

The manufacturer of the AC does not know where the unit will be mounted, and under which conditions it will be used on your vehicle. Most RVs do not go off road for long before they start falling apart, and that won't start with the AC unit. I guess they could put some support unter that pipe. Or maybe that would cause other problems. Apparently these things can be refurbished at the factory or at a repair center. Maybe the manufacturer does not want this work to go out to individual small shops, for some reason. Cost of stocking spares, liability for bad repairs, whatever.
ardvark
Explorer
Aug 01, 2018
You will also find cracked lines on occasion simply by the way they are mounted in the unit and depending on where the crack is, it is possible at times to repair the line and recharge the unit. It is not commonly done, however, and manufacturers' position at that point is they simply need to be replaced.

I do not think this type of problem is a common occurrence although rough roads take their toll on, I guess, just about every part of an RV. No upside to rough roads.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2018
They make a model designed for off road use, the Roughneck.
jimh406
Explorer III
Aug 01, 2018
I had the same issue with a Dometic. Hopefully my Mach 8 I have will last longer than yours. I looked into repairing my Dometic, but it was about 10 when it failed. I didn't go anywhere near Alaska, and didn't go over rough roads that often or much when the Dometic failed. My Bilsteins on the current truck are smoother riding than the older Rancho 9000s on the previous truck.

Glad that Airxcel covered it.

Just curious, do you have the low profile or tall model?
ardvark
Explorer
Aug 01, 2018
Looks like the warranty is no better on the Roughneck, still two years, right?
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2018
They cost an arm and a leg and can't take a bit of off-roading?

It makes me wonder..I have replaced 2 AC's on small Class C motorhome's I took on rough and rugged roads as well as one TC AC which was used the same way yet none of the travel trailers or fifth wheels that did not get the really rough stuff.

I had never really thought about it until your post but looking back it appears the same thing happened with the ones I used back in the hills also but not others that didn't get the abuse.Huh..
whazoo
Explorer
Aug 01, 2018
It must just be bad luck. I have the same a/c as you on my Outfitter and it still works great after 11 years of off-roaring. Some things just can’t be explained right? Except by luck, good or bad and it sounds like you had both at the same time. So...good luck!
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2018
Offroading gives you bumpy ride, while vibrations come from working engine and motors.
I think you had bad luck, as most of AC units run for 20 years without problems.
Also any crack in copper can be silver-solder.
Year ago we spend 10 days in Phoenix and it was 124F every single day.
Our 18 yo AC worked 24 hr every day.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2018
whazoo wrote:
It must just be bad luck. I have the same a/c as you on my Outfitter and it still works great after 11 years of off-roaring. Some things just can’t be explained right? Except by luck, good or bad and it sounds like you had both at the same time. So...good luck!

Take it up the middle fork of the Boise to Atlanta,that will shake the fillings out of your teeth.:B..Beautiful place if you haven't been there.

I have to agree with the luck thing,some people have issues with AC's and others don't and some with refer's and others have refer's 30 years old still working fine.

It's a roll of the dice anymore with about anything.
thedavidzoo
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2018
Yeah, crappy luck and timing. I might have to check into the Roughneck if/when this refurb replacement goes out.

We do have the low-profile unit which makes our MaxxAir cover the tallest thing on the roof.

We are pretty handy fix-it kinda people and my very capable 18-year old son wanted to repair the tube for us. I just don't want to dump all that freon into the air again if it doesn't hold.

We'll see how it all turns out.

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Broken copper tube on AC, thanks to Dempster Hwy

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