Recommended AC Unit With Heat Pump For A Box Truck Turned Into A Mobile Tiny Home

Question:

I am looking for a rooftop ac unit for my 15 foot box truck. I am turning it into a mobile tiny home. I have solar panels and battery storage. I have looked at dometic, and mabru, and several others but am not confident in purchasing without some guidance.

asked by: Amber D

Expert Reply:

If you're wanting to install an AC unit with a heat pump on your box truck I recommend the Advent Air RV Air Conditioner w/ Air Distribution Box, Start Capacitor, and Heat Strip - 13,500 Btu Item # ACM135CH. This unit comes with an air distribution box that has a built-in thermostat, a start capacitor to help jumpstart the AC so you won't need as high of a starting wattage, and an electric heat strip to keep you warm in the winter.

This unit weighs approximately 100lbs so you'll need to reinforce your roof to hold the weight and create a 14-1/4"x14-1/4" opening. The roof will also need to be build up to a thickness of 2-1/2" to 5" thick. I've attached an install video that where David will show you just how to do this.

Solar panels are for recharging a battery bank and can't really provide enough energy to power your unit. You'll either need to plug into 30 amp service or use a generator like the A-iPower 3,800-Watt Portable Inverter Generators - 3,000 Running Watts # 289-SUA2000i-2. I've included a few of our solar power help articles that offer a ton of information of using solar power.

expert reply by: Kevin C