Update on Problems with my Raptor

[EricBu12]

Below is a repeat of what I had in problems... and what I did to fix it... .

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I found out some short-comings on my Rapter trailer during a 2 week trip to Monument valley. When we were running the Generator to run the A/C, the heat migrated into the storage compartment behind it and the floor that is above it, is not insulated so the heat went into the living area. We bought 2, full size 4x8' sheets of 2" R-10 foam and cut out pieces to fit in-between the frame rails and then use expando foam to fill in drain areas... I then covered the whole thing with the "Reflectix" roll and screwed it to the frame rails so that adds a little more R value...



I added some of the 2" foam to the rear of the pantry and cabinet above the fridge as the only thing separating the heat of the fridge vent and living area, is 1/8" panneling. . So now it is 2" shallower...



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Now for the Coup/de grace... The wardrobe in the front was always hot whenever the sun was against it... There was a 4" pannel trim I was able to remove and look in. The insulation they did use was skimpy thin but it had settled down about 12" so over 16" high was not insulated all the way across!! So Dad went down to hom Depot and got a roll of Corning R-19 batting. Sqeezed it into the opening and did 3, 8' strips to fill the area so now it is better.....



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The trailer is pre-wired for a second A/C over the bedroom so on the vacation, we added a regular 13. 5 A/C there. The roof is pretty flat so the front A/C is like 2" higher than the rear one...



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I had to coat the ramp door since all they did was paint it. it is like a plywood and when it was wet it was very slippery... . Used the Dupli-color coating for truck beds at Autozone for $50



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Now The A/C operation is much, MUCH better. It actually cools off fairly quickly even when starting up in the middle of the day...



I sent a 5 page letter explaining in detail with 3 pages of 9 pictures each to Keystone RV. I hoped they would be really impressed and make a nice letter and offer something for my troubles but what I got was a Tanked, "Form" letter that they modified a bit to fit me but it was all of 2 paragraphs thanking me for my comments and we will use this info to better our product and such... . They didn't even sign it, just type and send... #@$%! There was a copy "Cc" to "File"



So now everything works good and such. I don't expect anything, now, from them... I have another warranty thing I bought when I bought the trailer and I can do any work at any other dealer under that and not Keystone...

 

[JJ Jackson]

Keystone is owned by Thor, the good news is, you won't be dissapointed from now on ,you'll already be used to it.

 

[MABurns]

I would think with such a small area to cool that you would not need a 13. 5 in the bedroom... ...



Did you close off the vents into the bedroom from the main AC duct or leave them in tact so you can work off of one if it isn't too hot?

 

[BGlidewell]

good work. Dont feel too bad though, my mobile suites has the same types of problems. I bet it would leak like a screen door under a pressure test.



I saw daylight through the pocket door opening going into the bedroom and the cargo area is cool when the doors are first opened with the AC on. I think the refrigerator has been repaired 4 times with only a few trip hours on it. The drawer under the refrigerator fell off its mount, (the slides were secured by a 6" wood-screw into the 1/4" plywood facia and the drawer is HUGE.

Lots of time for tinkering.

 

[EricBu12]

The 13. 5 A/C we put in was a convenience thing as that was the only thing the dealer had at the time... was a grab and use thing... . I left the Ducts to the bedroom intact as when using the 13. 5 as a vent and the other on A/C, it can circulate that cool air... The bedroom is a small place but with the narrow hallway, the air doesn't get circulated so the new unit does and we mostly shoot the air toward the livingroom and the small amount from the other end is restricted down but alot still goes to it... I just does better even if just used for the fan.



Bglidewell:

Boy! Some people just don't know how to build do they? sigghh... .



I just upgraded the Water pump on this as well... . I HIGHLY recomend the shureflow smart sensor 4. 0 GPM pump. Campingworld has it for $167 club price. This pump is VERY quiet and variable speed it starts off slow and gradually speeds up but is quiet. No hammering of the water and I also have an accumulator tank but one is not required with tis pump... .



There are some drain spout extenders to eliminate black streaks. These clip on the existing ends and extend like 2"... Looks like they will do the job... . Also at campingworld. .