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Thanks so much Chuck and Chris,
This is so helpful to know that there are replacement units available if needed! I did see Aqua-Air on Prevost-stuff but I wasn't sure if it was really a viable option
I do not have road air on this coach.Yes, it would be costly to replace a Cruiseair unit, but at least there is a solution. If there was a total failure-would the dash air at least keep you somewhat comfortable? I had a Dutchstar a few years ago and the dash air kept the driver and passenger pretty comfortable on all but the hottes days.
Thanks for the advice on keeping it running during the winter. I will do that for sure. I was in a Newmar Dutchstar until a few years ago and the only problem I had during the winter was flat spots on the tires. Freightliner told me to keep the coach on its jacks all winter to keep the pressure off the tires but the storage facility would not allow that since they had to move the coaches on occasion. How do you handle that? I was happy they moved them around as it kept everything running for a short while.
The coach has 161,000 miles on it. The PDI is available for me to review. I need to find out about the service records and upgrades.Otherwise, it is a triple slide unit and meets our needs nicely. Really looking forward to an upgrade in ride and safety.
I have seen in other posts that the Cruiseair units can have trouble on the highway in very hot conditions. Has that been a problem for either of you? Any comments on that? I read that maintenance of the units does help with that.
I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help a potential new owner. I am not afraid of the increased technology on this coach- I just want to have the resources to maintain and fix it properly.
Thanks,
Jerry
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Jerry,
Let me blunt, I have helped in numerous bus purchases and the only deal beaker are cruise air. They are the king of obsolete.
Good Luck.
Later
bv
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Aqua-Air is a direct drop in, using the old control panel and wiring.
They do sell new control panels if you want/need them but mine works fine with the originals.
Chuck
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Good Morning Jerry:
If everything else about the coach meets your expectations, I would not immediately give up on the coach just because of the cruisair. To me, this is not a deal breaker. If they check out well in the PDI and if the price of the coach allows for a replacement or two, then I would consider it.
I would be more concerned about the location of the condensing units. On some coaches, all three are reasonably accessible for maintenance and for replacement. On others, they are buried in a bay and are not accessible.
Most of the performance issues are linked to lack of good condenser airflow and cooling. Sure, some of this is due to age, but I think that in many cases this is due to location and air flow design. In either case, the drop in replacements discussed by others have significantly increased the high ambient temperature performance of the condensing unit.
On the good side, with variable speed evaporator fans, the interior noise level is way lower than with roof top units. If the condensing units are located where you are not sitting outside then that noise level is also low.
My dad's 1997 Marathon is still running the original units and even here in Texas at 100 degrees, they operate very well.
So, I understand that they are not everyone's cup of tea, but many things are like that. If the coach is priced accordingly and it meets your needs, it is worth considering it. You will never find a coach that is not a compromise in some way, you just need to figure out what you are willing to live with ... and without ... and you are not in Arizona!
Definitely do the PDI and then see what you think. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.
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All the touch pads work the same, no need for replacement. Installed one and it was a simple replacement. Much quieter than old cruise airs and includes soft start!
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I am very impressed with all the comments, very impressed! When any one of my crusairs fail I will use what I have seen here to get it replaced.
I will add that in my situation. No matter how well you prepare with these old coaches, some little thing as small as a roof vent quitting is going to happen on every trip. That is the reality. The day that you make a full circle trip without the tiniest problem is time for a celebration. Our quest is to beat every problem before it happens. OH YEAH! AC has to work. Mom wont be happy!
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Thank you all for your comments. They are very helpful and supportive. We love the coach on paper and will be taking a trip to see it in person very soon. I will check the PDI carefully for any Cruiseair issues. Also, will check the location of the condensers as Mark suggests and any service history complaints about shutdown in hot weather. It seems that Liberty has many years of experience with these units and the hope is they have located them in an area that is accessible and has good airflow.
I have reached out to Aqua-air to talk about their drop in units and I have received their aftermarket replacement service contact information that they provided. I'll report back to the group with his recommendations, costs, and comments. For the POG information and future reference the contact info is below. He is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. You can find him on Facebook as I have.
Will keep everyone posted on my journey and thanks again for your help.
Jerry
https://scontent-bos5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...cQ&oe=695A6A24
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Here is the link to his website which is dedicated to replacing existing Cruiseair units
https://fts-aircool.com/
Jerry
