FREE Install on Truma Aventa ECO Air Conditioners

[BBL]

OK folks, I have heard many people asking when/if they can upgrade their current air conditioner with a Truma Aventa Eco and, until now, it hasn't been possible.

I am just passing this along. I have no idea IF an Oliver is eligible but from what I can see, it seems like Truma is willing to install at one of their service centers. 

This is not an endorsement, just passing it along.

Brian

[AndrewK]

Thank you!

I just submitted my name and email.

Andrew

[Mike and Carol]

Interesting.  There aren’t any service centers in Texas, just a mobile service out of Austin.  Looks like the only service centers are in Florida and Indiana.  Mike

[Patriot]

Thank you for posting this! I have signed up submitting my name and email as well, and we’ll see if we make the cut! 😊

[Mike and Carol]

Are there any factory equipped Truma Olivers out there yet?  Would like to hear how it performs.  The Houghton gets good reviews.  Mike

[BBL]

3 minutes ago, Mike and Carol said:

Are there any factory equipped Truma Olivers out there yet?  Would like to hear how it performs.  The Houghton gets good reviews.  Mike

The ones in the showrooms have them and they are super quiet. I think they will freeze you out if that is what you were after. For all those considering, the Truma (US Version) does not have a heat pump. I am not sure what the Dometic Penguin has but I really enjoyed having the heat pump in our Dometics in the Airstream for those evenings where it wasn’t cold enough for the furnace.

That being said, I am getting the Truma. 

Brian

[Steph and Dud B]

No heat pump in the new Penguins, either. Wish there was...

[bhncb]

23 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

 Looks like the only service centers are in Florida and Indiana.

The questionnaire alsos implies that Austin will be an installation center.

[Ralph Mawyer]

Any idea what the current Dometic model number is and BTU size. Not in the manual. 
 

2020 Elite II

[SteveCr]

1 hour ago, Ralph Mawyer said:

Any idea what the current Dometic model number is and BTU size. Not in the manual. 
 

2020 Elite II

Link is to the Oliver comparison video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY8kE32ITDE

Dometic Pengiun 2 low profile......11,000 btu

[Geronimo John]

On 9/18/2022 at 2:36 PM, Brian and Brandelyne said:

OK folks, I have heard many people asking when/if they can upgrade their current air conditioner with a Truma Aventa Eco and, until now, it hasn't been possible. ...      This is not an endorsement, just passing it along.

It is nice that we now have three options.  Dometic, Truma and the Houghton.  From experience I know that each owner has his/her unique perspectives.  Some of them maybe:

• Group One:  Hard of hearing and would perfer the Dometic with it's 80 DB rating on high and 75 DB on low fan setting.  
• Group Two:  Those who don't like talking to their significant other, or who wear head phones may prefer the Truma with it's 77 DB rating on high annd 60 DB rating on night setting.
• Group Three: Those of us who like to converse and sleep in a quiet environment the new Houghton AC is available with its 56 DB rating on high and 47 DB on low ratings.

This summer we ended up chasing Katanga PIlot and his lovely bride across much of Alaska.  I recalled his great posts about upgrading his Ollie (Hull 628) and asked if I could see their trailer.  When I steped up into their OE2, I assumed that the AC was not running as it was to my ears  totally silent.  He smiled and said it was running at the High Setting.  For the first time I realized that I could be a Group Three member.  

OTT may want to consider updating their video and A/C Options so the Group 3 folks can also be happier.  🙂  

GJ

PS:  Here is a video that shows how they achieve their class leading DB numbers as well as their Owner's Manual:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zQkBDPOLW4

 

2010454645_HOUGHTONRP-AC3400LowProfileAirConditioner.pdf

[Ralph Mawyer]

Austin Service Center is a remote truck as Mike mentioned. 
 

Service Tech is doing mine onsite in three weeks, unless magic happens and he squeezes it in before our upcoming Alpine trip, but looks unlikely. 
 

Anyone want to buy a Dometic as a spare?

😉

[Mike and Carol]

5 hours ago, Ralph Mawyer said:

Austin Service Center is a remote truck as Mike mentioned. 
 

Service Tech is doing mine onsite in three weeks, unless magic happens and he squeezes it in before our upcoming Alpine trip, but looks unlikely. 
 

Anyone want to buy a Dometic as a spare?

😉

Ralph, Truma or Houghton?  Can I come over for a sound test?  😃. Mike

[hobo]

6 hours ago, Ralph Mawyer said:

Austin Service Center is a remote truck as Mike mentioned. 
 

Service Tech is doing mine onsite in three weeks, unless magic happens and he squeezes it in before our upcoming Alpine trip, but looks unlikely. 
 

Anyone want to buy a Dometic as a spare?

😉

Ralph, Do you already have the Truma hot water heater?  If so, have they explained how they are going to integrate the controls with the existing hot water heater and the thermostat for the propane furnace?  Just curious.

[John and Debbie]

On 9/20/2022 at 9:57 AM, Mike and Carol said:

Are there any factory equipped Truma Olivers out there yet?  Would like to hear how it performs.  The Houghton gets good reviews.  Mike

Mike, we pick up on November 7 and chose the Truma.  It was more expensive, but from what I read in the forum, most people don't like the Dometic.  Oliver did a video comparing the two a couple months ago with decibel ratings.  I don't know if there have been many installed yet.  I don't know how the Truma compares to the Houghton.

John

[SeaDawg]

On 9/30/2022 at 10:41 AM, Geronimo John said:

OTT may want to consider updating their video and A/C Options so the Group 3 folks can also be happier.  🙂  

I have seen no evidence that Houghton has attained RvIA rating, so that pretty much knocks them out of contention, for manufacturers, @Geronimo John. Since we were so far out of warranty,  made no difference to us. Pretty easy swap, actually.  

We like our Houghton. But, I'd say for now, its a replacement unit, only. Our 9500 has no heat strip, nor heat pump. Only the bigger units have a heat strip, I think.

[dewdev]

18 hours ago, John Welte said:

Mike, we pick up on November 7 and chose the Truma.  It was more expensive, but from what I read in the forum, most people don't like the Dometic.  Oliver did a video comparing the two a couple months ago with decibel ratings.  I don't know if there have been many installed yet.  I don't know how the Truma compares to the Houghton.

John

John:

Do you know where I can find that video?

Thanks

[SeaDawg]

This is probably what you're looking for:

 

[dewdev]

Thanks for posting SeaDawg

Does anyone know how the Truma condensate water is discharged?

[John and Debbie]

2 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

This is probably what you're looking for:

 

Thanks SeaDawg.  That was the video.

John

[Ralph Mawyer]

On 10/1/2022 at 2:41 PM, Mike and Carol said:

Ralph, Truma or Houghton?  Can I come over for a sound test?  😃. Mike

Sure, I gather Houghton is quieter, but guessing the Truma will be fine and it will be a done deal.  From my discussion with the tech we probably have a few options for dealing with the furnace thermostat, but as John and other have done, not a hard problem to solve.  Now if I had service install the full Lithonics package for $16K I'd have a 2023 trailer...which would still be a bargain if I remember the fully loaded price for 2023.

 

[Ralph Mawyer]

On 10/1/2022 at 3:26 PM, hobo said:

Ralph, Do you already have the Truma hot water heater?  If so, have they explained how they are going to integrate the controls with the existing hot water heater and the thermostat for the propane furnace?  Just curious.

I do have the Truma water heater. That doesn't look to be an integration point with the AC.  

The furnace has a couple of options from reading other posts on here and some preliminary discussions with the tech on the phone. Didn't seem to be significant issue, e.g., just bypassing AC wires to existing Domestic thermostat or existing lines to new furnace only thermostat.  The Truma uses yet another remote for the AC.  I think that will be five at last count.

They AC vents to front and rear, with the thermostat in the middle, lower case area.  I may have mis-remembered, but I think the Tech said the AC can handle a 30-40F degree differential from ambient which we can easily test in Texas.

I didn't think to ask, but will be interested in how he routes the condensation drain, hopefully plug-n-play with the existing one.

[Steve and MA]

Ralph, do you know whether the Truma can use Oliver's internal condensate drain?  This link to the operating instructions suggests that it can be done.  Please let us know.

OPI Aventa Eco Comfort US English_0.pdf (truma.net)

[dewdev]

Steve and MA:

Thanks for providing the link for the Truma Aventa Eco AC unit.

In answer to some earlier question:

1. The AC unit is rated at 13, 5000 BTU/hr.

2. It requires at a minimum CG power connection of 20 amps.

3. Condensate is handled by an internal drain tube.

I made out the qualifying survey and noted that I was interested in the installation at their Florida location. After receiving approval via email, I did not receive any further information regarding scheduling so I called them. I was directed to leave a message with the scheduling person and got a phone call back 4 days later. I was told that the cost of the unit is around $2550 (with the part needed to connect the Oliver condensate drain).

[Ralph Mawyer]

Well, the first attempt by Truma to replace the Domestic AC in an Oliver was a big fail...for the simplest of non-Truma reasons.

After we got the interior box removed, along with the mounting bolts, the external unit should have just lifted off.

It would not move, I mean two guys pushing from the external edge and from the inside pushing up.

Called Oliver Service, they said it was mounted with butyl tape and may be tight.

From what we could see the rear had a 1/2" thick rubberized molding piece supporting it. It wasn't butyl. Even using body shop plastic wedges we could get no play in trying to separate the unit from the 'tape' or the tape from the trailer.

We debated taking the AC apart to separate it, but that could have still been a dead end as you really need that piece and whatever is up front to come off the fiberglass and we didn't want to damage the gelcoat by try to cut between the 'tape' and the surface.

So, we put it back together and will see what Truma and Oliver can come up with.

It's possible in my May 2020 delivery cycle they were using something different than butyl tape, because it was locked in.

The unit set in the Alabama sun for its first year, but has been covered the rest of it's storage life..so not sure if sun really made much difference.  

Almost like the difference in LocTite Red vs Blue.

If it was in a shop you could use a fork lift to ease the unit up, but you still have the issue of whether the tape will come with it and/or damage the gel coat.

I don't know how often Oliver Service has had to replace an AC on older units, but I'm guessing not many.

If you are having yours done, you'll have to remove the interior hold-down bolts to determine how hard/easy it comes off.

If they can work out a non-destructive way to remove the mounting 'tape', we'll give it another try.  

This is an issue, irrespective of whether replacing with a Truma, Houghton or something else.

 

More to come, I hope....