OutEquipPro sells three ways to put a 12V air conditioner in a van, camper or truck: an all-in-one rooftop unit, a split system with separate indoor and outdoor units, and the Skyeline UM undermount, which hangs the condensing unit under the floor. All three cool from the battery, but they ask very different things of your roof, your floor and your installer. Here is how they compare on OutEquipPro's own figures.
The three layouts
| Rooftop (all-in-one) | Split | Undermount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Models | Summit 2, Summit Flex, Glacier Pro, 13,500 BTU rooftop | 12,500 BTU mini split, 12,000 BTU split | Skyeline UM |
| Cooling on 12V | 10,000 to 13,500 BTU | 12,500 or 12,000 BTU | 12,000 BTU |
| Where the hot side goes | On the roof (Summit Flex: roof or wall) | Mini split: roof, wall or underneath. 12,000 BTU split: on the roof | Under the chassis, between the frame rails |
| Refrigerant work | None: pre-filled, one opening | Mini split: pre-charged, vacuum and connect. 12,000 BTU split: not pre-filled, charged at install | Factory-charged with pre-made lines; vacuum the line set |
| Roof space used | The unit's full footprint | Depends where the outdoor unit goes | None |
| Heat option | PTC heater (Summit) or heat pump (Glacier Pro) | No, cooling only | No, cooling only |
All-in-one rooftop: the simplest install
The Summit 2, Glacier Pro and 13,500 BTU rooftop unit are self-contained: the compressor, condenser and evaporator live in the rooftop housing, the refrigerant is already inside, and the indoor part fits from below through one opening. That is the least specialist work of the three. The trade-off is roof space: the Summit 2 is 28.3 inches square and the Glacier Pro 35.4 x 34.6 inches, area you can't give to solar. The Summit Flex eases that, with the same single-cutout design in a housing that can also stand upright on a wall, bulkhead or rear door. Only the rooftop models offer heat.
Split systems: the flexible middle
The 12,500 BTU mini split puts a wall-style indoor unit (25.1 x 7.5 x 13.1 inches, 21 lb) inside and a separate outdoor unit (18.2 x 9.1 x 33.5 inches, 52 lb) wherever it fits: horizontal or vertical, on the roof or under the vehicle. OutEquipPro ships it pre-charged with 500 g of R134a, so the job is to run the lines, pull a vacuum and connect. It comes with a 10.5 ft 6 AWG power cord and a 10 ft signal cord, draws 18 to 62 A, and is rated down to 35 dB on its lowest setting.
The 12,000 BTU split is a different job: OutEquipPro ships it without refrigerant (it takes 600 g of R134a), so an A/C technician has to evacuate and charge the system at installation. Its 43 lb outdoor unit mounts horizontally on the roof, the indoor unit weighs 14 lb, and it draws up to 80 A. Count the technician's visit when you compare it with the mini split.
Undermount: the clear roof
The Skyeline UM bolts a sealed, galvanized and coated outdoor unit (27.5 x 18.7 x 6.1 inches, 56.2 lb) to the frame rails and feeds a ducted indoor unit (15.9 x 12.2 x 5.6 inches, 13.2 lb) with four round outlets and 283 CFM. Nothing goes on the roof. The outdoor unit arrives factory-charged and both 9.8 ft refrigerant lines come already made up: you connect two flare fittings, vacuum the line set (OutEquipPro says about 30 minutes with a pump and gauge, or a short visit to an A/C shop) and open the valves. Ducting and register vents are not included.
Distance is the constraint. The signal cable is 8.8 ft, and OutEquipPro calls it the real limit between the two units, measured along the routed path rather than in a straight line. The power cord is 8.2 ft of 6 AWG with a 100 A inline fuse, so the battery needs to be close as well. OutEquipPro also asks for 2 inches of airflow clearance below the outdoor unit's fan.
Which layout suits which rig
- Camper or trailer with a 14 x 14 roof fan opening: a rooftop unit is the natural swap. See installing a Summit 2 in a 14x14 roof vent opening and Summit 2 vs Glacier Pro.
- Van with a roof full of solar: the Skyeline UM keeps the roof clear; the Summit Flex on a rear door, or the mini split with its outdoor unit underneath, are the other roof-free options.
- Truck sleeper or work truck: OutEquipPro markets both splits for semi trucks. The mini split's pre-charged lines make it the easier of the two to fit yourself.
- 24V or 48V house bank: of the units we stock, only the Summit 2 comes in those voltages. See Summit 2 12V vs 24V vs 48V.
Power draw compared
| Model | Cooling | Rated draw on 12V |
|---|---|---|
| Summit 2 12V | 10,000 BTU | 21–58 A |
| Summit Flex | 10,000 BTU | 21–58 A |
| Glacier Pro 12V | 11,500 BTU | 22–62 A |
| 12,500 BTU mini split | 12,500 BTU | 18–62 A |
| 12,000 BTU split | 12,000 BTU | Up to 80 A |
| Skyeline UM | 12,000 BTU | 750 W, 65 A rated |
Runtimes on 230, 460 and 630Ah banks are in how much battery an OutEquipPro 12V AC needs.
Frequently asked questions
Which layout is quietest?
On OutEquipPro's ratings the mini split goes lowest, at 35 dB on its lowest setting, against 40 dB for the Summit 2. OutEquipPro doesn't publish a dB figure for the Skyeline UM, whose ducted indoor unit sits behind a panel.
Will an undermount survive gravel and salt?
OutEquipPro's enclosure is galvanized steel with a sprayed coating, with the compressor, coil, drier and electronics sealed inside. It recommends rinsing the unit when you rinse the chassis (more often on salted roads), checking the mounting bolts twice a year, and adding a skid plate if you regularly scrape rock ledges.
Do any of these heat?
Only the rooftop models: the Summit 2 and Summit Flex with the 4,500 BTU PTC heater, and the Glacier Pro with its heat pump. The splits and the Skyeline UM are cooling only.
Can I install a split myself?
The mini split and the Skyeline UM need a vacuum pump and gauge for the line set, but no refrigerant charging. The 12,000 BTU split needs a technician to charge it.
Every OutEquipPro unit we sell ships from our warehouse in Upland, California, to the lower 48 states. Not sure which one fits your roof or battery bank? Send us your roof opening, roof thickness and battery size before you order and we will help you choose. Browse the full OutEquipPro range.