A La Carte Aftermarket Van HVAC Kit-Building System

The A La Carte Aftermarket Van HVAC Kit-Building System makes specifying and installing auxiliary van HVAC systems simpler, while reducing customer cost and inventory overhead. The approach allows customers to upfit Ford Transit, RAM ProMaster, or Mercedes Sprinter vans with auxiliary HVAC systems faster, while carrying less inventory and all at a lower cost.

Until today, those in the market for auxiliary, tie-in heating/cooling or stand-alone HVAC kits for today’s most popular commercial van makes and models would have to first obtain a model-specific kit designed to fit that vehicle. The purpose of unbundling the components is to make it easier for body builders, upfitters, and fleets to all get what they want with more speed and consistency.

Each system and component was reexamined in an effort to minimize variability, optimize application performance, and make the process even more streamlined. The approach enables the kit to cover 90% of the van market with approximately 30 a la carte HVAC components. The system also puts its customers in a more favorable position to capture a wider variety of work truck applications beyond existing van-specific HVAC kits. 

A decision tree method was developed to allow virtually anyone to choose the right system components, based on answering just eight simple questions. When specified and configured using their unique a la carte method, an aftermarket HVAC kit will integrate seamlessly with a vehicles factory system. The system will provide users with optimal auxiliary heating and cooling performance.