Alpine Hardware Premium Heat Pump Drillless Drill-Less Window Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Bracket - Window AC Support - Supports Air Conditioners Well Over 200 lbs. - No Drilling 2023 Model

Since the written instructions for the two-arm, heavy duty version (drilling required) of this bracket are almost impossible to follow, a good installation video is needed, but there are a lot of problems in Alpines installation video. Mainly, the sections showing how to install the connector bar are pretty screwed up - it shows the long hex bar being inserted at different locations. Also, in the section for the final installation (at 2:52 of the video), the connector bar magically disappears altogether. More detailed comments, with many of the flaws in the video, can be found at the YouTube version of this video (the two arm, heavy duty, drilling required version). Alpine did a really sloppy job with this video.

Was able to setup in 30 minutes, Placed parts on a flat service and laid out as if assembled, then followed the instructions. The Leg supports took the most time in the setup, primarily to determine where they should be located. Do think more pictures should be included in instructions reflecting a step by step pictorial, especially for the leg supports.

I bought this because it claimed to be easy to install. It was worth the very high price to me because of the alleged ease of installation. It wasnt that easy. This was made worse by the fact that some of the included hardware (screws, nuts, bolts, washers) was either missing or the incorrect size. This was a huge frustration. I managed to jerry rig the thing together despite the missing parts, but for the exorbitant price they are charging, I shouldnt have had to. Also, they dont include any extra screws, nuts, bolts or washers. I dropped one of the screws that did work in the grass, and had to spend 15 minutes crawling around looking for it because the company is too cheap to throw in an extra screw, nut and bolt of each type, which costs them only a few cents each. Once I cobbled it together, the final result looks nice, seems generally very sturdy (unless it fails at the location of the missing screws or too loose nuts), and as promised, did not require drilling. It fits in the window brilliantly, and the design is extremely clever and looks nice. Bottom line, they really need to review their quality control so customers get the correct number and type of hardware bits. They also need to include one extra of each hardware item in case of droppage, damage or defect.

The hardware seems quite sturdy. With the two support beams it is a lot more stable than the single support beams most similar air conditioner brackets have. I haven’t used it long enough to know how it will hold up. The installation instructions are definitely lacking. There are parts included that are not in the instructions. There are numbers pointing to parts in the diagrams that are not in the list of parts that should show what the parts are that the diagram points to. Sections of the instructions I never did figure out. Then some definite errors. Instructions said to use a 7/16 inch socket. That is too big, use a 10 mm socket instead. Instructions said use a 5/32 inch drill bit. Too small, even in soft wood trying to put the screw in started to strip the head almost immediately. 3/16 inch drill bit works much better.

I bought and used it now because it is only option for non drill required air conditioner supporter. It is very sturdy but when I received it its ends were alreday chipped off of paint. It is fine because it would be installed outside and no one look at it. However it has three major defects: First of all. when you assemble, it uses bolt and nut but its size is not really fit so witout tool you cant do it. Second, the hand is too short so even it is supporter but not really wors. It is supposed to tilt around a couple of degree so the water comes out in the end of air conditioner but the handle is too short so it tiles almost like 15 degree. I felt the air conditioner sliped down from the supporter so I bought extra panel to found its hands. The last is it basically did not care about install under air conditioner. So, when you install the air conditioner there is huge gap between the air conditioner and supporter. I also needs to buy extra foam to block this gap.

Good idea but couldnt use because the lower rail (holds the accordian sides) on the a.c. unit has to fit in the window groove. With this brace it raises it way above where it should naturally fit.

The directions have you assemble things in a weird order that makes assembly very difficult. Also the side bars have to stick out a minimum of four notches cause they hit they each other and can’t go any closer. Also the metal is slippery and the ac unit moves easily, maybe if it was textured it would be a little more stable.

Sturdiness of brace without using screws or nails!

I decided to order this AC support bracket because I did not want to drill into my new window and frame to install the window AC it took me 2 days and a bit of figuring out to complete the install because packaging is missing supplies (14 washers needed but only 6 provided) and the instruction pictures arent very clear either although the hardware store is 1 block away it took 2 day trips because they closed on me so had to go back the next day. the screws are specialty screws and regular washers will not fit so had to go back to get the whole new set (screws and washers) to complete the install and just a side note if you do not have a handyman suitcase with different tools in it, you ll not be able to secure the screws either as unlike other DIY sellers will provide you with the handy tool in packaging (if you need to use a specialty tool for the screws and not just a regular screwdriver) conclusion if I wasnt gifted the new large window AC id not bother with this costly bracket but returned it after discovering it was not a straight forward few minute install ..

The Alpine Hardware Universal Window Air Conditioner Bracket may work in some cases but it has some serious design flaws and was completely useless for me. Installing a window unit in a garage workshop, I thought the bracket would provide solid support. The first problem that the long screws that connect the legs to the platform are impossible to tighten enough to keep the feet against the outside wall. The legs are just enough narrower than the platform arms that the legs swing free. I was concerned that vibration from the unit would cause them to fall and the weight of the AC would cause it to fall outside, ruining the AC and the window frame. To fix that I made a trip to the hardware store and bought four sets of screws, washers, and lock nuts. That at least kept the legs in place. (See photos) The next major flaw is the frame causes the AC to sit ½” above the bottom of the window frame. That means you’ll need to stuff a lot of foam (not included) to seal the large gap underneath the AC unit. The final flaw is that there is no simple or obvious way to attach the unit to the bracket. Normally the AC came with L-brackets that attach it to the windowsill, but the brackets raised everything so far above the sill that the included brackets wouldn’t reach. The side curtains aren’t sturdy enough to hold the AC in place so a bump to the front or back of the AC would send it crashing to the floor/ground. Rather than make another trip to the hardware store to work around the problems with the bracket, I cut a shelf for the sill from a 2x4 and build a small frame outside to help support the unit. I made it wide enough to attach brackets to keep the AC in place. If after reading this you decide to purchase this bracket anyway, be sure to watch the assembly video several times. It will save you a lot of trouble. The one-page, tiny print instructions in Chinglish are difficult to read and understand and they do not follow the “simple” steps shown in the video. Any product that, out of the box, requires that many updates, fixes, and work-arounds is not worth the time or the money.