Condenser Wall Mount Bracket - AND - How To Mount to Vinyl Siding

[olds70supreme]

I need to mount a new MrCool DIY 24kBtu unit to the exterior wall of a 2x4 framed garage. Two questions:
1. Is there a better bracket than the one at the link below? I prefer one w/ the 3rd part ("crossbar") to be able to attach to more than two studs.
2. What is the "proper" way to attach this bracket to a vinyl sided wall? I've seen a handful of this type of bracket and they all seem to drill through and attach on top of the vinyl siding. That doesn't seem right but I don't know what is.

Thanks.

ebay link - wall mount bracket

 

[Terry D]

I posted this on a different thread

The way that I have done it on vinyl is to use some 1 inch diameter steel spacers as thick as you siding. then use a hole saw and drill through the siding at you locations for the lags. then you can go through the bracket. through the spacers and right into the stud. You can tighten it up tight and not crush the siding. If you have that fiber board sheathing behind the siding, I would hole saw through that also. Apply some silicon around the spacer to seal out water

 

[jack stand]

I like Terry's solution for a retrofit.
Vinyl siding must be allowed to expand and retract and if you can drill a over sized hole (about a 1/2" bigger) and then caulk it. This will allow siding movement.

 

[erik a]

Superstrut....
Erik A

 

[mike93lx]

I used a diversified technologies stand off bracket that allowed me to use the foundation for the bolts and hold it up higher so I didn't have to go through the vinyl.
It was expensive, but very high quality

 

[TTTTTT]

I just used lag bolts through the siding. Could have used washers to space it but it worked well.