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Ventilation?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:57 am
by makevx73
Ok, I'm hoping to get a bit of advice on this...

My trailer came with the high front and low rear plastic "vents" installed. (Like these: http://www.etrailer.com/Enclosed-Traile ... -AVT2.html )

I'm thinking of using the front one for a vent for the bathroom area by using a computer fan and some pvc piping. These fans usually are about 50-60 cfm, although are available to about 250 cfm..

I'm thinking of doing the usual roof install on a fantastic or maxxair type fan, but wondering if that much airflow is really needed?

My reasons for wondering are:

- Not wanting to cut a whole in the roof if not needed.

- If I installed 2 computer type vans - reversible, I could "double vent" air entering from windows or have one pulling air in and one pulling air out when the windows were closed.

- I will have A/C installed for use if it's too warm for the fans so I don't think I need a large amount of air flow.

- The computer fans draw almost nothing power wise and are very quiet. Additionally, a small solar panel could be added to run a fan while in storage to keep dampness from setting in.

My idea would be to recut/enlarge the holes from the vents and install a flange that could be capped off while driving to make them water tight when not in use. Unscrew the cap, screw in a elbow with bug screen installed. Bug proof, rain proof, low power and quiet...


Let me know what you think?

Re: Ventilation?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:44 am
by walkrdg
While I was doing some research before ordering my trailer, I ran into a comment (I can't find it now) by a woman with a newly converted, that said on their first camping trip they traveled on some dirt roads. When they arrived at their camp, they found the trailer inside covered in fine dust - in and on everything. They weren't able to clean up the mess until they got home. She recommended either leaving the vents off, or having some that will close off entirely.

I opted to leave the vents off when I ordered. I've had no sign of dust inside. I did, however have two windows installed along with one roof vent. I generally have the roof vent open a couple of inches nearly all the time with a Max/Air cover installed. No rain inside, either.

Just something to think about.
Dave

Re: Ventilation?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:34 pm
by makevx73
walkrdg wrote:While I was doing some research before ordering my trailer, I ran into a comment (I can't find it now) by a woman with a newly converted, that said on their first camping trip they traveled on some dirt roads. When they arrived at their camp, they found the trailer inside covered in fine dust - in and on everything. They weren't able to clean up the mess until they got home. She recommended either leaving the vents off, or having some that will close off entirely.

I opted to leave the vents off when I ordered. I've had no sign of dust inside. I did, however have two windows installed along with one roof vent. I generally have the roof vent open a couple of inches nearly all the time with a Max/Air cover installed. No rain inside, either.

Just something to think about.
Dave


Thanks,

Yep, the vents don't seem to have many "positives" for a camper build. That's why I'm trying to put them to some good use. I would never have gotten them if I ordered a special order myself. My trailer was a canceled special order from somebody else. Had most of what I would have ordered and the price was good... Mine now :)

The front upper one will be a vent for the toilet for sure. The rear lower will probably end up as a vent for a fridge. I may as well keep the heat behind the fridge from warming the trailer... When my galley is closed up.

Open a few inches? How's that in fan speed? Low, medium, high?

I'm trying to figure out how much airflow most people rely on their overhead vent/fan to move to be useful?

Re: Ventilation?

PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:38 pm
by walkrdg
Seems like the way you're going about it, you'll solve it. And, you'll be disrupting the "flo-thru" in the process.

Good luck,
Dave