air vent

[Ron Dickey]

We are so to speak stuck when it comes to air vents. The usual is the ugly square vent that we see at RV shops or the fantastic fan which is better looking but still made for really bigger trailers.
It does have the advantage of bringing air in or out. But for those who are really designing a trailer some want one that looks like everyone else's trailer with simple changes that make it theirs.

There are those who have broken the mold and gone way way out making something that is fun to look at and makes one think or dare to do that too.

I do not have one on my present trailer but have ways to get air moving around. When I cam near Death Valley I need a place for the heat to go. other from tenting the trailer I am looking at air Vents.

Cutting a hole in the roof seems the way to go and putting in one of those ugly vents and calling done. But I have seen those who made more attractive covers for their vent. one out of wood and covered in clothe. I for one am more worried about my lack of skills when it comes to a vent in the roof and can see it leaking in a few years.

That is why I have decided to go with vents on the sides near the top. If you go to Google and under images and enter "Car hood Vent" you will see an array of different style simply cut into the surface of the hood. figuring out how to close and open these gives one room for thought but with cables or rods or as simple as getting out of the trailer and opening or closing the vent by hand. inside could be just a simple tube or and old peach can. the fan could be a simple battery fan that is slid into a slot frontward or backward depending on air flow needed.

it could be sculptured into the surface or on flat wall or made part of a scoop aimed away from the font to reduce drag when towing and you could have it on one side or both or one side fake.

I do not know fully how I am going to do it I am mostly looking at the possibilities.

Ron Dickey
designing and building Cross Bow

[eamarquardt]

I got this marine hatch off of EBay.



I actually got a bigger one from a chandlery that I plan on using.

Good for "green water", hurricanes and typhoons!

Not cheap but way cool, IMHO.

Cheers,

Gus

[doug hodder]

Ron....do a trolley top like I did on the Rocketear or the Voyager and it hides the vent. That's one reason I built those. Doug

[Ron Dickey]

Ron....do a trolley top like I did on the Rocketear or the Voyager and it hides the vent. That's one reason I built those. Doug

I noticed that but I thought it was for more light too.

I have the inside of you roof as my screen saver so now I look up at it more then you.

I keep changing shots from my photo gallery so I keep in mind things I want to do so far I have had several teardrop galleys I have your build for those tops stored somewhere on my computer.

I am not sure if I want to do to top like yours or more angled at the sides. I have even thought of a curved top with windows on the outside edge. and have thought of one pc of glass or plexi tinted with the holes cut out of the wood on the inside.

But those fans are designed for big big trailers it seems that one would not need a opening so wide.

I also thought of putting car scoops on each side with chrome screens and hatches behind them. one on each side one fan sends air in one out.

Dreams are great but reality may be something more on a whim.

Thanks for your idea I remember years ago thinking of that and saw several at the vintage trailer show in pismo.

Ron

[doug hodder]

I noticed that but I thought it was for more light too.
Ron

Light is a bonus, but the real thing was to hide the fan. If you ever camp in a hot place...that fan will cool it down in a hurry...set it on low and it keeps it cool, pushing air in or pulling air out...I'm a believer in them. Doug

[Ron Dickey]

I noticed that but I thought it was for more light too.
Ron

Light is a bonus, but the real thing was to hide the fan. If you ever camp in a hot place...that fan will cool it down in a hurry...set it on low and it keeps it cool, pushing air in or pulling air out...I'm a believer in them. Doug

are you saying it pushes air and pulls air out at the same time

pushing air in OR pulling air out

oops missed that... but it would be nice to have it pushed in and out but I guess if I just open a window!!

Can you get filters for those things so it you are in a RAGWEED area you nose will be at peace?

Ron

[Forrest747]

i agree i hated the thought of a roof vent, i did not want this to look like an RV as much as possible but the windows and roof vent gave it away. I got the smoke top and i really wanted black for teh frame but i decided to add white to the color scheme.

[Shadow Catcher]

We have a Fantastic Fan opening/hatch with out the fantastic fan, easy to replace parts (standard stuff is easier to deal with on the road) and does not look too bad. I then fabed up a holder for Two Antec three speed case fans which are quiet and use way less current. There is enough offset for them to recirculate the air from the AC or heat when closed.

[Ron Dickey]

has anyone put an air filter on a air vent with or without a fan. Or seen any. When Ragweed season comes it makes it hard to sleep.

[Shadow Catcher]

I am allergic to most everything that has pollen and yes Ragweed season is KILLER, I also suffer from asthma and folks that leave their camp fires smolder is . This is one reason I wanted AC, an air filter is too restrictive to allow a fan to work well, and only an air purifier will work for smoke. What I did was find a 3 stage 12v air purifier http://www.safehomeproducts.com/shp2/pr ... 9/459.aspx

I am sure you can cut up a a home style pollen filter or use a home style 120 V AC air purifier.

Warning a totally closed trailer can KILL you, you MUST have make up air from outside.

[Corwin C]

I will be driving a considerable amount of gravel roads when I finish my build. I'm also sensitive to dust/pollen. I'm considering a computer fan driven ventilation system with a HEPA filter from a vacuum cleaner (relatively inexpensive and replaceable.) When traveling it will supply filtered air to the inside of the cabin, slightly increasing inside pressure and preventing dust intrusion. When camping it will provide ventilation when windows/vents are opened. At least that's the theory.

I also want to re-iterate that adequate ventilation is absolutely essential, regardless of your solution.

[Ron Dickey]

Here is a simple one made by Rolly for the 20th Dam Gathering.

[Martinjmpr]

For what it's worth our solar-powered roof vent seems to have worked very well. It also looks nicer than the standard rectangular plastic roof vent.

Only complaint I have is that while it will charge the battery up during the day, by the end of the night it's pretty much down to nothing so no ventilation fan running between probably 3am and sunrise. (Having said that, we were in a "shaded" campsite so it may be that our solar fan didn't get as much sun as it would have otherwise.)

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-81300-St ... +roof+vent


About $60 on Amazon, and super-easy to install with a 4 1/2" hole saw.

[Ron Dickey]

You are right it is pretty.

Seems the are many like this one
I went to google images and entered "Stainless Steel Solar Vent"

designed for boats I think!

thanks for the info.

[doug hodder]

I went to google images and entered "Stainless Steel Solar Vent"
designed for boats I think!

Get ready for the price on that one....