The Urabus Scuttlebutt from PA *Update 10/11/2011 PAGE 23*

[Rlowell]

:oops:
Everyone keeps trying to deter me from putting the fan in the roof. This should be a good indication that I shouldn't.

Ideally, we wouldn't ever need the fan, since it is a convertible. BUT, if its raining, then the top has to be on. And some ventilation on those hot summer nights is a good idea... especially after a good pot of chili!



The doors do have sliding windows in them and we could get a cross breeze, but one thing Kerry brought up is the that crazy side-ways rain! In that case, the windows on my doors will have to stay closed. A small fan out the side would certainly work, but I'm trying to keep the exterior as simple and visually clean looking as possible.

This is looking REAL GOOD!!
My question/thought is: do you have enough loose vinyl to go up to the sealing rim on the fan...You could use the fan cover to seal the top without getting real fancy with the "tent". Just an idea.

Your build is looking great...keep us all posted on your progress.
Rod


So I keep coming back to the fan in the roof.

Heres my idea:



Remove a square section of the vinyl roof where the fan resides. Using more vinyl material, I will create a tent-like pocket that will be attached to the vinyl roof and fit over the fan assembly. It will be permanently attached on the leading edge using silicone adhesive. The two side edges and the rear edge of the "tent" will be attached using velcro. Just inside of the velcro, there will be a narrow strip of weatherstripping in case water would creep through the velcro.

Thoughts?

[Rlowell]

OK...I try this again.
My question / thought is: do you have enough loose vinyl to take it up to the fan rim where the top seals? This may save some time as well as simplify the process. Using the fan top to hold the vinyl may also keep it from flapping. Just a thought.
The TTT is looking GREAT. Keep up the good work.
Rod

[parnold]

I didn't realize that your fan was pretty much right in the middle of the area that your vinyl covers. I don't like my idea anymore.

I've been sitting here racking my brain for the last twenty minutes. I can''t really picture your tent idea. The only thing I can come up with is mounting the fan with wing nuts, so when the roof is installed, the vinyl will act as the vent's gasket. You'd have to loosen or remove the vent partially to take the top off, but you can probably get a watertight seal with the roof attached that way.

That would solve both the traveling watertight issue, as well as the sitting in the rain at your sight water issue.

[parnold]

My question / thought is: do you have enough loose vinyl to take it up to the fan rim where the top seals?

Hmmmm.. he posted while I was thinking.. good idea too!

[S. Heisley]

Here's a couple ideas:

- You could simply put an O2Cool fan in the pass-through when you need ventilation. The hatch would probably provide rain protection or you might have an EZup over the teardrop anyway.

You could possibly build a small fan into a side wall, with slotted vent cover rain protection on the outside of the wall.

You could build in a couple vents, one on each side, for cross ventilation. You could have covers or doors to fit over them for when you want to keep the heat in.

Regardless of what idea you decide on, one of the above or another, I would wait to do anything drastic. Once you do it, it could be hard to go back to what you had before.

[2bits]

Wow, I just came across this one! I LOVE all the new ideas that people come up with! My Moon roof, the all plexiglass roof, portholes, and this idea is really neat! I like how people give their suggestions and ideas and opinions and it is all positive and helpful.

To put my 2bits in... In my experience, I am not happy with the sun at 7am after 15 beers in front of the campfire the night before. I think non drinkers might not like it either. So to throw another thought into your pool, you might want to think about or even test drive how it feels to you as you're is on the opposite end of the starry sky, the morning... You might want to make some kind of inner cover to help darken your bedroom too.

Very nice build!

[teardrop_focus]

absolutsnwbrdr



Screen roof and weatherstripping:



My galley hatch seal:

Jebus! Keerighst Amighty! You've done this in record time! I was giving your build some time to get to an interesting point, and it freakin' PASSED ME BY.



Very nice work, young man! I too had been thinking of partial fabric covering... but I've got some different ideas... and those ideas are pretty whacked.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Certainly some great ideas!

Rod - I think you and Paul may be on to something, but I don't quite want to abandon my idea quite yet.

Sharon - the O2cool fan is definitely a possibility for the pass-through into the galley. I'm kinda set on the roof fan though - the framing is already done, and I already have the fan... plus I'm bull-headed

Paul - here's a quick sketch of what I had in mind... not sure if it'll clear up my idea for you, or not. I may ponder your wing-nut idea for a bit.

the teal/blue line around the fan is velcro & weatherstripping (3 sides)....


If (or rather when) I would mess up the roof material, I can always go get more. To make another roof would cost about $60 in materials, and about 3 hours worth of labor. Not too terrible!

Thomas - I definitely know what you mean! I've tent-camped at the beach for the past few summers, and that morning sun can get to you fast!! I like your idea of an interior sunshade, so that may be on the to-do list down the road! For now, the doors will have curtains, and there will be a large curtain that goes across the front for some privacy.

Chris - It certainly has been a fast build (for me at least). I was looking back on my pictures where the HF trailer was just pieces on my garage floor! Can't believe its only been 7 weeks!

[Rlowell]

Certainly some great ideas!

Rod - I think you and Paul may be on to something, but I don't quite want to abandon my idea quite yet.

Sharon - the O2cool fan is definitely a possibility for the pass-through into the galley. I'm kinda set on the roof fan though - the framing is already done, and I already have the fan... plus I'm bull-headed

Paul - here's a quick sketch of what I had in mind... not sure if it'll clear up my idea for you, or not. I may ponder your wing-nut idea for a bit.



If (or rather when) I would mess up the roof material, I can always go get more. To make another roof would cost about $60 in materials, and about 3 hours worth of labor. Not too terrible!

Thomas - I definitely know what you mean! I've tent-camped at the beach for the past few summers, and that morning sun can get to you fast!! I like your idea of an interior sunshade, so that may be on the to-do list down the road! For now, the doors will have curtains, and there will be a large curtain that goes across the front for some privacy.

Chris - It certainly has been a fast build (for me at least). I was looking back on my pictures where the HF trailer was just pieces on my garage floor! Can't believe its only been 7 weeks!

That is why they call them "Ideas"...some work...some don't. Your build has some great "Ideas" that do work. Keep it up...this is FUN!
Rod

[parnold]

Zach:

I guess my only question is, would you leave the tent covering the vent when it's raining and the vent is on, with just a gap for some airflow? Otherwise you still have the leaking issue that I'm envisioning.

How is the slop of the roof at that point? From your diagram there is a slight slope which will help, but you may have water flowing side to side if your not perfectly level. Can you build up a little lip in the framing under the vinyl that will stop the side to side flow?

Looks like your idea might be viable if you can control the side to side. Remember to plan for torrential downpours, and sideways blowing rain just to be safe!

[Rlowell]

Zach:

I guess my only question is, would you leave the tent covering the vent when it's raining and the vent is on, with just a gap for some airflow? Otherwise you still have the leaking issue that I'm envisioning.

How is the slop of the roof at that point? From your diagram there is a slight slope which will help, but you may have water flowing side to side if your not perfectly level. Can you build up a little lip in the framing under the vinyl that will stop the side to side flow?

Looks like your idea might be viable if you can control the side to side. Remember to plan for torrential downpours, and sideways blowing rain just to be safe!

That is one of the reasons that I suggest using the fan top as your sealer. you could do a drop down seam that would go into the fan housing; that would also allow you to use the casket of the fan housing/top and still give you easy removal for the vinyl top. (I would give you a picture ...but I can't draw.)
Rod

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Zach:

I guess my only question is, would you leave the tent covering the vent when it's raining and the vent is on, with just a gap for some airflow? Otherwise you still have the leaking issue that I'm envisioning.

How is the slop of the roof at that point? From your diagram there is a slight slope which will help, but you may have water flowing side to side if your not perfectly level. Can you build up a little lip in the framing under the vinyl that will stop the side to side flow?

Looks like your idea might be viable if you can control the side to side. Remember to plan for torrential downpours, and sideways blowing rain just to be safe!

Yes, in the unfortunate event of rain, the velcro that seals the "tent" could be opened just enough to get some airflow. As far as the side-to-side flowing, I was thinking that if I put a small strip of weatherstripping just to the inside of the velcro, it could act as a small damn. Then in the event that I'm in a hurricane, I'd just kiss my @$$ goodbye

[absolutsnwbrdr]

That is one of the reasons that I suggest using the fan top as your sealer. you could do a drop down seam that would go into the fan housing; that would also allow you to use the casket of the fan housing/top and still give you easy removal for the vinyl top. (I would give you a picture ...but I can't draw.)
Rod

I think I know what you mean. If we are on the same page, the only problem with that is that the cutout in the vinyl roof would have to fit tight around the fan base, and might be hard to slip over the fan cover when taking it off.

[parnold]

Zach:

Since you're saying the material for the top is only 60 bucks or so, I would try your idea first and see how it works, it is certainly the most convenient for not inhibiting the removal of the top, which is really the centerpoint of your design.

I would recommend a big bead of silicone inside the velcro line. I'm sure you have some scraps of the vinyl, see what sticks the best and what you can build up the most.

You might even consider double sided 3m tape like they use to hold moldings on cars, the stuff lasts forever, and is sticky as .. well you get it. That would give you the option to try different "dams".

[grizz]

Great progress, and thanks for the detail pic of the galley hatch, the seal is the way I am planning to do mine as well.

Just need to find the best material for it.