Vacuum Vent ???
Submitted: Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 13:47
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just goin
Hi all,
The outlaws, (sorry in-laws) have just picked up a 2010 Galaxy Fulcher Caravan. Great little unit and perfect for their needs. Our question is:
In the roof toward the front of the van there is a small vent. I believe it is a vent to aid with causing a vacuum inside the van while travelling over dusty roads to keep dust out ???
Can any one advise us if this can be opened for this or is it designed to work as is ??
Cheers
JG
Reply By: ozjohn0 - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 13:55
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 13:55
jg,
Quite the opposite Mate. It's a Positive Pressure Scupper Vent which marginally increases the pressure in the van. With the increased internal pressure the ingress of dust from other points around the van is decreased.
Should not be used when following another vehicle, and stop if a vehicle is over taking or passing as it'll suck in great volumes of their dust.
Cheers, Ozjohn.
AnswerID:
463164
Follow Up By: Kiwi100 - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 14:18
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 14:18
Just guessing here, but if it works to increase the internal air pressure, won't it just keep topping that pressure up, rather than "suck in great volumes of their dust"?
Unless, of course, there are so many leaks in the van that the air just keeps on rushing through. But even then, its elevated position would be letting in less dust than the leaks lower down.
FollowupID:
736988
Follow Up By: Kiwi100 - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 14:20
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 14:20
Sorry - to answer your question - the vent has to be open in order to function.
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736989
Follow Up By: Fiona & Paul - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 17:04
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 17:04
Well we have/had a similar setup with our Coromal's and we leave it permanently shut. SWMBO cover's the door vents with material and tape it down with duct tape and that keeps the dust out pretty good.
Of course a bit will get in from time to time, but a lot more gets in with that little roof pressure lid open. Opening and closing the vent because of varying conditions, following other vehicles on the dirt or being overtaken is too much mucking around.
If someone finds a better solution we would give it a go, but I don't think there is one.
Regards
Paul H
FollowupID:
737003
Follow Up By: snoopyone - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 17:28
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 17:28
You realise of course it is illegal to tape up the vent in the bottom of the door.
It is put there as a safety vent for the release of an LPG leak.
FollowupID:
737005
Follow Up By: Bigfish - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 17:45
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 17:45
Only if you have gas appliances. Some vans dont.
cheers
FollowupID:
737006
Follow Up By: WanderingNomad - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 19:50
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 19:50
snoopyone
Bigfish got it right, the only place we use gas is out of those little $3.00 cans to fuel the hotplate during a pit stop. Even if we did we most certainly not use gas while on the road.
Regards
Paul H
FollowupID:
737019
Reply By: Andrew - Monday, Aug 22, 2011 at 15:50
Monday, Aug 22, 2011 at 15:50
Increasing the pressure in the van with a scoop will stop the dust coming in elsewhere as the air flows out any other openings.
I have seen a set-up where the scoop was fed from a 6" hose mounted to a scoop on the roof of the tow vehicle. This meant it didn't pick up dust from the tow vehicle. It also had a filter on the inlet.
They seemed happy with it.
There is a lot less dust up high compared with door vents so adding a decent sized filter filter might not upset the pressure flow too much.
Regards
A
AnswerID:
463251
Reply By: BrownyGU - Wednesday, Aug 24, 2011 at 00:33
Wednesday, Aug 24, 2011 at 00:33
As mentioned JG, it is used to create a possitive pressure in the van to hopefully prevent dust ingress through other areas, we have one in our Goldstream Storm, but find it sucks in way more dust when opened, I think mainly because of the lower roof height of our style of van, it seems to suck in the dust from our cars rear tyers, being on the roof of a standard height van it may work fine, only one way to find out how there's works!
Cheers....Browny
AnswerID:
463397