Pod ventilation

[DX grunt]

Hi

I need to put some air into the back of my pod as I'm driving along, because my 95lt fridge doesn't like it. lol.

I was looking at getting two of those things that spin around, or would a normal vent that doesn't move, be better?

Remember, we sleep in the back, so I don't want to be 'dripped on' . lol

Rossco

[megatexture]

Wouldn't dust be more of an issue?

[Getaboutabit]

I've built a few canopy's for touring camping and work.
It may pay to look at insulation to keep the temp down a bit.
Also a small fan ( Perhaps like a computer one ) just to
move the air around the fridge vents

[Clunk]

here you go princess

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Whirlybirds-roof-ventilation-45-00-each-/271550195587?pt=AU_Building_Materials&hash=item3f39a72783

[DX grunt]

Wouldn't dust be more of an issue?

Nah not at all. Clunk would be eating my dust all the way. lol.

Good point though. Will have to re-think.

[macca]

G'day Rosco,

Have seen a forward facing grill that has a removable air filter in it, don't know where.

So no dust but circulates air as you want and pressurises the area to stop it getting in any where else.

Never been able to find one, they are on some camper trailers or slide on set ups.

[BigRAWesty]

This is what you want.
http://www.dctech.com.au/modelling-foam/

Get it cut to the thickness you want (frame width) and then cut to suit.
Tough as nails. Light as a feather. And will make a huge difference.

[TPC]

Wouldn't dust be more of an issue?

Why would dust be an issue for a Bitumen Bunny?

[BigRAWesty]

Why would dust be an issue for a Bitumen Bunny?

Burn!!!!!!!!!!!!

[threedogs]

My troopy had air compensators on the rear qrt panel , helped when closing a door.
IF you look closely at one they have a rubber flap on the back to stop weather and dust
yet still breathe,
These are better than a whirly no working parts

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-x-ROOF-AIR-VENTILATOR-VENT-Waterproof-Muller-Trailer-Horsefloat-Boat-Canopy-/221677202142?pt=AU_product_Trailer_Parts&hash=item339cfdaade

[Winnie]

This is what you want.
http://www.dctech.com.au/modelling-foam/

Get it cut to the thickness you want (frame width) and then cut to suit.
Tough as nails. Light as a feather. And will make a huge difference.

Does it breathe much?

[BigRAWesty]

Does it breathe much?
Doesn't need to. Closed cell, so water / moisturiser resistant and also has a flame retardant in it so won't catch fire.

[Winnie]

But won't allow any ventilation then?

[Cuppa]

Greetings El Presidente,

Fitting a scupper vent up high is a common practice on caravans to pressurise the inside to prevent dust getting in. Works well provided you are not driving in someone else’s dust cloud or in a dust storm. However I doubt that a vent like this would be of much use in keeping fridge temps down as what you are looking for is air circulation rather than pressurisation. It would require a second vent to allow air out, bringing with it more dust problems I’d guess.

Maybe putting more air in to keep fridge temps down is not the solution? To date I have not had any problem with fridge & freezer temps in my pod.

Just some thoughts in no particular order:

Is the wiring to the fridge heavy enough? Measure the voltage at the fridge end, if noticeably different to at the battery increase cable size.
Is there always good air space around the inlet & outlet vents of the compressor?
Is the warmer outlet air directed in such a way that it can’t be sucked back into the inlet - baffles may help.
Extra insulation on the fridge would help (helps the loss of cold from inside rather than addition of heat from outside).
Are you pre-cooling the fridge contents?
Do you take much notice of ‘fridge management’ - i.e. restrict how often it is opened & keep open times to a minimum?

Re spinning vents on the roof. (like on dog trailers). They are intended to take out hot air as opposed to scupper vents intended to pressurise, so may be helpful, but I’d look at these other things first. The ventilation would help prevent condensation when sleeping in the pod, but I have no idea how or if they deal with driving in rain.

Cuppa

[threedogs]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/pop-up-roof-air-vent-large-for-horse-float-trailer-caravan-RV-canopy-camper-UT23-/121229475483?pt=AU_product_Trailer_Parts&hash=item1c39d6fe9b

Also used two of these over the cabin section of my troopy to
pressurize it and keep out the dust, worked a treat, IMO.
I wouldnt be putting those shark gill vents anywhere they let in rain and dust,
What about a small exhaust fan when on the move, just a thought

[BigRAWesty]

But won't allow any ventilation then?
Ow no. I was meaning the product more as insulation to keep temps down. As mentioned above you want ain air tight box to keep dust and that out.
So the foam will insulate the pod. Keeping it cooler longer.

[threedogs]

You could buy 20mm polystyrene sheets for that, did that on my other trailer,
very cool in direct sun but I had a solar panel on the roof creating a tropical roof,
allowing air flow

.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vent-Sea-Bird-Plastic-Air-vent-duct-Caravans-RV-campers-Pop-Top-camping-/271656892987?pt=Caravan_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f40033a3b

[DX grunt]

My troopy had air compensators on the rear qrt panel , helped when closing a door.
IF you look closely at one they have a rubber flap on the back to stop weather and dust
yet still breathe,
These are better than a whirly no working parts

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-x-ROOF-AIR-VENTILATOR-VENT-Waterproof-Muller-Trailer-Horsefloat-Boat-Canopy-/221677202142?pt=AU_product_Trailer_Parts&hash=item339cfdaade

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

It'll be fantastic when I troll the highways and gravel verges!! lol

[DX grunt]

I keep forgetting my fridge is 95lts and needs a lot of cool air.

Thanks everybody. Keep those comments coming if you have any.

[threedogs]

What model fridge is it Engel,Waceo ??other

[the evil twin]

I suspect that the fridge story is a furphy and grunter is actually after a solution to prevent suffocation or human rights violations from methane and other noxious gas emissions... possibly even spontaneous ignition or detonations

Thoughts everyone?

[threedogs]

IMO I would have thought a pod would have enough air flow, as in they are not "air tight"
Maybe a 12 v exhaust fan some where, or a stink pole from PVC pipe that has a "U" at the top
no rain no dust., As for human rights, what happens in the Pod stays in the Pod I say

[macca]

I wouldnt be putting those shark gill vents anywhere they let in rain and dust,

The vents I saw somewhere must be waterproof as well as I'm sure they were forward facing, self draining maybe.

A spot for the air to get out would be beneficial for replacing warm air off the fridge. One of those things with the flap sounds perfect.

I will have another go at finding it....

[threedogs]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gravity-Flap-Air-Vent-with-100mm-Duct-Spigot-Good-for-Ducted-Exhaust-Fans-/161019797474?pt=AU_Building_Materials&hash=item257d871fe2

Just a thought something like this with a 12v computer fan on it to exhaust ant hot air out of the pod.
I just brought a small 12z fan brushless and it uses .3 ah and moves 35 CFM thats a lot of air from a small fan

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Ducted-Heater-Aircon-Ceiling-Outlet-Vent-Air-inlet-Circular-air-outlet-/251536225874?pt=AU_Building_Materials&hash=item3a90ba3652

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100mm-4-White-Air-Vent-Grille-Gravity-Flap-External-Ventilation-Cover-Ducting-/321351305415?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item4ad207c8c7

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Solar-Sun-Power-Car-Auto-Air-Vent-Cool-Fan-Cooler-Ventilation-System-Radiator-GA-/181638340710?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a4a7d2066

I take it this is only whilst you are travelling.
Back to Cuppa's post I take it the battery isn't too far from the fridge,
what connectors have you used??

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Vehicle-Truck-SUVS-Cooling-Air-Vent-Fan-12V-Adjustable-Silent-Cooler-New-/281512332490?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item418b714cca

[DX grunt]

For my fridge, I'm just plugging it into the 12v plug/powerboard that comes standard with ex Telstra pods.

ET, I thought you were my friend! PML. Having said that, I have woken myself up a couple of times by 'the' smell. lol.

[Clunk]

For my fridge, I'm just plugging it into the 12v plug/powerboard that comes standard with ex Telstra pods.

ET, I thought you were my friend! PML. Having said that, I have woken myself up a couple of times by 'the' smell. lol.

You'll wake everyone up with the smell if you fit vents

[the evil twin]

You'll wake everyone up with the smell if you fit vents

GOLD, Clunky.... absolute Gold :trink13:

[threedogs]

Here you go http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toyota-Landcruiser-75-series-Troopy-vent-outside-of-cab-1985-9-99-RH-2809-/201164264676?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ed65314e4 these are in the 1/4 panels of the troopy and "B" pillars on the utes .
They will have a rubber membrane behind.

[paulyg]

Kimberly camper trailers have a very good ventilation system in there fridge box, lots of info on there website.

[macca]

http://info.kimberleykampers.com/get-the-best-airflow-for-a-12v-fridge-in-an-off-road-camper-trailer/

Says a little about the airflow system

[Cuppa]

Once the fridge issues have been examined, if more ventilation is needed the scupper vents (http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=498) I mentioned earlier would work but would need to be closed in the rain. I was confusing them with muller vents (http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2892), a couple of which would probably be better. The venturi effect would suck out heat whilst allowing some fresh air in. The place I’ve linked to is somewhere I’ve dealt with on many occasions. They are on the ball & very professional.

[Stropp]

When I worked for Telstra we used to fit boat vents that had a pipe up into the scoop part to keep water from entering the pod

[Clunk]

My troopy had air compensators on the rear qrt panel , helped when closing a door.
IF you look closely at one they have a rubber flap on the back to stop weather and dust
yet still breathe,
These are better than a whirly no working parts

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-x-ROOF-AIR-VENTILATOR-VENT-Waterproof-Muller-Trailer-Horsefloat-Boat-Canopy-/221677202142?pt=AU_product_Trailer_Parts&hash=item339cfdaade (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/705-53470-19255-0/1?campid=5336709507&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fitm%2F1-x-ROOF-AIR-VENTILATOR-VENT-Waterproof-Muller-Trailer-Horsefloat-Boat-Canopy-%2F221677202142%3Fpt%3DAU_product_Trailer_Parts%26 amp%3Bhash%3Ditem339cfdaade)


I like the one I put up more......... I reckon 2 of them would look great on top of Grunters pod.

[Bigcol]

hey DX, what about the old Escort Panel Vans??
they used to have a vent on the back of the roof - for exactly what you are wanting
if you can find one.......
54955

[dannypatrol]

Hey DX what did you settled on and how well does it work? I am looking into sleeping in the pod with potentially the doors closed but still enough ventilation going on.