Fantastic Vent Fan

daddysgirl · May 01, 2019, 08:44:11 AM

That is a good idea...I just have two questions.
Last winter when I was re-insulating the rear over that same area, I noticed something. There were triangle cut outs in the corners of the aluminum floor panels...same place as your vent. Those small triangle areas were covered with grease and grime. How are you going to keep the road grime out from beneath the sofa?

Could you run a length of small duct with a filter from your opening to the front of that sofa cabinet?

richard5933 · May 01, 2019, 01:19:32 PM

Two things...

The vent is not going to be open all the time, especially not when the engine is running. It does close tightly. It's there to allow air intake when the roof vent is on but we're unable to open the windows due to rain.

The area under the vent is fairly clean and mostly separate from the engine bay. It's also separate from the underside of the bus over the axle. It's also separate from the wheel wells. It's kind of a waste of space, and if I could I'd add a door to access the space from the outside so it could be used for storage.

MagnoliaBus · May 01, 2019, 02:16:20 PM

Quote from: richard5933 on April 30, 2019, 07:01:28 PM
I finally got around to installing the hidden intake vent in the rear of the bus. I installed it under the couch at the rear of the bedroom. It allows outside air to be pulled in from the somewhat hidden space between the engine bulkhead and the rear axle bulkhead. Sheltered from the rain, but I'll keep it closed while the engine is running to be certain we never inadvertently pull in exhaust fumes. Made a big difference in the way the Maxxair fan runs - now it's not working so hard to move air when the windows are closed.

A very good idea ! I will try to include something like that in my build.

richard5933 · May 01, 2019, 03:20:01 PM

To help that photo make sense, it's looking up into the empty space between the two bulkheads. The shiny aluminum vent cover is actually mounted facing downward, but doesn't look like it in the photo.

buswarrior · May 01, 2019, 06:00:50 PM

Were the stock coach HVAC intakes on the sides closed off in that coach?

Same for the exhaust points?

There are busnuts in colder climates who try to stop up all the drafts, with varying success.

Rare that busnuts are looking to create more openings in the by design less than air tight coaches.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

richard5933 · May 01, 2019, 06:08:21 PM

Quote from: buswarrior on May 01, 2019, 06:00:50 PM
Were the stock coach HVAC intakes on the sides closed off in that coach?

Same for the exhaust points?

There are busnuts in colder climates who try to stop up all the drafts, with varying success.

Rare that busnuts are looking to create more openings in the by design less than air tight coaches.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

We still get some air coming into the bus from the stock intakes on the sides, but not that much. There's a fairly convoluted path the air must take to get inside, unfortunately the easier path is to the front half of the bus. When the conversion was done the ducting to the bedroom in the rear was reconfigured, leading to somewhat of a dead zone in the back of the bus. When the roof vent is exhausting the whole bus can stay pretty comfortable through the stock vents, except for the bedroom. It could be 10 degrees hotter (or more) warmer in the bedroom than the front of the bus, regardless of which direction we're facing.

The little vent in the back doesn't seem like much, but I can tell that there is better airflow in the bedroom with it open. May not work for every bus or every configuration, but for us it will be a help.

chessie4905 · May 02, 2019, 06:09:59 AM

Motion rear side windows with screens. (While they are still available) Crack them or open as needed.

Jim Blackwood · May 02, 2019, 06:30:16 AM

Does anybody make those type windows for the D series?

Jim

richard5933 · May 02, 2019, 07:01:13 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on May 02, 2019, 06:09:59 AM
Motion rear side windows with screens. (While they are still available) Crack them or open as needed.

We have sliding windows. When the rain is blowing, it gets in. That's why the sheltered intake vent.

Motion is no longer making side windows for GM buses, so the only hope on those would be to find some already out there in the field.

This really wasn't that complicated an install - I only had to cut a 4x10 hole in the plywood floor under the couch and screw the thing in using caulking tape to make the seal. Easy-peasy - now I have air coming in without the rain when needed.