How to better Vent T4?

[GlowPlug]

Howdy!

I take my dogs for rides in the van often, the problem I have is venting it properly.
I have 2 muller vents at the front - apparently they let the air in.
At the back I have 2 whirly gigs - apparently they let the air out.
The guy at the caravan place said this is the way to go.

The problem is it doesn't seem to be working. When you open the very back of the van up you are met with warmer almost stale air, This can happen if the windows are up or down.

Is there a better way to do it?



Muller Vent at front of van


Whirly Gig at back of van

[Cousin]

Your problem, glowplug, is the source of the odour
It's not something that can easily be disippaited by exchange of air
Oil off dog hair will cling to any other surface it comes into contact with, then depending on age and health of the dog, emit an odour off that surface for a very long time.
More so when humidity goes up.
The only real solution is to have any textiles in your van 'steam cleaned' (correct term is hot water extraction)
Once that's done, consider using sheets or blankets over the seats to protect them from further contamination, and just wash them every now and then.

M

[Seano]

You've been mislead. Both those vents will suck air out of the van....especially when moving along. Even so they are designed primarily to exchange air in slow moving or stopped situations only - especially that Muller Vent. Unless you can get enough air into the van in the right places (down low) then you'll never get much air exchange going.

And Cousin is right regarding the source....

[GlowPlug]

Sorry I didn't mean that the dogs are stinking up my van, it's that the van is getting stuffy down the back.
The air is much warmer at the back when you open the door, then the front of the van as they are not getting a good exchange of fresh air.

I looked at getting sliding windows down the back, problem is no one seems to make them as it's a LWB.
And now it seems I have 4 holes in my roof that are of no use to me!

[MultiplexMan]

Pictures of the vent locations would be helpful.

If I understand correctly the Muller vent acts like a venturi (exhaust) when the opening is facing backwards. Will it work as a scoop (inlet) if you faced it forward? Can you rotate it?

Do you have a solid barrier between the cab (opening windows) and the cargo bay?

[t4 camper]

I had sliding windows made for rear of my lwb.
These people are in Brisbane, Flair Enterprises

About $650 for a pair in 2004. I left the template with them.
The rear section slopes slightly, in that the rear height of window is about 10mm smaller that the front of the same section. best measure on the inside where you can get easy access to the inner body lip.
The panel also has about 7mm curve from top to bottom, windows were made straight. Expensive to get curved glass. The body lip was straightened a little when fitted and gap top and bottom, about 2 mm each was filled with black sikiflex as glue.
The template was cut to the inner body lip and window frame made to match. Could not get the corners as tight as the body, 65mm radius for the ali frame comes to mind.

Possible to get made, won't buy them off the shelf.

[GlowPlug]

Pictures of the vent locations would be helpful.

Will take some tomorrow to show you.

If I understand correctly the Muller vent acts like a venturi (exhaust) when the opening is facing backwards. Will it work as a scoop (inlet) if you faced it forward? Can you rotate it?

I have friends who also one one in a pannel van, and they have it on the other way, they say it lets in the rain when you drive.
I could ratote it I guess, but the letting in of the water puts me off doing that.

Do you have a solid barrier between the cab (opening windows) and the cargo bay?

[/QUOTE]

No i don't.

[GlowPlug]

.

Thank you, I will look into it - Im in Melbourne

I'm hoping by having sliding windows at the back it will help with the air flow?

[GlowPlug]

Here is a picture of the roof showing where the vents are located.

[GlowPlug]

Would something like this be of use?
FAN-TASTIC VENT 6600 WHITE W/ SMOKE LID & RF REMOTE (eBay item 370378516451 end time 05-May-11 06:20:53 AEST) : eBay Motors

[GlowPlug]

Would something like this be of use?
FAN-TASTIC VENT 6600 WHITE W/ SMOKE LID & RF REMOTE (eBay item 370378516451 end time 05-May-11 06:20:53 AEST) : eBay Motors

[MultiplexMan]

@GlowPlug - I would hazard that your forward vents are contributing nothing to removing "moisture" from the back. I would try blanking them off to see if that improves things.

If you keep your cab windows open - air can enter. Air can only leave through the rear vents. This will drag some moist air as it exits.

Fit some of T5Pete's window fairings if you want to stop any rain entering whilst you've got the cab windows cracked open

Make sure the base of the rear vents is unobstructed. Flyscreen panels should be OK. Ensure that the rear vent is drawing air from the cargo bay not the gap between the headlining and the roof! Any internal trim piece should be fitted to the head lining not the steel roof. If not, a short piece of plastic pipe should do the trick - from the vent fitted flush to the headlining.

I'd consider fitting some 12V extraction fans to the rear vents. Select something that matches the internal diameter of the installed units and "plug" it in. You want a tight fit.

A much neater solution than coiled tube if you want to keep your forward vents in play - use low profile plastic conduit. It is rectangular cross section and should fit snug up against the roof lining - used for extraction fans on top of kitchen cabinets.

[GlowPlug]

Thank you, gives me some info to work with over Easter.

With the gap between the roof and headlining, could I extend that pipe down a foot or two and if so would it still work to extract the air?

[MultiplexMan]

...With the gap between the roof and headlining, could I extend that pipe down a foot or two and if so would it still work to extract the air?

You do not want your extraction pipe to be too low. Remember hot air rises. I would keep it flush to the head lining. If you want to be fancy, fit a nice "bell mouth" to tidy up the trim. Item below - but other way round



I was chatting with an Optus tech this afternoon and noted he had one whirly vent in the back of his van. The cargo bay was no warmer than the cab. His work van had no insulation nor any side windows. The vent was spinning like crazy with the van stationary. I noted it kept doing so when we both drove off.

I forgot to check if he had a "fly screen" fitted

[GlowPlug]

I sourced some PVC pipe, it is the same diameter as the hole cut - I will be fitting it on Friday.

The temp in the back is the same as the front when there is no dogs in the van.

The vents are always spinning, they just don't seem to suck the hot air out, perhaps with the gap covered it will solve the problem?