My wood laminate floor was buckling at the hall entrance.. next to the kitchen.
I couldn't find water, I suspected the window at first.. I crawled up a 12' ladder and found the vent cover
over the refrigerator missing.. it's about 6" wide and maybe 24" long.. I assume this is there for
when the fridge is running on propane? It probably flew off when it was towed last month. The plastic stubs are still there, they broke off from the cap. :(
I've got a heavy duty tarp covering it for now and fans blowing.
Is there a reason for this vent other than propane fumes? Maybe just for heat dissipation?
I've got half a notion to fabricate a cap and close it off.
Thanks
Mark
I am pleased to see a full fiberglass top on the coach, with no seams except for the front and rear end caps. :)
Mark, That opening is there to provide ventilation and air flow for the refrigerator. Closing it off will not help the reefer run any cooler. If you are going to replace the reefer with a domestic household type the vent may not be necessary.
Gary B
The plastic pieces on the roof live a hard life. They become brittle with age, and eventually either fall/blow off, or get replaced. As Gary said, with original fridge you need to retain the stock venting system for proper operation. Just replace the cover - no big deal. On sale now:
Fridge Vent Cover - Camco 42160 - Refrigerator Accessories - Camping World (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/fridge-vent-cover/47887)
Hey Gary :)
Why the heck didn't they just make an elevated aluminum cover for it to begin with ::) There is no reason for plastic that I can see except to cut costs... the plastic got brittle over the years.
Thanks for the info Chuck and Jeanie... I am surprised at the price.. very reasonable :)
People like the roof covers to match the color of the roof, which is usually (in most older RVs) white. White plastic components are economical to produce, light, durable, and cheap to replace (when necessary). Metal construction would offer no real advantage in this application. I have seen aluminum fridge vents for sale, usually for use on metal travel trailers like Airstream and Argosy. The original white plastic fridge vent cover on our coach was 22 years old when I removed it, and still fully functional.
The metal construction would have offered a real advantage "Huge" advantage as I wouldn't now be replacing flooring, having to do cabinet repair, cleaning it all up and attempting to dry it out.
Mark,
The vent is crucial for drafting/ventilating/cooling the heat from the absorption refrigerator. It is not a good idea to close off the roof vent.
Jim
2002 U320
Yes, you are correct...in this particular instance metal would have been better. The vent must have already been cracked or damaged
before you moved the coach out of the storage yard. They don't just spontaneously self-destruct and fly off the roof.
I have made it a habit to climb to the top of the ladder and do a quick visual check of the roof on our coach
before and
after every day of driving. As you have now found out, things DO come off. Many stories on the Forum of missing A/C covers and vent covers - sometimes only noticed sometime later by accident. The quicker you discover a problem, the better.
Quote from Chuck and Jeannie
[I have made it a habit to climb to the top of the ladder and do a quick visual check of the roof on our coach before and after every day of driving]
Maybe in a perfect world... but what about all the old geezers that cant do that... and I'm handicapped at the moment awaiting double hip replacement, so I cant do it... I'm 56 years old.. so I'm about a 3/4 geezer ;)
And should that really be necessary anyway..?? Really... ??
Powder coated white, heavy gauge aluminum, and stainless steel screws/bolts is a no brainer and would be a lifetime vent cover.. no hail storms to worry about, no hitting a bird in transit, no plastic getting brittle....this should be a given considering the caliber of coach Foretravel makes.. Sorry... I'm a little put off right now... 4 fans blowing , an electric heater.. and I still get to contend with the damage when it's dry................. ^%^#$@@$@!!
Mark
Here you go! PPL should be near your location. 3rd item down on the PPL page. Compliments of a 70 year old Geezer.
RV Refrigerator Roof Vents on Sale - PPL Motor Homes (http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-refrigerators/rv-refrigerator-roof-vents.htm)
Not to Hijack, but had my right hip replaced 14 years ago at the age of 48. Was in pain all the time - woke up just turning over in bed at night - pain would be like a knife stuck in my hip with each step - walked like a penguin.
Dr. Burger at Rush in Chicago did surgery, 2.5 " scar - walking day of surgery, out in 23 hours, "no pain, walking normally after 2 weeks - haven't had pain or thought about it sense, except for regularly scheduled check ups
Should have done it sooner
Oh well, if this doesn't salt the wound...!!!! And to think it's already out there and reasonably priced >:(
REFRIGERATOR VENT CAP - METAL - WHITE - 5IN X 24IN...Regularly $34.19 On Sale for Only $23.60
Manufacturer #: V0203-03
Thanks for the info Chuck :) I think GeezerVille officially starts at 75, but I'll have to google that to be sure.. ;)
That reminds me, I need to call someone .. It's Fathers Day
WOW..!!!!! Not a hijack Tim at all, Thanks for the encouragement... I walk with two canes and cant have the surgery till I drop more weight. :(
Not the same coach, but here is a link to my installation of the metal fridge roof vent. The base also has to be changed, thus it is a whole different scope of work than just replacing the plastic cover (assuming you can find a plastic cover that matches the existing base mounting scheme). I did some modifications to the vent to make the top of fridge area easily accessible and to add the soloar panel cabling.
Don
Fridge Vent with solar cable provision (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=24358.0)
Nice Job Don, that's way more work than I want to get into :)
Another example of the undesirability of laminate flooring. Full thickness hardwood would have cupped and maybe buckled TEMPORARILY. When moisture content returns to normal, the floor will flatten out. If not, it need only be sanded down and refinished. But, I have seen it sanded prematurely, resulting in high centers after wood fully dried.
When laminate buckles, it stays buckled. A laminated floor that has had water penetrate joints will always be a rippled floor.