T@b 320s Blocked Heating

grassgd

Just returned from camping in Colorado with night low temps in the mid 20's.  Sleeping was very cold since there was NO heat coming out of the main heat along the back of the bed under the cabinets. 

Now at home and found the problem.  There is a piece of foam board insulation about 12" tall that runs across the back of the trailer under the storage area which is only held in place with air conditioning tape. The tape came loose along the top of the insulation board and let the insulation board fall and completely block the air flow above the rear radiator.   This insulation board which is only taped in place and appears to act only as a baffle to direct hot air rising from the radiator to the vent slot behind the bed and away from the bottom of the storage compartments.

Air conditioning tape should NEVER, NEVER, NEVER be relied on to hold insulation boards in place.  Air conditioning tape is great for sealing but not mechanically holding things permanently in place!  This is a very minor detail that should never have happened but caused a very unpleasant trip. 

This is the second place I found on my trailer where insulation boards were only taped in place by the factory that came loose and caused a failure of the system to work -  this instance and on the 3 way refrigerator upper vent area.

Hopefully I can secure the insulation board with a couple of metal angles, one on each end where I can hopefully reach to secure with wood screws to the underside of the storage structure.  Otherwise, the rear storage area would need to be removed!!!

grassgd

Installed two brackets, one each side where I could reach and secured the loose insulation board.  Heat is working normal again.  Was not easy reaching and installing the brackets.

Anyone else experienced this problem?

pthomas745

Did you take any pictures?  I know there has been "loose insulation" in a couple of Alde spots and fridge spots, but not sure if there has been any where you are describing.

grassgd

I took a few pictures.  Will have to download and post tomorrow or the next day.

grassgd

Here are a couple pictures of the brackets I made and installed to hold the insulation board up so it does not block the heat.

These are the two brackets I made:



This is where you have to access the problem (I don't know why the picture comes in upside down):



Here is a picture of one side with the bracket installed (this picture is rotated 90 degrees - insultation board touches the bottom of the storage area):



This was a real pain in the *** to get the brackets in place and get the screws installed.

Sharon_is_SAM

@grassgd - I fixed your photos.  If you take your photos using the “landscape” mode (turn your phone sideways on the long edge)
they will post as taken.

grassgd

Sharon_is_SAM said:

@grassgd - I fixed your photos.  If you take your photos using the “landscape” mode (turn your phone sideways on the long edge)
they will post as taken.

Thanks!

DaveAnna

I install this on our 2021 320. Keeps stuff from falling into the “deep unknown “. 

DaveAnna

This is a plastic corner strip used by sheetrockers. Just a thin glue and push in across the back. Still allows heat but keeps stuff from falling into the crack. $1.98

grassgd

I had the storage compartment out to facilitate repair of the Alde heat convectors which had the dreaded corrosion and decided to make a proper modification to secure the insulation board I had repaired in place using the two aluminum brackets.

I cut some pieces of a 2x6 and attached to the storage box as shown in the photo below:



Then taped the original insulation board as show here:



To secure the insulation board from ever falling down I added small wood pieces screwed into the 2x6 pieces. 


Should never fall over the heat convectors now.