Rear radiator venting

DurangoTaB

We wanted to camp this weekend but Mother Nature is bringing a major snow storm instead.  In preparing I pulled that back shelf out to check the glycol level (it was fine).  Since I had it out I poked four 1" holes in it to let the heat out (there's a BIG radiator down there!). Because of some minor splintering of that nice Baltic birch ply, I made some oak "covers" for the holes (I'm REALLY jealous of Verna's craftsmanship...).

I noticed the floor level slot for "cool" air into the chamber...but it was mostly blocked by a rug we have under the table legs (to protect the floor)...whenever we're heating I'll have to be sure to pull it back.

Nomad

Yep, need those holes - Discovered that on my first cold outing.
There's a thread somewhere shows mine and then Verna went all fancy with scroll work and showed us all up.

Photomom

Here's another way to neaten up those cutting oopsies: http://www.amazon.com/Maurice-Franklin-Polypropylene-Louver-PLW-100/dp/B00AFESILE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1460743881&sr=8-6&keywords=Round+vent

DurangoTaB

Photomom...that would've been a lot easier!  I didn't mention that I stapled some fine mesh screen underneath so little things don't drop down the holes...they'd be a bear to retrieve!

Lil_Lucy

I installed 2 heat vents from Home Depot. They have dampers that slide open or shut. I didn't want to mess up the original board and I wanted it in two pieces so I could access the Alde reservoir, so I cut a new board. I haven't used it yet, but I see no reason why it won't work.

Nomad

Here's another thread on rear shelf venting...
http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/518/rear-panel-heat-slots/p1

Verna

And another thread:
http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/31584/#Comment_31584

Nomad

They're everywhere, they're everywhere ;-)

DurangoTaB

Thanks!  I should've remembered that thread, esp PXLs work (and couldn't search it for some reason) since we'd just picked up our T@B that summer.  

Tonydjd

Finshed up took longer then expected because I wanted to rout them and make them flush mount. I'll be covering the orginal slots with a piece of trim in the coming days

DurangoTaB

Tony..nice!  Mine aren't quite as elegant.  Now I'm curious how "cool" air gets into that radiator!

Tonydjd

Look at base of floor on my model the face board does not sit flush on floor it has somewhat of a notch out.
look at were floor meets vertical board notice notch out. This is not my unit  just borrowed pic for reference 

DurangoTaB

But...that vent only goes to the closed storage box on the left, and the Alde in the right...

Tonydjd

Odd Even then  if you decide to move from side to top thinking if you keep the same amount of Sq feet coverage should be fine. Obviously if they engineer it say for 10sq inches then you closed of to 2sq might not function as well.
I look next day or so believe so is make up air not 100%

Nomad

DurangoTaB - On mine, that underseat storage and Alde area have open backs that allow the air to flow from the floor vents to the radiater - Is yours different?

DurangoTaB

Got backs...will take pix tomorrow!

jkjenn

DurangoTaB said:

Got backs...will take pix tomorrow!

Mine, too, but our T@bs are close in age.

DurangoTaB

It wasn't easy to look way back and up under the back seat; you can't see this without really getting your head down.  The "back", or what I thought was the back, is really the up-sloping floor, and also the floor to the rear radiator.  The back you see is the wall that goes up the rear of the bed (the radiator is right behind it).  There is a small slot at the base of the wall for air to get to the radiator.  But... 1) we usually stuff the "starboard" storage box with pillows, blocking air flow to that slot, and 2) any air flow through the "port" side with the Alde is hardly a source of cool air for that pesky natural convection.  If this becomes an issue (for us), I may put in a shallow false bottom to the storage box and sacrifice some storage space.  I'm curious what LG (or for that matter Tabbert) have done with newer models to alleviate this issue.  (p.s. I'm a retired engineer, who occasionally designed HVAC systems)

DurangoTaB

PXL...or others...can you provide a picture?  Ours is essentially a 2015 model (like yours?), so I'm wondering what they did differently...thanks!

Nomad

Mines the same, slopes up with a small gap for the fresh air at the bottom.
Thought you had a vertical back rather than the slopped.

DurangoTaB

Yep...exactly the same.  It's hard to see the small crack/opening at the bottom, but you see it when you stand on your head in the box ;-)  We've only used the heating system a few times in the two Falls we've had the T@B; no wonder it takes 2+ hours to warm up with most of the vents, or at least the flow, blocked. It would be pretty easy to put a 1/2" Baltic birch"false floor" in there, raised 1/2-3/4 inch, letting the cool air flow unrestricted from the table end slot.

Nomad

Ya, or more vent holes like in the shelf.

Ramrod

I want less heat! When I lie down I can feel the heat/warmth on the cushions above the Alde. Is there any way to minimize it?

Nomad

Get some silver bubble wrap like they use in car windows and put under the cushions.

Verna

Ramrod said:

I want less heat! When I lie down I can feel the heat/warmth on the cushions above the Alde. Is there any way to minimize it?

I was able to control the heat better with a digital thermostat, as compared to the original analog thermostat.  60* to 65* at night was sufficient to keep me warm. The Thermorest type of mattress pad also helped to keep the heat down from under the cushions. It sure felt good during those 30* nights!

Ratkity

A 2nd thumbs up for the digital thermostat. The reflective material PXL suggested is a great idea.

I have a memory foam mattress that is 3" that covers the entire bed. That was enough to sleep on the Alde-cushion side and not get warm on bottom and cold on top.

I have put the memory foam crossways in the back bench (folded over) and it's a bit too much (thickness-wise). I've been experimenting with different sleeping directions (I'm only 5'6"). Heavy and unwieldy. I've got a 3" thermarest on order. 

webcrawler

Going to install some of these small round vents.   Many styles to chose from.

http://ventmastersstore.com/collections/small-round-vents

webcrawler

For the record I plan to use these...

http://ventmastersstore.com/collections/small-round-vents/products/1-5-round-open-screen-vent-black

jkjenn

I really like the open screen ones.  Thanks for sharing the link. I have not installed vents yet and probably won't get to them until next fall.

webcrawler

Well if mine turn out ok and you happen to be in GA stop buy and I'll install them...

i plan to counter sink to be a flush fit...

Tonydjd

Old slots covered with new piece of birch across back and down about 8 inches
Much cleaner look and more functional