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05-24-2021, 04:50 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Oblong
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #18094
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Upgrade to the vent under the steps
My son in law and I designed and built these closeable vent so the return air vents can be closed when the furnace isn't needed.
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Matrap27
2019 381TH
2019 Silverado
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05-24-2021, 06:03 PM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Hilliards
Posts: 237
M.O.C. #25636
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Looks good
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2020 MHC 330RL
2021 F350 DRW 6.7 Powerstroke
Retired and Rollin'!
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05-24-2021, 10:18 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 959
M.O.C. #19630
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Did you remove the old slotted opening. I believe that the wood slats were structural in supporting the stairs.
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2011 2955RL Gen-Y Executive Kingpin
2022 GMC 2500HD Duramax/Alison
4X4 Crew Cab/Standard bed.
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05-25-2021, 07:27 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Catoosa
Posts: 780
M.O.C. #18384
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Nice work and a great idea!
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2015 3100RL legacy...2005 Ford F-250 CC SB. Tows like a charm! 4/19 Updated to 2017 Chevy 3500 CC SB SRW -hope it tows as well as my F 250 did!
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05-25-2021, 08:08 AM
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#5
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Oblong
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #18094
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Don't know about yours but mine had a vertical support in the center of the step already, plus that's the reason I ran the slots vertical for more support.
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Matrap27
2019 381TH
2019 Silverado
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06-06-2021, 01:56 PM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Brewster
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #25333
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What did you make them out of? Looks good!
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06-07-2021, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Ft. Worth
Posts: 60
M.O.C. #21771
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How much to make me one?
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06-07-2021, 09:45 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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Looks a lot better than my foamboard "solution".
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2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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06-07-2021, 11:36 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,633
M.O.C. #22835
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That looks really great!
After 2 years of use, especially in cold weather, I realized how much cold air blows through those vents, and how much the furnace has to run to heat the underbelly.
Last Fall, I took the time to crawl under the camper and sealed up the chloroplast with a few extra screws and LOTS of foamy "Stuff" and calking. Sealing up all those open edges on the chloroplast made all the difference in the world. No more cold air blowing through, and the furnace doesn't run as long as it use to between cycles. It was amazing.
This year, when warm weather hit, I was amazed at how much less the air conditioner has to run. Well, it still runs, but it's actually cold inside the camper. I never realized in a zillion years how much air passes through that enclosed area behind the pass through and under the floor and how shoddy that chloroplast is installed.
Blocking off the vent completely would really make a difference in hot weather. And your design looks really nice.
Now, take the time to crawl under your camper and seal up all the edges on the chloroplast and you'll not have any drafts anywhere.
Looks real nice. Real nice!
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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06-08-2021, 11:44 AM
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#10
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Oblong
Posts: 22
M.O.C. #18094
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Matrap27
2019 381TH
2019 Silverado
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06-08-2021, 12:29 PM
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#11
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Ft. Worth
Posts: 60
M.O.C. #21771
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Thank you!
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07-06-2021, 10:23 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Battleford
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #26690
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchmenSport
That looks really great!
After 2 years of use, especially in cold weather, I realized how much cold air blows through those vents, and how much the furnace has to run to heat the underbelly.
Last Fall, I took the time to crawl under the camper and sealed up the chloroplast with a few extra screws and LOTS of foamy "Stuff" and calking. Sealing up all those open edges on the chloroplast made all the difference in the world. No more cold air blowing through, and the furnace doesn't run as long as it use to between cycles. It was amazing.
This year, when warm weather hit, I was amazed at how much less the air conditioner has to run. Well, it still runs, but it's actually cold inside the camper. I never realized in a zillion years how much air passes through that enclosed area behind the pass through and under the floor and how shoddy that chloroplast is installed.
Blocking off the vent completely would really make a difference in hot weather. And your design looks really nice.
Now, take the time to crawl under your camper and seal up all the edges on the chloroplast and you'll not have any drafts anywhere.
Looks real nice. Real nice!
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Thanks for the info!
Just so I'm clear - you caulked the edges of the coroplast and used foam for any openings? And, where did you find you needed extra screws (and what type)?
Thanks in advance,
Brad
__________________
2021 Montana 3790RD, Legacy, Super Solar Flex
2020 RAM 3500 Limited, HO
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07-06-2021, 10:24 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Battleford
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #26690
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matrap27
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Thanks for the thread and the link; this looks like a really good solution!
Brad
__________________
2021 Montana 3790RD, Legacy, Super Solar Flex
2020 RAM 3500 Limited, HO
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07-07-2021, 06:11 AM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livingston
Posts: 350
M.O.C. #12009
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What about the heating floor vents, when the AC IS ON, a direct line to the underneath to the furnace?
I bought closable vents at Lowe's work great!
I put thin card board behind the stair vents in summer. I have felt that the furnace would not lack without the vents. If someone can tell me otherwise I'm open to hear why they are so important as airtight we are far from. 😂
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Accord-Vent...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
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2014 3850FL
2008 F350 SRW
David and Liz
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07-07-2021, 09:58 AM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Medford
Posts: 498
M.O.C. #18546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pugtracker
What about the heating floor vents, when the AC IS ON, a direct line to the underneath to the furnace?
I bought closable vents at Lowe's work great!
I put thin card board behind the stair vents in summer. I have felt that the furnace would not lack without the vents. If someone can tell me otherwise I'm open to hear why they are so important as airtight we are far from. 😂
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Accord-Vent...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
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The furnace needs those vents for return air. By blocking them off entirely, the furnace has to try and suck air from all those gaps and holes we try and fill in. I cover the vents in the summer, and in the winter when I am using only electric heat. When I use the furnace, I leave the lower of the two vents covered, and open the upper one.
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2016 Montana High Country 310RE
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LT CC 4x4 Duramax
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07-07-2021, 10:11 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,436
M.O.C. #4831
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There are a lot of previous discussions on the vents and their relationship to the heater. Do a Search on "stair vent" (or variations) and you will find them.
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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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08-08-2021, 06:11 PM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Gulfport
Posts: 107
M.O.C. #27628
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Upgraded the vents with a set from Trimmed Out Woodworking. Pleased with the result. While I was at it, I added foam insulation wrapped in foil tape between all the stair supports. HD matched color of the original so all blends in nicely. No longer dumping heat from the basement into the hall.
This project led me to a couple of other rabbit holes.
1) Vacuum hose was 10' long with a couple of loops in the basement. It is likely over time that this would be the source of it being stopped up. Only needed 5' for a direct path from stairs to vacuum in the basement so I cut it shorter.
2) The wires to the vacuum was supporting two LARGE wires going to solar cabinet. You've got to love the lack of effort to run wires with some thought in the basement. Had to cut the vacuum wires and reconnect to resolve that issue. Zip tied the large wires and everything else on that end of the storage area. Nothing is now laying on the solar cabinet.
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2021 Montana 3231CK, Legacy, Super Solar Flex, Dual Pane Windows, Slide-out Awnings
2021 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4 Limited 6.7 HO DRW, Trailer TPMS, B&W Companion Hitch
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08-09-2021, 12:11 PM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Aurora
Posts: 429
M.O.C. #26926
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Looks great. What finish and/or custon mix did you get from HD? I understand we'd have to cut the vac holes on site and drill mounting holes as well.
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Rip & Beth
2021 3121RL Legacy Cobalt FBP, MORryde IS & pin box
2020 F350 PSD CCLB SRW
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08-09-2021, 05:37 PM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Gulfport
Posts: 107
M.O.C. #27628
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We did a color match with a piece of the trim. I’ll be glad to share the formula if you want to message me or I can post. I have a pic of the can top for my files.
I used a 2 3/4” hole saw on the top and a jig saw on the bottom. On the four corner screws I used a counter sink drill. I had the vent made a little wider as I found the side pieces were too close and were split. I couldn’t go much wider though because of the curve in the stairs.
While I was at it I removed the four side pieces and glued the splits. When I installed the vent, I predrilled the holes to prevent splitting them again.
__________________
2021 Montana 3231CK, Legacy, Super Solar Flex, Dual Pane Windows, Slide-out Awnings
2021 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4 Limited 6.7 HO DRW, Trailer TPMS, B&W Companion Hitch
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08-09-2021, 06:51 PM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: STUARTS DRAFT, VA
Posts: 140
M.O.C. #27830
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M&M
Upgraded the vents with a set from Trimmed Out Woodworking. Pleased with the result. While I was at it, I added foam insulation wrapped in foil tape between all the stair supports. HD matched color of the original so all blends in nicely. No longer dumping heat from the basement into the hall.
This project led me to a couple of other rabbit holes.
1) Vacuum hose was 10' long with a couple of loops in the basement. It is likely over time that this would be the source of it being stopped up. Only needed 5' for a direct path from stairs to vacuum in the basement so I cut it shorter.
2) The wires to the vacuum was supporting two LARGE wires going to solar cabinet. You've got to love the lack of effort to run wires with some thought in the basement. Had to cut the vacuum wires and reconnect to resolve that issue. Zip tied the large wires and everything else on that end of the storage area. Nothing is now laying on the solar cabinet.
Attachment 9889
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I have the same color interior. What stain did you use?
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John and Carrie
2021 Montana 3121RL Legacy
2020 F-250 Lariat 4X4 Short 3.55
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