Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-13-2010, 03:20 PM   #1
7.3Ford
Montana Master
 
7.3Ford's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indian Land
Posts: 1,142
M.O.C. #9808
Range Vent

Out unit has a convention microwave oven, which includes the exhaust vent for the cooking area. On the outside the vent has a flapper door to keep bug, birds, etc out, and the door has dog ears that hold the flapper shut.

Since it take a step stool to get up to it, do you all leave the door unlatched while traveling or not?

 
__________________
2015 Montana 3611RL - 2020 RAM 3500 SRW 4X4
John Walker, Indian Land, SC
Blog https://RoVIngWalkers.blogspot.com/
7.3Ford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 03:29 PM   #2
lasater
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Rapid City
Posts: 739
M.O.C. #77
Luckily, I am 6.3 so I can reach it. I always lock it closed as part of my final walkaround inspection before pulling out. Re-opening the vent is part of my set-up.
lasater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 03:40 PM   #3
Carl n Susan
Site Team
 
Carl n Susan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
Leaving the door unsecured while traveling will cause you problems. Eventually the door will flap around enough and break off. We employ the Dick Whitfield patented technique of using a clothespin to hold the door open. We only close and latch the door if there are bees or other insects trying to gain access (doesn't happen much out here in the western U.S.).
__________________
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

Carl n Susan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 04:05 PM   #4
VanMan
Montana Master
 
VanMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Weatherford
Posts: 1,383
M.O.C. #9
I remember someone here making a device to open/close it from inside - maybe a coathanger. Maybe they will be along later. Our previous TT had one with no "dogears" - the air from the exhaust was enough to blow the door open. We rarely use the vent-a-hood, but once Jena was making something on the stove and turned on the vent. All of a sudden there was a LOT of racket and red dirt went everywhere and into the food - dirt dauber stew!!!
VanMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 04:31 PM   #5
Art-n-Marge
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
Send a message via MSN to Art-n-Marge Send a message via Yahoo to Art-n-Marge
I unlatch/latch the vent closed by using a two step foldout stool to reach the dog ears and at only 5'9" that works for me. I don't know why, but sometimes on tiptoes I can reach it and sometimes I can't. If I have levelers on that side I definitely can't reach. I have used hooked end of the awning rod to close and open the dog ears.

In my early RVing days most folks I talked to were pretty adamant that I should latch it closed when not set up for range hood use. I don't remember why and no longer question it, and it's just part of my procedures to open and close when setting up and breaking down.
Art-n-Marge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 04:59 PM   #6
washley1
Montana Master
 
washley1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 932
M.O.C. #9053
My problems with that flap started the first time I opened it. We had some medium rain and water poured in, all over the stove top and down to the floor. I shut and locked it, and have not used the vent since. Any thoughts out there?
__________________
Walt and Carol Ashley, with fond memories of Bailey the Chesapeake! Land O Lakes, FL
2009 Big Sky 365REQ 10th Anniversary Edition
2008 Ford F350 King Ranch Super Duty
washley1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2010, 06:14 PM   #7
clarkandsheila
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 214
M.O.C. #7994
I hook and unhook our flap unless of course I forget which I often do untill I don't or I get told about it. Great to have a reminder. It's now on my pretrip checklist as long as I remember to read it.

Never had bug stew or water come in and we've been in some pretty good rains. Don't ask about the door window though. If water got into the vent then it sounds like the vent cover is not properly sealed and water is getting behind it and into the wall. Don't know why you noticed it only when the flap opened though. Might be worth a good look at the housing seal.
clarkandsheila is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 03:50 AM   #8
Clemson1881
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Williamston
Posts: 631
M.O.C. #9432
My solution was to remove the plastic flapper and install a screen. Now it is maintainence free. No opening or closing it required. Bugs or pests can't get in, and we have been in some big rains with no problems.
Clemson1881 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 04:33 AM   #9
randye
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lakeside
Posts: 606
M.O.C. #7139
In New Mexico the winds are so blustry, if you forget to lock it down, it makes a awful racket. Not good a night, i'm a light sleeper.
randye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 11:55 AM   #10
footloose
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Livingston
Posts: 431
M.O.C. #9442
We open it when we arrive and close it before departure. We like it open for using the stove fan. My DH (who is 6'1") uses a back scratcher to flip the dog ears open and shut.
Sharon
footloose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 12:12 PM   #11
TLightning
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
We very seldom open it and if we do, I can reach it to close it...when I remember.
TLightning is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 12:46 PM   #12
PapaBeav
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Apache Junction
Posts: 1,726
M.O.C. #7487
I keep waiting for those little arms that hold the damper to disappear. They have come off several times when I open or close it, but they are still there for now.
PapaBeav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2010, 05:57 PM   #13
washley1
Montana Master
 
washley1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 932
M.O.C. #9053
No water in the walls, no leaks with the vent door shut and dogged down tight.
__________________
Walt and Carol Ashley, with fond memories of Bailey the Chesapeake! Land O Lakes, FL
2009 Big Sky 365REQ 10th Anniversary Edition
2008 Ford F350 King Ranch Super Duty
washley1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2010, 12:52 PM   #14
jpkelpe
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Omaha
Posts: 2,073
M.O.C. #2780
I use one of those cheap wood backscratchers to turn those little dog ears. Works great for me
__________________
Paul and Jan Kelpe
2014 Big Sky 3150RL
2015 GMC Denali, Duramax/Allison
jpkelpe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2010, 06:51 AM   #15
simonsrf
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pagosa Springs
Posts: 3,711
M.O.C. #3120


rlwhit kitchen vent invention
simonsrf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2010, 07:55 PM   #16
lenlin84
Established Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 37
M.O.C. #7530
we always lock the flapper down before we leave and unlock it when we set up. The flapper has two purposes, one to keep the bugs out and also to keep drafts from blowing into the coach. Here in So. Utah the wind can get very brisk. If you've got a stiff breeze blowing outside, you can feel it coming in from under the vent hood. Lock it down and no more cold air intrusion, the problem with that is ---you've got to go out in the wind to lock the danged thing down!
I think I saw in another web page that someone had drilled a small hole in the flapper and ran a small chain into the vent area so that he could reach under the vent and pull it to lock the flapper closed from the inside. No need to get a ladder so you can reach the little locks to open or close them. might be worth a try.
lenlin84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Range Vent Leak sue531 General Discussions about our Montanas 6 09-27-2011 10:41 AM
Replacement cover for outside range vent??? Lee F. General Discussions about our Montanas 11 08-07-2011 05:40 PM
External Range Hood Vent MuddyPaws Repairs & Service 14 08-28-2009 07:25 PM
Range Vent Cover Replacement RKassl Maintenance 5 07-20-2008 10:47 AM
Bathroom and Range Vent fan replacements FredG Additions & Improvements 18 07-29-2005 11:43 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.