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 08-03-2018, 09:17 AM   #21
Sappruski
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MAYFLOWER
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #22228
Ok, those are not like mine i guess. My stairs are full carpet. there are louvers under the Fridg that are about 2' square on the left of the stairs and a floor louver on the right side of the stairs. I wasn't sure if i could take the one off that is under the fridg and seal that one up or not??
Thanks for the pics as now i know mine is different.
 
Sappruski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2018, 02:00 PM   #22
Phil P
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Okeechobee
Posts: 2,150
M.O.C. #11206
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sappruski View Post
Ok, those are not like mine i guess. My stairs are full carpet. there are louvers under the Fridg that are about 2' square on the left of the stairs and a floor louver on the right side of the stairs. I wasn't sure if i could take the one off that is under the fridg and seal that one up or not??
Thanks for the pics as now i know mine is different.

Hi

I would make sure the ones under the refrigerator may be needed for the refrigerator I would make sure they are not there to provide ventilation for the refrigerator. Even the domestic electric refrigerators need air circulation to work.

How about some pictures so we can see what you are talking about.

Phil P
__________________
2009 Montana 3665RE
2009 Duramax 3500 DRW quad cab
personal web page https://www.sallyscoffees.com
If you get a page not available then remove the "s" after HTTP
Phil P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2018, 07:01 PM   #23
Sappruski
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MAYFLOWER
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #22228
Pics

I will need to figure out how to add pics from my phone and I will put up these pics. Thanks
Sappruski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2018, 10:34 PM   #24
Sappruski
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MAYFLOWER
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #22228
Pics

Here is the fridg and the pics. Thanks for help
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	07AA182E-999C-4C32-8EC7-572777843B80.jpg
Views:	22
Size:	234.9 KB
ID:	2047   Click image for larger version

Name:	1794F741-504D-4558-9149-1721B36FEDF2.jpg
Views:	23
Size:	171.7 KB
ID:	2048  
Sappruski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 07:19 AM   #25
Dave W
Montana Master
 
Dave W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
I fully understand the cold air return system in a S&B home. That return air is plumbed into the inlet side of the furnace squirrel cage blower. An RV - that return air just becomes 'common' air in the basement and belly area and requires more Btu input to replace that heat which is lost by recirculating through that virtually open to the atmosphere basement. Those return air grilles without a plenum/ducting then becomes useless as 'preheated air with a slightly open window or roof vent doing about as much good for good heat circulation. Add some ducting back to that inefficiant furnace from the grills and you will probably pick up several efficiancy percentage points.


Now, with that said - yep, I block off those grilles to preserve a/c cool air or cold air on a chilly morning seeping in. Other then that, it is what it is - an inefficient system that should be better (but only at an added cost to buy an RV)
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
Dave W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 07:52 AM   #26
Baldicon
Montana Master
 
Baldicon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 660
M.O.C. #20906
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sappruski View Post
Here is the fridg and the pics. Thanks for help
That area was the furnace return in our previous TT. If you have an RV refrigerator, as far as I know it does not require any inside ventilation. You should have two outside air openings for the refer.
__________________
2019 Montana 3121RL
2017 XLT 350 SCLB DRW 4X4
Baldicon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 07:53 AM   #27
Baldicon
Montana Master
 
Baldicon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 660
M.O.C. #20906
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W View Post
I fully understand the cold air return system in a S&B home. That return air is plumbed into the inlet side of the furnace squirrel cage blower. An RV - that return air just becomes 'common' air in the basement and belly area and requires more Btu input to replace that heat which is lost by recirculating through that virtually open to the atmosphere basement. Those return air grilles without a plenum/ducting then becomes useless as 'preheated air with a slightly open window or roof vent doing about as much good for good heat circulation. Add some ducting back to that inefficiant furnace from the grills and you will probably pick up several efficiancy percentage points.


Now, with that said - yep, I block off those grilles to preserve a/c cool air or cold air on a chilly morning seeping in. Other then that, it is what it is - an inefficient system that should be better (but only at an added cost to buy an RV)
I think the system is designed that way to provide heat to the water lines.
__________________
2019 Montana 3121RL
2017 XLT 350 SCLB DRW 4X4
Baldicon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 09:02 AM   #28
Sappruski
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MAYFLOWER
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #22228
So if that area below the fridge is not needed for the fridge then it would be ok to block during the summer months as cooling is our main concern but will open up if we ever use the furnace. There is a good amount of area down there seems like a waste of possible storage area. Has anyone done this in a 15 318re
Sappruski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 11:53 AM   #29
Dave W
Montana Master
 
Dave W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baldicon View Post
I think the system is designed that way to provide heat to the water lines.

Our last 5er, a Glendale Titanium as well as the current High Country both had/have a hot air duct directly to the tanks and water lines
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
Dave W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 12:04 PM   #30
Baldicon
Montana Master
 
Baldicon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 660
M.O.C. #20906
Our 3121 has switches for tank heaters. Looking behind the basement wall, the water lines are all within the open area under the floor and open to the return registers. But there may be a furnace supply duct under there too. That would make sense, I may have misspoke. I'll pull the walls down and check as soon as I can.
__________________
2019 Montana 3121RL
2017 XLT 350 SCLB DRW 4X4
Baldicon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 05:35 PM   #31
Sappruski
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MAYFLOWER
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #22228
I think the basement wall buts up to this wall below the fridge. I can see the back side of the water heater and a hot water line through the louver. I guess I can just go ahead and take that louver out and really see what all is down there and see if that is where the cold air is getting into the basement.
Sappruski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2018, 07:11 AM   #32
beeje
Montana Master
 
beeje's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
Sapproski, One of my previous campers had a louver similar to your pic. The furnace was mounted under the fridge so the louver was absolutely necessary in that case since there would be no where else to draw air from. FYI I removed that louver/ cut it down a bit/ hinged it so it would swing open easily and latch with a magnetic catch. Long shot, but maybe yours is the same ?
beeje is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2018, 08:32 AM   #33
Sappruski
New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MAYFLOWER
Posts: 7
M.O.C. #22228
That is a great idea Thanks everyone for all of the information. Great site!!!
Sappruski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2018, 08:06 AM   #34
Caniel
Montana Fan
 
Caniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Arlington
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #21610
Thanks for the pictures. Without pictures it's just words open to misinterpretation.
__________________
Cande & Daniel (Caniel)
2010 Mountaineer 295RKD | 2019 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax 4x4 CC LWB DRW

Caniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2018, 05:44 PM   #35
Caniel
Montana Fan
 
Caniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Arlington
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #21610
We have a 2010 Mountaineer rear kitchen, slotted wooden grill on first step going to the bedroom. The duct, if you can call it that, is a thin aluminum sheet stapled over 2x2(?) aluminum runners running the length of the trailer. It runs up the middle of the trailer from back to front. Not airtight by any stretch of the imagination, nor insulated. Three-floor registers, one between bathroom and bedroom, one in middle of coach near the entry door, and one a couple feet from the tail end of the trailer. Like this illustration from the furnace service manual. There are no other ducts coming off the furnace.

Click image for larger version

Name:	Ductexample.jpg
Views:	20
Size:	196.1 KB
ID:	2061

I have not pulled the underbelly cover. I've been behind the convenience center trying to silence the water pump. I've been behind the main cargo bay panels doing converter maintenance. From what I remember there is no flexible ductwork coming off the aluminum duct, at least as far as I could see along the duct. Couldn't tell if Keystone put a register on the bottom of the duct somewhere towards the back out of sight. All of the other open gaps described by dieselguy are present in our unit.

So based on this apparent design, it seems Keystone is using radiant heat from the duct to warm the underbelly. The floor registers seem to be our units primary outlets for the furnace. It seems to me the grill under the steps can be sealed off (at least in our unit) during the summer. And most likely during the winter and shouldn't have return air issues.

There has to be an easy way to measure return air flow for blocked off and unblock step grill

All thoughts, suggestions, concerns, recommendations welcomed.
__________________
Cande & Daniel (Caniel)
2010 Mountaineer 295RKD | 2019 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax 4x4 CC LWB DRW

Caniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2018, 10:03 PM   #36
tooth ferry
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Pell City
Posts: 299
M.O.C. #17209
Remove grills, cover from back side with saran wrap and cover floor grills from back side with saran wrap . Cuts down on hot draft in summer and keeps dirt out of furnace ducts in floor. Easy to remove for winter
tooth ferry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2018, 06:12 AM   #37
Caniel
Montana Fan
 
Caniel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Arlington
Posts: 132
M.O.C. #21610
Simple and easy. One of those why didn't I think of that solutions. Will try it this weekend. Thanks.
__________________
Cande & Daniel (Caniel)
2010 Mountaineer 295RKD | 2019 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax 4x4 CC LWB DRW

Caniel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2018, 06:25 AM   #38
Baldicon
Montana Master
 
Baldicon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 660
M.O.C. #20906
Quote:
Originally Posted by tooth ferry View Post
Remove grills, cover from back side with saran wrap and cover floor grills from back side with saran wrap . Cuts down on hot draft in summer and keeps dirt out of furnace ducts in floor. Easy to remove for winter
I think we have a winner! Do you just tape the saran wrap to the back of the vent?
__________________
2019 Montana 3121RL
2017 XLT 350 SCLB DRW 4X4
Baldicon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2018, 09:16 AM   #39
jeffba
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
Had the AC running and pulled the back wall of the basement forward. greeted to blast of cold air.

Will sommerize the vents for sure.
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
jeffba is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2018, 01:47 PM   #40
Rondo
Site Team
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,749
M.O.C. #7560
Have not heard the Saran Wrap version before but I like the idea and I think I'll do this on the unit to see how it works. Thanks!
Rondo 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

» 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 07:11 AM.


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