Vent filters

JBurg · 12-25-2015, 11:04 PM

Does anyone know if the filters on the ceiling vents are cleanable or do they simply get replaced? (I haven't pulled them down yet)

davydee · 12-26-2015, 02:12 AM

On our 2011, they're foam and can be washed. Bought some addition foam material and cuts new ones to fit so we'd be able to rotate them while the freshly cleaned ones dry. David

JBurg · 12-26-2015, 03:54 AM

Cool! Thanks David!

rynosback · 12-26-2015, 06:20 AM

And you can buy them CHEEP at Walmart. I think it is under $2 for a sheet of foam filter sheet that you cut to fit.

Cummins12V98 · 12-28-2015, 05:24 PM

The screws tend to strip out since they are self driller screws and it's only 3/8 -1/2" plywood up there. A good mod is to have some small pcs of plywood or other wood and place them above screw holes with some construction adhesive let them sit to dry, pre drill holes and then replace the grills.

Easy to rinse and dry the existing foam. When mine wore out on last MS I found the foam in sheets at HD and cut to size.

wingnut60 · 01-03-2016, 03:18 PM

Cummins,
That is what I did with the vents on my '05--small piece of 1x2 glued above the screw hole allows for easy replacement of filters and still have a backing to hold the screws.
Joe

Maverick · 01-03-2016, 06:03 PM

I wonder if you could buy c-clips to slide in place. Can anyone take a picture of area in question.

rynosback · 01-04-2016, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

The screws tend to strip out since they are self driller screws and it's only 3/8 -1/2" plywood up there. A good mod is to have some small pcs of plywood or other wood and place them above screw holes with some construction adhesive let them sit to dry, pre drill holes and then replace the grills.

Easy to rinse and dry the existing foam. When mine wore out on last MS I found the foam in sheets at HD and cut to size.

Thanks for the reminder. I have wood left over after putting plywood under the couch cushions to firm the couch up. I kept them for this very reason and now that it is winter and cool. This is the perfect time.

Cummins12V98 · 01-04-2016, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynosback

Thanks for the reminder. I have wood left over after putting plywood under the couch cushions to firm the couch up. I kept them for this very reason and now that it is winter and cool. This is the perfect time.

And you reminded my to do the plywood under the cushions mod!

Terry and Jo · 01-04-2016, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick

I wonder if you could buy c-clips to slide in place. Can anyone take a picture of area in question.

Below are some pictures of the modification that I did. However, I didn't glue my wood blocks in, but used wood screws instead. Then, I put in a small hanger bolt (wood screw threads on one end and machine screw threads on the other end) so that I could use some knurled nuts to hold the vent cover in place.

If you go this route, be careful in drilling the hole for the small hanger bolts so that they match up with the hole in the vent cover. I goofed in some way and had to drill out the holes in the vent cover in order to get the hanger bolt through the vent cover holes.

I also used a slightly larger wood block than what some others have done.

Terry

Terry and Jo · 01-04-2016, 11:58 PM

More pictures of my modification to the vent covers.

Terry

Maverick · 01-05-2016, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry and Jo

More pictures of my modification to the vent covers.

Terry

Thanks Terry for posting the pictures. We won't be taking possession of our DRV until late April / early May. I am lost on some of the mods that have been done by DRV owners. Was the cut out done at DRV or was it subbed out to woodchucks? LOL!

Terry and Jo · 01-05-2016, 04:14 PM

Ha!! Woodchucks, I think. But they would have had to have used a good straight-edge.

Terry

Joezilla · 01-05-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry and Jo

More pictures of my modification to the vent covers.

Terry

Terry,

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do you get those hanger screws into the wood to begin with?

Slade mentioned during out PDI that I should put some wood up there and then use "acorn nuts" to secure the covers. I had no idea what he was talking about and just nodded in agreement

Joe

Maverick · 01-05-2016, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joezilla

Terry,

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do you get those hanger screws into the wood to begin with?

Slade mentioned during out PDI that I should put some wood up there and then use "acorn nuts" to secure the covers. I had no idea what he was talking about and just nodded in agreement

Joe

You drill a pilot hole in the wood and then double nut them with hex nuts. Then you use a wrench to screw them in. I would use a socket wrench, so I could put a little down pressure on the screw to start the threads to bite. Terry has an excellent fix for an ongoing problem, with very little expense and time.

Terry and Jo · 01-06-2016, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joezilla

Terry,

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do you get those hanger screws into the wood to begin with?

Slade mentioned during out PDI that I should put some wood up there and then use "acorn nuts" to secure the covers. I had no idea what he was talking about and just nodded in agreement

Joe

Joe,

Maverick nailed it. Drilled pilot holes for each screw and again for the hanger bolts. In my case, I used two of the knurled nuts with one having threads all the way through and the second nut threaded on only a few threads or so. Tightened the two nuts together, then used pliers to screw in the hanger bolts. Separated the two nuts, put the cover on and then put a nut on each bolt.

Do not overtighten or it could be difficult to get a nut threaded on the hanger bolt.

Terry

Cummins12V98 · 01-06-2016, 05:51 PM

I think Terry's mod is a good idea. Personally the added block above with reusing the white screws looks better to me. I just keep my cordless drill charged so it is a very easy job no different than Terry's.

My only concern with the knurled nuts is if they came loose rolling down the highway and a cover dropped on a finished surface it could cause damage.

GeorgiaHybrid · 01-06-2016, 10:23 PM

Cummins, just use a small lock washer between the nut and the cover. That will prevent the nut from backing off but still be easy to use.

Cummins12V98 · 01-06-2016, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHybrid

Cummins, just use a small lock washer between the nut and the cover. That will prevent the nut from backing off but still be easy to use.

I agree that "SHOULD" be good but I have had so many weird things happen.

Terry and Jo · 01-07-2016, 03:24 PM

I don't know about your floor plan, but if one of the knurled nuts comes off while going down the road, it is going to land on top of one of the slides in the case of three of the vents, and onto the bed in the case of the fourth vent. At least, that is what would happen in our coach.

My issue with reusing the wood screw is that one is inserting and removing the screws over time, one could ream out the screw hole, possibly requiring a new block in the ceiling. Even though I decided on the hanger bolt instead of screws, I still screwed the wood blocks into place, just in case I ever had to change one for any reason. With them glued into place, what would get torn up if one had to remove the block?

Terry

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