Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:14:04 -0700
Reply-To: Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Crumbling Flue Vent Cover
In-Reply-To: <bfb5ccc40706241231t76777e55x98cad5994cbafbeb@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Now you have me thinking a cover on the vent would be a good idea even
in this dry part of the country. Besides, my van used to be garaged and
now must live outside, so it is subject to more rain. I try to keep the
van covered most of the time, but it's starting to wear out. Bought it
from Van Cafe a few years ago and it's just about shot. Doesn't fit the
westy very well anyway. Time for a new one soon, but not that one.
Anyway, maybe I should take another look-see in the burn chamber and
put a better fan back there while I have it out.
Then there's the Norcold conversion... would be nice if not for the
noise of the compressor. I am noise sensitive and would rather not hear
anything running at night. So anything that will make my Dometic run
more efficiently would be good. Especially since there does not seem to
be an option for a better LP powered fridge out there. I also consider
removing the fridge and using an ice chest. More storage, less weight
to haul around and less LP consumption. I usually have an icebox anyway
because there never enough room in the fridge.
Keith
On Jun 24, 2007, at 12:31 PM, Old Volks Home wrote:
> Keith -
>
> It's called product liability from the manufacturer. The manufacturer
> (Dometic in this case) is not worried about guys like you and I who
> use a bit of common sense in the "care and feeding" of our precious
> campers. Dometic is more concerned about Camper and RM182 series
> owners who don't or won't exercise their brains and use their common
> sense, so they've gotta cover their bases legal-wise to protect their
> corporate butt.
>
> And then there's the salt issue mentioned earlier. I always use my
> cover when washing my camper and when parked/camped in heavy rain
> (without the propane running it of course - don't wanna melt-down!).
> --
> Jim Thompson
> 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
> 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
> 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> ***********************************
> On 6/22/07, Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@comcast.net> wrote: I've never
> had a vent cover and it seems to me that it's not necessary.
>> Have any of you ever had water in the flue or on the floor near the
>> intake port? Never an issue with my 84 or 90 Dometic fridge. So, what
>> is the concern here? By the way, my van always gets hand washed by
>> yours truly because I never thought it would be a good idea to take it
>> to a commercial car wash with the roof racks, etc. Maybe the high
>> pressure sprayers could get water into the flue? After inspecting the
>> burn chambers of both my 84 and 90 Dometic fridge's, there was some
>> ash
>> and a bit of rusty scale, but no standing water or major rust-through
>> problems. If I were to convert to a compressor fridge (Norcold, or
>> whatever) then I would want to seal off the vent/intake port
>> completely. Whole different ball game. So, what gives here?
>>
>>
>> Keith O.
>> 90 Westy Syncro "VikingWagen"
>> Past VeeDubs in the family
>> 1984 Westy "Brownie"
>> 1980 PU diesel
>> 1978 Rabbit diesel
>> 1979 Rabbit gasser
>> 1963? 23 window Splitty
>> 1965 Bus
>> 1969 Bus
>> 1959 Bug