Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys

I am going to be cutting some vents in the side of my van this w end for my new fridge and I was just wondering if any one had any advice about treating the cut out section.

Should I hammerite over the cut out section to try avoid it rusting. Do you put sealant round the edges?

Any advice would be great

Definately to both; paint the exposed metal left by the cut and seal the vents. Get vents with covers you can clip on when driving in heavy rain as road spray chucks water through them (especially the lower one).

thanks for the reply,

Yeah we bought the vent covers as everyone we asked suggested they are a must

What is the best tool for cutting them out. WIll a jigsaw with a metal blade do?

Dunno; never done it. I had to widen my existing holes slightly for some new vents but I can't remember how I did it. I image a jigsaw would be ok but I'd use a fine blade and make damn sure nothings behind the panel

Just a mo...
You don't have to cut your van to bits.
OK ..so..
The vent is to allow warm air from the heat exchanger to escape outside
A bottom vent is to allow cool air from outside to replace it.

The flue for the gas exhaust still has to be cut though

You can vent this warm air into the cabin, and for what it's worth, enjoy free heat in the winter, spring and Autumn plus the cool nights in the summer.
Now as warm air rises you can allow cool air from the cabin floor to circulate to the back of the fridge.
Devons did this.

Auto sleeper vent cool air from a vent in the floor directly under the heat exchanger, which allows dripping condensation to fall outside rather than inside.
They only have one vent cut in the van side

Does that make sense?

we have a devon and dont have any probs. no vents just a gap under and above to circulate the air.