There's a hole...

[ronald b. kazi]

I cut the hole in the side of the coach for the refrigerator vent
today. I was all set to cut through fiberglass, did not realize that it
was aluminum. Dremel with router base and rotary cut bit did the
trick. Used the saber saw for the frame pieces. Grinder cut the metal
moulding and the rubber fit back butting right against the vent. Looks
real sharp.

I see what Emery (?) meant, the nice looking vent is begging for a
screen to keep out the mud daubers. (That was the name of a womens
wrestling team, I think). I am surprised that it doesn't have one. Will
have to add it.

Kind of scary cutting a big hole like that. Reminds me of when the
worker cut the hole for a new porthole in the 120' yacht we were
renovating at the shipyard. He swapped the hight and width
measurements. Porthole was 4' x 3' Cost us a bunch.
I kept having flashbacks while I was cutting.

Ron and Julie
73 Painted Desert

 

[ronald b. kazi]

Is that why it sags in the middle now?...I cut just above the main longitudinal
member. The only aluminum I cut was the skin and the vent support members.
Thanks for your concern. I will be installing several 1" pvc with screened
cover into the wheel well to act as propane drain holes.

Ron and Julie
73 Definitely Painted Desert

>
> > Used the saber saw for the frame pieces......
>
> Uh, Ron,
> Don't mean to rain on your parade, but I hope you didn't cut any major
> frame members, especially the big horizontal beam which should be just BELOW
> the opening. (That's why the intake vent can't be at the floor level of the
> reefer compartment, and why you therefore need to drill propane drain holes
> into the wheel well.) You may have to cut the small "vent support members"
> which are fore, aft, and above the opening. (See the 78Z Parts Book,
> pp.23-10 - 23-16 for pictures.)
> You do recall how you fixed that yacht, right? ;-) Good luck.
>
> Rick Staples
> ''75 Eleganza
> Louisville, CO

 

[david l greenberg]

> I cut the hole in the side of the coach for the refrigerator vent
> today.
> Ron and Julie
> 73 Painted Desert
>
You are a brave soul, Ron. Being an old boater myself, I cringe at the
thought (and sound) of cutting into the hull of anything!

David Lee Greenberg
The GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Classic GMC Motorhome
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm

 

[ronald b. kazi]

I will be using some 3/4" soffit vents I have lying around the house that I
think I can fit into the 1" PVC. I will check the compartment after the first
big downpour on the road and adjust accordingly.

Ron and Julie

>
> > I will be installing several 1" pvc with screened
> > cover into the wheel well to act as propane drain holes.
>
> Ron,
> Glad your frame is intact. ;-) I'd also think carefully about the
> drain/vent holes. 1" seems a bit large. (I've got a couple of ~7/16" holes
> in mine.) When you're driving in a downpour or through puddles, there's a
> LOT of water flying around in that wheel well. If you do use the 1" vents,
> I'd put louvers or baffles over them at least.
> My .02.
>
> Rick Staples
> '75 Eleganza
> Louisville, CO

 

[ronald b. kazi]

It is a similar feeling to cutting out the 6 skylights and bay windows I
have in my house. Scary but rewarding when they dont leak.
Ron and Julie
73 Painted Desert

> > I cut the hole in the side of the coach for the refrigerator vent
> > today.
> > Ron and Julie
> > 73 Painted Desert
> >
> You are a brave soul, Ron. Being an old boater myself, I cringe at the
> thought (and sound) of cutting into the hull of anything!
>
> David Lee Greenberg
> The GMC Motorhome Registry
> Dedicated To The Classic GMC Motorhome
> www.gmcss.com/registry.htm