Having just done the Great Short Cut, I found despite putting covers over the vents, dust still came in. There is a lot on the internet about scupper vents and opinion is often divided. Just wondering what others here think AND have experienced first hand. Is there any other solution? If so what?
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
Cover when on dirt\Corrugations. WITH THE ROOF VENTS OPEN..
Either a solid piece taped to van surrounds.
OR like me. Lots rolls of grey tape.
Just cover with layers of that.
That way you'll keep the majority of dust out.
You have gas in van.
DON'T even think of permanent sealing as some say.
gas and your lungs, Don't get on very well.
No matter what we do with todays machinery. OR DON'T.
We only get a fraction of dust in, compared to the old days.
believe me.
30 yrs ago. everything was red.
45....you wore goggles and took a shovel\broom in van
b4 missus would go in there. Car too.
Nullabor... ALL cars were Bright reddy brown.
with a clear patch on screen in front of drivers face.
and a long queue of cars waiting to wash down in "Porda Gudda".
We have a scupper vent on our van. We have found that it works well and we get very little dust into our van. We do not cover our other vents, and we never see any dust near them.
Physics states a van shaped object moving through the air will cause it to become negatively pressurized.
You would have to seal it completely to stop the dust. Impossible.
A scupper allows the airflow to pressurize the van thus eliminating any ingress at all.
The vent needs to be up high and integrated with a BIG air filter for best results.
Scupper vent definitely work......just done 200km Meekathoura to Wiluna (WA) all powder dust, good dirt road able to sit on 70-80 Ks, could not see van in rear view mirrors most of the way. When we arrived at Wiluna we tossed a coin for the first to open van door, I won and on opening not a sceric of dust......even with the door vent untaped, amazed and thankful for the scupper vent. Can not say the same for vans exterior.........all the silicone sealant was red and when we were stopped red dust was draining of the entire van and chassis on to the road.
First caravan we had was a PopTop and the Scupper Vent worked very well on it, being only 16ft 6", easily pressurised the interior. Current Caravan which we have had for some 11 years a 21 ft Hardtop, a scupper vent was fitted at manufacture, 5inch by 3 inch, but hopeless on the first foray on Gravel.
When we got back I had another 2 vents fitted, both 8X4 inches, one either side of the existing. Next trip on the same route, Great Central Road, opened all 3 and problem solved. I did also mask over door and other small vents to be sure, but that is the answer to get a sufficient volume of air into the Caravan while moving to cause a slight pressure.
Have seen some caravans with a pressure fan fitted inside to be switched on when on gravel to pressurise the interior, would be good but have to find somewhere to fit it etc.
Scupper vents work well most times but a bit of effort in dust proofing can often remove the need..................a quick run down a dusty road will leave the tell tles you need to look for, a search for dust in cupboards etc will soon show where it's coming from...quite often cable and pipe runs aren't sealed where they enter, tails lights in the rear panels have wires running inside the van where dust enters due to poor sealing, once these are located and sealed, it's amazing how little dust gets in, thats in most cases................also many forget to put the plugs insinks and showers where the drain is open, a venturi effect happens as you drive down the road , creating a low pressure inside the van which will suck the dust in.
Once the holes are plugged the dust should be reduced and the scupper vent would work even better if needed.
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Checking out the places I drove past a thousand times................
