Fridge vent and sideways rain 2007 Classic question?

[IanW]

Never had any leaks before in our 2007 Classic 31 - but yesterday in Central Texas we ended up driving through horizontal rain from the street (fridge vent) side, for over an hour. Afterwards found that the drawer under the fridge had received a lot of water as well as floor in front of fridge.
Subfloor under the cabinet drawer was OK.
I am thinking that this was unavoidable and that the vent cover is intended for driven rain from the front (while towing) and more or less vertical rain the rest of the time.
OR...
Does this indicate some other leakage issue such as sealing around vent???

[rmkrum]

Assuming you have the same plastic fridge vents I have, I can see where hard-driven rain on that side could get in easily. Those vents are not really laid out to keep rain out under those conditions. Its good you discovered the water quickly.

A somewhat worse problem around here (desert Southwest) is the fine dust that coats anything semi-enclosed--like the interior of the fridge compartment, the water heater, and the rear bumper storage. THe rear bumper storage has a surprisingly thick coating of dust over everything---to the point I'm seriously considering some big drain holes so I can stick a hose in there and flush out the dust...

[IanW]

The vent cover is aluminum but most likely the same shape - Same problem with dust in the rear of the fridge which requires cleaning every 6 months!
I drilled 1/2" holes in each corner of the bumper compartment and added rubber weatherstrip to where the top of the compartment seals against the top of the bumper and that has helped a lot - it still gets a rinse after every trip. - There must be significant suction at the back end that sucks the road dust (and water) into the front edge of that drawer.