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RareStream · 02-28-2016, 06:22 AM

You don't need to put it on all eight tabs; I said that before, but you obviously missed it. Hence the need to repeat myself.

A few small dabs is all you need. Enough to not let the vent fall on its own but not so much that a few pulls, turns, and tugs won't remove it easily.

You're not going to bend the ceiling hahaaahahaahahahahhhsssahaha...

Again, this is how for years loose hubcaps and centercaps have been held on. I actually use it on my Chevy centercaps because some of the cheap plastic tabs have gone brittle and cracked off. A few 1/4" dabs on a couple tabs that are still there and the center caps don't fall off. And, when I want to remove them, the RTV is such a small amount that they pop right off, and don't break any of the remaining existing brittle tabs in the process. The rims are clear coated aluminum, and the clear RTV grabs it just enough to hold, but again it's not strong enough in such a small quantity to be even remotely difficult to remove. That's why it's a common fix for centercaps. It's NEVER been an issue getting them off.

Besides, the vents SHOULD be semi-permanent. But hey...if someone would rather have them nicked up and their floors and countertops dinged and dented from the vents falling because they are needlessly worried about a few dabs of RTV in their ceiling then by all means let 'em keep falling and tearing up the trailer.

gypsydad · 02-28-2016, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RareStream

You don't need to put it on all eight tabs; I said that before, but you obviously missed it. Hence the need to repeat myself.

A few small dabs is all you need. Enough to not let the vent fall on its own but not so much that a few pulls, turns, and tugs won't remove it easily.

You're not going to bend the ceiling hahaaahahaahahahahhhsssahaha...

Again, this is how for years loose hubcaps and centercaps have been held on. I actually use it on my Chevy centercaps because some of the cheap plastic tabs have gone brittle and cracked off. A few 1/4" dabs on a couple tabs that are still there and the center caps don't fall off. And, when I want to remove them, the RTV is such a small amount that they pop right off, and don't break any of the remaining existing brittle tabs in the process. The rims are clear coated aluminum, and the clear RTV grabs it just enough to hold, but again it's not strong enough in such a small quantity to be even remotely difficult to remove. That's why it's a common fix for centercaps. It's NEVER been an issue getting them off.

Besides, the vents SHOULD be semi-permanent. But hey...if someone would rather have them nicked up and their floors and countertops dinged and dented from the vents falling because they are needlessly worried about a few dabs of RTV in their ceiling then by all means let 'em keep falling and tearing up the trailer.

Not to "beat a dead Moose to death" on this, but I agree with the RTV approach as being viable and not creating a mess, easy to remove, etc...for some reason, (or lack of reason) "some" may not agree with this...I think it is worth a try on one vent...think you would be surprised...if not, I haven't heard anyone suggest peanut butter or chewing gum yet, but I am sure it is coming!

1Boyscout · 02-28-2016, 09:37 AM

There are two rectangular covers with foam rubber filters inside.

66Overlander · 02-28-2016, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Boyscout

There are two rectangular covers with foam rubber filters inside.

Those are air inlets for the ducted AC and there are 4 when the Airstream has two ACs. I have not heard of those falling out, only the round outlets falling out.

Gene · 02-28-2016, 06:27 PM

If nothing else works, move north where A/C is not necessary (or south to Antarctica—you'll have the only Airstream there). Then you can use epoxy to glue 'em and forget 'em.

In fact, in Antarctica or Australia the trailer will be upside-down and the registers won't fall out.

Gene

**moosetags** · 03-04-2016, 07:35 AM

I have received an email response from Daniel Snider at Airstream regarding the air conditioning vent issue as follows:

"Brian,

Hello, we have had success with making sure the insulation potion of the duct is trimmed back to let the clips extend farther back and to hold better.

Daniel R. Snider
Airstream Senior Technical
Support Representative
(937) 596-6111 Ext. 7408"

This makes sense as the plastic clips on the vents are probably not getting in deep enough to catch on the extra thickness of the insulation board.

I'm planning to give this solution a try. I have sent an email back to Mr. Snider asking for suggestions as to performing this cutting task. The insulation that needs to be cut back is difficult to get to inside the confines of the air duct.

Brian

RareStream · 03-04-2016, 07:41 AM

Hmmm...yeah, that'll work.

gypsydad · 03-04-2016, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

I have received an email response from Daniel Snider at Airstream regarding the air conditioning vent issue as follows:

"Brian,

Hello, we have had success with making sure the insulation potion of the duct is trimmed back to let the clips extend farther back and to hold better.

Daniel R. Snider
Airstream Senior Technical
Support Representative
(937) 596-6111 Ext. 7408"

This makes sense as the plastic clips on the vents are probably not getting in deep enough to catch on the extra thickness of the insulation board.

I'm planning to give this solution a try. I have sent an email back to Mr. Snider asking for suggestions as to performing this cutting task. The insulation that needs to be cut back is difficult to get to inside the confines of the air duct.

Brian

Yahooo! Looking forward to results when you hear back...thanks for the updates, Brian!

**moosetags** · 03-05-2016, 08:29 AM

I have heard back from Dan Snider at Airstream regarding the best method for trimming back the ceiling insulation. This is the email response that I received.

"Brian,

Hello, we have used nose cutters and a hooked knife to trim them back.

Daniel R. Snider
Airstream Senior Technical
Support Representative
(937) 596-6111 Ext. 7408"

I am not real clear on the tools or technique that he is referring to. I would appreciate hearing some other ideas for completing this cutting task.

Brian

OTRA15 · 03-05-2016, 11:42 AM

I would be surprised if the AS suggestion works uniformly for all the dropping vents/registers. Among other things, the proposed solution does not rectify vent rough openings which are not up to specs (too big or irregular). Also, how dense is the ceiling insulation, that it could keep those tiny plastic tabs from gripping the ceiling's inner skin?

Curious to hear more from you, Brian, about this "fix" especially after a road trip.

FYI I have been too busy to modify the sample register I got to receive a new central shaft.

**moosetags** · 03-08-2016, 01:22 PM

The ceiling insulation board is about 1/8" thick. Today I cut back a bit of the insulation board around the entire hole. I put the vent back in and barely held on. It was quite easy to remove. I don't think that an underway test will be necessary.

Brian

OTRA15 · 03-08-2016, 01:40 PM

Yeah that AS suggestion seemed like a real smoke screen. Just kickin' the can further down the road . . .

The plastic tabs that stick up do not have a long enough step on them to grip the aluminum ceiling skin, in part because the tolerances are all so tight. If the ceiling were thicker, and the tabs stuck up more, had more flex, and had a longer step/catch on them -- maybe . . .

Time for a total redesign by AS -- would not be surprised if they eliminate the adjustable register for a while.

**moosetags** · 03-08-2016, 01:56 PM

I have written back to Dan Snider at Airstream reporting the results of their suggested fix.I will report any response, or lack thereof.

Brian

**moosetags** · 03-08-2016, 03:01 PM

Airstream has already written back with the following:

"Brian,

Hello, at this time this is everything we have done. You could add some double face tape to the vent lip when putting it up.

Daniel R. Snider
Airstream Senior Technical
Support Representative
(937) 596-6111 Ext. 7408"

Brian

OTRA15 · 03-08-2016, 03:10 PM

[closest substitute for kickin' can down the road emoji]

RareStream · 03-08-2016, 08:22 PM

lol

switz · 03-09-2016, 07:23 AM

We specifically went with one of the last available 2015 23D International Serenity models that had the old style air conditioner. All the 23D models were not built with this ducting system during the 2015 model year. There were enough other QC challenges that I did not desire another one.

It would seem to me that a new disc is needed that is flat on one side and the other side has the necessary curvature to fit flush with the mounting location. The existing hole in the ceiling would have to be made larger so the the ID of the new fitting would be the correct diameter for the existing air registers and have a recess machined so the shoulder of the air register "legs" would have purchase.

I think the factory response to this issue reflects a growing attitude of lack of concern for QC as reflected in the many posts of varied QC issues with the new units. And some of the dealers seem to have the same attitude as well.

The customer takes it in the chops (only polite phrase that came to mind)

RareStream · 03-09-2016, 09:02 AM

...kinda like how the end caps don't really fit the roof.

**moosetags** · 03-09-2016, 03:49 PM

I figure that it can't hurt anything, so I have followed Airtream's advice and have put four pieces of two sided tape on the stationary plastic ring. I have also added a small piece of tape to each tab to snug them up a bit. I used 3M Scotch Extreme Mounting Tape.

They seem to be snug and tight. Time will tell. I did this to the eight vents in the living area and bathroom. I left the bedroom vents alone since none of them had ever fallen.

Here are a couple of pictures of one of the vents with the tape applied.

Brian