Refrig Vent and Awning HELP!

[markdoane]

I am installing a refrigerator vent on my '59 tradewind and I am unsure of the best location.

I have an awning rail, but no awning. I haven't decided whether to install a vintage awning, or go to a modern Zip-Dee.

Questions:

1. Can I use the original awning rail with a Zip-Dee, or does the Zip-Dee use a different awning rail?

2. I want to avoid problems with the door scraping the bottom of the awning. If I install a Zip-Dee, how high should the awning rail be above the door eyebrow?

3. How far above the awning rail should the refrigerator vent be located?

Here is a picture that shows the current awning rail and the expected location for the refrigerator vent (in white).

Thanks for any help.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by markdoane

...Thanks for any help.

I don't know the right answers to your questions.

But if it were my Airstream, I would use the exisiting awning rail because moving it to another location would probably look bad after the original rail's placement was covered up. Your call.

My door scrapes the bottom of my vintage Carefree awning ever so slightly. I do not consider it a problem.

Here is a picture of my fridge vent.

Good luck deciding,
Tom

[azflycaster]

I installed a ZipDee on my trailer a year ago. I like the ease of opening and closeing the zip dee over the ones that VTS sells. It did cost alot more and I see nothing wrong with the vintage. The main difference would be the setup and take down time, plus you would need to store the vintage one when not in use. Not haveing poles is a plus for ZipDee as well. You can still and will walk into the ZipDee arms once or twice and both can be damaged by too much water build up. Your questions:

1. The original rail will work fine.
2. The awning to the door will be tight. Keep the front part extended to the highest point. ZipDee includes a roller to install on the door to prevent rubbing. It looks like crap and I tossed mine.
3. My vent for the frig is about 2 inches from the rail, not a problem, everything is below the rail.

[scottanlily]

Hello markdoane,

The vent on my 60 trdwnd is a small curved piece (original) close to where
your white outline is, just above awning rail .Im thinking myself of installing RV COOLS venting kit for behind the fridge to blow the warm air up
to the roof .My vent seems abit small .i was considering a side vent to allow
air to flow up from behind the fridge from the outside .More venting would be better thats for sure.I also have that awning rail ,and Im not sure what fits
but Im thinking of a custom vintage type in the striped style in turquoise.
I think InsideOut has one like that .It looks like it would need to be that style to clear the door ,where the awning extends straight out ,which means the pole and rope type.

Scott

[Safari Tim]

We talked about this on theVAP a few episodes ago. The suggestion then was to buy a vented hatch from an AS dealer and install it behind the fridge in the wall.

I'm considering doing this to mine. I'll cut a hole in the floor and out the belly pan for fresh air intake, like my '71 Safari did, and have the vented hatch in the wall slighly above the heating coils, be the exhaust.

This would elimate the need for a chimney on the surface of the interior wall.

[uwe]

Originally Posted by markdoane

I am installing a refrigerator vent on my '59 tradewind and I am unsure of the best location.

I have an awning rail, but no awning. I haven't decided whether to install a vintage awning, or go to a modern Zip-Dee.

Questions:

1. Can I use the original awning rail with a Zip-Dee, or does the Zip-Dee use a different awning rail?

You can use the original awning rail. You might have to pry open the ends a slight bit to feed the first awning segment through it.

Originally Posted by markdoane

2. I want to avoid problems with the door scraping the bottom of the awning. If I install a Zip-Dee, how high should the awning rail be above the door eyebrow?

It is important to leave the awning rail in the position that Airstream has put it. The ZipDee references to the awning rail for 2 crucial measurements. I would assume that other manufacturers use the same stock location for their measurements.
Please do not assume, though, that the ZipDee awning will fit a vintage unit pre-69 without modifications. In my case, I had to re-shape the upper steel arm, and drill extra holes to provide more lift for the front of the awning to clear the door. The re-shaping of the upper arms was suggested by ZipDee's customer service dept.
Imagine my surprise to have to mess with a $ 1200.00 awning to make it fit my airstream.

Originally Posted by markdoane

3. How far above the awning rail should the refrigerator vent be located?

Mine is about a hands width above the awning rail and that seems to be just fine. The awning roll in it's rolled up position barely extends above the rail.

Originally Posted by markdoane

Here is a picture that shows the current awning rail and the expected location for the refrigerator vent (in white).

Thanks for any help.

Don,
If you want to use an inner shroud from a different model, then the curve of the shroud determines the vertical location of the vent.

[markdoane]

Thanks everyone for yoru answers, I feel a lot better knowing what works.

[Mark Wiltrakis]

Don -
I walked throught the Vintage Open House at the International Rally in Salem last July. One owner used a PVC hold-up that functioned well and was only visible from underneath the awning. I think a mini-version of a vintage tripod stabilizer jack done in two dimensions (deleting the rear leg) would look good and work well here.
I'm a long way from awning issues . . . . but making progress.
Mark

[TomW]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Thanks everyone for yoru answers, I feel a lot better knowing what works.

I saw a picture you posted in Tim's thread. What did you decide was the best solution?

Tom

[markdoane]

Tom,

Between your picture, and a whole bunch of detailed phots that Uwe sent me off-forum, I picked the location shown in your picture. It's about 4" above the awning rail.

Thanks again for the help. Here's where the hole ended up, you can see the vent in the other thread.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Tom, ... I picked the location shown in your picture...

But I'm not feeling smug or anything. :

Seriously, glad I could help.

Tom