Vent open while driving

[lsbrodsky]

I put a cover on one fan to be able to leave the fan door open. However, I found that while driving, the fantastic fan lever really does not like to be bouncing against the weight of the fan door. I imagine a lot of that and it could break so I only leave the fan door open when parked and the cover does keep the rain out.
Larry

[Al and Missy]

I had covers on my 25. The one time I tried to leave the lid open, it vibrated closed.

Al

[bobgoldstein]

Originally Posted by stujan

Can you travel with the roof vent open and a window opened to keep the inside cooler or will the be a major problem

The Max air cover coupled with the power fan will keep the interior cooler while on the road. We have 2 and use the auto thermostat to make sure the airflow is negative in the trailer; no dust at all. Remember the Maxair covers are installed with the opening to the rear of the trainer and moving down the road creates a vacuum; again keeping both dust and rain out. Keep the windows closed.
Have fun.

[GammaDog]

I'll weigh in as the voice of "alternate facts":

1. Can you drive with fantastic vents open? I say "yes" and often do so when it's hot. I open both (our 25' has two) and I leave one fan set to run if it gets warm in the trailer and the other thermostat set to full hot so it doesn't run. That clears heat from the ceiling of the trailer. Does it make a difference? I have no idea. But it feels like I'm doing something constructive. Also, fantastic says it's fine and covered by their warranty. Google their QandA to see this:
Q CAN I DRIVE WITH MY VENT OPEN?

A YES! It is best to have the dome completely open. There is a lifetime warranty on the dome.

2. Driving with a window open? I've done that, too. Only with the rear window. Often it bounces closed in transit. On recent trips I've kept windows closed and just use the two vent approach.

3. Do open vents keep my wife happy? Not really. The better approach to setting up camp on a hot day is to stand outside the trailer once you get the AC running and hose down the aluminum skin. Especially in a dry climate the cooling is noticeable. It speeds the time to a comfortable interior and keeps me out of the line of angry glances... plus I can claim I took action to promote her comfort. That may do nothing for her, but it helps me!

4. Is dust a problem? Absolutely! The worst Airstream driving mistake I've made was crossing a 20 mile stretch of dirt road in central Wyoming in July with vents open and fans on. I'm still finding dust two years later. Do not drive with vents open and fans on except on pavement. EVER!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

How fast to cool down depends on a lot of things. With two AC's and 50A service it's not very long at 90 degrees and 10% RH in the shade. If you don't play with AC, it's amazing just how fast the AS cools with all the windows open and a slight breeze. With 30A service on a 30' trailer, out in the full sun at 98F and 98% RH .... it's not going to get to 75F in the trailer ....

Bob

[TravlinMan]

It's a good thing these ladies grew up in houses with a/c or I reckon they woulda just melted and never made it to adulthood.

Either that or they woulda adapted.

[sheriff1]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

It speeds the time to a comfortable interior and keeps me out of the line of angry glances... plus I can claim I took action to promote her comfort. That may do nothing for her, but it helps me!



!

Words to live by!

[Milo1952]

you need to add a vent cover.
You can damage the fantastic fan without it.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Milo1952

you need to add a vent cover.
You can damage the fantastic fan without it.

Hi

Most certainly *can* but that doesn't always happen. Sometimes you can drive 3 hours down the road with the fan popped up and no cover .... don't ask how I know

Bob

[c177tx]

Travel with vents open many times no problems except dust, Best to keep closed and open every thing up when you stop, with the fantastic fans on and windows open the trailer will cool off to ambient temp a lot quicker than it will take to dust the trailer.

[stujan]

Thanks for all the info. Still learning

[3wd67rg]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

I'll weigh in as the voice of "alternate facts":

1. Can you drive with fantastic vents open? I say "yes" and often do so when it's hot. I open both (our 25' has two) and I leave one fan set to run if it gets warm in the trailer and the other thermostat set to full hot so it doesn't run. That clears heat from the ceiling of the trailer. Does it make a difference? I have no idea. But it feels like I'm doing something constructive. Also, fantastic says it's fine and covered by their warranty. Google their QandA to see this:
Q CAN I DRIVE WITH MY VENT OPEN?

A YES! It is best to have the dome completely open. There is a lifetime warranty on the dome.

2. Driving with a window open? I've done that, too. Only with the rear window. Often it bounces closed in transit. On recent trips I've kept windows closed and just use the two vent approach.

3. Do open vents keep my wife happy? Not really. The better approach to setting up camp on a hot day is to stand outside the trailer once you get the AC running and hose down the aluminum skin. Especially in a dry climate the cooling is noticeable. It speeds the time to a comfortable interior and keeps me out of the line of angry glances... plus I can claim I took action to promote her comfort. That may do nothing for her, but it helps me!

4. Is dust a problem? Absolutely! The worst Airstream driving mistake I've made was crossing a 20 mile stretch of dirt road in central Wyoming in July with vents open and fans on. I'm still finding dust two years later. Do not drive with vents open and fans on except on pavement. EVER!

Never thought of hosing down the Airstream, (makes sense), but CA has been a drought state nearly my whole life, so I wouldn't have. If you do this in any drought state, that would explain the looks. If I saw that, I wouldn't do the whole anger thing, I'd simply assume they didn't understand the direness of the drought situation and kindly explain it. Most campers are very nice people.

We have a 1987 Classic AS Moho and drive with our vents and windows open most of the time. First off, no dust we've encountered has ever amounted to didley squat measured against the fur of our dog and two cats. That said if the dust is bad, or it begins raining it's my job to get up and begin closing everything. Not sure how that will work now with my messed up back. *sigh* The trip is the thing! I'm going to see my daughter and family, Yay for granddaughters! We shall make it work!

[Airhead59]

Originally Posted by stujan

So after a day of traveling in south west how long does it take to cool the trailer down so dear wife is happy

Arrived Brantley Lake SP (Carlsbad, NM) around 5 PM one evening last June. Outside temp was 109 and inside the AS wasn't any better. Plugged in and turned our one AC unit on high. By 9:30 PM it was high 90s outside finally in the high 70s indoors. Slept well as the AS continued to cool overnight. It was a good test of our rarely used AC as most of our camping is boondocking at elevation.

Leaving today for Hopewell Lake USFS CG in N. NM (elevation 9500 ft) in a couple of hours. It's supposed to be 33/64 Sunday in nearby Tierra Amarilla (elevation 7500). Don't think I'll miss the AC this weekend!

[ROBERT CROSS]

WELL...nobody rides in our AS, consequently, nobody cares how stuffy it gets. 🤔
No dust is an extra benefit. 👍

Plus...the DW think's the 'covers' ruin the aesthetics, as in butt ugly, I tend to agree. 😂

Bob
🇺🇸

[gypsydad]

I have always had the "cool looking" Maxair covers for couple reasons; you can drive with the vents open, which we do sometimes in very hot weather. We do close when/if we are on dusty roads. Second reason is rain; sometimes in some areas, we have rain, yet not hot enough for AC...so we can run the fan while it's raining. Works for us. Remembering that dust can surely be an issue on a dusty road...most of the time, very little to worry about on the highway. Do what you feel works best for you!

[lsbrodsky]

I stopped driving with vents open, even with covers, when I saw how the vent lid was bouncing the opening strut. Not really built to take that kind of stress.

Larry

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

I stopped driving with vents open, even with covers, when I saw how the vent lid was bouncing the opening strut. Not really built to take that kind of stress.

Larry

I don't know; 4 AS's driving with the Maxair covers over the vents...never a problem with the vent covers, when driving with them open. If your concerned, close your vents.