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Old 12-27-2017, 06:50 PM   #1
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Warming space under dinette benches

We live in our Escape 21, so will not be winterizing it. We will stick to the south this winter, so I expect quite a few below freezing overnights and maybe a couple of freezing days in a row.

I would like to install some vent holes into the area under the dinette benches to insure the piping on the driver's side and the sodas we store under the passenger side don't freeze. Right now I use a couple of small 2x4 blocks to lift the seat overnight, but it is inconvenient when we want to use the benches.

Has anyone cut vents into the space under their dinette benches? If so, where did you cut them and what did you use to cover them?
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Old 12-27-2017, 06:55 PM   #2
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We live in our Escape 21, so will not be winterizing it. We will stick to the south this winter, so I expect quite a few below freezing overnights and maybe a couple of freezing days in a row.

I would like to install some vent holes into the area under the dinette benches to insure the piping on the driver's side and the sodas we store under the passenger side don't freeze. Right now I use a couple of small 2x4 blocks to lift the seat overnight, but it is inconvenient when we want to use the benches.

Has anyone cut vents into the space under their dinette benches? If so, where did you cut them and what did you use to cover them?
I used these but for a different purpose. I'm trying to keep humidity from affecting stuff since I live in a high humidity state.
They make larger ones and smaller ones too but these seem to give me good airflow.

https://ventmastersstore.com/collect...tic-vent-brown
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Old 12-27-2017, 07:01 PM   #3
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I have not needed them in the trailer but I have used air duct return grills for other purposes. HD/Lowes carries them in a variety of sizes.
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Old 12-27-2017, 07:33 PM   #4
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This thread might help
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ents-2428.html
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Old 12-27-2017, 09:39 PM   #5
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I would use your standard tan or brown plastic floor forced air heating vent. They come in two sizes, are light, cheap and have a open and closed position...to keep the bugs out in the summer.
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Old 12-27-2017, 10:35 PM   #6
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I think one at the bottom as far away from your feet as possible and one at the top as close to the heat source as possible . The cold air will fall out on its own and draw the warm air into the top, where as no fan will be required . The round ones should blend well.
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Old 12-28-2017, 06:29 AM   #7
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Personally, I would get some of the foam tube pipe insulators they sell at Lowe’s/Home Depot/almost any hardware chain and not worry about cutting vents. Pex plumbing has the ability to expand without being damaged by freezing, and I believe that it would have to be well below freezing for an extended period of time to get cold enough under the dinette benches to cause the problems you envision. I also suspect that if full timing, to will be in the southern states during the winter months rather than near Glacier National Park. If, however, you are into winter activities and want to camp in the snow belt, I’m not sure an Escape is the best choice. ETI does not market it as a 5-season trailer. But if you really want to create vents, I would do it the way Mike (Devil Dog) suggests. Round vents are readily available and clean openings can be cut with the matching sized hole saw using an electric or battery powered drill.
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Old 12-28-2017, 10:19 AM   #8
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I’m not sure an Escape is the best choice. ETI does not market it as a 5-season trailer.

Uhm...I’ve heard of the Fifth Element and a fifth of booze, and of course the 5th of May pops into my head too, but I’m drawing a blank on what that fifth season might be...wintertime in the eerie alien landscape of Quartzite?
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Old 12-28-2017, 10:20 AM   #9
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I wonder if storing the soda in those inexpensive foam coolers would provide enough insulation to keep them from freezing.
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Old 12-28-2017, 11:18 AM   #10
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In one of our previous units we camped in extreme cold and did not want things freezing.
I used the round vents listed earlier and added a low draw fan to the inside of the cabinet at the vent, added a small switch and in very cold we ran the fans on and off to assure no freezing. A remote read thermometer helped monitor the area

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 12-28-2017, 12:59 PM   #11
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In one of our previous units we camped in extreme cold and did not want things freezing.
I used the round vents listed earlier and added a low draw fan to the inside of the cabinet at the vent, added a small switch and in very cold we ran the fans on and off to assure no freezing. A remote read thermometer helped monitor the area

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Do you have any picture of the installation?
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Old 12-28-2017, 01:18 PM   #12
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Uhm...I’ve heard of the Fifth Element and a fifth of booze, and of course the 5th of May pops into my head too, but I’m drawing a blank on what that fifth season might be...wintertime in the eerie alien landscape of Quartzite?
Something I invented to give individuals who cannot recognize typographical errors (the 5 is right next to the 4 on small keyboards like the iPhone) something to wonder about for hours on end. It keeps their minds occupied!

There are, of course, shoulder seasons......
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Old 12-28-2017, 01:53 PM   #13
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5 seasons

I noticed the reference to 5 seasons. Probably because about 40 years ago some misguided promoters changed the promotional slogan of my home town Cedar Rapids,Iowa from “The Parlor City” to The City of 5 Seasons. Quality of living according to these do gooders was so high that there needed to be a 5th season to enjoy the other four. Well after continuous bombardment by the chamber of commerce folks for about 40 years the slogan seems to have stuck. So we have 5 seasons tire, 5 Seasons bakery etc etc. Of course having industry that included wet corn milling, meat packing, cereal mills and a sewage treatment plant too close to town the wags soon came up with the city of 5 Smells. They would name the industries and proclaim the 5th smell as a blend of two or more contributors. Donations erected a 60 foot stainless steel tree which became a rusty pigeon roost because the air quality etched the surface and allowed birds to perch on it. Guess who had to keep the plaza under it clean? Yup. You can’t make this stuff up.
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Old 12-28-2017, 02:03 PM   #14
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Something I invented to give individuals who cannot recognize typographical errors (the 5 is right next to the 4 on small keyboards like the iPhone) something to wonder about for hours on end. It keeps their minds occupied!

There are, of course, shoulder seasons......

Oh, I see! How clever. I actually invented sarcasm (he says, sarcastically). Please feel free to enjoy it royalty free.
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Old 12-28-2017, 02:09 PM   #15
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Do you have any picture of the installation?




We had ETI put the vents into all the cabinets and enclosed spaces at build time. Much cheaper to do it yourself, actually.
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Old 12-28-2017, 02:17 PM   #16
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Oh, I see! How clever. I actually invented sarcasm (he says, sarcastically). Please feel free to enjoy it royalty free.
I remember when Al Gore invented the internet!
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Old 12-28-2017, 09:44 PM   #17
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Uhm...I’ve heard of the Fifth Element and a fifth of booze, and of course the 5th of May pops into my head too, but I’m drawing a blank on what that fifth season might be...wintertime in the eerie alien landscape of Quartzite?
Here in Vermont we have seasons...Winter, Mud, Stick and the fourth of July...
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Old 12-30-2017, 10:57 AM   #18
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Do you have any picture of the installation?
I'll try to post a couple
The top one is under the sink
Second is of the switch wires at the converter
Third is through the vent opening fan is visible
Fourth is of the fan mounted inside cabinet
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IMG_20171230_094409.jpg   IMG_20171230_094120.jpg   IMG_20171230_094055.jpg   IMG_20171230_094039.jpg  
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Old 12-30-2017, 11:33 AM   #19
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Thanks Tom, you have given me some ideas to wrestle with....
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Old 12-30-2017, 12:01 PM   #20
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Thanks Tom, you have given me some ideas to wrestle with....
Make it really cool and wire it through a digital thermostat set to 40F that is mounted under the benches. With it automated it will only go on and off as needed and you no longer need to think about when to flip a switch.
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