Pressure Vents ~ To Use or Not To Use?

Hi Shaker,

I travel with my vent in the open position, close it for oncoming traffic then re-open once the dust has settled. Works for me and keeps the dust out of the vehicle.

Howard

hi shaker
with my new viscount van back in 1980 when I travelled the big lap and a huge amount of the north west coastal highway was still gravel the then sealed rd were very narrow causing one to have to drop of the tar to pass
I found providing I wasn't following closely behind any other vehiclesthere wasn't much traffic in those days hardly saw anyone mainly just small semi's
having the front section of the 4 seasons hatch open about an inch on the front hatch only did help pressurise the 18 ft van it was better than having it closed as with it shut the vacuum would draw in more dust through the fridge and lower door vent but with it open it definetly kept most of the dust out
cheers

Hi Shaker
My Coromal Princeton is fitted with a pressure hatch, I use it all the time and I reckon it works a treat.

I've done quite a bit of dirt road driving this trip and there's no doubt it keeps the dust out (that is provided you close all van windows and especially the shower hatch).

I use it on the highway as well, the air flow freshens the van and keeps the road dust and dirt out.

Stay safe out there!
Regards
TJ

I always have mine open on dusty roads mate.

If you didn't use a pressure vent for a dusty road situation then why have a pressure vent at all??

Use it for sure. Our current van is our 4th. Our first was a Glendale 30ft with a sliding glass door for the main entry and a regular van door at rear for the bedroom. We traveled around the shearing sheds in western QLD and learn't very quickly that we needed to open the front vent of the first 4 seasons hatch to stop the dust coming into the van. On our first trip onto a dirt road we had a blue bedspread on the bed after the first 10ks we stopped to check the van the inside of the van was red. We towed our current van across the Great Central Road last year and had the pressure hatch open for the entire trip. If a vehicle came from the other direction we stopped until they went past and the dust settled. It also reduced the risk of windscreen damage. Some people just don't know how to slow down for oncoming traffic.

I've had three vans with a pressure vent and I think I may be the source of the "dead bugs and gravel" mentioned. My current van had a roof repair and I got them to delete the existing pressure vent.

Have been travelling on dirt and dusty gravel this trip and am not suffering an influx of dust, but some outside vents eg bottom fridge have been sealed as well as the door, which is behind the axles and seems to be in an area of more dust.

My decision to not have a vent, they are a tiny little thing compared to van volume after all, was based on my observations of dust ingress with it open and closed. But in the main I was watching on TV the Australian rally where there was lots of footage of those highly modified pajeros and colorados etc hooning along all with very large vents on the roof, on one I counted five, if they need that many vents at those speeds what good is a tiny caravan one going to do. So no more vent for me.