Bug Proofing Vents - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Technical | Towing, Maintenance and Repairs > Modifications and Upgrades
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-02-2015, 01:15 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Bug Proofing Vents

With bug season going into full swing, we're thinking about covering all our vents with metal window screen (ten dollars a roll at Home Depot) and some hot glue or silicone.

Seems like a fairly simple mod to remove the various covers, attach a piece of metal screen inside and re-install cover.

Any downsides to this besides not giving our hard-earned cash to Camco for "custom" screens/covers?

Ken
__________________

__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 02:06 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Mole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Orangeburg
Posts: 87
South Carolina
I've been thinking about the same thing myself but have yet to actually try it. I picked up black metal screen material for a home project and have quite a bit left over.
__________________

__________________
Bill & Anne + FBs Athena, Jada & Cupcake
Wilson III: 2015 Ram 2500 6.4L Gas 4x4 4.10 CC SRW
Gypsy II: 2013 Kodiak 279RBSL with table & chairs instead of a dinette
Mole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 02:53 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
arlan in arizona's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
Don't you guys have screens on your vents?

I would not use hot glue anywhere it gets hot. I have used it in the past (long, long time ago). It melts.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3905
2013 F350 4x4 DRW
2013 RZR XP 900
arlan in arizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 03:30 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
wildwest450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
You can get stainless covers for your fridge, hot water heater, and furnace online. at least cover your furnace openings,


.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
wildwest450 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 08:40 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Eldersburg
Posts: 301
Maryland
Use heater-duct tape to secure the screens to the inside of the vents.
__________________
Matt

2011 Chevy Suburban 2500 4x4
2015 Kodiak 300BHLS
mjcarte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 11:40 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by arlan in arizona View Post
Don't you guys have screens on your vents?

I would not use hot glue anywhere it gets hot. I have used it in the past (long, long time ago). It melts.
No screens that I saw. Only slots.
You're right about the hot glue. That's a really good thought.

I was looking somewhere online and a guy does what I'm talking about except he drills small holes in the covers and puts in small pieces of metal to hold the screen, then bolts it down.

I wish I could find that link again...
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 11:45 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjcarte View Post
Use heater-duct tape to secure the screens to the inside of the vents.
Just like on a furnace duct. That makes sense. So have you done this or does your RV have screens already?
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 11:46 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by arlan in arizona View Post
Don't you guys have screens on your vents?

I would not use hot glue anywhere it gets hot. I have used it in the past (long, long time ago). It melts.
It burns the fingers too...
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 03:31 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
DC8Captain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Golden
Posts: 178
Colorado
I'm doing something like you're talking about. I'm using some silicone designed for the extreme heat.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
__________________
Dale & Deb
2009 Silverado Crew Cab 2500 HD
2014 Dutchmen 275BH TT
DC8Captain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 06:08 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fdhealy4 View Post
I'm doing something like you're talking about. I'm using some silicone designed for the extreme heat.

Amazon.com - Rutland 500-Degree RTV High Heat Silicone Seal, 10.3-Ounce Cartridge, Clear - Fireproof Caulk
I just read this online regarding the furnace vent. Last thing I want to do is ruin the furnace or trap CO2 inside my rv... but then if it gets full of bugs, wasps, etc. you're in the same boat right?


A flat screen tight against an exhaust area can limit the amount of pressure coming out. That's why the store bought ones are convex. Also the makers of the furnace do not recommend placing any screen what so ever in the exhaust port.
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 06:41 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
DC8Captain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Golden
Posts: 178
Colorado
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalm_in_NJ View Post
I just read this online regarding the furnace vent. Last thing I want to do is ruin the furnace or trap CO2 inside my rv... but then if it gets full of bugs, wasps, etc. you're in the same boat right?


A flat screen tight against an exhaust area can limit the amount of pressure coming out. That's why the store bought ones are convex. Also the makers of the furnace do not recommend placing any screen what so ever in the exhaust port.
I'm using a screen designed for specific vents. Here's a link to an Amazon page for the different screens. I bought one for the hot water heater vent and one for the furnace vent.

Amazon.com: rv bug screen
__________________
Dale & Deb
2009 Silverado Crew Cab 2500 HD
2014 Dutchmen 275BH TT
DC8Captain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 06:51 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Eldersburg
Posts: 301
Maryland
1. For the ones that are plastic, I've installed screening material inside the cover and used the metal tape (heater duct silver tape) to hold it in place. I prefer the plastic screen material over the metal type.

2. For the metal covers, like the furnace and water heater, I use magnetic covers over the outside of the vents. I then remove them before we travel (it's on my pre-departure checklist).
__________________
Matt

2011 Chevy Suburban 2500 4x4
2015 Kodiak 300BHLS
mjcarte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2015, 04:30 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fdhealy4 View Post
I'm using a screen designed for specific vents. Here's a link to an Amazon page for the different screens. I bought one for the hot water heater vent and one for the furnace vent.

Amazon.com: rv bug screen
Thanks. That's a handy link. But I just hate the idea of paying Camco or somebody else for a screen insert that I could make myself. Provided I can make something that's as safe and reliable as what could be purchased.

Ken
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2015, 04:51 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjcarte View Post
1. For the ones that are plastic, I've installed screening material inside the cover and used the metal tape (heater duct silver tape) to hold it in place. I prefer the plastic screen material over the metal type.

2. For the metal covers, like the furnace and water heater, I use magnetic covers over the outside of the vents. I then remove them before we travel (it's on my pre-departure checklist).
I like this idea a lot.

And for winter storage I could just add a piece of plexiglass or something.

Ken
__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2016, 12:22 AM   #15
Member
 
GA Camper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Thomasville
Posts: 15
Georgia
I have put screen on the inside of all of my campers. Never had a problem. Used duct tape to hold it.
GA Camper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2016, 09:58 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Eldersburg
Posts: 301
Maryland
I bought a roll of the plastic screen material and use it on all the vents. What I did was cut a piece about 2-3" larger on all sides than each vent, remove the cover and then simply place the screen material underneath the vent and put the vent back up. You could also place the screen material on the outside and tuck in the excess into the vent before putting it back on. I could care less about what it looks likes as it does it's job of keeping the bugs out while I have the RV in storage.
__________________

__________________
Matt

2011 Chevy Suburban 2500 4x4
2015 Kodiak 300BHLS
mjcarte is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:27 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×