J
Jeff
Guest
Hi Folks:
Here is a detailed (pictures included) description of how I installed the Washer Dryer Vent in my Golden Gate.
First off, you have to cut a hole as shown in the picture thru the paneling. You can't remove this paneling, as it is attached in a way that it won't come out easily. So, I simply ROUGH cut a hole, using my sabre saw big enough for a 4 inch Hole saw to fit into.
After you cut away the paneling you need to drill a small PILOT hole through the inner wall and thru the outside GELCOAT wall. Keeping the drill as straight as possible.
After completing the pilot hole, you should go outside and see where the small hole came thru. In my case, it came thru at a point, just behind the nose of the trailer. In my book, perfect!
Back inside, take a 4 inch hole saw and cut your first hole thru the inner wall. Remember to take it easy, the wall is very thin and it won't take long to cut thru.
Inside your first hole will be alot of insulation. You will have to push this stuff up into the wall cavity to make room for your next cut in the outside Gelcoat.
SCARY PART COMING UP!
Cutting into the Gelcoat wall is a little un-nerving. Knowing you have to get it right the first time.
Going outside again, works best with a cordless drill. Take your 4 inch hole saw and place the guide bit in the pilot hole you drilled earlier. SLOWLY, begin cutting the hole. Take your time, don't force the drill, just let it cut thru the gelcoat and eventually into the inner wall. That all said, you should have a perfectly cut 4 inch hole to place your flapper vent into.
Valuable lesson here: I used the Splendide Vent Kit. It is designed to fit perfectly into a 4 inch hole. If you use a different vent kit from say Home Depot or Lowes, chances are you will need to cut a 4 1/8 inch hole. Once you cut that big of a hole, you can't go back and re-cut to a bigger size, it will just chew up and split the gelcoat.
So, now we have this big 4 inch hole in the side of the trailer. Pretty good DRAFT!
Place the Splendide flapper valve in the outside hole. Test Fit! Check the inside wall to make sure it came all the way thru. This shouldn't be a problem. Back outside: Make sure you clean off the gelcoat good this time, getting rid of dirt and oil on the outside. Get some Outdoor Silcone sealer and but a nice bead around the flapper valve flange. Insert flange in hole and use the self tapping screws included to screw it in place. Wipe off excess sealer and you are finished with this portion.
Next put on the outside duct. Same procedure, make sure the siding is clean of any dirt and oil. But, this time, use just a small amount of silicone sealer on the duct. Using the 5 self-tapping screws that come with it. Install over the Flapper valve. In the process of putting this piece on, I used a level to insure it was level with the coach and wasn't off center.
Inside the cabinet, I put a nice bead of silicone around the pipe coming into the unit.
Then to dress things up. I cut a 10 x 10 piece of 1/8 inch plywood to fit over the original rough cut opening. 4 screws in the corner and it was finished.
Next, put the dryer vent hose on using a large hose clamp, supplied by Splendide.
Project Finished!
Total time start to finish, about 5 hours.
Now, I will say this. Heartland usually puts the vent under the trailer near the hitch. This is OK, but the flapper valve then hangs open all the time, making it possible for small woodland creatures to get inside. Granted, they'd be crawling into your vent hose, but could possibly get into the coach eventually. Solution to this problem, put a small screen over the Vent cover opening.
Look at the pictures to see what I did!
Take Care.
Jeff
Here is a detailed (pictures included) description of how I installed the Washer Dryer Vent in my Golden Gate.
First off, you have to cut a hole as shown in the picture thru the paneling. You can't remove this paneling, as it is attached in a way that it won't come out easily. So, I simply ROUGH cut a hole, using my sabre saw big enough for a 4 inch Hole saw to fit into.
After you cut away the paneling you need to drill a small PILOT hole through the inner wall and thru the outside GELCOAT wall. Keeping the drill as straight as possible.
After completing the pilot hole, you should go outside and see where the small hole came thru. In my case, it came thru at a point, just behind the nose of the trailer. In my book, perfect!
Back inside, take a 4 inch hole saw and cut your first hole thru the inner wall. Remember to take it easy, the wall is very thin and it won't take long to cut thru.
Inside your first hole will be alot of insulation. You will have to push this stuff up into the wall cavity to make room for your next cut in the outside Gelcoat.
SCARY PART COMING UP!
Cutting into the Gelcoat wall is a little un-nerving. Knowing you have to get it right the first time.
Going outside again, works best with a cordless drill. Take your 4 inch hole saw and place the guide bit in the pilot hole you drilled earlier. SLOWLY, begin cutting the hole. Take your time, don't force the drill, just let it cut thru the gelcoat and eventually into the inner wall. That all said, you should have a perfectly cut 4 inch hole to place your flapper vent into.
Valuable lesson here: I used the Splendide Vent Kit. It is designed to fit perfectly into a 4 inch hole. If you use a different vent kit from say Home Depot or Lowes, chances are you will need to cut a 4 1/8 inch hole. Once you cut that big of a hole, you can't go back and re-cut to a bigger size, it will just chew up and split the gelcoat.
So, now we have this big 4 inch hole in the side of the trailer. Pretty good DRAFT!
Place the Splendide flapper valve in the outside hole. Test Fit! Check the inside wall to make sure it came all the way thru. This shouldn't be a problem. Back outside: Make sure you clean off the gelcoat good this time, getting rid of dirt and oil on the outside. Get some Outdoor Silcone sealer and but a nice bead around the flapper valve flange. Insert flange in hole and use the self tapping screws included to screw it in place. Wipe off excess sealer and you are finished with this portion.
Next put on the outside duct. Same procedure, make sure the siding is clean of any dirt and oil. But, this time, use just a small amount of silicone sealer on the duct. Using the 5 self-tapping screws that come with it. Install over the Flapper valve. In the process of putting this piece on, I used a level to insure it was level with the coach and wasn't off center.
Inside the cabinet, I put a nice bead of silicone around the pipe coming into the unit.
Then to dress things up. I cut a 10 x 10 piece of 1/8 inch plywood to fit over the original rough cut opening. 4 screws in the corner and it was finished.
Next, put the dryer vent hose on using a large hose clamp, supplied by Splendide.
Project Finished!
Total time start to finish, about 5 hours.
Now, I will say this. Heartland usually puts the vent under the trailer near the hitch. This is OK, but the flapper valve then hangs open all the time, making it possible for small woodland creatures to get inside. Granted, they'd be crawling into your vent hose, but could possibly get into the coach eventually. Solution to this problem, put a small screen over the Vent cover opening.
Look at the pictures to see what I did!
Take Care.
Jeff