Cold Air Problems

Another two penny worth from me, or even less value !

Newbie Mhomers are unaware of the cold in the cab area of non A class (Aclass = plastic cabs with large windscreens) due to the amount of glass and metal up front.

The cab metalwork is poorly insulated, worse than any car. So heat transfer from the outside door skins to the inner skins generally have no thermal barriers.  Single glazed glass has its own problems.

Cab curtains can help, and exterior or interior silver screens do help and cut down condensation.

Due to the complexity of getting ducting, pipes etc, generally into a premanufactured cab is difficult, costly and not on offer.  Most heating stops at the cab / habitation demarcation line.  Hoping that turning up the heating might whoosh some hot air into the cab. 

As I have written previously Fiats , possibly other makes, leave a multitude of vents in doors, under seats etc so that van man does not fall asleep when driving, or can dry out naturally!

A class mhomes are built by the converter and generally have habitation heating taken up into the cab area.   A classes may have there faults, but heating is not usually one of them.

Happy homing 

rgds

Hi,

I know I am coming into this thread late, but I have recently bought a 2018 Autoquest 155 model, and we went away for the first time in some rather wet and breezy conditions, and we also experienced a very cold seating area, and indeed traced it to the strong draught coming from under the seating area and the small step up. This was, as stated in some other posts, because of 3 large hole in the floor, covered with a mesh screen. I am not sure exactly as to why they are there, obviously they are intentional, but I am going to tape over them, and to ensure some ventilation, I always leave the ceiling windows cracked open at least.

I am going to feed this back to Elldis as they need to be aware.

Be aware that, in the event of a gas leak, you need downwards ventilation to let the gas escape as LPG is heavier than air. That may be the reason you have the vents.

Carbon monoxide can mix with the air in a van and it's vital that air vents are kept open to improve airflow in a confined space. You could put fridge vents on in the winter, which will help the fridge function better at a lower temperature and lessen draughts from that area.

I’m not intending to nit pick, Brue, but don’t want MP to be confused. I think you mean fridge vent covers. 

Certainly a fair old draught can come in around the fridge on some models.

Edit: I’ve just remembered that some fridges vent their gas exhaust via those very same vents so obviously covers shouldn’t be fitted in those circumsrances.

Yes, I omitted the word covers, too late to edit unfortunately.

I think manufacturing standards specify a minimum requirement for the amount of fixed ventilation. As well as the potential safety implications of taping up fixed ventilation any warranty for damp maybe invalidated as you’ll increase the potential for condensation. Also, the batteries are located alongside the area you describe - maybe something to do with dispersing off gassing?

We are nearly 4 years in with our 2018 autoquest bought new April 2018.

the van keeps warm unless it’s really cold outside. We use an oiled filled radiator between the cab seats when out in the winter and on ehu which helps greatly. I still don’t know why these vents are there or so large. They are in a sealed area other than 2 cutouts in the step up to the seating area, the closest gas is under the drivers side hab seating with a dedicated gas drop out hole next to it. I sit in my friends burstnur van in the winter and it’s toasty warm step back into  mine and although not really cold it’s not toasty!. It’s a shame really as the vans construction and build quality has been great apart from the heating. It needs to have heating outlets at the front of the van not just from under the fixed bed  which is only 2m in from the rear wall of the 7m van

ours is being traded in come March and getting a different brand with Alde heating which we have had in previous caravans and is fantastic 

Ive stated many times that some converters see heating systems as an afterthought, some take time and care to design them into the overall van layout.

the difference is like stepping from an Elddis into a Bürstner😉 

They are likely gas drop holes so I would not tape over them, very dangerous....