TheSamba.com :: View topic - Front door interior vents- are they really necessary?

Mon Sep 22, 2003 11:13 pm

I get a lot of air leakage through the vents in my front doors regardless of whether they are open or not. I'm thinking about sealing them for the winter and putting insulation in the doors, but I've read in a couple of places (type2 forum and others) where people harp on and on about how important it is for air to move freely inside the door panel.

Why?

Tue Sep 23, 2003 9:27 am

Sounds like you have some problems with your rubber seals or the alignment of your vent windows. Water will get into your door normally. You want some air to circulate in your door so the water evaporates. If you put insulation in the doors it could absorb/trap water which will cause rust. I'd look at why you are having leaks to begin with and solve that problem. You should have a vapor barrier (plastic sheet) between your door panel and the door frame.

Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:05 am

The vent at the bottom gets it air from the openings by the hinges. Closed or open, water will get past the scrapers and rust out the bottom of the door. My advice to anyone is to remove the panel, and check the condition so you can convert the rust before it's too late even if you live in a dry climate.

Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:53 pm

I always drill 3-4 holes in the bottom of the door. I do this from the bottom back corner of the door and very near the outer skin. This allows water to drain out of the door. If your bus is parked on an uphill slant it will hold a significant amount of water without these additional holes. Every door I have drilled holes in already had serious rust starting from inside the door where the water is trapped. Unfortunately this method allows some of the water inside the bus, but it causes fewer problems there than it does trapped inside the door. Good luck.