Bottom bunk - ventilation while sleeping?

[Dark Alley Dan]

Howdy, all.

Just back from two weeks on Vancouver Island. Lovely place.

The Mrs. and I are sufficiently geriatric that climbing upstairs to sleep ain't happening. We sleep downstairs on the foldy bed with our heads toward the aft of the vehicle so we're not losing pillows to gravity all night and my feet have somewhere to go. When it's warm and humid, our respiration kinda build sup back there. By morning it's dampish and smells like morning breath.

That's as gross as it sounds.

Air exchange back there is non-existent. We have the hatch latch extension, but that just means losing things out a wee slot in the back.

Been thinking about installing a fan in the D-pillar - something small and quiet - that pulls air out of that space and exhausts it from behind the rear external side vents. If it exhausts out the rear (as we all do from time to time) it'll draw fresher air from the forward areas of the van, where air exchange is vastly better...

Have any of you done anything like this? Any ideas?

Cheers,

Dan
_________________
Dark Alley Dan
______________________
I blame rap music. For everything.

[Timwhy]

We have the RMW rear sliding window on the passengers side and a screen to fit it for ventilation. The guy that was producing the screens isn't making them any more.
Also have two USB fans and a 110v for shore power sites. Get the Bus Depot rear hatch screen w/ a zipper in the middle and you'll stop loosing things.
Also a sliding door screen will keep the air moving.
_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[danfromsyr]

I have a small $5 USB powered fan that is clipped back there.
any air movement is an improvement.
plus I like the white noise and the slight breeze, but I can divert it away if needed.
_________________

[kourt]

Install a Caframo Kona fan under your spice rack as I did (see upper right corner of the picture).

This is not a cheap fan. It is expensive, waterproof, quiet, and durable. It can be disassembled and cleaned. Mounted in the galley as I had it, it can point forwards to the front seats, or backwards to the rear bench/bed. It has three speeds. You will sleep better with this fan blowing on you. You can open the screened sliding window behind the galley to draw in cool air at night. When I had a Vanagon, I used this for years and always had great airflow. It can also be used to clear cooking smells/smoke from the galley area. The Vanagon is gone now, but I have one in my Eurovan now (when I get bored with the Eurovan forum, I come here for fun).

kourt

Vanagon install:

Eurovan install:

[clamay]

This one works well for us. It folds up to be very compact. It charges with USB c and you can run it while it is charging.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BWH852G4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
_________________
91 Carat, automatic, GW 2.2, GW EFI, Peloquin TBD

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. --Yogi Berra

[Red Ryder]

Yes. Many portable fan choices are available on Amazon with various options for mounting system, colors, power source, etc. This may be a case for trial and error to find the best solution for you.
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic)

[cmayna]

Do you have a rear hatch screen? Do you have one of these?

https://gowesty.com/products/lock-extension-for-rear-hatch
_________________
'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[bobbyblack]

The '88 (+) model years' rear quarter windows have a flow through cabin air "box" that replaced the last 3 inches or so of the glass. On the inside, there are maybe a dozen oval slots along the rearward edge, and a sort of septum rubber flap that allows air to flow outward from the rear, and shuts against flowing inward. It is possible to modify that inside slotted area to mount some computer heat sink fans along that inside edge, they are small, and powered by USB, so they are low power consumers overall. I have a dozen that can be mounted on both sides of the bus's D pillar air box edges and tape off the rest of the oval slots. Mind you, you do need to actually HAVE either an '88 or newer, or GET some '88 or newer rear quarter glass with the vent boxes. I tape mine up on the inside in the winter, as there is too much air flow near my head and I get cold at around 28F and colder. They are not perfect, but I got mine for exactly the reason you are describing.

Otherwise, you should take a look at Jalousie windows. There is a great example here on TS where that same rear quarter window was recreated to use Jalousie windows, I believe from a '68-'79 Westfalia bus center side window (slider door and opposite)

When I get a sec, I'll edit this with some example pix, likely stolen from the posters I follow with enthusiasm.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

before

after

My Jalousie on the driver side:

-bobby
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[VeeDubn]

[Timwhy]

[ZsZ]

Latch extension and a sliding window vent grill works for us.

You can buy them or DIY:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=388627&highlight=screen

You can buy an opening rear side window, and there are vents for that too

_________________
Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[PDXWesty]

If you use the rear hatch bug screen and then prop your rear hatch open, nothing falls out the back.
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[wbailey2112]

We almost always camp where "shore power" is available so we use a Fancher's Cool Cone and a small 6,000 BTU A/C with remote for easy temperature adjustments.

https://fanchers.com/store/ols/products/air-conditioner-cool-cone-74-91-bus-vanagon
_________________
'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia

[jimf909]

Suggestions:
1 - Hatch extender - it looks like you have this covered
2 - As mentioned, netting for the rear hatch, open the hatch, this is one of my favorites because it allows for a lot of air flow
3 - Hatch extender plus an exhaust fan in the roof - this is also very effective because the roof fan will pull air through the extended hatch. I have a Fantastic Fan but the MaxxAir fans are also well-kiled. This would require some modification to the pop-top which people have done.

I believe I recall IdahoDoug here experimenting with a D-pillar fan but can't find the thread. Mentioned here:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8102809

p.s. Good work on sleeping on the bottom bunk the correct way. So many people get it wrong and have their heads towards the front of the van.
_________________
- Jim

[markswagen]

l have one of these to hold the tailgate open.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-x-10-1.../204273921
one of the rear sliders is on my wish list from van cafe
_________________
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[VeeDubn]

[Timwhy]

[VeeDubn]

[MarkWard]

[space]