Looking for a more robust kitchen vent

[56Jeff]

I have replaced my kitchen fan vent cover two times in 1 year. That flapper has something like 1/16 hinge pins and all plastic. We camp like 8 times a year, and I do ensure the latch is set when traveling. So, either really bad luck, or there is a more robust vent flap out there. Please post advice and experience on this.

Thanks
56Jeff

[mordecai81]

I bought a new flapper and of course broke the plastic pins putting it on. I cut a section of coat hanger and vinyl taped it to the top of the flap. Fits great and unbreakable now.

[wnjj]

I also did a mod to allow latching the vent from the inside: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24397265.cfm

[wrgrs50s]

I'm sure I could win the cheesy award for my solution. When the second plastic flap broke the ears off and came up missing, I was looking for something to just fill the gap temporarily and picked up a piece of foam pipe insulation I had laying around. I cut a piece off and stuffed it under the cover just to keep the bugs out till I got another one.

Well, 2 years later and I still have the same piece there. I did cut a piece of screen and placed in the opening to keep the bugs out, but now instead of opening and closing the little flaps that held the door shut, I just pull the edge of the foam pipe insulation down and leave the edge in the corner to vent the stove and when I pack up to leave I just push it back up. Keeping it simple !!!

[SidecarFlip]

Everyone I've seen is major cheap and cheesy. Sounds like a U-build it project

[path1]

The DIY people on here are pretty handy. Thanks for posting.

[wnjj]

My hinge pins broke within the first few years. I did this fix which my brother suggested and it's been solid for years since:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28264630/gotomsg/28268917.cfm#28268917

[Dick_B]

Try this: https://www.rvautoparts.com/Hengs-Damper-Range-Hood-Vent-Colonial-White-JRP2121B_p_3417.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjIWWxM_c1wIVhYKzCh2dMAgQEAQYBCABEgLrmPD_BwE

[B92F]

RVhiker wrote:
Is the type of kitchen vent that you have the kind with little plastic pins at the top and closed with tiny plastic levers at each bottom corner? That was the kind on our old trailer.

Our current trailer has a kitchen vent like this one. It has a cover over it at all times that is open at the bottom. The vent "flap" closes with two press to close catches at the bottom. It is much more sturdy than the old kind. And with the cover over it, I don't think it would flap itself to death when traveling if you forget to latch it closed.

We replaced ours with the one in the link above. We had to trim off about an inch in order to get a flush fit, but other than that it was a simple mod that took less than 30 minutes.

[westend]

Wonder if above poster has a pic of the one he made? Sounds like good idea.

In the last image you can see the cable I was going to use to operate the vent cover. I found that the return spring affords just enough tension to close the flap and the fan pushes it open. I did not install the cable.

[56Jeff]

Chuck, you can get a new flapper. They seem to run ~$5.00. A new like in kind replacement unit is ~$20.00.

[Chuck_thehammer]

it has to be bad luck

my trailer and vent flap is from 2005...

I am looking for a replacement.. its badly yellowed.

[DutchmenSport]

My current camper doesn't even have a stove vent to the outside. No biggie though, we never cook inside the camper either.

Our previous 2 campers had outside vents with the plastic catch. Never had a problem with either, except remember to close it and clip it shut.

Maybe when traveling, stick a piece of duct tape over it so it won't flop in the wind.

[SoundGuy]

old guy wrote:
mine is plastic and it's 7 years old and still doing great

X2 ... I've never had to replace any stove vent. But then I've never had anywhere near the issues with the various trailers we've owned that so many here on the forums seem to report. Just lucky maybe? :W

[RVhiker]

Is the type of kitchen vent that you have the kind with little plastic pins at the top and closed with tiny plastic levers at each bottom corner? That was the kind on our old trailer.

Our current trailer has a kitchen vent like this one. It has a cover over it at all times that is open at the bottom. The vent "flap" closes with two press to close catches at the bottom. It is much more sturdy than the old kind. And with the cover over it, I don't think it would flap itself to death when traveling if you forget to latch it closed.