DustBox - dust mitigation device - positive pressure system

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

I built my own positive pressure system using a modified mid '80s Chevy van air filter and squirrel cage blower. The air filter has a water separator inside to collect and drain blowing rain and uses the stock air cleaner element. Water cannot get in, but filtered air can. A grill on the front of the snout keeps birds out. No insects can find their way in while camping because of the air cleaner element. It picks up its air at a clean air, positive pressure spot on the front of the trailer. The air cleaner came off of a 4 barrel carburetor model engine, so it matches a 4 1/4" hole through the wall. Inside, a deep stainless cooking pot from Walmart fits over the blower perfectly and trims it out nicely. A simple toggle switch turns it on or off.

This mod you did is what first inspired me to want this type of system.

Not having the time tools or skills I went for this DustBox. Love the variable speed switch so I can turn on while sleeping. Really helps with condensation. Very pleased with its dual functions. Great option for the non DIY er 😉

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Went south to the Swell. Dust city! At least 100 miles of very dusty roads. Wedge Overlook then south down Buckhorn wash. Not a speck of dust and trust me if there was my ocd wife would have noticed it. She has given a huge thumbs up on the DustBox.

 

[Nikson]

Great to see product working as it should. Hows filter doing?
I cleaned mine after the last trip, found it to be filled with dust, but as expected considering low speed dusty trails of Eastern Oregon.

Thanks for update!

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Great to see product working as it should. Hows filter doing?
I cleaned mine after the last trip, found it to be filled with dust, but as expected considering low speed dusty trails of Eastern Oregon.

Thanks for update!

Nik thank-you for the reminder as checking the filter is on my list. Had a few snags on the trip as in literally. Very narrow roads and those Juniper branches are rough. Great product very pleased with mine.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

So I checked the air filter by simply unscrewing four Phillips head screws. Didn't look that bad. Gently blasted it with air. Will pull in out and give it a proper cleaning after a few more trips. I did have a bit of fine dust in my tool box which is not pressureized with the DustBox which proves this thing works well. FYI- this is a high quality air filter. This Nik dude doesn't F around ell!

 

[Nikson]

units are selling, word slowing getting out... may be its time to pay for some advertising ?!!

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Heading to AZ this morning to do a 12 hour MTB race. Stopping at Stewart's Point Lake Mead. Will find some winter desert dust. South bound and down.

 

[dstefan]

More Dust and Smoke Control Mods:

The passive Positive Pressure Vent has worked pretty well for me, but over time, I have had a slight accumulation of dust come past the bed rail, under the plastic bedrail cap despite obsessively plugging the bedrail holes in the Tundra pre-camper install. Not enough to complain about, but I also get some dust blown in past the barn doors when I use my compressor to blow off the back of the camper after stopping for the day or lunch. So I did this:

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It’s 2 120mm cooling fans that are rated at 116 CFM mounted on a 10.4”x7.2x2.4" project box over the inlet for the PPV. I sealed the box around the PPV inlet and bolt holes. I like this company's boxes as they are O ring gasketed and used a smaller one for my electrical switch box previously. On Amazon as:

Zulkit Junction Box ABS Plastic Dustproof Waterproof IP65 Universal Electrical Boxes Project Enclosure​

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The box is pretty deep and it easily fits the dacron aquarium filter material I was already using. In the picture, there is also a sheet of MERV 13 over the dust filter that I was testing to see if I could also use it to filter smoke.
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I tapped the 10awg wiring to my fridge and ran the power through an on/off switch and added a 3amp fuse. Both fans together draw an amp, and they are powerful enough to pull through both kinds of filters with a decent flow. I plan to not use the MERV 13 filter unless we’re camping and it’s smoky (I have a mild case of asthma) and on a routine basis just use the Dacron dust filter. I believe it will still work well as a passive PPV without turning on the fans, and I plan to just flip the side hatch when stopped and turn the fans on when I’m blowing off the barn doors to counter the blast of air trying to push dust in. Haven’t tested yet, but will be doing so in about a month. Will be happy to post more detail on the parts. etc, but trying to keep this post from being too long.

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Since I had some left over MERV13 material, I decided to see if I could put it in the MaxFan. Real easy to do and as long as I don’t inadvertently set the fan to blow out can use it to filter air coming in. Won’t do this, except in a dust storm or smoke conditions if it’s getting to hot or stuffy inside.

I posted this on the Ovrlnd Camper thread, maybe of interest here.