DustBox - dust mitigation device - positive pressure system

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

To be totally honest I was very nervous when I first considered this product. I am sure cutting a whole in a brand new trailer scares the sheet out of a lot of people. Keep in mind it's a small hole 5" by 5" and this unit sealed up very well. Next up is a 50 mile trip on dusty dry UT and ID roads. Stay tuned.

 

[rdrop]

To be totally honest I was very nervous when I first considered this product. I am sure cutting a whole in a brand new trailer scares the sheet out of a lot of people. Keep in mind it's a small hole 5" by 5" and this unit sealed up very well. Next up is a 50 mile trip on dusty dry UT and ID roads. Stay tuned.

Have you trekked on the dusty roads yet? I'm really eager to hear what you think!

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Have you trekked on the dusty roads yet? I'm really eager to hear what you think!

Probably going to be two weeks or so. I can tell you my trailer is pressuring very well.

 

[rruff]

Scupper vents are common in Oz where they use ram air typically to pressurize the interior of a cabin. A vent like the one below that costs $45 (etrailer), may be a viable alternative for those who like it simple and cheap. Best to locate it where you can open and close it easily. I was thinking of putting it on the left side of the sleeping berth, so I could reach it from the driver seat and wouldn't even have to stop, but I've not gotten one yet...

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Yes this is a bit cheaper 😉 But will it really pressurize if your going 15 mph on a dirt road? Not sure I would be want to cut a hole in my trailer to put a simple non filtered vent that may or may not give you positive pressure. I do like the duel purpose of the DustBox. With the variable speed switch on low at night and window cracked you have filter are flow. Think camping at burning man where you would have to gorilla tape over etrailer vent to keep from hacking up a lung. Then again I am a white privilege dbag hippie that spends lots of money on his toys 😉

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

But will it really pressurize if your going 15 mph on a dirt road?

Yes. The slower you go, the less pressurisation you need.
Mine is a non filtered vent that has an "S" bend to keep the rain out. It is permanently open.
It works.


Just ensure that general sealing is as good as you can get it first.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

You know more then I on this type of system but the fact that the DustBox does its job without the trailer or camper moving does appeal to me.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Cool rig BTW

 

[rruff]

Yes. The slower you go, the less pressurisation you need.

Yep, the negative pressure inside the camper that draws in air and dust is caused by motion as well.

I don't imagine this works very well if you are following someone or cross paths on a dusty road... ?

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

I don't imagine this works very well if you are following someone or cross paths on a dusty road... ?

Of course. Then you rely on the general sealing job. That is why that is important to do that well.
The difference is you are taking in dust for moments instead of hours and the source is generally much lighter than the stuff you create under the vehicle.
And don't follow too close.
Cheers.
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Yep, the negative pressure inside the camper that draws in air and dust is caused by motion as well.

I don't imagine this works very well if you are following someone or cross paths on a dusty road... ?

That is a great point!

 

[rruff]

Of course. Then you rely on the general sealing job. That is why that is important to do that well.

Exactly. The presence of that forward facing vent isn't really creating airflow in the camper, unless your sealing job is quite poor. If you are perfectly sealed and go into a dust cloud that hits the vent it doesn't suck air (or dust) in at all; it just pressurizes the cabin. The amount that does get sucked in will depend on how much is leaking out.

 

[dstefan]

I’ve been running this passive PPV on my camper for 3 1/2 years along with obsessive tailgate sealing and it’s worked really well on the terribly dusty UT and other Southwestern roads. A lot of folks with Ovrlnd campers are running these. Being marine the water diverter is 100%, I don’t even get water in from high pressure wash wands. It can be closed from inside as well and I just added a Dacron aquarium filter inside. I blow off the back of the camper with a compressor as it gets hugely dusty before opening the barn door, but with good sealing gets really very little dust ingress. Along with a Bedrug, keeps things very clean and dust free.

Also makes a nice vent with the Maxair roof fan exhausting on low. Get very little condensation and it works great when raining. It’s worth noting that in some thread or another on dust here in the past an EPer reported good results running his roof fan on intake at the 2nd or 3rd lowest speed with the vent lid closed or nearly so to pressurize. Said it worked very well.

I have been tempted to add a 12v computer fan to my vent just to keep it pressurized a little when opening up, but hardly seems worth it.

Cabin Hatch/Vent & Trim Kit | West Marine

Check out our Cabin Hatch/Vent & Trim Kit and more from West Marine!

www.westmarine.com

 

[John E Davies]

This is so cool. My only real hesitation is the size of the motor. 300 cfm and 4.5 amps DC is way too high for my application, the side door in a GoFastCampers Topper, which encloses a rather tiny space. Will you consider offering a low output version that draws perhaps 2 amps?

When will the low profile ones be available? I think one of them on a GFC would be neat.

I have been searching for this device for a long time, thanks for bringing it to reality.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[rruff]

I’ve been running this passive PPV on my camper for 3 1/2 years along with obsessive tailgate sealing and it’s worked really well on the terribly dusty UT and other Southwestern roads

Can you say anything about how the water sealing works? Also, is the dacron mostly for keeping bugs out when it's open?

Been wondering just how simply this can be done. Any vent that is in a high pressure area and can keep out water and bugs, and be closable when stopped, should work fine.