Zach Woods
New member
Hello -
It is possible to make the kitchen mushroom vent openable and closeable by using the disk shaped center portion as a handle.
The following includes pictures and description of my project to make my vent open and close. All disclaimers apply, your mileage may vary, etc.
This is a fairly straightforward project that can be completed in 30 minutes or less with very standard and basic tools (medium phillips head screwdriver, medium flat head screwdriver).
First, here is the vent as seen from the outside (looking towards the back of the vehicle out of the center skylight):
Next I started unscrewing the screws that hold the vent in place (found inside the vehicle directly above the back of the "pantry" cabinet):
Look! I've got another skylight!
Then I unscrewed the external/ mushroom cap shaped cover from the vent:
A rolling Westfalia will gather some moss . . .
Next I unscrewed the "trapdoor" from the vent:
Then I carefully pried the circlip (metal clip in image) off the handle shaft (center of vent) and kept it in case I ever wanted to install it again:
Re-assembly is the reverse of the above. It is likely important that the screws that hold the interior and exterior portions of the vent together not be torqued down too tight. Tightening them too much may just force the outer and inner walls of the high roof together which could lead to premature wear or damage.
Make certain that you orient the vent with the non-screen tetrahedron shape towards the rear and the screw opposite toward the front of the vehicle. Otherwise you will get water entering the vehicle when driving in rainy conditions.
Now I can open or close my vent depending on my needs (ie to keep bugs out or heat in). The handle will rotate into a position that looks the vent closed.
Note that the vent does not close up airtight (this may be a good thing) and I may in future look into putting some stick on insulation on the "trapdoor" at the point where it meets the circular vent opening to solve this.
Good luck!
It is possible to make the kitchen mushroom vent openable and closeable by using the disk shaped center portion as a handle.
The following includes pictures and description of my project to make my vent open and close. All disclaimers apply, your mileage may vary, etc.
This is a fairly straightforward project that can be completed in 30 minutes or less with very standard and basic tools (medium phillips head screwdriver, medium flat head screwdriver).
First, here is the vent as seen from the outside (looking towards the back of the vehicle out of the center skylight):
Next I started unscrewing the screws that hold the vent in place (found inside the vehicle directly above the back of the "pantry" cabinet):
Look! I've got another skylight!
Then I unscrewed the external/ mushroom cap shaped cover from the vent:
A rolling Westfalia will gather some moss . . .
Next I unscrewed the "trapdoor" from the vent:
Then I carefully pried the circlip (metal clip in image) off the handle shaft (center of vent) and kept it in case I ever wanted to install it again:
Re-assembly is the reverse of the above. It is likely important that the screws that hold the interior and exterior portions of the vent together not be torqued down too tight. Tightening them too much may just force the outer and inner walls of the high roof together which could lead to premature wear or damage.
Make certain that you orient the vent with the non-screen tetrahedron shape towards the rear and the screw opposite toward the front of the vehicle. Otherwise you will get water entering the vehicle when driving in rainy conditions.
Now I can open or close my vent depending on my needs (ie to keep bugs out or heat in). The handle will rotate into a position that looks the vent closed.
Note that the vent does not close up airtight (this may be a good thing) and I may in future look into putting some stick on insulation on the "trapdoor" at the point where it meets the circular vent opening to solve this.
Good luck!
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