Installing "exterior" microwave / cooktop vent

[Allioop]

Have any of you out there added an outside vent to the microwave / cooktop? Should be simple if I had a template. Kinda scary cutting a hole in the side of the rig though.

Mark

 

[Whitewolf]

I'm going to be doing it this summer and you're right, it's kinda scary. Others have done it. On one of the Alliance facebook pages someone documented the procedure. Sorry, I don't remember which one.

 

[Jim Beletti]

@Allioop and @Whitewolf - I want to do this mod as well. Probably this winter when I swap the microwave for a convection / microwave unit.

A number of fellas did this as a group to their coaches at the national rally last month.

 

[Whitewolf]

Crap @Jim Beletti, I was hoping you'd say 'Hey, come to my house and I'll do it for you'!

 

[Jim Beletti]

Crap @Jim Beletti, I was hoping you'd say 'Hey, come to my house and I'll do it for you'!

I'm not opposed to that . Gotta do mine first. Or we do them at the same time. Where do you live?

 

[Whitewolf]

Michigans U.P. I definitely wouldn't be opposed to doing both of ours (or anybody else's) at the same time.

 

[Jim Beletti]

Not too close. Though I am in Michigan now (Monroe/Dearborn).

 

[Trent Mills]

This link is the message stream on Facebook that I saved on it. I may do it one day too....

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[Whitewolf]

This link is the message stream on Facebook that I saved on it. I may do it one day too....

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

Thanks Trent! I believe that's the link I was thinking about.

 

[vchris]

Have any of you out there added an outside vent to the microwave / cooktop? Should be simple if I had a template. Kinda scary cutting a hole in the side of the rig though.

Mark

I added it to my 365RD, had Curtis Carlson pull up the spec on the wall just to make sure nothing was in the way. Your right, I too was a bit nervous cutting through but everything went fine. I cut out the inside first just in case I messed something up knowing that the microwave would cover it. Drilled small holes in each corner, taped the fiberglass outside around the cut. Used an oscillating saw with fine teeth to cut it out.

 

[Ralph Lowther]

Here is how we did ours at the rally.

So here is how a few of us did this modification. Remove the microwave (if you get resistance on either of the 2 bolts be prepared to replace the entire microwave
or not install the vent).
Turn the blower motor so that it will vent to the back of the microwave.(The instruction book for the microwave will have directions for turning the blower for outside venting.)

Once removed you will make a horizontal line 3/8” down from the upper cabinet and then a second horizontal line down 4” from the first one. Mark the center of the opening between the two side cabinets then make a vertical line on each side of it 5 3/8” away. You should now have a box 10 3/4” x 4”. We used a Oscillating multi tool to cut from the inside of the coach straight thru to the outside. Seal the opening with foil tape and then install the vent from the outside (be sure to use butyl tape and then caulk the flange). There is a flange for the back of the microwave that you may or may not have(try Lowes or Best Buy for one from a display) you can also line the outside of the hole on the wall with some foam tape. Reinstall the microwave and you should be good to go.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HFX5NK/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EDOSKQ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Whitewolf]

@Ralph Lowther you're alleviating some of my stress resistance to this project. Thanks for the straightforward installation description. Think I'll order those parts you listed.

 

[TJJ]

Does the exhaust fan work on 12V?

 

[bhidalgo]

Does anyone have pictures of the finished product?
What vent did you use? Where procured from?
May just do this on our 310RL.

Thanks.

 

[CornCrib]

I'm gonna say no.... .unless of course the microwave is plugged into an inverted 110v outlet.

 

[Jim Beletti]

Does the exhaust fan work on 12V?

The exhaust fan is part of the microwave oven. The oven operates from 120 volt AC power.

 

[phfkef]

Does anyone have pictures of the finished product?
What vent did you use? Where procured from?
May just do this on our 310RL.

Thanks.

I also have a 310RL. Did anyone reply to you on this or have you gone ahead with the vent install? I guess a related question is will a stud finder find any aluminum struts that may be in our way?

 

[BryanValRox]

I also have a 310RL. Did anyone reply to you on this or have you gone ahead with the vent install? I guess a related question is will a stud finder find any aluminum struts that may be in our way?

You might call Alliance and see if they can tell you what vent assembly is used.
Our 2024 310 RL came from the factory with the microwave vented to the outside.
I will share a downside, we like to keep ours snapped closed when not using the coach. It is mounted high on the side and requires a ladder to reach it to unsnap it so air can push it open when the fan is on.

 

[ToLi2417]

I want to do mine on our Avenue 32RLS,,,if you check youtube for “check it out with rich”, he did a very good video on having it done,,, it doesn’t look hard but very scary cutting into the side of the rig.