Lightweight yet strong panel to cover bottom vent

Colorado_Bruce

Where we live, the last few miles to the campsite is often down a dusty dirt road.  As we all know the T@G allows dust from traveling on dirt roads to get delivered to the main cabin and kitchen via the 'under the camper' AC vent.  I wanted a way to cover that opening.  Something lightweight, yet strong that could be easily removed (for AC use).  I am sure there are a million solutions, but this is what I did.  You can buy 1 inch thick, 2 foot square XPS foam boards at Home Depot or a similar store.  I cut the needed panel size (16 inches long by 5.5 inches wide) and covered the panel in "poor mans fiberglass" (an old T Shirt adhered with wood glue).   This makes the panel strong.  On the side that faces the road, I also glued on aluminum window screen.  This makes the panel bomb proof.   You then paint the panel with exterior house paint, this makes it waterproof.  Strips of industrial strength velcro hold it on.  Have to crawl under, but the panel can be affixed or removed in seconds.

Here is the belly vent on the 2021 T@G XL - has the Aluminum L in front of the leading edge of the opening, which is an advantage as another surface for velcro.

Gluing on the T-Shirt cloth to the XPS foam panel.  Use push pins to stretch / hold the material on one side, let it dry 24 hours

After side one dries turn it over and glue the material to the other side (use push pins to hold it down again) let dry 24 hours.   Then I added the alum window screen to the side that will face the road.  Use lots of push pins to hold the screen down until the glue dries.

Paint the panel with exterior house paint, let dry then put on the velcro... 

Here it is, in place.  The panel weighs 5.8 ounces, the Velcro is rated to hold 10 pounds, and should have no trouble holding this on.   Will report back in a few weeks and let you know how it does.