What is the minimal ventilation level for cooking in a vehicle?

[Jack Grit]

I'm wanting to change my situation up a bit to see if I can get a better quality of life.
I'm in a Chevy Astro with no windows except the front two. I haven't tried any cooking
in the van as the area is very small and not well laid out. I don't want to cut a hole for ventilation
as the resale value of the van may be effected.

Can someone refer me to a thread that addresses this issue? If not, does anyone have any
suggestions? I am thinking rolling down the front windows and using a small fan may do the job.
It's rainy season here so I'm not sure how I would swing it during the rain.

Is it viable to make a cup of coffee and fry an egg with minimal to no ventilation?

Any thoughts on the matter would be helpful.

 

[B and C]

They make vent shades that go on the drivers and passenger doors to allow the windows to be rolled down a little ways for ventilation without it raining in.  Your major concern will be the amount of heat that your water boiling and egg frying makes (and odors).  Start the van and turn on the air conditioner while cooking to cut down on the heat level (with the windows cracked).  Do not run the A/C on max as it recirculates the air in the cabin and could get cooking odors in the A/C system. You really need a way to get the odors out of the van.  A fantastic vent in the roof in the back would go a long way in making your living in there easier, sleeping included. 

Use a 12v immersion heater for a cup of hot water (run the engine while using unless you have house batteries).
Or, open the back doors and drape a tarp across them.
Find a park and cook under a canopy, carry cooking supplies in a plastic bin with lid.

There is a whole forum that talks about cooking:  https://vanlivingforum.com/Forum-Food-Cooking

 

[GotSmart]

 You really need a way to get the odors out of the van.  A fantastic vent in the roof in the back would go a long way in making your living in there easier, sleeping included. 

X2!  

 

[ACagedTraveller]

I must agree with the above posts because the permeation of odors into materials often require special treatments to remove the smell. The presence of moisture that originates from cooking and boiling water would remain another concern. A treatment to remove moisture and odors that does not involve the creation of a hole remains outside my purview.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

 I don't want to cut a hole for ventilation
as the resale value of the van may be effected.

that is right it may be affected but that might be in a positive way, if I was buying your Astro in my eyes it would improve it's value.

 

[akrvbob]

I've been cooking a meal inside my van for over 13 years and it just is not an issue. It's so trouble free that I now use my stove-top for comfort heating. All winter I cook in my van and never open my vents. Odors have never been a problem for me.

The odds are very good that you have enough leaks and drafts that you don't have to give a thought to ventilation, I never have.
Bob

 

[Jack Grit]

that is right it may be affected but that might be in a positive way, if I was buying your Astro in my eyes it would improve it's value.

Wondering if this is the general consensus on the matter. It would improve it's value for you and me, yet I wonder if the majority of Astro cargo Van seekers would agree.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[Jack Grit]

X2!  

GotSmart  "A fantastic vent in the roof in the back would go a long way in making your living in there easier, sleeping included."

____________________

Other than some relief on hot nights how would a vent make sleeping easier? I'm green in this area.

 

[Jack Grit]

I've been cooking a meal inside my van for over 13 years and it just is not an issue. It's so trouble free that I now use my stove-top for comfort heating.  All winter I cook in my van and never open my vents. Odors have never been a problem for me.

The odds are very good that you have enough leaks and drafts that you don't have to give a thought to ventilation, I never have.
Bob

Based on the comments, I think I'll buy a Coleman and see how it works out w/out a vent. If that doesn't work well, I'll try some of the other ideas. If those don't work out, I'll probably take the vent route.

Thanks fellow vehicle dwellers!

 

[Jack Grit]

They make vent shades that go on the drivers and passenger doors to allow the windows to be rolled down a little ways for ventilation without it raining in.  Your major concern will be the amount of heat that your water boiling and egg frying makes (and odors).  Start the van and turn on the air conditioner while cooking to cut down on the heat level (with the windows cracked).  Do not run the A/C on max as it recirculates the air in the cabin and could get cooking odors in the A/C system. You really need a way to get the odors out of the van.  A fantastic vent in the roof in the back would go a long way in making your living in there easier, sleeping included. 

Use a 12v immersion heater for a cup of hot water (run the engine while using unless you have house batteries).
Or, open the back doors and drape a tarp across them.
Find a park and cook under a canopy, carry cooking supplies in a plastic bin with lid.

There is a whole forum that talks about cooking:  https://vanlivingforum.com/Forum-Food-Cooking

Much good info! I appreciate it!

 

[SoulRaven]

When combating rain, parking under overpasses or in parking garages can be quite helpful.

 

[GotSmart]

GotSmart  "A fantastic vent in the roof in the back would go a long way in making your living in there easier, sleeping included."

____________________

Other than some relief on hot nights how would a vent make sleeping easier? I'm green in this area.

That was from B & C, but I will answer.  The good vents can pull air out, and push it in.  Nothing like some fresh air to make sleeping easier.  Also the extremely quiet hum of the fan is soothing.  

That vent will keep the van from reaching the 140+++ in the summer.  I noticed a 20* difference when I installed my Fantastic Fan just leaving it open, not running. When I opened the windows even more.  No more oven inside!

 

[Seadog729]

I have always used a coleman cookstove and when I cook I open one of the side doors right beside the stove. I have a smell in the van and I think it is due to sea water and swim/wet suits. My set up allows me to take the stove and propane tank outside to a picnic table if I want to cook fish or shrimp or something really good. On long drives, I really appreciate pulling over to make my coffee instead of buying it.

 

[karenishere]

We rented a van in New Zealand, the stove was near a window and we just cracked the window about 2", didn't notice problems with odors or CO alarm. I will say that even making scrambled eggs with the window open a bit noticeably warmed up the van - nicely, it was chilly out, but I could see that being uncomfortable in warmer weather.

 

[karenishere]

I have always used a coleman cookstove and when I cook I open one of the side doors right beside the stove.  I have a smell in the van and I think it is due to sea water and swim/wet suits.  My set up allows me to take the stove and propane tank outside to a picnic table if I want to cook fish or shrimp or something really good.  On long drives, I really appreciate pulling over to make my coffee instead of buying it.

Off topic, my fondest memory of my RV is getting stuck in a nightmare traffic jam on I-40, pulling onto the shoulder, and spending the next hour baking brownies and taking a shower.  The awesome upside of a rolling house! 

 

[MK7]

I've been cooking a meal inside my van for over 13 years and it just is not an issue. It's so trouble free that I now use my stove-top for comfort heating.  All winter I cook in my van and never open my vents. Odors have never been a problem for me.

The odds are very good that you have enough leaks and drafts that you don't have to give a thought to ventilation, I never have.
Bob

Maybe you're just used to the smell 

One time of frying bacon and it's over.

 

[Raven+Squid]

Crack the windows (window deflectors are nice to have), electric vent if possible, use isopropane cooking inside.

 

[highdesertranger]

there are far worse odors to have in your van than fried bacon. frankly someone should make a fried bacon air freshener. highdesertranger

 

[SternWake]

there are far worse odors to have in your van than fried bacon.  frankly someone should make a fried bacon air freshener.  highdesertranger

If I had a bacon scented air freshener, I'd weigh 450 lbs

First thing I did in my conversion van tv fiberglass top van was install a Nicro 4" solar powered vent at the very apex of the roof, just behind the front seats in the middle on the ceiling.  It had a small motor, and a 1.5v nicad battery to run all night long. It was rated to flow 1000 cubic feet per Hour or 26.6 CFMinute.

I cooked  on a single burner propane stove under this vent a lot, doors windows closed, never any headaches from CO or Co2.

Later on I added a ~35CFM  120mm computer fan just below this vent to increase airflow.  I did this for interior temperatures in direct sunlight, not just for cooking gasses/fumes.

This worked so well I made a step down ring, from 4.78 inches to 4.0 inches to force air through the Nicro vent, and installed a 110CFM variable speed 120mm computer fan)silverstone fm121.  Max amperage 0.4., minimum 0.08 @~ 27cfm

This worked so well, I acquired a counter rotating 120mm fan rated at ~53 CFM and attached it to the 110CFM fan with magnets, inline.

Together these fans move significantly more Air.  The counter rotating fan makes the other fan much quieter when it is at half speed or higher.

To further improve airflow I removed the original 1.5v fan motor and streamlined the inside of the mushroom vent to present less resistance.

I can boil pasta under this vent on my single burner stove, and as long as I have a window open elsewhere to allow replacement air to enter and replace what the ceiling fans remove, the Windows will not fog, unless it is raining outside and 100% humidity anyway.

With other powered inlet fans, 180 or 120mm, and the use of reflectix window shades to keep sunlight out, I can keep the interior at or below Ambient temperatures in summertime in direct sun.

What's nice about this Nicro Vent is I never has to worry about the rain and close the vent.  But they are expensive, and the fan it comes with is really too weak at 17CFM.  I estimate I am getting upto 150CFM from my inline computer fans pushing air through this vent for about 0.55amps electrical consumption max.

 A Fantastic fan can move significantly more air and fits in a standard 14" square roof vent, and Maxxair has rainproof covers for it.

Mine is an earlier version of this product:

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/nicro-ventilation--day-night-plus-solar-vents--P012_363_001_516

There are less expensive versions available.  Marine rated gear/electronics tends to be $$$$.