Forum Discussion

Maynard's avatar
Maynard
Explorer
Feb 12, 2019

Roof vent lid gone... how did this happen?

I went over to the RV storage place the other day, opened the door to our trailer, and found the front bed completely soaked. I looked up and to my utter amazement found myself staring up at the sky through the roof vent above the bed. The vent lid was completely gone!

I hitched up the trailer and stopped by the office on my way out. The office guy thinks the lid was ripped off by storms but I find that hard to believe. I think somebody was trying to get in. I told him to start looking at their security video while I brought the trailer home to dry things out. The sheets and comforters and all that went into the wash but the mattress is toast.

These plastic vent lids can get brittle, so in late 2017 I got one from Amazon and replaced the old lid, which was indeed brittle and almost falling apart in my hands. But a new one can't go bad in 15 months... or can it? I still think somebody was trying to break in.
  • I have had the stock ones get brittle from the sun and blow off.
  • Installation of vent domes will prevent the lids from being destroyed by the sun.
    Lids do not last in strong sun light.
  • Sorry to hear about that....no one need that kind of grief. Hope you can get it dried out with minimal damage.

    Aside:
    ...the snarky, unhelpful comment above, "they aren’t going to review the tapes. If you want them reviewed, you do it," is exactly why many members are fleeing the Forum.
  • Another good reason to have a Maxxair cover over the vent. I've seen them bounce up and down along the highway due to the wind but not with the Maxxair, or equal, cover.
  • :h Man the bandido would have to been super skinny to think they cold slinky down thru that little hole.
  • I had a roof vent strip the rack gears on it coming back from South Dakota in a driving rain (6" rain). It was also over the bed. I stripped the bed and the memory foam topper. I think the topper weight at least 150# and I threw it in the shower till I got home the next day. Then I replaced the vent, so anything can happen. After that I put vent covers on both vents so it could never happen again. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would have. Both 5th wheels we bought after that one the first thing I have done is put on covers if they didn't have them.
  • I've had one of those "Turbo" Vent covers over my vent lid/fan for 15+ years....still as solid as can be and it keeps the vent lid from becoming so brittle, also great for leaving the vent open when its raining.
  • “I told him to start looking at their security video while I...”

    They aren’t going to review the tapes. If you want them reviewed, you do it.

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