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

[Maynard]

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.

[Dakzuki]

They age from UV exposure and become brittle. My brother had one blow off. Vent covers (like Maxxair) can mitigate this and provide other benefits (vent useable in rain and snow, etc.).

[Bobbo]

I put Fantastic Vents on mine because I have Fantastic Fans installed.

[TragedyTrousers]

I don't know why RV Manufactures put these dam things in anyway. And if they do Maxair vents should be standard equipment.

[Maynard]

Here's the answer to the security video question. The storage office guy and me, we did look through video. Not tapes but MPEGs on their computer. Flipped his monitor around so I could see it too. Occasionally blurred by rain on the lens but maybe 80%-90% of it was nice and clear. We never saw anybody up on the roof in any of that video.

[Eric_Lisa]

Dave H M wrote:
:h Man the bandido would have to been super skinny to think they cold slinky down thru that little hole.

I don't know the layout of your RV as to whether this would be possible or not. If a hole is available in the right location, it is possible to reach in with a stick and flip the lock to unlock a door from the inside.

I have had to use this trick a few times when I needed to 'break in' to something when my keys were accidentally on the wrong side of the lock. Something a simple as a couple broomsticks taped together may be enough to get across a passenger compartment and poke the power door unlock button. I had to do something similar when I needed to get in my sister's house when they were gone - the pet door was just big enough to get something in and hook the deadbolt latch.

So just because a bad guy can't get through an opening doesn't mean it isn't a break in.

Maynard wrote:
...The center bar was still in place, and the screen was still in place, and perfectly intact. No damage to either of those things. ...

Good to hear it wasn't an attempted break-in.

-Eric

[Cummins12V98]

Dave H M wrote:
:h Man the bandido would have to been super skinny to think they cold slinky down thru that little hole.

They simply drop a kid thru the hole. The kid unlocks the door, WaLa they are in!

[Lwiddis]

Did the storage lot review the tapes? Enquiring minds want to know!

[Johno02]

I have Maxxair covers on ours, even over the Fantastic Fan. Sure, I know that the cover may not allow full flow from the Fan, but it never runs on high anyway, so I prefer the wind and rain protection. 12 years so far, with no vent cover damage ever.

[Maynard]

Okay, I'll say it was one of these recent storms. The center bar was still in place, and the screen was still in place, and perfectly intact. No damage to either of those things. One would think if somebody was going in through the top they might at least try a little harder. And yeah, the door or a window would have been easier. Thanks for the suggestions, no doubt that was a pretty cruddy lid since it lasted barely a year.

[Ralph_Cramden]

RedRocket204 wrote:
Just seems like a lot of effort for a thief to go to to gain access into a trailer when a broken door lock or broken window would be a lot less effort and quicker for a thief.

100% correct. Not hard to get through the wall or pry a door open when the wall is essentially a sheet of foam and two sheets of 1/8" plywood. A good right hook in the right place and you could just reach in and unlock the door.

[schlep1967]

If the center bar was still in place it was not from an attempted break in. After tearing off the lid kicking that bar out of place would be the next step.

I would guess the wind did it.

[IAMICHABOD]

I would suggest getting the Polycarbonate vent lids they last a lot longer.

Also something like the Maxxair covers,they will make your vent lids last longer.

The covers are constructed of high density polyethylene with maximum UV inhibitors for years of worry-free protection,unlike the others on the market today.

[DougE]

Whenever I replaced a vent cover I always painted it for UV protection (same with vent pipe covers). Spray paint for plastic is readily available at big box stores.

[colliehauler]

Dick_B wrote:
Isn't the wind blowing over the raised cover the same principle that enables planes to fly, ie. provides lift?

Correct and many of us experienced the cover opening while traveling. Add a little UV to make the plastic brittle and it's a recipe for losing a cover. That's why so many install Maxxair vent covers along with being able to leave them open in a light rain.