Vents are a necessary component of any enclosed trailer or RV, they allow the flow of fresh air and can help to eliminate odors. Your roof vents can break down overtime causing leaks, cracks, or they can stop moving air as well as it should be. The good news is that this is a simple project that you can tackle on your own when it is time to replace your roof vent or install a new vent, this is a DIY project that you can do.
The first thing you need to do is measure your vent opening, not the cover, but the whole opening, the standard vent opening is 14 ¼” x 14 ¼”, however you should always verify the measurements just to make sure that the opening is the correct fit for the vent, just in case your roof vent goes against the “norm”. To help you in your measuring efforts, you can remove the garnish from your vent to measure the opening from the inside.
Hinge Style
Selecting a hinge style roof vent is relatively easy, a quick inspection of your current cover’s hinge should tell you all you need to know. Most hinges are 3-point, 4-point or continuous style. Your replacement should be the same style as the existing cover.
Color & Material
Roof vent lids usually are plastic, but there are metal ones as well. Plastic lids are available in white or smoke (tinted) colors. Both white and smoke lids allow some light in, but white may provide more light.
Now that you have selected the RV roof vent cover that you want, it is time to install it. Replacing the old one is a relatively simple DIY project and only takes a few minutes.
Step 1: Remove the existing
Remove the trim panel, crank handle and screen.
Step 2: Unscrew the Crank Assembly
You will need to unscrew the crank assembly from the crossbar and release the arm from the lid by sliding it from its track.
Step 3: Remove/Replace Old Cover
Remove the old cover from the hinge and then slide on the new cover.
Step 4: Install New Components
Reinstall the components in reverse order. Line the crank arm up and slide it into the track so that the arm is connected to the lid. Reinstall the crank assembly to the crossbar. Then reinstall the screen, crank handle and trim.
That is all there is to it, of course there are other types of vents, such as, powered ones with fans. If any of this feels unclear to you, do not hesitate to check the manufacturers website for the brand of vent you have. Many product manufacturers even have YouTube videos on how to install their products, or you may want to speak to a local RV dealer for further clarification.
Reference Links
https://camperreport.com/how-to-replace-a-cracked-rv-roof-vent-in-under-20-minutes/
https://rvshare.com/blog/rv-vent-lid/
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/equipment/accessories/trailer-roof-vents.htm
