Roof vents won't stay closed during travel

I've noticed that the two non-motorized roof vents keep coming open during travel. I'm worried that one day they'll be open during a gully washer (like the one I'm in right now at Acadia in ME) and everything inside will get soaked. Has anyone a. had this problem and b. found a simple fix? I'm afraid to torque down too hard on the knobs for fear of breaking them.

Thanks,

Phil

My '08 has had same problem since day 1. Several owners also reported the problem at the Branson '09 Jubilee. Factory had no suggestions. Rain is no problem when traveling because any leakage will end up on top of the rear shell. My curbside vent has never had the problem.

[commodor47]

Phil,

Check this thread: http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ead.php?t=9514

I had a similar issue and used a small C-clamp to secure the worm gear mechanism. In our case the vent opened completely and remained in that position, even at highway speed. Part of the problem may be due to air compression when closing the outer shell which could place quick stress on the crank mechanism. Perhaps the slight bouncing of the outer shell while under way is another factor. I haven't had that vent pop open since adding the small C-clamp.

Dick

[MudDog]

While we have not had this issue, we did add MaxXAir vent covers to the two vents so that we could open them in the rain if/when needed. They were easy to install and have worked well and would offer protection to the vent cover if it came open while driving and should keep the rain out as well.


http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...nt-covers/1529

I have the opposite problem. If I close them tightly for too long, like over the winter, then I have a hard time cranking them open in the spring. The plastic sticks to the seal.

Perhaps the factory has changed to a different brand of vent since my 2005, which only has the single vent plus the single powered vent. Newer models have a double vent plus the powered vent.

I once left both vents fully opened and drove down the freeway for an hour before I saw them in the rear view mirror. I stopped to pop open and close them. No damage occurred.

Thanks to all that responded. Guess the C-clamp wins! Thanks Dick! I'll give that try. I hadn't thought about where these ended up when you close the shells either. I'm sitting here looking at it and can see where they would drain onto the roof section. Still, there are lights and switches to corrode so I'd just as soon not have them come open. We are traveling from Acadia to Portsmouth NH tomorrow (and hoping for better weather). I'll try giving them an extra little torque. What I'd love is to get rid of the OEMs and put something in there where the screen can be removed to be cleaned. I replaced the screen on the motorized fan with the ones that can be removed and that's made a big difference (don't have to see all those bugs and dust caked onto the screen). I feel it was a good design to put that fan by the front door. Any bug that gets in while it's on is immediately plastered to the screen which I can now easily take off and wash!

Thanks all again.

Phil