JOMO
Florida
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Joined: 05/27/2008
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I read something on here the other day about lowering the angle of the roof vents while driving. I've owned an Rv for the last 5 years and thought you had to lower them before driving. Is it true can you leave them up going down the road? I would have thought the wind would distroy them. We always opened a window in the back, now I feel silly. So what's everyone's advice up or down while driving?
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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Joined: 02/28/2005
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you can leave them open if you have vent covers but do not leave a rear vent open as you may get some exhaust fumes comeing in if the vent is at the rear of the rv.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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CloudDriver
New Jersey Shore
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Joined: 10/30/2005
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If you want to ride with the vents open, install Maxx-Air covers over them. This will prevent them from flexing as the wind flows over them and eventually breaking. The covers will also keep the rain out.
2003 Winnebago Minnie 24F - Ford E-450
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tonyandkaren
pennsylvania
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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Leaving them up will eventually destroy them. They're not expensive or hard to replace but replacing them get annoying.
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Joined: 02/02/2003
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Hi,
Here's a vote for Maxx-Air covers whether you're going to travel with the vents open or not. They are just a good idea and well worth it. It's nice to be able to open your roof vents even when it's raining.
A caution about travelling with the roof vents open, however. This is especially true if your gray tank doesn't vent to the roof. Many use Air Admittance Valves instead. With these,when you travel down the road you can create a "negative pressure" inside the motorhome. This can sometimes cause the water caught in the sink traps to slosh around and ultimately siphon out and into the holding tank. At this point, you will now be "sucking" fumes from your gray tank into your RV. The odor is NOT pleasant. If your rig vents the gray tank to the roof, this will probably be less of an issue.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (12-Angel), 1 girl (7), 2 boys (8 & 5), 1 plump Golden Retriever.
2001 Honda Odyssey with Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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Gene in NE
Omaha
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Joined: 09/15/2003
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Rick Jay wrote:Hi,...A caution about travelling with the roof vents open, however. This is especially true if your gray tank doesn't vent to the roof...With these,when you travel down the road you can create a "negative pressure" inside the motorhome. This can sometimes cause the water caught in the sink traps to slosh around and ultimately siphon out and into the holding tank...~Rick Excellent point - our unit has a tightly enclosed bathroom with an open exhaust fan vent. After driving for some time, the sink trap and shower trap in that bathroom need to have water added. You know when if you a sense of smell. Something happens to the liquid  - either it evaporates or gets sucked into the waste tank.
2002 Trail-Lite Model 211-S w/5.7 Chevy
Gene
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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Rick Jay wrote:Hi,
Here's a vote for Maxx-Air covers whether you're going to travel with the vents open or not. They are just a good idea and well worth it. It's nice to be able to open your roof vents even when it's raining.
snip
~Rick
I'll make that 3 of us.
bumpy
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corglet
Colorful Colorado
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Joined: 07/16/2008
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Rick and Gene, thanks for the explanation about why we get a nasty smell in our mh bathroom when we travel with the vent open, and what to do about it.
I do enjoy our Maxxair vent covers for the ability to leave the vents open while we're stopped, even during rain.
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davemittan
North central Arkansas
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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Have the vents closed if you don't have covers on them. MaxxAirs are the best, but there are "clones" (like Camco). If you have a "Fantastic Fan"/vent, you'll have to go with the larger MaxxAir II. (As a matter of fact, I just had one put on today.)
IMNSHO, they should be standard equipment on all rigs.
Dave
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lane hog
Tucson, AZ
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Joined: 07/06/2003
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Negative pressure can happen with roof vented tanks as well. We'd get the stinky tank smell if we opened windows instead of using the generator & roof A/C while moving. I eventually figured out our bathroom sink drained into the black tank, and started closing the drain plug while moving... smell disappeared.
We travel with our covers down, but actually lost one last week. Trying to find a replacement in San Diego wasn't how I wanted to spend my Saturday, so it's time to carry a spare...
- 2005 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C (was a three-time Jayco owner)
- 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic toad (had Ram 2500 CTD, Durango, Liberty...)
- Onan Microquiet 4000, plus 130W solar and Honda EU2000i twins for backup
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