There are many reasons an RV owner might seek an RV roof vent lid replacement. Their current RV roof vent lid might be broken or cracked due to prolonged sun exposure, contact with a tree or other overhead object, damage from falling debris, or the use of harsh cleaning or treatment products not recommended by the manufacturer. Or it might be missing entirely!
Whatever the case, here’s a guide to replacing the roof vent lid on your RV.
Technician Tip: The terms vent lid and vent cover are sometimes used interchangeably. However, proper use would refer to vent lids as the standard plastic lids installed over most factory-installed roof vents. Vent covers are sometimes standard, but often aftermarket, accessories that are installed over vent lids to allow the lid to open for added ventilation when it’s raining. Explore aftermarket RV roof vent covers if you’re curious.
Key Takeaways
- Reasons for Replacement & Selection: RV roof vent lids may need replacing due to sun damage, impact, debris, or improper cleaning products. To choose a replacement, measure dimensions, identify hinge type, and select a color based on heat reflection and UV resistance.
- Installation Steps: Removing the old vent lid involves detaching interior components and accessing the roof. Installation varies by hinge type—Ventline hinges slide into place, while bolt-on hinges require drilling and securing with provided hardware.
- Additional Tips & Maintenance: A vent cover allows vent use during rain but limits lid opening. Proper cover selection prevents fan damage, and regular cleaning is necessary to maintain airflow and inspect sealant. Vent covers can be removed for easy maintenance.
Choosing an RV Roof Vent Lid Replacement
Luckily, most RV roof vents are a standard 14.25” x 14.25” size, making searching for a compatible RV roof vent lid much easier. However, you should follow these steps to replace the roof vent lid on your RV to avoid selecting the wrong replacement product.
- Measure existing vent lid dimensions.
- Note the lid’s hinge type.
- Choose your vent lid color.
Matching the lid dimensions is straightforward, and choosing vent lid color is largely a matter of personal preference—although some would argue that white reflects heat better while black is more resistant to degradation from UV exposure.
The most important factor is the vent lid hinge type. Identifying the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the vent lid to be replaced is the easiest way to track down the hinge type—without climbing onto your RV’s roof.
But if you find that information hard to come by, safely access your RV roof and photograph the existing hinge. This will help you identify a compatible RV roof vent lid replacement when shopping online or consulting a retail specialist at your local Camping World.
Most RVs are equipped with one of three main hinge styles: 3-point, 4-point, or continuous. The Ventline continuous hinge is one of the most commonly used in the industry today. The hinges themselves may be several different shapes, as highlighted by the photos below:
How To Replace an RV Roof Lid
Let’s dive into the steps for a successful RV roof vent lid replacement:
Difficulty Level: 2
Time Required: <1 hour
Tools Required
Technician Tip: The installation process and required tools may vary based on the vent lid make and model.
- New roof vent lid (may come with brackets, nuts, washers, and machine screws)
- Drill with drill bit (size recommended in manual, 3/16”)
- Sharpie or pencil
- Philips head screwdriver (or impact driver with Philips head attachment)
- Wrench or ratchet with socket sized for nuts and bolts that came with RV roof vent lid
Removing an Old RV Roof Vent Lid
Unless your roof vent lid is missing entirely, you’ll begin by removing the old to make way for the new. Inside, remove the interior trim ring, crank handle, and screen. Then, unscrew the crank assembly and detach the arm from the roof vent lid.
If your RV has a fully walkable roof, use a mounted or telescoping ladder to access the roof. For RVs without a walkable roof, position a ladder on the side of your RV that offers the best access to the roof vent lid you’ll be replacing. With safe access, remove the old RV roof vent lid from the hinge. If installing an RV roof vent lid replacement with new hinges, remove the hinges as well.
Technician Tip: The interior trim ring, screen, elevator, and crank handle must be removed before installing any style of RV roof vent lid because the keyed guide roller won’t fit into the lifting rail while the elevator is in place.
Installing RV Roof Vent Lid for Vent Line Hinge
For roof vent lids that use a vent line hinge, simply slide the new roof vent lid into the old hinge and replace the interior components. Once you install the new lid, pinch the ends of the hinge to ensure it doesn’t slide back and forth.
Installing An RV Roof Vent Lid with a Bolt-on Hinge
If you’re swapping a new roof vent lid in place of an old model that had a bolt-on hinge, you can install the RV roof vent lid replacement on the existing hinge as long as it isn’t damaged. This eliminates drilling new holes into the roof vent frame and allows you to use the existing hardware to install the new vent lid.
However, you can also use an RV roof vent lid with a bolt-on hinge to replace another vent lid style. To do so, follow the previous steps to remove the original vent lid, garnish, screen, elevator, and handle to clear the area for your vent lid installation.
Engage the replacement vent lid with its hinge and place it on the open vent so that the inside of the lid rests against the old hinge. Once installed, ensure the lid is oriented to open towards the rear of your RV. With the new hinge position parallel to the roof, mark the drill locations using the two outer holes on the bolt-on hinge.
Then, you can use a 3/16” bit to drill the mounting holes and secure the bolt-on hinge using the manufacturer’s supplied rust-resistant mounting hardware. Typically, this will include bolts, flat washers, lock washers, and nuts. Finally, position the lift arm through the opening in the crank handle mounting bracket and install the slide to the lift arm. You can then head inside to reassemble the rest of the components and test your new RV roof vent lid’s operation.
Installing New Roof Vent Cover Brackets
For an RV roof vent cover replacement that requires new mounting brackets, center the new cover over your roof vent. Use a Sharpie or pencil to mark the location of the four slots in the cover’s mounting flange.
Position the brackets so the slot in the bracket aligns with the marked locations. Mount the brackets as close as possible to the outside corner of the roof vent frame for maximum strength. Mark the location of the screw holes in the brackets and drill screw holes through the roof vent frame.
Next, place carriage bolt(s) upward through the slot in the brackets and use smaller machine screws to secure the brackets to the vent frame. Flat washers, lock washers, and hex bolts should be placed on the bolts inside the roof vent frame.
Then, place the RV roof vent cover on the four upward-facing carriage bolts in the mounting bracket slots. Operate the vent to ensure the lid clears the cover when raised and lowered. Secure the vent cover using large washers and hex nuts provided.
Technician Tip: You may need to push carriage bolts upward to secure hex nuts. A thin, flat putty knife is a great tool for pushing carriage bolts up, but anything thin, flat, and fairly stiff can do the job. The gap between the vent lid mounting flange and your roof will remain. This gap is intentional to allow condensation to escape.
Finish by testing the operation of your RV roof vent cover replacement. Ensure the new RV vent lid opens and closes as intended. Also, check that it doesn’t inhibit the function of the vent fan if it is equipped.
Additional RV Roof Vent Cover Replacement Tips
Here are a few tips to make replacing the roof vent cover on your RV an easier task:
Post-Installation Vent Use. The vent lid won’t open as far with a vent cover installed as without one. The ability to use the vent in the rain or while traveling is worth the tradeoff for most people.
Choosing a Vent Cover. If the vent has a large fan (not the little 4” fan), you must choose a manufacturer-approved vent cover. These covers will have more surface area in the slotted rear opening so the fan motor isn’t damaged by back pressure. Some manufacturers will void the fan warranty if the wrong cover is installed.
Care & Cleaning. Dust, condensation, and other bits of crud will accumulate in the area under the vent cover. The vent cover will also prevent inspection and maintenance of the vent’s self-leveling sealant. During regular roof sealant maintenance, vent covers should be removed to permit cleaning, inspection, and any required sealant maintenance. Removal is quick and easy using the instructions listed above in reverse. If the sealant was touched up or removed and replaced with new, let it cure overnight before reinstalling the vent cover so it doesn’t become glued down or block airflow and condensation drainage out the bottom.
Need Installation Help?
Whether it’s help selecting a compatible RV roof vent cover replacement or completing the removal and replacement, our retail experts and certified technicians are here to help. Head into your local Camping World or find contact information for retail or service staff below.
Looking for more RV maintenance tutorials?
- How To Change RV Awning Fabric
- How To Replace an RV Toilet
- RV Solar Installation for RVs with Solar Prep
Do you have any questions about replacing a vent lid on your RV? Let us know in the comments below!
