another RV repair

When I had they RV at the local RV dealer at home they replaced the dome on the bathroom ceiling vent.

When we were prepping for the trip we installed a rubber membrane on the roof of the RV. At that time Bogdan identified that the dome shouldn’t be opened because it didn’t close well so I took the handle off the vent to be sure we didn’t forget.

When we were traveling thru TX I found the vent opened by the vibration of the wind and closed it.

When we got to Liberal KS it was again open so while on the roof I sealed it shut but using caulk on the weatherstip and setting the dome in the caulk.

I was very careful to avoid drooling the caulk off  the weather strip onto the screen in the bathroom ceiling.

On a recent morning in CO as we prepared to depart a campground I looked up to admire my caulking job.

As I was admiring I noted that I hadn’t remembered how clear the new dome was that the RV dealer had installed.

Then it occurred to me that the clouds were too clear, the dome was gone!

It must have blown off the day before when we went through the wind that came from the left, was then quiet before coming hard from the right side.

Must have sucked the dome right off!

So when we got to the Grand Canyon I watched the weather and didn’t worry about the dome cover until one afternoon when it started to sprinkle then I bungee corded a double layer garbage bag over the opening for the night.

I had to remove the bag and cords in the morning because they wouldn’t last a mile before they blew off.

On the way from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas we looked for RV dealers and found one in Kingman, AZ.

I looked for a replacement dome but after climbing up to the roof in 100+ degree heat twice to try the two different domes only to find that neither fit the old hinge style on the original ceiling vent in the bathroom I took the plunge.

I bought a whole new roof vent kit along with the mastic kit to seal it.

I went to sleep in the RV last night instead of sleeping in Tim & Yvonne’s nicely air conditioned house so I could start on the roof early before the heat got too much.

For whatever reason I slept really poorly last night, while it was warmer in the RV I don’t think that was it.

It seemed like I woke up every 15 minutes but it was probably more like every hour.

Luckily I went right back to sleep each time but I didn’t feel rested in the AM.

Was I dreaming about the repair? Wanting to make sure I woke up early to get it done before the heat?

Who know but when daylight came I was finally sleeping well so I didn’t actually get out of bed until 6:15am.

After a quick breakfast I assembled the tools (Some borrowed from Tim the night before) and climbed to the roof to start the project.

The first step was to cut away the rubber membrane installed just a month ago.

I then had to dig out the screw heads from the old roof sealants to remove them one by one.

I was moving along well pulling about ½ of the 20 screws when all of a sudden I stripped the head of a screw, then another.

It took a minute but I figured out that the installed had used two different size hex head screws and I wasn’t stripping them, just needed a smaller nut setter which Tim was able to provide.

Once the old frame was removed I removed all the old mastic& dry fit the new frame and dome. Once I confirmed that the new frame and dome fit well from a roof top and interior inspection i laid down new layer of mastic.

New screws were installed starting with the corners per the instruction and then continuing until all the screws in the install kit (sold separately for all types of vents) were used up. But 6 holes were left so I sifted through my garbage bag on the roof and pulled out some used screws to finish the job.

Once screwed in place i went to the underside to check the interior again and install the interior trim and screen.

Back to the top side to flash and caulk the edges to seal the edges of the flashing against water and wind and DONE!

Just in time to beat the morning heat.

I don’t get to do this kind of work with my hands very often anymore.

Kind of fun, just wish it wasn’t such a command performance.

And didn’t take time from traveling.

But we’re continuing to make our journey in our now beloved 1988 (near antique) RV.

I’m really getting to know this RV very well! J

More on our visit to Las Vegas later

Jay