Vent cover failure - Montana Owners Club

mobilrvn · 03-30-2006, 06:22 PM

Our bedroom vent cover failed the other day. Had noticed the last time I wash the roof that the edges were chipping away. The plastic turn brittle in less than two years and just broke apart--UV exposure it appears. We had replaced other vent covers for various reasons, so it was the only original one left. Has anyone else had this problems?

Montana Sky · 03-30-2006, 07:58 PM

I had MaxxAir vent covers installed over all the vents on my coach for that very reason. Folks next door had an older travel trailer that had same problem. So far the MaxxAir covers are in great shape.

HamRad · 03-30-2006, 08:53 PM

mobilrvn,
Our bedroom vent cover fell apart. It was about 4 years old at that time. About a year earlier I had installed the MaxAire type vent covers over the ones that came with the unit.

You'd think it would be easy to get the right replacement....right? wrong! It is best to take the thing apart and take it with you to the store. There are many different types of covers and you need to get the right one. And it is a bit of a job to take them in and out. Nothing too bad but it is much easier if there are two working on it. One on top and one in the coach. We live in a very sunny part of the country so I assume that may be a partial cause of the destruction of the vent.

HamRad

CountryGuy · 03-31-2006, 01:33 AM

Had one fail on last unit, maybe it was 2, we figured it was UV damage. All that sun, on the roof, etc.

Good luck with your repair.

rlwhit · 03-31-2006, 01:47 AM

A tree branch took out a vent cover on our previous 5th. I agree with HamRad that you need to take the old one with you. There are several type of hinges and you will need to match the old base. Really like the Max Aire covers that I put on the Monty.

campbud · 03-31-2006, 03:27 AM

We have the MaxAir covering our vents so maybe this is a big help? We have never had one gone bad.

richfaa · 03-31-2006, 04:00 AM

Must have changed the quality of the covers. Had them on our 94 Coachman, transfered them to our 96 Terry and they were still on and in good shape when we sold it last September.They had changed color but that was it.

keham · 04-02-2006, 04:33 PM

Rich
I believe they are talking about the vents lids them selfs not the after market covers (maxair)

I think
ken

Russ and Sandy · 04-02-2006, 04:55 PM

By coincidence, I guess, last week I just replaced the bedroom cover on our '03 because I saw it was flaking and disintegrating. I think a small hail stone or tree branch would have gone right through it.

I had an old one from an earlier '95 rig which fit - after I drilled the rivets out of both and pop riveted the Montana hardware to the old one.

I also added the Maxair to it. I had added the Maxair to the bathroom vent back in '02 when we first purchased the Montana. That vent cover shows absolutely no signs of deterioration. So, maybe it does offer the need protection from "all" elements.

I'm sure we'll be using the vent more now that we won't worry about the moisture or other "elements" getting in.

D and M On The Road · 04-02-2006, 05:22 PM

We also have a vent lid disintegrating. It has been covered by a MaxxAir vent cover for a couple of years now. Another thing to put on our "to do" list for when the weather turns abit warmer and less wet.

JH Sechelt · 04-02-2006, 07:00 PM

I Think the Maxair are good if only to protec the vent lids. Would not be too hard to unscrew the 4 nuts to replace a Maxair. But I like to leave the front & Rear cover open in the trailer while travelling just to keep the air changing .

J & D

mobilrvn · 04-02-2006, 07:01 PM

Appears to be a "cheapness" problem to me. Don't know if the vent cover was made in China or not. Since the vent covers will always be in the sun unless you own a barn and don't use your 5W, they need to be of a better quality. All of our vent covers were originals on our 11 yr old trade-in. Have had the same type problem with LNB covers--three have disolved in the sun and allowed water into the unit which destroys them.

dsprik · 04-03-2006, 05:02 AM

Can someone show me a pict of a Maxair? I'm trying to picture this and what it is supposed to actually do.
Thanks

Broome101 · 04-03-2006, 05:15 AM

I have one from adding second AC I would give to someone but they would have to pay UPS.

sreigle · 04-03-2006, 05:53 AM

We have the MaxxAir covers on ours but at one time we had an old 1985 Wilderness fifthwheel with the standard covers open to the environment. We never had a problem with the standard vent covers doing what yours did. Maybe they've changed the composition or something. In any case, the vent covers are not made by Keystone. There's only one or two companies (I think) who make those covers. If this is a general problem then I would think we'd have heard of a lot more having problems. If there's nothing about the environment yours is in then I have no idea why this is happening to yours. Maybe a bad batch of covers?

Mac · 04-03-2006, 05:58 AM

If any of you have installed your own Maxair units how difficult was that task? Do they attach to the roof or the existing vents? I hate to put holes in my roof and have a potential for a leak. Just curious, I've thought about putting them on before.

mac

Broome101 · 04-03-2006, 12:43 PM

They attach to the frame work of your existing vent cover frame.

Montana Sky · 04-03-2006, 01:53 PM

Mac,
No drilling into the roof. As Broome101 said, they attach to the frame of the vent cover. I did not install mine, had dealership do it during my PDI. Took them less than 30 mins to do all 4.

Bill Frisbee · 04-03-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by dsprik

Can someone show me a pict of a Maxair? I'm trying to picture this and what it is supposed to actually do.
Thanks

Here is the Maxxair website:

http://www.maxxair.com/

Mac · 04-03-2006, 02:32 PM

Montana Sky,

Well since the dealers knew what they were doing it should only take me a few hours.

mac

You may also like: