Do you intentionally drive with roof vents open (1 Viewer)

Feb 24, 2013
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Bolsover, Derbyshire
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I have noticed a lot of MH's driving with roof vent wide open, or at least open enough to be obvious from the other side of a motorway

now we are in Spain having travelled down through France, so it is much warmer, most of the vents I seen open tend to be pivoted from the roof with the vent facing directly in the direction of travel, so probably fairly secure

but I have seen vents open like ours that wind up equally on both sides, but they are just like the roof vents we used to have coaches when I was a boy on school trips, they were always open

what do you do?
 

PP Bear

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Apr 5, 2013
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Never!! I'd lose them and then many ££££'s to replace and the hassle of sourcing them too :Eeek:

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Jun 30, 2010
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1992 VW Auto sleeper Mono
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Since 2005 this time
No! no! no! Travel with them closed! If you want a cooling Breeze open the windows in you cab doors!

Travel with them open! you'll lose them!
 

johnp10

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Oct 12, 2009
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8 years ish
Accidentally travelled we both one open.
Not far, but far enough to lose it.
Luckily enough, easily sourced.
 

Badknee

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Loss and damage will be the result and yes I am speaking from experience on a caravan.

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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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not long enough
replies generally as expected, we don't do it, but so many seem to

and why do coach roof vents stay on?
 

Carol

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Oct 2, 2007
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Oh my gosh Eddie would have a fit if we drove with the vents open, so as a I've the answer is No :Eeek:
 
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DavidG58
Feb 24, 2013
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001.JPG


this chap on the right, left with his fully wound up, but maybe a different breed than most of ours

bizarrely he bought it LHD from the British Army, he has lived in it for last 14 years, I am not going to tell him .......
 

Hymie

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Nov 29, 2013
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Leave the panoramic one at the front half open in summer, but it's an older Hymer so anchored at all 4 corners, and I checked the condition, pretty new.

Also leave the loo vent partially open as it has a ruddy great big roof box right in front of it acting as a shield.

Ain't lost them so far.

Hymie.

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trekkin

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Sep 12, 2014
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5 years but still learning
Always travel with ours open, get a nice breeze through the van, have maxxair vent covers on that also allows the vents to be open all weathers, wind rain, snow, keeps the circulation and eliminates condensation.

Worth the £40 investment, and easy fit

Adrian

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TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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many many years! since I was a kid
the heki sunroof is pretty damn expensive to replace and they do break far to easily for the cost. so always latch them closed when travelling. Some hymer vans also have unusually sized vents so replacing a damaged one is a costly and frustrating experience

funny enough though, I have seen plenty of vans on the motorway with vents and even side windows open
 

bernardfeay

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Nov 18, 2009
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When ours blew off I had to buy a rubberised carpet mat, a square piece of plywood and a long pole. We traveled the rest of the trip with waterproofing provided by our lapdancing pole structure. It did work but I'm not famous for my DIY skills.
 

calion

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Sep 3, 2014
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We always close ours when travelling, afraid it will blow off otherwise.

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Jul 24, 2009
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Although I've never travelled with it open I always thought that the wind up ones with a strut could be opened slightly when moving.
 

calion

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Sep 3, 2014
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Love it!:D

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cruiser

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Sep 12, 2012
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is that why people wave at you as they drive by. and yes I close mine. or the boss does.
 

BreweryDave

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Aug 10, 2011
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David - if it's warm you could always drive along with the fridge door open - I believe it usually is:reel:

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Feb 5, 2014
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I assume that all roof vents open with the back edge going up in the air: mine certainly does. Why would travelling do anything other than try to push it closed?

OK, as a physicist I acknowledge the Bernoulli effect but I don't believe it will be significant, especially if the vent is only open a fraction (less than 30deg?). [A large box in front of the vent might make matters worse! :(]

Having said all of that, I try to drive with mine closed, but at times I have failed (but the vents haven't). Usually we detect our error by the increase in wind noise.

Much more "dangerous": when I park I tend to open the toilet window onto the first notch of the catches (NOT of the stays: so about 3 deg). Sometimes I drive off without firmly reclosing that top-hung window: so far so good ;). But, of course, that is the only orifice from which we won't hear any wind noise (unless it blows completely off?).

Gordon

PS A caravan heading in the opposite direction had it's vent blow off just in front of my car. I stopped, collected it, turned round and drove 5miles before persuading the tugger to stop. As it was a grey day, he was very grateful to not get a nasty surprise once he got back home.
 

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