Roof Vents On The Move (1 Viewer)

[The Old Man]

Last week I noticed many Vans and Caravans travelling with roof vents open.

Coincidently I discovered that some of my vents can be locked in position so that they can neither open more or close.

I've never considered travelling with them open.

But what are other peoples opinions?

 

[magicsurfbus]

I used to have the roof vents open a small amount on the old MH to circulate air, but they were only about a foot square each, if that. I leave the bog/shower room vent up at the back to help air it. I wouldn't dream of having the bigger clear acrylic vents on the current MH open whilst driving. There's big stickers on the front skylight saying under no circumstances should it be left open when moving.

 

[Anthea M]

We have seen caravans with them open but I wonder if they have openned in transit and the people don't know!
Ours did open once (as someone hadn't put the catch on! ) But we could shut it immediately.

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[The Nomad]

We always shut ours. A lot less noise, and cab heater or Aircon isn't wasted.

 

[treetops1]

You do tend to see the remains of some skylights on the motorways .We keep ours closed when travelling lol.

 

[Pia]

We keep ours closed but forgot once the cool air made me realise something was not as it should be a quickie check showed I'd forgotten to close the kitchen roof vent....ooopppssss...ALWAYS check before setting off now

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[Deleted member 29692]

Always keep ours closed.

 

[Jim]

We travel with ours fully open. The design enables us to do this without fear of damage. It's good to be able to do this. Just another way in which RV's are better than Europeans

 

[hilldweller]

We travel with ours fully open. The design enables us to do this without fear of damage. It's good to be able to do this. Just another way in which RV's are better than Europeans

You must be new round her Sir. I feel you would be far happier if you moved to the sister ( the big fat sister ) site where bloated truck owners can boast of their behemoths' earth destroying properties to their hearts' content.

To the OP, if you are doing 50 mph and hit a 50 mph gust would the latches cope if the 100 mph wind gets under the vent, some have found the hard way the answer is a big NO. A very expensive lesson.

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[jtp890]

I forgot once, didn,t loose skylight , but had to buy new seals for the ones that went missing.

 

[Minxy]

It depends! We sometimes leave our smaller one open over the bed, on the lowest point, and only if we're on smaller road, ie 40mph absolute max. The larger front one over the dinette has on occasion been left open with a small gap but only if we're going a short distance, eg to go to a supermarket nearby at a low speed. We never leave them open for a long time though and certainly never on motorways or high speed roads - it's not just your speed you have to think of but the effect of not only the wind but also trucks etc that you pass which can 'suck' you in/your vent off!

As for the very large front opening ones, they should never ever be open when travelling and even when static if it's a bit windy they should IMV be closed.

 

[maison]

Normally travel with them closed.

On one occasion we travelled 80 miles at a cruising 55-60mph, with the "Heki" style vent open, without damage, but would not do it through choice.

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[The Old Man]

From an earlier post;

If a 50mph wind gusts hit my van, I reckon that I would have more than a roof vent to worry about!

 

[hilldweller]

From an earlier post;

If a 50mph wind gusts hit my van, I reckon that I would have more than a roof vent to worry about!

On dual carriageway you overtake and HGV or he overtakes you a momentary gust like that would be on the cards especially in windy conditions. You must have felt your van move in those conditions, so think what it would do to a bit of plastic.

 

[Ridgeway]

Often have ours open, minimum setting which has a lock on it (Heki Midi) usually the main one in the hab and the smaller one in the kitchen. The bathroom is always open (screw thread lock type). Also we often have the side windows in the hab open, just on the first click so about 1cm.

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[Duck Truck]

I travel everywhere with ours fully Open
Doing speeds of up to the legal maximum on German autobahns..

I saw the film Goldfinger where Goldfinger got sucked out the aircraft window,
Sadly Sue is made of tougher stuff.

 

[haganap]

depends what we are doing, but, when just touring the back roads or the coasts of France we drive with them open and have done for over 10 years without an issue. When in France in the heat we used to see loads of French driving with them open. So worked out if it's good enough for them etc etc.

 

[Flamenca]

we often have the side windows in the hab open, just on the first click so about 1cm.

So do I

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[treetops1]

I assume if you are travelling down the motorway and your skylight lid gets ripped off and damages another vehicle .I expect you are responsible for the damage ,subject to them being able to catch you lol

 

[Robin McHood]

You must be new round her Sir. I feel you would be far happier if you moved to the sister ( the big fat sister ) site where bloated truck owners can boast of their behemoths' earth destroying properties to their hearts' content.

To the OP, if you are doing 50 mph and hit a 50 mph gust would the latches cope if the 100 mph wind gets under the vent, some have found the hard way the answer is a big NO. A very expensive lesson.

I can answer that one! Last year we were hauling up the climb out of Fort William. Rear vent open a notch secured by an Airbus designed latch that had proved itself secure from Lapland to Gib..

Pulled into a layby to let traffic past. A 60mph gust hit from behind and I watched the hatch skiting down the layby... Airbus latch still intact....

I only fly Boeing now.....

 

[hilldweller]

Pulled into a layby to let traffic past. A 60mph gust hit from behind and I watched the hatch skiting down the layby... Airbus latch still intact....

I only fly Boeing now.....

You and the Germans hadn't thought this through, had they.

What do Airbus specialise in -- things that fly.

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[kevinktwo]

From an earlier post;

If a 50mph wind gusts hit my van, I reckon that I would have more than a roof vent to worry about!

It does most times you drive