Another escape hatch issue

[AK snowbiker]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

Scott, I agree a couple of coats of Krylon will make it look good, but I do not believe paint alone will stop what appears to be stress cracking at the very front on either side of the rivet located in the center. Have you examined your lid in that area closely? I’m really curious if you have had better luck than me. Both of my lids developed tiny cracks in that area.

Carl, Spent two days waxing and buffing the roof a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised that all the plastic bits and caulking are still in fantastic shape. No cracks in the hatch.

We had a Northern Lite truck camper with a similar hatch that developed the small cracks that that your talking about, I always assumed they were caused by the UV exposure. Our driveway faces south west and with the angle of the sun up here, the nose of the 5.0 gets blasted by the sun. I have to be diligent in waxing and buffing the nose due to the exposure, the rest of the camper gets minimal exposure.

On a side note it looks like the new Northern Lites use the Midi Heki hatch, these used to be insulated and with a night shade. Been meaning to do some research if a Heki hatch could be adapted to our trailer.

I like bikes!

[davidmurphy02]

Thanks for doing this post, Carl - we just brought our trailer home to load up for a two month trip we're about to take and I took a good look at our hatch. Same little vertical crack right in the center of the front just like yours, glad I caught this before we hit the road.

Two and a half years old....sure wish they used a better material for these hatch lids....sigh.

[AK snowbiker]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

Scott, I agree a couple of coats of Krylon will make it look good, but I do not believe paint alone will stop what appears to be stress cracking at the very front on either side of the rivet located in the center. Have you examined your lid in that area closely? I’m really curious if you have had better luck than me. Both of my lids developed tiny cracks in that area.

Carl, After David’s post I had to go out and take a closer look. You are correct, I can see the stress cracks through the paint. I will reinforce it as in your earlier post. Thanks.

I like bikes!

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

I checked that lid on Amazon, and it appears (at least to me) to be the square lid for a vent fan. The flimsy Heng’s lid in question is rectangular and fits the so-called “escape hatch” over the bed in 5.0TA.

Yes, I was going to say that we are mixing talk of both regular vent lids and the escape hatch for the 5.0. In my experience I have seen polycarbonate for the smaller hatches but the selection for the larger ones looks limited to polypropylene.

[Donna D.]

IF you never, ever want to replace the 14x14 vent lid again, you could buy it in metal: https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Vents-an...12800403102039


Paint it white it you don't like the color and maybe line the lid with some backpacker foam to decrease the noise during a rain storm.

One thing for sure, it won't crack under UV exposure.

[Oldtimer]

Then one can “ listen to the rhythm of the falling rain “ as the song goes

David

[Chris R]

Well it looks like I have to replace the escape hatch cover. Very brittle and yellow. It appears ETI has used different sizes over the years and HENG has changed it's design.

My hatch cover measures 15.5 x 22.5 which (I think) is 9007-C1. It is a bit tight to get through. Our trailer is a 2015 5TA. ETI gave a me a link to a larger hatch which is not available. Do newer 5TA's have bigger escape hatches?

I am tempted to get a larger hatch, but that would mean roof reinforcement and dealing with the headliner. I am not a fan of the quality of the HENG product, but few alternatives.

[DanandDaphne]

Here are a couple of options, pretty pricy though the artic tern electric roof hatch is $1,699 plus might need optional spoiler for more $. The dometic midi heki looks interesting I haven't read the whole review, looks like they cost around $700 but they do look nice. Looks like heat accumulation is a real problem though with the clear acrylic lids. We like a dark sleeping space and always use a piece of reflectix in our hatch. It looks like it would melt with one of these hatches.

https://www.truckcamperadventure.com...ros-cons-tips/

https://www.ternoverland.com/product...c-roof-hatches

[Chris R]

Originally Posted by DanandDaphne

Here are a couple of options, pretty pricy though the artic tern electric roof hatch is $1,699 plus might need optional spoiler for more $. The dometic midi heki looks interesting I haven't read the whole review, looks like they cost around $700 but they do look nice. Looks like heat accumulation is a real problem though with the clear acrylic lids. We like a dark sleeping space and always use a piece of reflectix in our hatch. It looks like it would melt with one of these hatches.

https://www.truckcamperadventure.com...ros-cons-tips/

https://www.ternoverland.com/product...c-roof-hatches

Thanks, saw the review of the Dometic one a couple of years ago, cracking from heat is a red flag.
The ternoverland one only comes with a motor, no manual operation anymore. That does not sound like a good idea for an escape hatch.
The only other one I found was what Johnny Hung installed in his trailer. Similar to the Dometic, made by Maybook?sp. Large Caravan RV Skylight Roof Vent Hatch 500 x 500 mm Anti-UV Durable, available on ebay (link is too long for here).

I think the clear cover looks good, but heat build up will be a problem.

[Eggscape]

We all know that you would be more than capable of making one out of wood. Using good old contact cement you could wrap it in white marine vinyl and never have to replace it again.

[Chris R]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

We all know that you would be more than capable of making one out of wood. Using good old contact cement you could wrap it in white marine vinyl and never have to replace it again.

Making a cover out of aluminum would be fairly easy, use the old hinge and paint it white. Hummm.......

[Eggscape]

Aluminum sounds great! I just said wood because I know you are a wood kinda guy.

I have never seen what the hatch looks like but maybe you could incorporate some hard foam on the inside so it would be less likely to form condensation.