How to Replace an RV Roof Vent Cover

Nothing lasts forever, especially when it comes to RV parts. Constant exposure to rain, hail, and blazing sun can leave your roof vent cover cracked, worn, or otherwise damaged.

Fortunately, replacing your RV's roof vent cover is an easy DIY project! We'll walk you through the process below.

NOTE: This article covers replacing an RV roof vent cover/lid—not the vent itself. If you need to replace the entire vent assembly, check out our article here covering that topic.

Choosing the Right RV Vent Cover:

Size
Hinge Style
Color & Material

Installing the RV Vent Cover:

Remove Interior Components
Remove Crank Assembly
Remove/Replace Old Cover
Reinstall Interior Components

Choosing the Right RV Vent Cover

If the vent itself still works fine, but your cover/lid is cracked or otherwise damaged, you're in luck—in most cases, this is a simple repair that will run you about $30 or less. Before we can get into how to install the new cover, however, we'll go over how to select the right new cover for your RV vent.

It's crucial that you choose a new vent cover that is compatible with your current vent. There are 3 main things to keep in mind when choosing a cover: size, hinge style, and color. We'll go over each of these in more depth below.

Size

The first thing you need to do is measure your roof vent opening (not the cover itself). The standard vent opening size is 14-1/4" x 14-1/4". However, it's best to verify the measurements yourself in case your RV is a rebel that goes against the norm. To make things easier, you can remove the garnish from your vent to measure the opening from the inside.

To verify correct replacement, you can measure the length and width of your old lid and compare these dimensions with those of available replacement lids.

Hinge Style

Fortunately, selecting the right hinge style is easy. A quick visual inspection of your current cover's hinge should tell you all you need to know. Most hinges are either 3-point, 4-point, or continuous style. Your replacement should be of the same style as your original cover.

Pro tip: If your current vent's manufacturer name is located on the lid, this can point you in the right direction. However, some manufacturers have altered their hardware over the years and have sold multiple vent styles, so it's important to confirm the hinge style before purchasing a replacement.

3-Point Hinge

4-Point Hinge

Continuous Hinge

Color & Material

Most lids are plastic, although some are metal. Plastic lids are available in white or smoke (tinted) colors (note that the tinted color can vary between brands). Both white and smoke lids allow in some light when the vent is closed, though the light may be brighter with a white lid.

Smoked Vent Cover

White Vent Lid

Installing the RV Vent Cover

Once you've selected your RV roof vent cover, you can then install it. Replacing your old cover with the new one is a simple DIY project that only takes a few minutes. Follow our 4-step guide below, or check out our how-to video to see how it's done.

Step 1: Remove Interior Components

Remove the trim panel, crank handle, and screen.

Remove the trim panel.

Remove the crank handle.

Remove the screen.

Step 2: Unscrew Crank Assembly

Unscrew the crank assembly from the crossbar and release the arm from the lid by sliding it from its track.

Unscrew the crank assembly.

Detach the arm from the lid.

Step 3: Remove/Replace Old Cover

Remove the old cover from the hinge. Slide on the new cover.

Step 4: Reinstall Interior Components

Reinstall the components in reverse order. Line up the crank arm and slide it into the track so that the arm is connected to the lid. Reinstall the crank assembly to the crossbar. Then reinstall the screen, crank handle, and trim ring.