DIY Project, Vent Cover Install

Whether wintering in the south or living in the Pacific Northwest, I believe that vent covers are essential for ventilating your RV, keeping the climate inside acceptable and the mold at a minimum. In this blog, we will talk about a DIY of The Maxxair 00-933072 II Vent Cover for our RV.

The Maxxair 00-933072 II vents were lifesavers when we lived in Washington (more about that blog here). It rained all the time, so opening the windows was not an option. We ended up installing those vent covers on all our vents and are able to open the vents even when the rain is pouring outside.

Installing The Maxxair Vent Cover is easy. A few things to be aware of before ordering this vent:

They come in two colors: white and black
Maxxair is a brand that has many different venT covers. Essentially they are all the same install, but there are a few variations here and there. Nothing too major.

Steps:

Removing the Garnish

You might wonder, “Why do I need to move parts inside the rig to install something outside the rig?”

Well, because you will be drilling into the side lips of the housing for the fans. If you drilled more than you need to, you might damage the garnish, the wiring into the side of the fan, or the fan itself. So, why take that risk?

Removing the garnish is the first step. You should have four screws that are holding the garnish in place. Remove the two diagonal to each other first. Then hold the garnish in one hand while you unscrew the rest, or it will fall on you or break, I broke one of my garnishes by not holding it, so I had to buy another one. Don’t do as I did.

Removing the Fantastic Fan Internal Face

Now to the easiest part: unscrewing the four screws that hold the fan internal face. Just so you know, some fans don’t have that option. But, I replaced all my fans in the rig with Fantastic Fans so that I can have air circulating anytime I need it, where I need it.

So, when you take this part out, you can either take it out completely, or you can just let it hang by the connections. It is up to you. If you decided to take it out completely, use a Sharpie to indicate which connection it was plugged into.

Drilling the Holes

Now, for the fun part. What I did was I placed the hinges on the vent cover, then marked where the holes needed to be drilled. That way I am not drilling in the wrong places, and you don’t want that. Drilling in the wrong place can make this whole project a nightmare.

Also, make sure when you place the cover, to have the opening facing the back of your rig. That way you’re not creating drag when driving. Plus, the wind is an enemy if you put those facing the wrong way.

Installing the Hinges

After I drilled the holes, I set the hinges and was able to line them up with the holes I made and run the screw through them. Keep in mind to not tighten those screws too much. You might run the risk of cracking the vent lip, or worse breaking it.

Clipping the Vent Cover In

So, the vent comes with two different fasteners: one is only a clip, the other one is a screw with a nut and washers. I personally prefer to be the clip portion right by the edge of the rig on the vent. When I conduct maintenance, I don’t have to get up on the roof. All I need to do is grab my ladder and place it close to the vent area to access it easily.

Tightening the Other Side of the Vent Cover

Now, we need to repeat the process for the other side. First, we need to mark the hinges drilling area and then drill. When the drilling is done, you can use the washer, the nut and the screw that is provided with the kit to secure this side. Again, do not overtighten the screw. Leave it loose a bit to allow the top to move when you are in need to open the vent cover from the hinge side.

Re-Installing the Fantastic Vent Face Cover

Now we need to go inside the rig and ensure that the Fantastic Vent face cover is screwed back to the fan itself.

Re-Installing the Garnish

After installing the Fantastic Fan vent face cover, it is time to reinstall the garnish and ensure that the fan works great.

Now, all you need to do is wait for a rainy day, and see how The MAXXAIR II Vent Cover will allow you to keep your rig ventilated and feeling fresh.

Items you need for this install:

MAXXAIR 00-933072 MAXXAIR II Vent Cover
Drill Set We have two the Dewalt one allows me for more control on the torque
Drill bit set specifically a 3/32” drill bit
Tool Set We have DEWALT 192pc Mechanics Tools Set
Sharpie

Project Cost:

MAXXAIR 00-933072 MAXXAIR II Vent Cover	$43.31
Drill Set– The Dewalt drill allows me for more control on the torque. (This is a must-have for every RVer)	$99.00
Drill bit set and specifically the 3/32” drill bit	$19.99
Tool Set- The DEWALT 192pc Mechanics Tools Set- This item is awesome to have in an RV, saves space, and you have the basic tools that you can use on the road for virtually any project.	$179.00
Sharpie	$3.99

TOTAL

$345.29

Accidental Snowbirds