Installing Roof Vent Blind
We improved our van’s insulation and light fastness with this easy mod
WORDS & PHOTOS RACHAEL DOHERTY
A caravan skylight is a beautiful thing. But when the mercury rises it can pump out the heat like it did in our van during our last trip away. Our solution? Fit a TRA Retractable Roof Vent Skylight Blind, which I sourced through Everything Caravans.
Within the kit you get a spring loaded blind with two precut screw holes at each end, four 2cm Phillips head screws and a plastic hook with a flat base which attaches to the ceiling.
On first inspection the blind material displayed excellent blockout qualities, was lightweight and moved freely demonstrating a pleasant resistance.
Know the Drill
Before drilling into the ceiling to fit the blind, I considered the following: What is it made from and how do I drill into it? What is the distance between the roof and the ceiling? And, finally, are there any wires nearby–a feasible risk as skylights often have lights and fans. Referring to your caravan’s schematic diagram, supplied mandatory for all caravans built to the current AS-NZS_33001.2-2022 will greatly assist.
Materials
As the plastic hook is not screwed in, I opted for adhesive to keep it in place. I chose Liquid Nails for its strength, flexibility and heat resistance. It is tacky and difficult to clean though Nail Polish Remover did a fair job at reining it in. Liquid Nails requires an hour to hold, 24 hours to bond effectively and a week to fully adhere. Be sure to apply to both surfaces. I also used Painters Masking Tape to secure the hook till the glue was cured and hold the blind as I screwed it in.
Site the Blind
RV skylights are usually mounted within a frame so I located these studs to increase the screws’ effectiveness. I also measured the position of the blind to ensure it was central and square with the skylight. I applied Liquid Nails to the blind mounts, avoiding the precut screw holes. I then taped down the blind and waited an hour for the Liquid Nails to hold before proceeding.
Fix the Blind
My ceiling is 3mm polyester plywood with a stipple surface. I didn’t want to risk drilling the screws straight in. Instead, I used a power drill fitted with a 1.2mm pre-drill bit to penetrate the ceiling at the four blind mount holes, taking care to not exceed the screws’ depth. I then used a Phillips head screwdriver to fit the screws which went straight in.
And the Hook
I pulled out the blind to position the hook so the fabric wouldn’t buckle. I marked it up with greylead and applied a pea size dob of Liquid Nails to the hook’s flat surface, smudging a little on the ceiling, double checking its position before temporarily taping it up with Masking Taping. After closing up the camper to let it dry over two nights, I check its performance in good weather. I removed the tape and tested the blind.
It held together neatly and effectively blocked the sun. Job done!