Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Jason on October 02, 2021, 08:54:14 pm

Title: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jason on October 02, 2021, 08:54:14 pm
I climbed up top to wash some leaves off since it's parked under a tree partially. I noticed that something broke off since I was on top of it at MOT. I am unsure what/how it happened.  There are two of them but the one on the right side near the awning is busted. The first pic is from today and shows it broken, the second shows in July when we were at MOT inspecting it.

What is this? Where does it go to? Ho can an I repair it?  What caulk/sealant should be used?

Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Townrestor on October 02, 2021, 09:05:59 pm
Vent for your holding tank.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: kb0zke on October 02, 2021, 09:33:22 pm
That's what it looks like to me, too.

If there is enough pipe still sticking up you can put a coupler on and then the T. If not, you have a bigger job, in that you are goung to have to open up around the pipe so you can get the coupler on, then close it up again.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on October 02, 2021, 09:53:54 pm
What is this? Where does it go to? How can I repair it?  What caulk/sealant should be used?
As noted above, it's a holding tank vent.  Remove the old one, install a new one (see video on Amazon page).  Use Dicor lap sealant around the base.

Available from many RV supply stores, Camping World, or Amazon.

Amazon.com: Camco Cyclone Rotating Sewer Plumbing Vent - Rids Odors from... (https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40595-White-Cyclone-Plumbing/dp/B003P64XU4)

Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Elliott on October 02, 2021, 11:43:19 pm
On an unrelated note, your roof looks like it could use a good bath with some McGwires three-step to knock that oxidation off.

Super crappy job but worth it once you see it reflecting light again  ^.^d
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jason on October 02, 2021, 11:49:37 pm
Thanks!

This makes a lot more sense now as I tell you what happened yesterday. I woke up to the water alarm that I have in the water pump/accumulator area. A few weeks ago the same alarm went off as well when I was in Eagles Nest due to the cold temperatures, the O-rings on the water pump shrunk. It was not cold yesterday morning but it rained a lot the night before. There was just enough water to make the alarm go off but not enough to be concerned with anything. I took the pump out but couldn't find any leaking. Now I know the rest of the story...!!
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jason on October 02, 2021, 11:53:42 pm
On an unrelated note, your roof looks like it could use a good bath with some McGwires three-step to knock that oxidation off.

Super crappy job but worth it once you see it reflecting light again  ^.^d

Yes, it needs a cleaning for sure. I'm trying to get my builder to put up a matching covering. We're living in it FT while our house is being built, drywall goes up next week, almost there! Once done, some other things will be addressed, including a good cleaning inside and out.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jack Lewis on October 03, 2021, 12:09:18 am
Jason, I replaced my "Cyclone" roof vent with the "360" roof vent, and I highly recommend the "360".  The "Cyclone" is a big improvement over the original vent, the "360" is a big improvement over the Cyclone.

The Cyclone sits lower on the roof, and will remove more air from the tanks.  It is easy to install and has no moving parts.  Originally the 360 was built by the same company as the Cyclone and sold as a newer version that vented more air than their own Cyclone product.  After that, the "360" product was purchased by Lippert and is now mfg by Lippert.  The "Cyclone" product was purchased by Camco and is now mfg by Camco.

I found their claim of removing more air valid, especially on a past rv that had a leaking toilet bowl ball valve seal that allowed holding tank fumes into the rv.  This superior ability of the "360" helped me until I was able to replace that slightly leaking toilet bowl ball seal.  I have now used the "360" on the past three rvs I've owned.
Amazon.com: Lippert Components 389381 360 Siphon Roof Vent Cap - White (Gen... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZQ9Y6M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_0XA63YYEBR7AV537HD68)

https://youtu.be/bVlverXiFAM
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: dsd on October 03, 2021, 09:25:09 am
Jason, I replaced my "Cyclone" roof vent with the "360" roof vent, and I highly recommend the "360".  The "Cyclone" is a big improvement over the original vent, the "360" is a big improvement over the Cyclone.

The Cyclone sits lower on the roof, and will remove more air from the tanks.  It is easy to install and has no moving parts.  Originally the 360 was built by the same company as the Cyclone and sold as a newer version that vented more air than their own Cyclone product.  After that, the "360" product was purchased by Lippert and is now mfg by Lippert.  The "Cyclone" product was purchased by Camco and is now mfg by Camco.

I found their claim of removing more air valid, especially on a past rv that had a leaking toilet bowl ball valve seal that allowed holding tank fumes into the rv.  This superior ability of the "360" helped me until I was able to replace that slightly leaking toilet bowl ball seal.  I have now used the "360" on the past three rvs I've owned.
Amazon.com: Lippert Components 389381 360 Siphon Roof Vent Cap - White (Gen... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZQ9Y6M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_0XA63YYEBR7AV537HD68)

X2 very happy with the 360.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on October 03, 2021, 10:01:27 am
Agree with Jack & Scott (above).  The "360" vent looks like a better option for your coach.  Your vent pipes are over toward the edge of the roof where the surface is sloped.  I think the "Cyclone" style vent is better suited to a flat roof (like on my coach).  If the Cyclone vent is tilted from perfectly vertical it may not rotate as freely, and would be less effective.

Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: oldguy on October 03, 2021, 02:33:38 pm
Thanks for the idea Jack I'm going to get one. I've never seen that kind
before.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jack Lewis on October 03, 2021, 07:49:57 pm
Old guy, you will not regret your purchase.  I found this short 2 min video from Lippert useful for installation.  I was able to mount right onto the protruding vent pipe, reducing the height even further.

https://youtu.be/bVlverXiFAM

I also believe the following thread may be helpful to others in eliminating tank odor, in addition to the previously mentiioned roof vents.  My FT tank odors were totally eliminated primarily to advice from AC7880 leading me to all my interior (AAV) air admittance valves and good advice in selecting a upgraded one.  The hard one for me to find was the one for the washer dryer and the one under the kitchen sink in addition to the one in the bathroom for the bathroom sink.  The one totally not working was under the kitchen sink, as it is not from the factory mounted as high as it could be.  With the aid of a rubber coupling, I mounted it all the way to the top, almost touching the underneath of the counter.

Sewer Odor, roof sewer vent, air admitance valves inside... (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=34106.0)

Admittance Valve, black, grey vent, slow drain, odor (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=38139.0)
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jason on October 03, 2021, 09:08:17 pm
Thanks Jack, I've got lap sealant, the cyclone and the 360 all coming. I'll probably return the cyclone.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: oldguy on October 03, 2021, 10:38:16 pm
Jack I was on my roof today and the old vents aren't covered in sealant
which will make it easy to remove. I will see if I can get a new 360 vent
tomorrow. Good video.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jason on October 19, 2021, 02:16:52 pm
To follow up, I did install a new one and put a lot of lap sealant on it. I did not use the screws, hopefully it will dry and hold. I like the lower profile. It was dusk so the photo is harder to see. It does have a smaller footprint than the previous one. The black tube was not cracked so replacement was easy.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: oldguy on October 20, 2021, 11:49:06 am
Getting it ready to put the 360 on. My old vent was sure put on offset.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: nbluesky on October 20, 2021, 04:37:35 pm
We're living in it FT while our house is being built, drywall goes up next week, almost there!

Brave soul, its tough living in tight quarters while building. Drywall is still a long ways from done. I know it feels like it's close but it really is only about half way at best. Stay patient, us builders are struggling these days with all the delays.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: nbluesky on October 20, 2021, 04:43:31 pm
To follow up, I did install a new one and put a lot of lap sealant on it. I did not use the screws, hopefully it will dry and hold. I like the lower profile. It was dusk so the photo is harder to see. It does have a smaller footprint than the previous one. The black tube was not cracked so replacement was easy.

The screws help so there is not as much movement between the two surfaces. The movement is what breaks the seal on the lap sealant. Without the screws it just wont last as long but I'm sure it will hold for awhile.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: Jason on October 20, 2021, 07:14:10 pm
Brave soul, its tough living in tight quarters while building. Drywall is still a long ways from done. I know it feels like it's close but it really is only about half way at best. Stay patient, us builders are struggling these days with all the delays.


Thanks, the TT we had was smaller!  Fortunately the FT has been great, plus I have an insulated shop with HVAC I escape to, that really helps.
Title: Re: What is broken on the roof?
Post by: oldguy on October 21, 2021, 08:47:49 pm
All done