Astrodome? Solardome? whateverdome?

[ALANSD]

Anyone using an alternate cover for their large front vent? I have seen a few ideas but would love to see more.
One was using a flat clear lexan cover glued and screwed down..

Mine does not leak but it is chipped around the edge.

[overlander63]

A couple of ideas would be a smoke color Lexan cover glued and screwed down, or a pair of Fantastic vents. You could really get some air moving with a pair of them.
Another idea would be a single Fantastic or Maxx Air vent, after removing the extruded housing for the Astradome and plating the gap.
Yet another idea would be to fab an aluminum cover for the cover, and install a pair of fluorescent light tubes up in the housing for light.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

Anyone using an alternate cover for their large front vent? I have seen a few ideas but would love to see more.
One was using a flat clear lexan cover glued and screwed down..

Mine does not leak but it is chipped around the edge.

The original plastic solardomes (14" X 14") and astrodomes (14" X 26") from the 80's and back, simply age out and crack.

Unfortunately, some of the newer plastic vent covers also fail.

Fortunately, better than original replacements are available.

Andy

[dwightdi]

I made up an aluminum frame from L stock and used flat corrugated Lexan, which they sell for green houses. I used the original openers. Gives a dispersed light and is very durable. It survived a hailstorm that took out two side windows.

[truckasaurus]

There's Airstream specific stuff from these guys too.

Airstream Skylights - Maxim SkylightMaxim Skylight

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by dwightdi

I made up an aluminum frame from L stock and used flat corrugated Lexan, which they sell for green houses. I used the original openers. Gives a dispersed light and is very durable. It survived a hailstorm that took out two side windows.

Lexan, even thin stuff, like 1/8 inch, is very tough.

Take a small piece of it and beat on it with a hammer.

You might dent it, but you won't break it.

Hey, a light bulb idea.

How about an Airstream, made with Lexan????

No painting, no more dents from accidents or hail, and no waxing.

All we need to do is come up with a silver color Lexan.

Andy

[calais66]

Interesting idea, Andy. Those who live in glass houses, as the saying goes, would be better off in a Lexan trailer. You could throw all the stones you want!

[Janet H]

We had this problem and even the newer better version couldn't stand up to dessert sun. After a couple of years we took it off and had the local window shop fabricate what is essentially a non-opening skylight that covered the existing opening. I don't miss the opening feature because the trailer has so many other windows and vents. Just one solution.....

[rideair]

Many years ago I purchased the smoke one from Andy for my 1966 (Thank you Andy, it's been a great product). The large 14x26 smoked allows lots of light in on those cloudy days, but also allows a bunch of light in on those hot days when you're trying to keep the trailer cool. The one I purchased from Andy allowed me to use the original lifters. When the time comes, I will purchase another one from Andy (love all the light)

Enjoy,

[KAYAKAMPERS]

We will by a good replacement from Vintage trailer supply. Airstream Astradome Vent Cover 1970s We have had good luck with their products and quite frankly, I don't want to invent something that is designed to keep water out and wind when driving. Price is reasonable and I want to open it sometimes as well.

[KAYAKAMPERS]

Sorry, accidently linked to the 1970's model, but the 60's is there on their site.

[Hittenstiehl]

We had a very lovely doggie door on ours for the last year and a half. We didn't even know what the item was for a long time. You had to take it off when you drove and put it back on when you stopped. Someone finally asked what a doggie door had with an Airstream? We set it up upright and could easily see that's what its previous purpose was. We NOW have a lovely smoke colored Astrodome (thanks Andy). BEFORE/AFTER, the dark piece in the first piece was the rubber flap that the dog goes out of, the second photo shows the new cover with screen installed. (We will update our thread on the install this weekend)

[KAYAKAMPERS]

Very nice....sorry I forgot to mention the well made ones that Inland RV has. Alan, you should go with one of these instead of trying to make one. Leave the fabricating to things like black water tank pans. ;-)

[Brickbubble]

Should the cranks actually lift the cover? My 69 has cranks but they only seem to serve the purpose of securing the cover. I can't find any info on how the skylight should work. Seems to me it should crank up and lift, letting air in.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Brickbubble

Should the cranks actually lift the cover? My 69 has cranks but they only seem to serve the purpose of securing the cover. I can't find any info on how the skylight should work. Seems to me it should crank up and lift, letting air in.

Yes, the vent cover lift arms were designed to lift the covers. They also lift the front differently from the rear, so that you can safely tow with the rear end of the vent covers open.

Andy

[KAYAKAMPERS]

They lift the cover independently, but will lift it equally on one side or the other. Mine were in need of some silicone lubrication and cleaning, so I removed them when I replaced the dome. After cleaning they work great. Very similar to the square aluminum fan cover cranks. One thing that can make them difficult is how well they seat in the "C" bracket at the top near the dome itself. If you wiggle them a bit when you open them so that they are seated and vertical, they unscrew and raise the lid easier.

[ALANSD]

I repaired mine with fiberglass tape,painted white and it looks ok.

The lifters are spotty, but they mostly work.

[Brickbubble]

I wonder if something is missing from my assembly. Would anyone be kind enough to take pictures of a working setup and post them? TY

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

I repaired mine with fiberglass tape,painted white and it looks ok.

The lifters are spotty, but they mostly work.

Part of the covers job, is to let some light in.

Andy

[m.hony]

MaxxAir vent cover- allows the Fantastic Fan to still operate normally.