PLASTI DIP PAINT your RV SKYLIGHTS and ROOF VENTS | Great Results

[@major_west]

I just replaced my broken RV skylight with a new clear skylight. The bathroom is much hotter now, so painting the skylight white makes sense. From watching your video, the white paint still allows plenty of light to pass through. Thanks!

[@rvlifediy]

Yes the white paint makes a tremendous difference in temp. On your first coat of paint, make sure to evenly apply it in uniform thickness. Otherwise you will see the areas with thicker paint bleed through once it's dried.

[@theodorecarbajal2975]

Gonna do this to my fifth wheel this houston heat isn't no joke!

[@rvlifediy]

I think you will be happy with the results.

[@ActionJacksonRV]

Love your videos! That's a huge difference in temperatures and probably well worth it if you camp in sunny hot areas.

[@rvlifediy]

Thank you. Yes especially if you are in a hot area. The shower skylight gets hot even in 70 degree weather.

[@gereshomeE]

Interesting THANK YOU! Your son may turn out to be a great Scientist like his father!

[@rvlifediy]

He does like to see how things work, so it may very well be in his future.

[@gereshomeE]

@@rvlifediy The coach that I was interested in has sold and I am looking at Tiffin Wayfarer as a possibility! Enjoy your family and may God bless you all!

[@rvlifediy]

@@gereshomeE The Wayfarer is a good comparable. It's a little heavier with lower occc though but good build quality. They come with rear Sumos from the factory. Hope to share some other type of videos in the near future that you will enjoy.

[@gereshomeE]

@@rvlifediy THANK YOU! I do not like these new "flimsy" awnings and people appear to be agreeing with this. I really loved the older type of awnings that just looked stronger!

[@crossthreadaeroindustries8554]

Amazed the RV co's use dark colors, as you noted.

[@rvlifediy]

Yes sometimes I wonder what they are thinking.

[@lindseymakes5364]

Thanks for this! We camp in TX and are always looking for ways to keep cool. Have you thought of puling off the AC cover and painting? We are planning to upgrade to maxx air fans and will opt for white when we do it!

[@rvlifediy]

Good idea on ordering the fax fans with white covers. I have thought about painting the ac covers but never got the motivation. I'm sure it would help.

[@davidthomson9457]

Thanks! (Again!) Looks like a really good idea. I'm not sure I would paint my skylight... though from the video yours looks like it turned out fine. You're happy with the amount of light it lets through? I was wondering, though, if you might have covered the black-ish sealant (roof caulking) around the skylight. Every square inch of cooler surface would help, though the vent covers and skylight would make a much bigger difference to the inside temp than the sealant around the skylight since they have direct exposure to the inside of the RV.

[@rvlifediy]

I wasn't sure if I was going to like it either. The reason I used Plasti dip is that it just peals off like a sticker if you want to remove it (if applied correctly). And it does reduce light coming in. There is no way around that when applying a coating on top. But I'm very happy with it. It made a tremendous difference. I don't like the black sealant either, but it came from the factory that way. I really don't want to paint it because you need to inspect it, and periodically need to clean and apply more in areas that crack/shrink over time. I wished Winnebago would have used a white sealant from the get go. I've thought about changing it all out, but don't have that much spare time nor the enthusiasm. The quality of the roof sealant they used was good, but the color was a terrible decision. I've seen Winnebagos with White sealant as well on the exact same model year. Must have been a supplier shortage, or poor quality control.

[@ChanceP]

Nice video, might do this

[@rvlifediy]

The skylight was definitely worth it.

[@JeffInDFW]

Thank you for sharing this. I am trying to keep heat out, and also provide protection from hail so I was considering spraying on white rhino liner or???

[@rvlifediy]

I'm sure rhino liner would work. It's thicker, so it may cut out a lot more light (not sure how important that is to you). Rhino liner may have other surface prep requirements for plastics, so you may want to read the fine print for surface preperation on plastics. This time around on my new RV, I'm just using plain old exterior paint/primer, but I didn't think about the extra protection for hail damage.

[@Califoreigners]

👩🏻 we’re for the non permanent approach! Good to know about applying it evenly though. Would u happen to have a rec on what to do for our van that has spot a few spots of paint that is chipped and a bit rusted?

[@rvlifediy]

If the rust is bad, you could sand it with a wire brush, clean with acetone, and apply a small amount of POR 15 and then your final paint on top of the POR 15. I used the POR 15 on the floor of my entire van just as a preventative measure and it works really well for rust. You can get the exact Mercedes paint color match in a rattle can if you go to a franchise body shop. If it's just slight surface oxidation, I would just sand it with wet sandpaper and clean with acetone prior to painting with the rattle can. Acetone will eat your paint and clear coat so be careful. Or use rubbing alcohol but clean it really well prior to the rattle can.

[@Califoreigners]

@@rvlifediy thank you so much for this! Going to attempt this weekend. Hopefully it won’t be too hot 🥵 hope u guys are staying cool!

[@rvlifediy]

@@Califoreigners Good luck on the repair. We will be in the Eastern Sierras but it looks like it will be warmer than usual there as well. You will have to join us one day, and do some fishing.

[@samanthapowell5882]

Need to do your A/C cover also

[@rvlifediy]

Yes, great suggestion. I've heard of other people doing it and I'm sure it helps.

[@katkg7129]

I just came across your video. I am looking to re-enforce my fan vent lid to protect it from hail. I think the plasti dip paint might protect it a bit from hail. I was wondering how this has held up 1 year later?

[@rvlifediy]

@katkg7129 I sold the Rv last April but it held up fine. I've had it on a different RV for 5 years with no problems. And yes it should help with hail and protect the plastic from getting brittle from the sun.

[@katkg7129]

@@rvlifediy thank you

[@yewlingchan465]

Thanks for doing another interesting video, I did paint my skylights with white spray cans in North Lauderdale because they are so hot inside the town house( I sold this Spring after owning it about 10 years, because of Covid and a few other reasons), the view from below looks exactly like your rv with the dark lines all over, but from top look ok, it did help to cool down the inside a lot, I notice you have sticked on some air deflectors in the front cap area, I did look into those a few years back thinking of installing them on my old rv trying to improve the fuel efficiency, how are they? Do you think it help out? Thanks

[@rvlifediy]

The first coat of spray definitely determines how it will look below. I'm satisfied with the skylight and the bathroom vent, but will redo the vent in the front. Lucky it's plastidip so I will be able to just peel it off. You're the only one that noticed the airtabs lol. I put them on just to deflect the wind that goes to the starlink satellite. I have many more sitting in a bag, and my intention was to put them at the very rear cap as that is where its needed to improve stability and any MPG. I may do it one day but have too many other projects first.

[@rvseeingyou]

Awesome video! Another thing I wish we had considered when we had our rig. Did painting block any of the natural light in the shower?

[@rvlifediy]

Thank you. It made the shower skylight slightly darker but still let's in natural light. I like how it turned out. The vent in the front though is too dark and has too many lines because i was in a rush and used a different paint. I will redo that one and stick with the plastidip. It's removable so that is worth the mistake.

[@rvseeingyou]

@@rvlifediy nice work and thank you for the response.

[@rvlifediy]

@@rvseeingyou 👍

[@BobKeefe]

Why did you skip the A/C cover? I would have thought it would have really benefited from being white.

[@rvlifediy]

Yes I think it would help. Someone else mentioned that as well. I'm thinking it may make the list before next summer

[@craigbenson52]

Hope all is well, how is the Plasti Dip holding up on the sprayed surfaces? I am planning to do this MOD soon...

[@rvlifediy]

Hey Craig, yes the plasti dip has held up well and works great for the heat. On your first coat, Make sure you spray a consistent even coat, otherwise shadows bleed through when dry and it won't look as nice from the inside.

[@esthergenesis2382]

What prep did you do?

[@rvlifediy]

Only cleaned it with degreaser first and then with alcohol. Typical paint I would use primer first or a primer/paint all in one but for plastidip, you do not prime. The purpose of the plastidip is that you can peal it off if you want back to the original. But if I did it again, I would just use a regular primer/paint combo because it performed much better painted and I wouldn't need it to go back to the original black color. Hope that made sense.

[@tomgeriak3757]

Can you tell a little about the air divertersinstall on the front cap near your vent fan? Where did you buy them and how do they help with disturbing the air flow?. Does it improve fuel economy at all or is it for the semi push?,

[@rvlifediy]

The brand is airtabs. I originally put them on to stabalize the air for the starlink satellite. I've tested with strings on the roof and it didn't seem to change the pattern of the air. I didn't notice a measurable improvement in mpg or stabilization. In fairness to airtabs, you are supposed to mount them on the very rear of rv on the roofline and down the sides. I've already removed then to measure any difference in mpg or stability and didn't notice a difference.

[@tomgeriak3757]

So you removed the airtabs? Do you plan to trash or sell them? I assume the adhesive is no good.

[@rvlifediy]

@@tomgeriak3757 Tom yes I removed them. I did save them and it's just double stick tape that you use. I have a bunch of brand new ones as well. If you want them, just email and I'll mail them to you. No charge. I don't plan on using them. I have a total of about 48 +-. The new ones are white in color. I spray painted the ones I installed to match the rv color. Email is in the about section of my channel.

[@JC-me8px]

What type of white paint would you roll on the plastic vent covers?

[@rvlifediy]

It can be any exterior grade multi surface paint. (Make sure fune print says it's OK with plastic). Sometimes it suggests using primer also. So you will have to determine the cost and see if Plasti dip may be the better way to go.