Cleaning a MPK caravan roof light

[@richardpease3758]

One tip when putting screws back into plastic (any plastic) is to initially turn the screw gently anticlockwise (unscrew). At some point in its rotation you should feel a click. At this point you are at the start of the original thread and you can then turn the screw clockwise till tight. The reason for doing this is that you do not cut another thread into the plastic therefore weakening it.

[@TheTrudgians]

Great tip. I did do this (and do this on my retro computer kit) I’ll mention this in my next how to vid. 👍

[@garryclayton2001]

That is a good top tip

[@kezza5646]

I've just done this job on my Bailey Pursuit. I found that Dettol Mould & Mildew Remover did a great job on the fly screen in just 5 minutes. It's very strong, so make sure the room you do it in is well ventilated or that you're outside. I started caravanning in Sept' 2019 and everything I have learnt has been to to you Dan and your family. Thanks ever so much for the knowledge. My caravan is the one thing that keeps me sane. I can't imagine life without it.

[@davidmbell]

Top tip, don’t pull the fly screen off if it’s really cold, the plastic gets really brittle on older vans and moreso when it’s cold.

[@katrinaclosier4872]

My husband said at the weekend that he needed to do this and if by magic your video appeared today! Thanks Dan, hope you feel better soon 😀

[@chipchaplin777]

Great video Dan thanks, it's a job I need to do next, now I can tackle it with confidence.

[@davidmbell]

This is on my list to do for sure. Mine is filthy too. Previous owner not got my obsessive cleaning standards…

[@katydunn9037]

New to us caravan owner and this is a fabulous video! Going to tackle our skylights today 😁 thanks for the great info!

[@lesliecairns2981]

Hope you are feeling a bit better ? Well, after a good old watch, came down and done the job !!!!! Fantastic.....but, dropped one of the larger screws into the long grass to be lost forever. Got around it by putting in a self tapper of similar diameter and length and managed to get the pz1 bit in. Great video, got results, well done thank you 😊.

[@TheTrudgians]

Morning Leslie, thats great to hear and glad this video helped. I must admit - the washroom is so much lighter now, it made a real difference to the shower cubical.

[@Brougham2007]

Job now done. Advice on T10 and T20 was invaluable. Thanks again.

[@totaltouring829]

Good Advise. Must say your a trooper , you enjoy what you do and I enjoy watching it.

[@sophia-fp5tr]

Thank you very much for your video, it is really helpful, more so than the dealers who said I couldn't clean them. Wonderfully explained. Hopefully you are fully fit again

[@TheTrudgians]

Really glad it helped.

[@alimonk1718]

Really helpful demo thanks so much I’ve been wondering how I can clean the exact same skylights in our motorhome 👍🏻

[@redbarron7293]

Brilliant to know how to remove, strip and clean those units Dan....thanks. Get well soon.

[@delboy9904]

Thank you sir. I am going to do all mine now. Really appreciate your video. Hope you feel better instantly!!

[@discoveryadventures2296]

Thank you. I was only this week wondering how to clean the shower room skylight.

[@duncanbrown3422]

I’ve been wondering how to do this for ages,thanks

[@garethlewis3647]

Excellent video. Good tips. All explained in an easy manner. Your advice always gives me the confidence to tackle jobs myself.

[@TheTrudgians]

Excellent stuff, im glad this helps. Take care - let me know how you got on. Take care Dan

[@hally0john]

just a thought... Its easy to over tighten with Torx drivers (as I did with mine) so be careful when screwing into the perspex. I found out the hard way and had to buy a new skylight (£70)

[@andrewsuttie3326]

Hi Dan did the same job to our toilet roof light last week Bailey Unicorn Cadiz only problem i had was the T20 screw holes were ridiculously tight I was using a Halfords Professional driver so I had to make the holes In the handle larger after that as Alexander says simple like your blogs get well soon from both of us.👍👍

[@bluetonic9538]

Thanks for this tip. Just done mine this weekend, I knew it was bad, but not quite how bad!

[@hhobson100]

Hope you feel better soon Dan. Thanks for another great handy tip.

[@TheTrudgians]

Thank you Henry - i think this is from jab No.1 i had - but that was 2 weeks ago today.

[@hhobson100]

@@TheTrudgians i guessed as much, you were spotted by my better half on the day. I was rough after my first but happy to say that having had my second a month ago there were no similar ill effects after number 2.

[@johnrobinson7491]

When you've removed the four screws and the whole skylight is loose, try turning it through 45 degrees to the diagonal. It should then slip through the hole in the roof without having to work from the outside with a towel. Same for reassembly.

[@keithduffy1744]

Great advice wish I had seen your comment earlier, did the 4 screws lifted out and above then a gust of wind and crash to the ground and smash *************etc. So now looking for a replacement (2015 V111 Vigo shower area). Cant justify a new at £200 approx from premia leisure (if I could find an exact replacement). Haho. Any Breakers out there may be able to help . Cheers happy caravanning. Keith.

[@Perthshire]

This method won't work - the skylight is too big to fit through the space, regardless of angle. I did mine today, and the extraction method had to be externally as Dan shows here.

[@johnrobinson7491]

@@Perthshire Worked on my van

[@Perthshire]

@@johnrobinson7491 Top Tip indeed. My van is a unicorn iv model, very similar to Dan’s, and it was just too big to squeeze through

[@johnrobinson7491]

I appreciate there will be size differences between vans, mine is a 2014 Elddiss Supreme 550 and the skylights would turn and come through to the inside. Still worth checking on your own van.

[@jonnyandvonny]

Many thanks Dan as, always. Hope you feel better soon. Jon

[@wayneharper9127]

Dan great video thanks Have a phoenix 640 se and this video was invaluable ,we would never haver tackled this without your help Thanks again

[@grumpy55]

Great job,think I would suggest taking photos of the dissemble of the parts on my phone,so it makes it easier to put back together.

[@thomaswatt1658]

Found this very useful,really need to do ours.hope you feel better soon dan

[@ashhammond]

Dan. Get well soon buddy 👍🏻. Thanks for all the videos you put out. We are currently away as newbie adults caravaners this weekend, as we try to rekindle our childhood. Setting up and preparation has gone easy thanks to your channel. A few minor hiccups but, it would not be fun if it was too easy.

[@markdinmore9766]

Nice tip Dan hope you feel better soon

[@paulhaughton9927]

Great video as always Dan. Definitely a job i need to complete in our caravan and feel confident having now watched your video. Hope your feeling better soon

[@susankavanagh737]

Thank you, I have the confidence to tackle my vent now which is also grubby.

[@petermarshall-mcleod1375]

I did this to ours last year. It makes such a difference. Great video get well soon.

[@bav114]

Great video. Mine look so much better now.

[@nataliesteel9605]

Thank you so much l will try this in January at the yard

[@daveandow2809]

Another good-un. Dan. like the idea of the towel. Did mine at the beginning of the first lock down. Word of warning. Found the outer cover discoloured and brittle, just, seven and a half years old and cracking, repaired, every thing locked down, couldn't replace. Still not replaced, want to getaway. Seems OK

[@doinablaab]

Great video Dan 😎 thanks. Those snails get everywhere 🤣 glad your feeling abit better, keep taking it easy and don't get overdoing it!

[@Flood51]

As alway a very clear & concise video. We also have the Phoenix 640 but last season we found the front double almost unusable. We learnt that extreme care was required when pulling the “centre ladder” out but we only managed to push the ladder back into it position behind the draws 1 in 10 times. We had to remove the centre drawers nearly every time. Wish I had a Go Pro to film what was happening inside the compartment. Anyway the front double is unusable so an inflatable in the awning is the solution. A selfish request for a video 😔

[@craigtinsley2322]

Another useful video, needless to say I went out and checked if mine would come off the same (older van) as it's filthy, just got to get the right tools now 👍

[@paulandsarahcaravanlife]

Great video Dan. Hope you feel better soon 😷👍

[@TheTrudgians]

Thank you, i feel rUbBiSh.....

[@gilltate3029]

That was so useful to know so thank you. Hope you feel better soon Dan x

[@Brougham2007]

Many thanks. Was looking at mine yesterday and wondering how to do it. Now I know.

[@TheTrudgians]

Glad I could help

[@ianbambury3717]

Hope you get better soon Dan, need to do my fly screens, including the roller ones by the windows. Small black marks on them. Elldis Avante 505

[@susanpearman9634]

Already use these on the caravan so would love to have these products for our CAR please

[@CaravanVlogger]

Good work Dan, never easy when you;re under the weather. Hope you feel better soon. You're right it was minging wasn't it... Graham

[@chrisc9406]

The plastic tabs inside the handles are prone to snapping if handles insufficiently squeezed when opening and closing the window. Not easy to replace as they are a forced plastic fit. Hope you get well soon, Chris.

[@andrewhoyle1716]

Awesome timing Dan! I was away in our Phoenix last week (we're in Wales) and noticed how disgustingly dirty our MK skylights were and was thinking I need to find a video on how to clean the insides of those, then you post this 😀. Also, will have to do the job by myself so your towel trick will be being used!

[@newhorizons3451]

Well done, and when you not feeling very well. Feel I can tackle the job as well.

[@Squintstream]

As always, great video. I too had some mould on the fly screen, but used Astonish mould and mildew spray and it came up like new! Not sure why your mould remover didn’t shift it, but a cap full of bleach seemed to do the trick!

[@brianmarktyler7867]

Top tip Dan now rest up take care.

[@shopgirl1e]

Hoping you feel better soon x

[@suefisher1077]

Hope you are feeling better you do seem better well

[@tonymarsh6748]

Great tip cheers Dan, get well soon 👍

[@davidmbell]

Good old MPK, making mediocre caravan skylights since the 80s. Liking your towel dangle technique. Sad the actress to the bishop.

[@colinrimmer789]

Nice little job Dan.

[@martinmumper3355]

Changed my one for a clear one you will be surprised how much more light it let's in I also had mould around the mesh taking it off for next year

[@TheTrudgians]

I might look for a clear one, i noticed a huge difference being clean, but it was brighter when no skylight was there...

[@caravaningincarathevan467]

Take care. Stay safe xx great advice as always x

[@tinasmith7982]

Thanks for the info mr T get better soon

[@catherinegamble3473]

Hope you feel better soon.

[@kevinjohn725]

Hi Dan, Hopefully you will be better soon. I tried my T10 on my shower vent but it's too big a size and that's the smallest one in the pack. I have a Bailey Senator Virginia Series 6 Regards kev....

[@nanrod981]

Dan - This is nothing to do with the subject but your vlogs are a must-watch for the community. I'm trying to keep a friend in the game, but he experienced a traumatic anti-social event last weekend by a group of Travellers that descended on the site where he was staying. His 7-year-old daughter was so traumatized by what went on that he insists he's giving up on the activity. Have you or any caravanner possibly reading this post had a similar experience? Following is a quote from the C&MC when asked if this has happened on their sites 'Yes, we may well have had people from the travelling community on our sites.' Implying it definitely occurs but not how often. Really appreciate some words of comfort to keep this young family caravanning. Thanks and apologies for hijacking your vlog.

[@Sausage820]

Hey Dan, hope your well, I was in the can behind you earlier today 14th April. You may have an injector issue on your BMW estate be safe and see you out and about hopefully caravaning

[@TheTrudgians]

Thanks, the smoke is impressive isn't it - its the turbo core that has gone poop. dont worry though it goes at the end of the month.

[@Sausage820]

Nasty, may want 2 get a Land rover and become part of the weekend mechanics haha. Thank you for all your help over the last few years, learned a lot from your videos for when my wife and I started in caravaning.

[@brianburchell1974]

Thank you My one's are different but it shows how I can do the same job

[@andylawn9521]

Mine looks vile too. Not sure why there's more mould this year. Maybe dust as you suggested. One thing, if it's cold go carefully pushing only one side. I did this on a previous van and an arm snapped once.

[@chrisc9406]

The plastic tangs inside the handles are prone to snapping. I've replaced mine but they are a forced plastic fit inside the handles. Poor design. Easy to break if user unaware that the handles must be fully squeezed in before attempting to push the window upwards on opening or downwards on closing.

[@davidwilliams6553]

Thanks for the advice. Great video.

[@dominobeauty]

As usual brilliant help, thank you

[@raff1973]

Dear Dan & Family, Watching this vid.... I felt the pain ;) Just wondering... have you ever considered full caravan cover? I went through the same pain of caravan going dirty with stripes and green all over places after winter. Then I thought... let’s cover her up. I found a company in UK that makes custom covers for any type of caravans. I must be honest though. Because of covid the order took ages. I made an order in September 2020 and received the cover only in February 2021. Can't blame them though. Though times. However I managed to at long last clean "PROPER" the whole outside of the caravan about a week ago and cover it with brand new, custom made cover. There is a special opening for door. I can open roof and side widows. Cover is breathable and waterproof, so it doesn’t become "an oven" even in direct sunshine. I was also able to specify exactly where my solar panel is, so they made a special clear plastic "widow" to accommodate this. Just an idea maybe for future vid. I do not work nor represent any company connected to caravanning ( hence no names! 😉 ) I'm simply one of your youtube subscribers. I thought... if you can spend around £400 on dishwasher for a caravan... surely you could spend around £400 for a full protective cover too and avoid all those "mould, green, dirty, ugly streaks" issues. Just an idea...

[@rayletaxi]

Last time I cleaned the mold of my flyscreens I gave them a quick dose of a bleach solution and put them in the dish washer. Came out perfect

[@mikeclifton7778]

Another excellent video there Dan, you certainly were sweating up at the end, get well soon. Have you any tips on cleaning the big Heki skylight at the front of the van? Would make a good video. Thanks.

[@stevechurchman1824]

Hi Dan. Good explanation as usual. Personally I use the ‘don’t look up’ method. I think the powered fan skylights are more difficult to clean. Take care. Steve

[@DenSol-xk4sd]

Perfect Dan. As you know I’m getting close to doing a major clean of our Ridgeway 644. Any tips on the main roof light. That is distinguishing 👌👌👌

[@32_bits]

Very useful video, it looks an relatively easy job to fit a computer type fan on the inner cover and make an extractor for when using the shower, that's if the plastic is not to brittle to cut out. Have you used the shower and how well does the roof light remove the moisture?

[@TheBlauwitje]

We also has some mold on the fly screen, now i know how to tackle it

[@lorrainehawes798]

Great video, especially as you weren't feeling 100%. I wish my husband was as keen to clean as you are. 😉 Do you have any tips for cleaning flies and bugs out from between the glass on the central roof lights (the big one in the middle)? We seem to have quite a few gathering there, big ones too, but as it seems to be a double glazed unit, I'm not sure how to resolve this. BTW, hope you're feeling better soon.

[@bav114]

I’ve got the same issue. Still trying to figure out how to remove it.

[@andrewlowe8225]

Just done mine it was filthy. Cover shower plug hole in case you drop any screws

[@doors2manual]

Hi Dan, can you clean all skylights in the Bailey the same? I have a Phoenix 650 which has 4x skylights.

[@philhealeypearce8802]

Thanks!!

[@MegaBlakey1981]

What type of roof light is this? Reason I ask is I have this roof lights - it’s filthy! I also have the additional problem of one arm has snapped and need to source a new handle replacement!

[@brooklandbackyardbrewerype2966]

Stay safe Dan

[@janscott3031]

Dan, replace it with a Mini Heki as these are a pain and you can clean the Heki's by just opening them. I replaced both of mine and it is quite an easy job with mastic strips and sikaflex to seal them. The heki's also have better blinds and fly screens. Cost is about £120 each from your favourite on-line store. Nick T

[@Earthismadeoflayers]

Thankyou!

[@nickjennings8317]

Great job Dan, made me feel guilty 😉

[@alextelford5176]

Hi like your videos! wouldn't a step ladder been easier? Keep well !

[@paulfuller7409]

Beware when doing this. The screws that go into the skylight are factory set i reassembled as per instructions on the vlog. And thought I had done a good job. However on a particular windy day after coming home from a holiday I could hear a banging noise from the roof On inspection the skylight had cracked and became loose where the screws go into the skylight. I finished up buying a now skylight at the the cost of £80 In the fitting instructions that came with the skylight it said not to unscrew the screws that go into the skylight as they were factory set Just saying that this was my experience. Regards.

[@BobMellor1954]

Thanks for the video, hope you feel better soon. Would T-cut remove the scratches?

[@TheTrudgians]

i recon T cut would work or any cutting compound tbh.

[@BobMellor1954]

@@TheTrudgians Thank you, take care

[@kentcaravan6586]

Hi Dan Do I see an air con unit on the roof or is a extraction fan, if an air con unit what type is it. Keep up the good work.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi yes this is a Truma Compact air. Search on our videos for Air Con, their is a couple on this subject.

[@peterwagstaff2715]

Good idea to take pictures first

[@russthetrucker]

i am surprised there isnt a seal around the outer edge of the upper half of the skylight to stop the crud getting under the top as you are driving ?

[@spoonjah]

This is the forced ventilation concept I guess...

[@tonythedmh]

Why didn't you take bowl outside to wash the skylight in. Would save cleaning the inside of the van sink. !!

[@Papa_George1]

Which rubber gloves do you use they look sturdy

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi George, i buy these from Ebay - they are latex free nitrol gloves. they are really good. ebay.us/yZSO7r

[@poshpaws22000]

once screws removed.If you stand on end and rotate 45 degrees whole unit can be passed through hole into caravan..

[@TheTrudgians]

i tried that - it didn't work, it was way too big to pass through the hole. the top shell extends way beyond the opening.

[@stevethegreasemonkey]

@@TheTrudgians just replace the skylight on my 2004 sterling eccles amber lucky it came back through the hole in the roof

[@stephenb5560]

Dan, great, just like when you started. Get well soon. Maybe show us the front one next. Stop doing all those bloody reviews, all the others vloggers do the same, everyone says..... wonderful. When it's free so would I. It's not shopping channels.

[@philip9657]

Had that type of roof light in my old caravan, not the greatest design in the world for keeping clean

[@richardsprojects]

You fancy doing mine ? Lol

[@simonpeat2937]

Long shafted tool (sniggering like a schoolboy even though I'm 49)🙂

[@TheTrudgians]

Even i sniggered at filming (outtake) and whilst editing....

[@mychitasticlife7123]

Its not a heki 🤫

[@TheTrudgians]

ah, which one is it?

[@mychitasticlife7123]

@@TheTrudgians looks like an mpk one 😀

[@kevinjohn725]

Hi Dan, Get well soon, On my Bailey senator Virginia series 6 . My T10 is too big for the screws for some reason and that's the smallest I have in the kit. Regards kev...

[@chrisc9406]

Its an MPK. German manufacturer.