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That illusive escape hatch lid replacement

We talked with the factory about a replacement lid for the escape hatch of our 2003 MB and were advised to look for a Heng replacement.  That didn't sound too complicated since we at least had a brand to start with.  After hours of reading posts and searching online, I have turned up zilch.  None of the measurements match the current lid.  Has anyone solved this conundrum?

Heng's 90008 is too small.     90088 appears to be too big.

The closest I can come is this one.  It looks to be a little too big, as our lid measures 17 3/4 x 25 1/4.  I saw some info about going by the hinge measurement, in which case this one is 1" too long.  Any observations?

Amazon.com: Heng's 90088-C1 Replacement White Lid for 17" x 24" Vent Exit...

Barb

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Lance & Barb
2003 Lazy Daze 26.5' Mid-Bath; 2006 Saturn toad
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #1 –
Save yourself the trouble and order a replacement from LazyDaze.  It will take longer, and you'll have to mail a check, but you won't find yourself stuck with a lid that should fit but won't.

If you want on that fits 'on paper' but not in real life, I have a like new one that I'd be happy to pass along ;)

The factory version will also have a couple of improvements that make installation easier and protect the plastic from the sun.

Rich
 
2003 MB
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #2 –
Well, that's the problem.  The factory told us to track down a Heng's brand lid.  Hence, the difficulty in finding the right one.
Lance & Barb
2003 Lazy Daze 26.5' Mid-Bath; 2006 Saturn toad
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #3 –
hmmm.  The factory used to sell replacements. 

I guess my strategy in your situation would be to try and find a place where you could compare the size in person before taking it home.  I know that's not easy to everyone, depending on where you live. 

We sometimes stop at RV stores along the interstate as we travel.

I ordered by size, and the hatch I received wasn't all that close to the size listed on the package.  I've read reports from others with the same experience.

Sorry I can't help more.  Maybe someone else has better info.

Rich
2003 MB
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #4 –
I recently called the factory and got the price, mailed the check.

 I also priced/ordered the bathroom skylight assembly with the dome cover.

Hoping that they have it in stock, being that mine is now off and waiting for a new replacement.

I wonder if they were running low on inventory at that time. I did ask Todd if I should order two each for the dome covers if something happened and replacement was necessary. He said the replacement should last a while, better quality.

Keep us informed, may be in the same situation. thanks, Kimberley
2000 Mid Bath
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #5 –
Several years ago I wanted to replace the aging escape hatch lid and refrigerator chimney cover. Having driver through a hail storm in Denver fortunately with no damage (small wet ice) that left 8" of ice on the road I realized that those plastic covers could have been easily broken with larger hail stones. After returning home I contacted our local sheet metal fabrication shop about replacing the covers with aluminum. They could and did a good job of creating replacement covers using the plastic covers for the patterns and measurements. The original hinge and lift slide were aluminum pop-rivited to the new escape hatch cover and fit the opening  perfectly. I did add strips of door weather seal on the inside edges and glued foil bubble insulation on the inside (not shown in photo as that was done later). See photos:  
2026 Coach House 27' "Casa Azul"
2010 RB "Monty"  &  2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #6 –
I just bought a replacement from the factory 4 months ago for my 2002 MB. It was just the hatch had to use the old hardware.
Lynn and Lori
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #7 –
Last Year we replaced our old Escape Hatch with a new Fantastic Fan Escape Hatch setup.  We bought the Escape hatch from the MotherShip and bought a new Fantastic Fan from Amazon.  We cut the new hatch to fit the New Fantastic Fan.  We used putty and bolted the Fantastic Fan shroud to the the E-Hatch.  This setup still uses the red emergency latch to open and lock the hatch as the same as the old setup.  For sometime we used a 12V accessory plug to run the power inside the coach to the 12V F-Fan.  Now since we have put a water tight cable entry box on our of our 98~MB roof we run the fan power through the roof hatch flange across the roof and into the cable box entry to a 12V power source in the coach.  Now we have 12V powered F-Fan at that location to help ventilate the front of the coach.  We still need to insulate the part of the E-Hatch that surrounds the F-Fan.
 The job took a few hours since I had a good helper.

         Karen~Liam
           98 ~ MB
              NinA


https://www.lazydazeowners.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4202
https://www.lazydazeowners.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4196
https://www.lazydazeowners.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4197
https://www.lazydazeowners.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4200
https://www.lazydazeowners.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4203

1998 ~ MB  WanderDaze
previously a 1984 Winnebago itaska- The Road Warrior, before that several VW Buses and before that a 1965 Chrysler Convertible Newport or our 1969 Chrysler La Barron with an ice box and a couple sleeping bags
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #9 –
Quote from: Mike Coachman  - 
...I contacted our local sheet metal fabrication shop about replacing the covers with aluminum. They could and did a good job of creating replacement covers using the plastic covers for the patterns and measurements. The original hinge and lift slide were aluminum pop-rivited to the new escape hatch cover and fit the opening  perfectly. I did add strips of door weather seal on the inside edges and glued foil bubble insulation on the inside (not shown in photo as that was done later). See photos:  

Hi Mike - we're thinking about doing the same thing you did (if I could find someone to do the work for me) with aluminum lids for the escape hatch. My question to you is: how much sound & heat insulation aluminum provides compared to plastic?

Thanks,
Ray
2003 MB
Formerly 1997 TK
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #10 –

Ray, I first insulated the inside flat surface with cork shelf liner which at first worked for heat and rain noise. However, the cork attracted mold so I removed it and replaced it with glued down foil double bubble insulation.  I had some left over when the metal roof of my 50' X 80' shop was replaced. The roofer used the foil dubble bubble under the metal roof and side walls for insulation which works exceedingly well. It also worked quite well inside the aluminum hatch cover.

Double Bubble Reflective Foil Insulation: (48 in X 10 Ft Roll) Industrial...

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2026 Coach House 27' "Casa Azul"
2010 RB "Monty"  &  2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #11 –
Quote from: Mike Coachman  - 
Ray, I first insulated the inside flat surface with cork shelf liner which at first worked for heat and rain noise. However, the cork attracted mold so I removed it and replaced it with glued down foil double bubble insulation.  I had some left over when the metal roof of my 50' X 80' shop was replaced. The roofer used the foil dubble bubble under the metal roof and side walls for insulation which works exceedingly well. It also worked quite well inside the aluminum hatch cover.

Double Bubble Reflective Foil Insulation: (48 in X 10 Ft Roll) Industrial...

My wife and I are coming to the end of a huge remodel project. We used a very similar type of bubble reflective foil insulation on all exterior walls of our home. We live in Tucson, AZ, and the biggest benefit for this type of insulation can be seen in the summer.  I believe the R-value is around 7 in the summer, and 2 in the winter. I would highly recommend the reflective foil insulation for cooling purposes.
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Sam
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Orin Rowe  - 
Hi all,

I just installed this on our new to us 2003 27'MB. It includes the hinge already attached to the lid and the other parts. Fits great, easy install.

Amazon.com: Heng's 90008-C1-LO Escape Hatch LID ONLY fits Current Model...


Orin

Hmmm wonder if this is whats on my 2008
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Joe B.
2008 26ft  grey/white Rear Bath
NE88 caravan club
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #13 –
Quote from: Mike Coachman  - 
Ray, I first insulated the inside flat surface with cork shelf liner which at first worked for heat and rain noise. However, the cork attracted mold so I removed it and replaced it with glued down foil double bubble insulation.

Double Bubble Reflective Foil Insulation: (48 in X 10 Ft Roll) Industrial...

Double bubble insulation should work fine for the windows too.

When replacing escape hatches, I line the inside of the hatch with two or more layers of closed-cell ensolite foam, usually new or recycled sleeping bad pads, using contact cement to secure the pad.
Amazon.com : Wakeman Sleeping Pad, Lightweight Non Slip Foam Mat with Carry...

The escape hatch's frame itself is aluminum and it too lets in a lot of heat and cold.
In the winter, dripping condensation from the frame can be an annoyance. I lined all the visible aluminum hatch frame, on the insides, with an insulative tape used commercially to line refrigerant fluid lines.
Rubber Pipe Insulation Tape | Frost King® Weatherization Products

Larry
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #14 –
I just replaced the escape  hatch lid  on my 2004 26.5 IB yesterday with this and it fit perfectly! Thanks so much Orin! I purchased via Amazon but for some reason the link kept getting scrambled when I tried to copy and paste to this email so I just copied the descriptor below instead.

Heng's 90008-C1-LO Escape Hatch LID ONLY fits Current Model 58621-C2

Matt
2004 26.5 Island Bed. Gumby
2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Re: That illusive escape hatch lid replacement
Reply #15 –
Yes, insulate with Ensolite and spray the exterior with UV-resistant paint.

If you don't need the hatch to open, ie those who do not cook, you could toss the hatch and seal it with a sheet of polycarbonate. McMaster-Carr stocks several types. Clear is available from Lowe's.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy